HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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TAKEN FROM TWO SOURCES:
1. History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire 
Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1886, 1073 pgs.
2. Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 by Hamilton Child,
Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, 1885, 882 pgs.
 
HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD NH

CHESTERFIELD lies in the western part of the county, in lat 42 degrees
54' and long. 4 degrees 40', bounded by Westmoreland and Keene, east
by Keene and Swanzey, south by Winchester and Hinsdale, and west by
the west bank of COnnecticut river, and has an area, exclusive of
the Connecticut, of about forty-four square miles, or 28,160 acres.
In tracing the sketch of the grant of Chesterfield, etc. it is
necessary to glance at the trouble attending the settlement of the
boundary line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which are 
written up in the sketch on Hinsdale and in the county chapter, on
page 64, and hence omitted here.  In 1773 Massachusetts granted a
township to JOSIAH WILLARD and others, lying to the northward and
eastward of Northfield, which they named ARLINGTON.  It embraced a
portion of the territory now belonging to Hinsdale and Winchester.
Subsquently, pending the King's decision respecting the dividing line
between the two Provinces, the general court of Massachusetts
granted upwards of thirty townships lying between the Merrimac and
COnnecticut.  Of these, townships named 1, 2, 3, and 4 lay along
the Connecticut, just north of Arlington, and were nearly identical
in numerical order, with Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Walpole and
Charlestown.  These four townships were accepted by the general court
November 3, 1736.  The following year, December 13, 1737, SAMUEL
CHAMBERLIN of Westford, Mass., was empowered to call the first meeting
of the proprietors of No. 1 for organization.  No settlements were
begun in Chesterfield under this grant, however, and the settlement 
of the boundary line of the provinces being consummated by the King
in 1740, left the territory in New Hampshire, and thus annullled the
grant.
  We have nothing to do with the territory now until 1752, when a
petition was presented to the council at Portsmouth, praying them to
grant the said petitioners such tracts of land in the southern part
of the province, in which it was stated "That the first or most
southerly township, called No. 1, in the plan exhibited, may be
alloted to the petition signed Elias Alexander, John Brooks and 
others."  This petition was laid out before the council on the 10th
of February 1752, and on the following day, the 11th, a charter was
granted by Benning Wentworth incorporating "No. 1" under the name of
Chesterfield, and granting the land to Col. Josiah Willard and 64
others.  

[The boundary limits described by the charter are in the original
document, but are not included here].

In 1793 the line between Chesterfield and Westmoreland were measured
by Jonas Robbins, of the latter town.  The line between Chesterfield
and Swanzey was surveyed by John Braley.

It is more than probable that the name Chesterfield was given to the
new town by Governor Wentworth, in honor of the Earl of Chesterfield.
He was a man celebrated as an orator and writer, and his name was
brought particularly into prominence at that time, as he had not only
held responsible government offices, but had, in that year, brought
about an important change in the calendar.  Previous to that change,
the legal year had begun on the 25th of March, and the civil year
on the 1st of January.  The change made the year in both cases
begin in January.

The surface of Chesterfield is broken and hilly, presenting some very
pleasant scenery.  The highest elevation is Wantastiquet, or West
River Mountain, which rises abruptly from the river in the southwestern
part of the town, to an altitude of about 1,200 feet above sea-level.
Its longer axis is about four miles, nearly parallel with the river.
The mountain is in many parts wild and rugged in contour, while its
summit commands a beautiful view, the eye sweeping the Connecticut
for miles north and south, and taking in the beautiful country to the
east, and that of the verdant plains of the valley in Vermont, with
the Green Mountains beyond.  The Indians, in the days of the Colonial
wars, it is said, took advantage of the prospect thus afforded, to
watch the settlers in the vicinity of Fort Dummer, and hence the
name "Indian's Great Chair" applied to a particular potion of the
summit.

Mt. Pistareen, the next important elevation, lies east of Spafford
lake, near Factory village.  Its name is said to have been derived
from this fact of the mountain, in whole or in part, having been
bought at one time for a pistareen (about eighteen cents).  It has an
altitude of 1,000 feet and also affords a fine prospect, while the
scenery surrounding it is very beautiful.  Of the other elevations,
Streeter, Barrett, Hall and Atherton hills are the most prominent. The
former lies in the northwestern part of the town, and is named after
several families of that name who lived in that vicinity at an early
date.  Its altitude is a trifle greater than that of Mt. Pistareen.
Barrett hill lies near the southern border of the town.  Hall hill,
which has a still greater altitude than Streeter hill, lies in the
eastern part of the town, near Factory village.  Atherton hill also
lies in the eastern part of the town, its name being derived from
Joseph Atherton, who settled upon it in 1795.

The town has no stream flowing through it, though the majestic
COnnecticut upon its western border compensates for any lack of
beauty in this respect.  There are many streams and brooks having
their rise here, however, among which are Catsbane brook, with its
tributaries, Lily Pond and Wheeler brooks; Governor's brook, Leavitt's
brook, Marsh's brook, Patridge brook, Wild brook (upon which is a deep
ravine, the most remarkable natural curiousity of the town) and
Broad brook.  Catsbane island, lying in the Connecticut about half a
mile below the mouth of Catsbane brook, contains but a few acres, but
it is noted, as being the place where Indians crossed the river on 
their way to Canada, after having defeated Sergeant Taylor's party
in July 1848.  There are also several ponds lying partically or
wholly within the limits of the town; but for beauty or interest
nothing in the vicinity equals Spafford's lake.

This beautiful sheet of water, which has become so justly celebrated as
a resort in the summer season, lies nearly in the center of the
northern half of the town.  It has an irregularly ovate form, about a
mile and a half in length and a mile in width, thus covering about
700 acres, and lies at an altitude of 738 feet above the sea, and
500 feet above the Connecticut.  Its shore is, in great part, either
sandy or rock, and its water is remarkably pure, being supplied
mostly by springs, for there are only three or four brooks of any
consequence that empty into the lake, and it is doubtful whether they
do more than supply the loss from evaporation in the summer months.
Pierce's Island, an emerald gem of about seven acres in extent, lies
in the southwestern part of the lake, and is much resorted to by
picnic and camping parties.  Here many Indian relics have been
found--principally stone pestles and arrow-heads--and tradition says
that it once was used by the savages as a stronghold, or place of
refuge.  As to the origin of the lake's name there are two theories,
though there are no positive records to substantiate either.  The
generally accepted tradition is that it was named from early settlers
by the name of Spafford, upon its shores.  But the town records shown
the name of no such early settlers.  There are reasons, however, for
supposing that its name was given before the settlement of the
town, and this Spafford, who is said to have lived near its shore,
was a hunter, and only a temporary resident.  ANother theory is that
it was named after one of the original grantees, of which there
were two, John and Silas Spafford.

For the past fifteen years or so the lake has been gradually growing
in popular favor as a summer resort.  Those who seek health and
comfort here do wisely, for the lake, though not large, is said by
travelers to be one of the most picturesque in the county.  The first
person to put a sail boat on the water was Capt ---, who was known
by the sobriquet of Capt. Bulky.  This was many years ago; so many,
indeed, that the captain's real name has been forgotten.  Afterward,
Ezekiel P. Pierce had a sail boat built in 1857, and remodeled in
1860, which, sometimes manned by an experienced seaman, was used
more or less by sailing parties for several years.  Near the original
entrance to the lake, at the southwest part, is the "Lake House,"
a substantial stone building, erected in 1831 by Ezekiel P. Pierce Sr.,
and for many years kept by him as a temperance hotel.  It is still
the residence of members of his family.  In 1873 the Prospect House
was built by John W. Herrick of Keene, designed for the accomodation
of persons who came to the lake seeking health or recreation, and of
which A.R. Mason is now proprietor.  Here also are the picnic grounds
of George W. Darling, furnished with cottages, dining-hall, skating
rink, dancing pavilion, etc.  In 1874 John W. White commenced
building his boat-house etc on the southern shore of the lake and
furnished it the following year.

Pierce's Island in the southwestern part of the lake, contains from
four to six acres...

Catsbane Island, which lies about half a mile below the mouth of
Catsbane Brook, in the Connecticut is worthy of mention.  This island
which is in view from the lower ferry--contains but a few acres,
and is principally noted as being, in all probability, near the place
where the Indians crossed the river on their way to Canada, after
having defeated Sergeant Taylor's party in July 1748.  It is possible,
however, that the place called "Cattsbane," in Sergeant Taylor's
diary, was the mouth of Catsbane Brook.

[Mineral description of the area found in the original document,
not included here.]

INCORPORATION & SETTLEMENT--Pending the King's decision respecting
the dividing line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the
General Court of the former province granted upwards of thirty
townships between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers.  The township
that lay just north of Arlington (which embraced a portion of the
territory now belonging to Hinsdale and Winchester) and east of the
COnnecticut was called Township No. 1, and was nearly identical with
the present township of Chesterfield.  Township Nos. 1, 2, 3 and
4 were accepted by the General Court of Massachusetts, November 30,
1736.  Samuel Chamberlain, of Westford, MA was empowered, Dec 13,
1737 to call the first meeting of the proprietors of No. 1 for
organization. It is not known, however, that any settlement was
attempted in this township under the Massachusetts charter.  In fact,
the incursions of the French and Indians into this part of the
Connecticut Valley rendered any attempt to settle the new township
extremely hazardous for some years subsequent to 1737.
  A treaty of peace between France and England was signed at
Aix-la-Chapelle, October 7, 1748; but, in this country, hostilities
did not wholly ceased for some time; for, June 20, 1749, the Indians
assaulted No. 4 and carried off Enos Stevens, son of Captain Stevens.
In 1750, 1751 and 1752 there was peace in the Connecticut Valley...

Some time in the year 1751, Josiah Willard, John Arms and fifty-six
others petitioned Governor Benning Wentworth to recharter Township
No. 1. In accordance with this petition, Governor Wentworth, with the
advice and consent of the Council, granted a charter, February 11,
1752 to Josiah Willard and others, incorporating Township No. 1 under
the name of Chesterfield.... It is probably that the name was given
to the town, either in honor of the Earl of Chesterfield, or the town
of the same name in England.  The names of the grantees of
Chesterfield, as appended to the charter, were as follows:
Josiah Willard, Nathan Willard, Valentine Butler, John Arms,
John Arms Jr. Josiah Willard Jr., Nathan Willard Jr., Wilder Willard,
John Moore, William Willard, Caleb Trowbridge, William Lawrence,
John Hunt, Simon Hunt, Jonathan Hubbard, Samuel Kennada, Solomon
Willard, Billy Willard, Simon Cooley, Joseph Willard, William Deen,
Simon Stone, Peter Oliver, David Hubbard, Thomas Pain, John
Wheelwright, Jeremiah Wheelwright, Simon Willard, Benj'a Lynd,
John Spafford, Silas Spafford, Sam'l Davis, Phineas Wait, Joanna
Wetherby, Elias Alexander, John Brooks, James Whitney, Abraham
Kendel, Benj'a French, Josiah Brown, Ebenez'r Day, John French Jr.,
Sam'l Greeley, Will'm Spalding, Moses Gould, Wil'm Down, Robert
Fletcher, David Field, Sam'l Field, David Sterns, John Kendel,
Daniel Kendell, James Stootley, His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, 
Esq. [Theodore Atkinson was secretary of the province.  Richard
Wibird, Samuel Smith, Sampson Sheaffe and John Downing were members
of the Council at the time the township was regranted]. Col. Josiah
Willard, the leading grantee, was, for many years, a resident of
Winchester.

[Description of town in original charter, found in original, but not
included here]. Owing to a loss of the proprietary records, nothing is
known concerning the meetings of the proprietors of the town, or the
business transacted..

Governor Wentworth's share (five hundred acres) lay in the northwest
corner of the town, and is known at the present day as the Governor's
Farm.  According to the plan, John Wentworth also had a share of three
hundred acres.  These shares are indicated on the plan as "B. and J.
Wentworth's shares," and formed a tract bounded on the north by
Westmoreland line and on the west by Connecticut river... Aaron Smith,
son of Moses Smith, the first settlers, settled on Governor B. 
Wentworth's share about 1767, as did afterwards his brother, Benjamin
Smith.  John Wentworth's share was located just east of the
Governor's Farm, and was purchased by William Randall in 1780.

Due most to Indian conflicts, the settlers were unable to meet the
requirements of the grant, and re-petitioned to extend the grant
on June 11, 1760 for one year.  On 20 Feb 1761, Moses Smith, who at
that time was said to be "of Hinsdale" purchased of Oliver Willard,
of Brattleborough, one whole right, or share in the town of
Chesterfield... Oliver Willard owned lots #14 and #15 in the 16th
Range, along with house lot #10 in the 12th range.  In November 1761,
as tradition puts it, Moses Smith, and his son-in-law, William Thomas,
came up the Connecticut in canoes or boats, for the purpose of making
the first settlement in the town of Chesterfield.  Both men brought
their families with them; Smith's consisting (so far as known) of
his wife Elizabeth, and his sons, Aaron, Moses, Amos, Joseph,
Benjamin, and Reuben.  Of these sons, Aaron, the oldest, was about
21 years old; Reuben the youngest was about 3 years old.  Thomas'
family consister, probably, only of himself and wife, Mary, Smith's
daughter.

Smith built a log cabin on lot #14, in the 16th range.  The place
where this stood is a short distance north of the present residence
of his great-grandson, George Smith, and a few rods east of the
highway, which, at this point, runs near the bank of the river.  The
site of the cabin is still indicated by a depression in the plain.

Thomas erected his cabin near the river's bank, at a point about
one mile and a half below Smith's "pitch."  It stood a few rods east
of the lower ferry, and a few feet north of the present highway
leading easterly from the same.  Its site is still marked by a
depression in the earth, and a mound adjoining the depression on its
eastern side.  This mound consists, in great part, of ashes and
charcoal.

When spring came, the work of clearing a patch for cultivation was
probably begun, although the work of felling trees may have been
prosecuted during the winter, when the weather permitted.

On the 25th day of April 1762, Thomas' wife gave birth to the first
white child born in the town.  This child was called Mary.  She
married Lemuel Stoddard. There are reasons to believe that the first
male child born of white parents in Chesterfield was Lotan Hildreth,
son of Jonathan Hildreth, born March 29, 1763.

Town records do not begin until 1767, however it is certain that
a large number of families had become established before that date.
In the spring of 1762 Capt. Simon Davis, of Greenwich, Mass, and
Abel Emmons settled in the western part of the town; and some time
the same year Peter Wheeler came to settle.  A saw-mill  is also said
to have been constructed this year by John Snow and Moses Smith.
The proprietors granted two pieces of land to them, on condition 
that they should erect a mill, keep it in good repair for the 
following five years, and saw boards at as reasonable a rate as was
done in other places. There is a tradition, that, after the first
boards were sawed, they were laid down so as to form a kind of rude
floor, upon which the settlers danced, to celebrate the event. This
mill was built on Catsbane Brook, in the western part of the town,
and stood near the place where Warren W. Farr's house now stands.
A grist-mill was also erected, at an early period, near this saw-mill.
Both mills were carried away by a freshet in the summer of 1826.

The following persons are known to hve settled in Chesterfield before
1767:  Ephraim Baldwin and Jonathan Cobleigh, as early as 1763;
Daniel Farr, Samuel Farr, and Nathan Thomas, as early as 1764;
Jonathan Farr Jr. and Timothy Ladd, in 1765; Eleazer Cobleigh and
Silas Thompson in 1766.  Of course, the above-named settlers, with
their families, constituted but a small part of the whole number
that were in the town in the year 1767, which year Chesterfield had
three hundred and sixty-five inhabitants.  Among those who had become
residents before the last-mentioned date were Jonas Davis, Ebenezer
Davison, Thomas Emmons, Jonathan and Samuel Hildreth, James Robertson,
James Wheeler and Nathaniel Bingham.

The first records of town meetings is one held June 1767, which
mentions Samuel Hildreth, constable, Jonas Daviss (in whose house
the meeting would be held) and selectmen, Simon Davis, John Snow,
Jonathan Hildreth, Eleazer Cobleigh, and Ebenezer Davison.

In 1773 the population of the town...
Unmarried men, sixteen to sixty .... 55
Married men, sixteen to sixty...... 109
Males under sixteen................ 224
Males sixty and upwards............  12
Unmarried females.................. 220
Married females.................... 120
Widows.............................   7
Slaves.............................   0
    Total.......................... 747

In 1775 the number of inhabitants was 874.

TOWN SECTIONS:
"Hardscrabble": Southeast quarter of the town, rugged and rocky
"New Boston" District - upper half of the valley of Leavitt's Brook
"Dish Land" northward of Streeter Hill

CHESTERFIELD DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLTUION--At a town meeting held
in Chesterfield, January 17, 1775, it was voted to accept the result
of the General Congress held at Philadelphia in the autumn of the
preceding year, and to pay this town's proportion of the expense of
another Congress to be held in the same city the following May.
Lieutenant Brown, Lieutenant Hinds, Nathaniel Bingham, Silas Thompson,
and Ephraim Baldwin were chosen a committee "to draw up articles,"
and make return of the proceedings of the meeting to the Provincial
Council.  Ensign Moses Smith, Deacon Silas Thompson and Lieutenant
Jacob Hinds were chosen a committee for the purpose stated in the
warrant.  On 14 Dec 1775 a town meeting was held at which Archibald
Robertson was chosen to represent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the
Provincial Congress, to be held at Exeter on the 21st day of the same
month.  Captain Shattuck, Aaron Cooper, Captain Hildreth, Ensign
Smith and Lieut. Fletcher were constituted a committee to give
Mr. Robertson his instructions.

Previous to September of this year (1775) thirty-six Chesterfield men
went into the army, the most of them enlisting in Colonel James
Reed's regiment. The "Army Rolls" in the office of the adjutant-
general of the State show that this town paid bounties to the amount
of 40 pounds 6s 8d to men who enlisted on account of the Lexington
alarm.

On April 12, 1776, the Committee of Safety of the State of NH, required
that all males above 21 years of age to sign a DECLARATION, which
read as follows: "We, the Subscribers, do hereby Solemnly engage and
promise that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of
our Lives and Fortunes, with Arms, oppose the Hostile proceedings
of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American
Colonies." The Selectmen of Chesterfield in 1776, namely Ephraim
Baldwin, Michael Cresey and Samuel Hildreth went about obtaining
signatures.  

On June 12, 1776 the selectmen made their return, 
"In obedience to the within Declaration that we Rec'd from your
Honors, we proceeded According to your Directions and the persons
Names underwriten are those that Refuse to sign the Declaration on
your paper:
 Capt. Jona. Hildreth.
 Eseek Earl.
 Lieut. Ephraim Whitney.
 Ebenezer Harvey.
 Ephraim Whitney.
 Joseph Prentice.
 Elisha Walton.
 Sam'l Davis Converse.
 Eleazer Pomeroy.
 Silas Bennett.
 Ebenezer Cooper
 Sal. Keing [Sam'l King].
 Ebenezer Fletcher Jr.
----------------------- this was signed by the Selectmen of
Chesterfield, Eph. Baldwin, Moses Smith Jr., Michael Cresey,
Ephraim Hubbard and Samuel Hildreth.

NAMES OF THOSE WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION:
Abraham Wood, John Pratt, Simon Davis, Nathaniel Bingham, Isaac Davis,
Abel Ray, John Snow, Samuel Farr, Oliver Cobleigh, Nehemiah Merrill,
Jonathan Farwell, Samuel Farr Jr., Oliver Farwell, John Haskell,
Silas Thompson, Ezekiel Powers, William Farwell, Silas Wood,
Jonathan Davis, Obadiah Merrill, Warren Snow, William Henry,
Ebenezer Streeter, Daniel Farr, William Thomas, Amasa Colburn,
Daniel Baldwin, Thomas Harris, William Simonds, Douglas Robbins,
Amos Smith, Ullainell Merrill, Josh Smith [prob. Jos. Smith],
Sherebiah Fay, Zur Evans, Jonathan Farr (4th), William Farr Jr.,
Jonathan Farr (3d), Ithamar Chamberlain, Thomas Farr, Caleb Johnson,
Benjamin Judson, Amos Streeter, Moses Smith, Abner Johnson,
Josiah Streeter, Kimball Carlton, Michael Woodcock, Theodore
Bingham, Jonathan Cobleigh, John Pierce, Jonas Stearns, Benjamin
Colburn, Samuel Fairbanks, Ephraim Farr, Jonathan Farr (2d),
Isaac Farr, Josiah Lamb, Thomas Darby, Samuel Walker, Joseph Metcalf,
Archibald Robertson, Martin Warner, Andrew Colburn, David Stooder Jr.
[David Stoddard Jr.] Lawrence Walton, Phineas Brown, Samuel Peacock,
John Sanderson, John Peacock, William Fisher, Ephraim Baldwin,
Jonathan Hildreth Jr., Michael Cressey, James Wheeler Jr., Samuel
Hildreth, Josiah Hastings, Moses Smith Jr., Andrew Hastings, William
Aires, Noah Emmons, David Stone, Jonathan Cressey, John Grandy,
Ephraim Wheeler, John Grandy Jr., John Cobleigh, Increase Lamb,
Joseph Higgins, Abner Albee, James McElroy, Ebenezer Taft, Joseph
Wheeler, John Richardson, James Wheeler, David Kinnison, Zenas
Fairbanks, Joel Whitney, Nathan Bishop, David Farr, Isaac Hildreth,
James Mansfield, Israel Johnson, Amos Hubbard, James Robertson,
Jonathan Farr (1st), Elisha Rockwood, Patrick McMichael, Dan Cobleigh,
Abijah Kingsbury, Aaron Farr, Ebenezer Gail, Peter Wheeler, Sylvanus
Battey, Moses Ellis, Ebenezer Faver, Ephraim Hubbard, Abijah Stearns,
Amos Davis, Matthew Gray, John White, William Hildreth, Nathan
Metcalf, James Reed, John Bishop, John Ellis, Jonathan Cobleigh,
Oliver Hubbard, Nathan Thomas, Michael Metcalf, Abel Emmons,
Charles Johnson, William Robertson, Benjamin Smith, Edward Hildreth,
Samuel Fletcher, James Davis, Abraham Farr, and Enoch Streeter.
(One hundred and thirty-nine persons signed the declaration and
thirteen refused to sign).  The declaration was known as the
"Association Test," and according to the returns that were made,
was signed by eight thousand one hundred and ninety-nine persons in
the colony of New Hampshire, while only seven hundred and seventy-
three persons refused to sign.

At a town meeting held December 2, 1776, Michael Cressey was elected
to represent the town in the Assembly that was to meet at Exeter
the third Wednesay of the same month.  Rev. Mr. Wood, Deacon Thompson,
Lieut. Fairbankks, Dr. Harvey and Lieut. Rockwood were chosen a
committee to give Mr. Cressey his instructions.

In June of 1777, Ebenezer Harvey, Eleazer Pomeroy and Samuel King,
all of Chesterfield, were brought before the "Court of Inquiry" at
Keene, charged with being hostile to the United States.  They were
put by the Court under bonds in five hundred pounds each to remain
within the limits of their respective farms. On April 6, 1778, the
selectmen of Chesterfield and the town Committee of Safety 
recommended the discharge of Harvey, Pomeroy and King without their
taking the "oath of fidelity." They were discharged the next day.

During the last two or three years of the War of the Revolution,
Chesterfield seems to have furnished but a very few men for the
military service of the U.S. and several times refused to bear
its proportion of the burdens of the war.  For this reason fines
were afterwards imposed upon the town.  The problem appears to be
more due to a change in the boundary lines between NH and MA, rather
than that of not wanting to contribute to the cause.

Soon after the battle of Lexington, three regiments were organized
in New Hampshire, the Third being commanded by Colonel James Reed,
of Fitzwilliam.  One company in this regiment was commanded by
Captain Jonathan Whitcomb.  In this company were the following
Chesterfield men:--Joseph Smith (Fifer), Josiah Hastings, Eleazer
Jordan, Elisha Walton, Jonathan Farr, Eleazer Cobleigh (drummer),
Joshua Farr, Ephraim Farr, Eleazer Stoddard, Asa Gale, Joseph
Metcalf, John Merrill, Charles Johnson, Benjamin Wheeler, and Elijah
Walton.  Caleb Whitcomb's company appears to have been at
Medford, MA Oct 13, 1775 as at that date the men signed a receipt for
money recieved "in lieu of coats promised by the Colony of New
Hampshire."  Another company in Col. Reed's regiment was under the
command of Capt. Jacob Hinds, of Chesterfield.  The following men
besides Capt. Hinds, belonged to this town: Ezekiel Davis (sergeant),
Jacob Davis, David Stoddard (sergeant), Jacob Hinds Jr.,
William Farwell (sergeant), and Richard Coughlan.  [on one roll the
last named is put down as sergeant-major].  This company also appears
to have been at Medford in October.  The men in these two companies
received wages ranging from six pounds to 8 pounds, 11s, 5d for
terms of service varying from three months to three months, sixteen
days.  It is evident, however, that both companies served longer than
the maximum time given in the payroll.  

Colonel Reed's regiment took part in the battle of Bunker Hill (as it 
is commonly called). According to the "Army Rolls," a man named John 
Davis (or John Dawes, as given on one roll) of Chesterfield, a member 
of Reed's regiment, was killed in this battle, and Josiah Walton,
also of Chesterfield, wounded.  With regard to the first-named,
the writer has not been able to determine whether he really belonged
to this town or not; the last-named may have been Elijah Walton or
Elisha Walton.
  It is not known how long the Chesterfield men in Reed's regiment
remained in the service after October 1775, but it is evident that
some of them had returned home before June 12, 1776.
  Early in 1776 a regiment of NH men was raised for the defense of
the western frontier of the State, and placed under the command of
Colonel Timothy Bedel.  This regiment was at the "Cedars" in lower
Canada, in May of that year, where it was soon afterwards 
surrended to the enemy by Major Butterfield, who had command at that
time.  One company of this regiment was commanded by Captain Daniel
Carlisle, of Westmoreland, and contained at least four Chesterfield
men, viz: --Aaron Smith (ensign), Thomas Gibbs (sergeant),
Nathaniel Bacon (fifer) and Eleazer Jordan (corporal).

In July and August of 1776, a regiment of New Hampshire men was raised,
of which Joshua Wingate was colonel.  One company in this regiment
was commanded by Captain William Humphrey.  This company contained
the following Chesterfield men: Joseph Metcalf (corporal), Gustavus
Bingham, John Pratt, Amasa Colburn, James Wheeler, John Peacock,
Joseph Metcalf Jr., Amos Partidge, Thomas Metcalf, Nathaniel Sanger,
Elijah Watson [Walton], and William Day.  Perhaps the name of
Ebenezer Porter should be added.  This regiment was sent to reinforce
the northern army in New York State.  Most of the privates in
Capt. Humphrey's company received each, advanced wages and bounties..
The time of service has not been determined, but it is certain that 
some of the Chesterfield men had returned home before May and June of
the following year.

One of the companies of Colonel Nahum Baldwin's regiment (raised in
September the same year, [1776] and sent to reinforce the Continental
army in the State of New York) was commanded by Captain John Houghton.
It contained the following Chesterfield men: John Bishop, Jonathan
Cressey, James Robertson, Jonathan Farwell, Josiah Hastings, Isaac 
Farr, Jonathan Farr, Nathan Thomas, Ezekiel Powers, and Jonathan 
Farr (3d).  Each man was paid in advance. The discharge date has not
been ascertained, but most of the men from Chesterfield were at home
early in the summer of the next year.

Another regiment was raised in New Hampshire in December 1776, for the
same purpose as the last two mentioned.  It was commanded by Colonel
David Gilman.  In Captain Francis Towne's company, in this regiment,
were at least two men from Chesterfield, viz: Zenas Fairbanks
(Jonas Fairbanks on one roll) and Aaron Farr. They each received wages
from December 5 to March 12, 1777.

Amos Colburn, of Chesterfield, was commissioned second lieutenant in
Colonel Alexander Scammel's regiment, November 7, 1776, and appears to
have remained in service until 1779, if not longer.

Ebezer Fletcher, of this town, was also first lieutenant in the same
regiment, having been appointed January 15, 1777.

November 11, 1776, William Lee, of Chesterfield, was appointed
lieutenant in Col. Cilley's regiment, and served until January 8, 1778.

In the company commanded by Captain Waitstill Scott, of Westmoreland,
(in Colonel Ashley's regiment), and which marched to Ticonderoga in
May 1777, were the following men who belonged to Chesterfield:
James Robertson (first lieutenant), Eli Partridge (or Pattridge),
Samuel Davis (ensign), Samuel Stearns, William Hildreth (sergeant),
Ephraim Farr, Thomas Farr, Daniel Colburn (corporal), Jacob Farr,
Daniel Farr (corporal), Charles Farr, Eleazar Jordan, John Sanderson,
Joseph Metcalf, William Thomas, Amos Patridge (or Pattridge),
and Nathaniel Walton.  Most of Capt. Scott's men served about forty
days and were discharged June 21.  They received pay and allowed 3
pence per mile for the return march. The troops that went to
Ticonderoga in May had scarcely arrived home when tidings were
brought of the actual approach of Burgoyne's army toward that 
important post.  Again the New Hampshire militia were called upon to
march to the rescue.  One of the companies in Colonel Ashley's 
regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Oliver Cobleigh, of this town,
and nearly, or quite all the men belonged also to Chesterfield. The
roll of Lieutenant Cobleigh's company was as follows: Josiah Hastings
(ensign), Jonas Davis (Sergeant), Samuel Davis (sergeant), James
Wheeler (sergeant), Ezekiel Powers (sergeant), Dan Cobleigh (corporal);
privates: Amos Davis, Ebenezer Fletcher, Jonathan Farr Jr., Joseph
Higgins, Daniel Baldwin, Elisha Walton, Thomas Whitcomb, Henry Cressey,
Isaac Hildreth, Joseph Higgins Jr., Benjamin Smith, Ephraim Amidon,
Ebenezer Farr, Amos Smith, Eleazer Stoddard, Aaron Smith, Jonathan
Cressy Jr., Martin Warner, Joel Whitney, Jonathan Starr (probably Farr)
William Crafford, Amos Streeter, Jonathan Davis and John Peacock.

Another company in Colonel Ashley's regiment was commanded by
Lieutenant James Robertson, of Chesterfield.  The following 
Chesterfield men, under command of Lieutenant Robertson, set out for
Ticondergoa, June 29, 1777: Moses Smith (who also ranked as lieut.),
Daniel Colburn, Samuel Davis Converse, Daniel Kennison (ensign),
Oliver Hobart (prob Hubbard), John Ellis (sergeant), Silas Richardson
(sergeant), Zenas Fairbanks, John Pratt (sergeant), Thomas Metcalf,
Jonathan Farwell, Reuben Hildreth, John Davison, Jesse Hildreth,
William Henry, Joseph Smith, Nathan Metcalf, Silas Thompson,
Thomas Daby, Nathaniel Bingham, Joseph Metcalf, Andrew Hastings,
Ebenezer Streeter, Elisha Rockwood, Asa Gale, Joseph Metcalf Jr.,
Amos Partridge (or Pattridge), Reuben Graves, Samuel Walker and
Asa Metcalf.  It is possible that a few more of the men who marched
with Lieut. Robertson also belonged to Chesterfield, but the 
above-named are all that can be identified with certainty. The men of
this company were absent, at the longest, only thirteen days; some of
them not more than two or three days.

One of the regiments in General Stark's brigade was commanded by
Colonel Moses Nichols.  The Eighth COmpany of this regiment was
under the command of Captain Kimball Carlton of Chesterfield.  The
record says that this company "marched from Chesterfield and
towns adjacent, July 22, 1777." It took part in the battle of
Bennington, on the 16th day of August following.  The following are
the names of men in this company who have been identified with
certainty as belonging to this town: Josiah Hastings (ensign),
Daniel Farr (sergeant), Noah Emmons (corporal), Amos Partridge
(or Pattridge), Benjamin Streeter, Thomas Metcalf, Daniel Baldwin,
Joseph Metcalf, Jacob Farr Jr., Charles Farr, Jonathan Cobleigh,
William Farr, Samuel Peacock, Lemuel Stoddard, Amos Hobart (probably
Hubbard), Jonathan Farr, Jonathan Hildreth Jr., Aaron Fisk,
Theodorus Bingham, and Samuel D. Converse.

According to tradition, John Pierce and others of Chesterfield (whose
names are not now known) took part in the battle of Bennington as
independent volunteers.  Oliver Brown and Thomas Farr are said to have
driven cattle for the use of the American army.  The British captured
the cattle, whereupon the two young men went into the ranks and
served as soldiers.  It has always been claimed that the roar of the
cannon on that eventful day, was heard by several different persons
in this town.  It was heard, it is said, by the wife of Aaron Fisk,
who lived on the hill west of Spafford's Lake.  Greatly agitated
thereby, she walked about the house as long as it continued. No 
Chesterfield men are known to have been killed at this battle, and
the names of those who were wounded, if any, have not been ascertained.

In June 1777, Gustavus Bingham and John Grandy, both of Chesterfield,
enlisted; but in what regiment has not been determined with certainty.
Both were discharged January 10, 1778. 

In 1778 Chesterfield paid bounties to those serving.  The name of 
only one of the men who enlisted this year has been ascertained,
namely, John Hill, aged 23, who enlisted in Captain Wait's company,
Stark's regiment, and received payment in May.

In 1779 the bounties and mileages paid by the town to soldiers
amounted to upwards of four hundred pounds.  In the spring of this year
the following Chesterfield men enlisted in Captain Ephraim Stone's
company, Colonel Mooney's regiment: Jonathan Cressey, Martin Hildreth,
and John Putnam.  Each received a bounty and money for travel
(to Providence). Colonel Mooney's regiment was raised for the
defense of Rhode Island.

In July the same year, the following men enlisted for the town of
Chesterfield: William Nichols, Phineas Hemenway, Thomas Wooley,
David Pierce, and Simon Pierce.  They enlisted in the "Continental
service," for the term of one year and recieved a bounty of sixty
pounds each.

In the summer of 1780, Francis Crane, William Lee, Reuben Still,
David Still, Nathan Dodge all enlisted for the town of Chesterfield,
and served a few months, at the least. Crane, in a petition dated
April 7, 1783, stated that "being at Glasgo, in the Bay State, on or
about the Twentieth of sd July [i.e. July 1780] he the deponent did
by misfortune and axcident cut off two of his Fingers and was
thereby Disabled to go forward to the army, and was under the care"
of a doctor.

The following Chesterfield men also enlisted this year (1780) in
Colonel Moses Nichols' regiment, raised for the defense of West
Point: John Pratt (who appears to have been appointed a lieutenant),
Ebenezer Safford, Daniel Baldwin, Noah Emmons and Aaron Cressey.

In October the same year, the British and Indians burned Royalton Vt..
It seems that Captain Josiah Hartwell, perhaps of Chesterfield, with
a few men from his town (whose names have not been ascertained) was
among those who went in pursuit of the enemy.  In a petition sent
to the NH Legislature, by the selectmen of Chesterfield, dated
June 1, 1786, included the names of those serving in Col. Hazell's
Regiment including Merifield Vicary, Nath'l Merrild [Merrill], and
Silas Ray.  Merrill and Ray were members of Captain John Grigg's
company, Colonel Scammel's regiment; as were also Levi Farwell and
John Daniels, both of Chesterfield.

At a town meeting held January 11, 1781, a settlement was made with
Nathan Thomas and others for lead furnished for the use of the town
on the occasion of a certain "alarm," in October 1776. The names
included Nathan Thomas, Noah Emmons, Abel Emmons, Jonathan Farr, and
Captain Simon Davis.

According to the town records, Nathan Bishop died in the army in
1777; David Stoddard Sr went into the army, it is said, and never
returned; Elisha Bingham was discharged from the service and died while
on his way home; Gustavus Bingham was also wounded in the head some
time during the war, but recovered.  As already stated John Davis (or
Dawes) was officially reported killed, and Josiah Walton as wounded
at Bunker Hill; but these two cases are somewhat in doubt.

[Detailed information about Chesterfield's role regarding the boundary
changes in this area are included in the original document, but not
shown here].

SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY CHESTERFIELD IN THE SECOND WAR WITH GREAT 
BRITAIN... [excerpts only] 1812-1813

September 13, 1812
Amos Stone, Sergeant
Eli Darling, Corporal
Privates: Joshua Wiggins, Isaac Wetherby, Francis Winch, Stephen
Streeter Jr., Ezra Putney, Roswell Metcalf, Montgomery Darling.
These men were to serve three months, unless sooner discharged.
They formed part of Captain Nathan GLidden's company, in the First
Regiment of detached militia, commanded by Nat. Fisk, of
Westmoreland. Captain Glidden was of Unity.  Eli Darling was
discharged Nov. 3; Joshua Wiggins and Isaac Wetherby, Nov 10.
Montgomery Darling was accidentally hit by a bayonet on the gun of
a fellow soldier, and lost the sight in one eye from the effects of
the wound and was discharged Nov. 6.

The next draft was made Sept 26, 1812 and the following men were
obtained: Samuel L. Draper, John Bass, Daniel Stearns, Philip Bacon,
Elijah Lyons and Lyman Toms (Tombs).  The men of this draft formed
a part of the company commanded by Captain Reuben Marsh of this town,
in the Second Regiment of detached militia.  Ara Hamilton and Bradley
Mead, also both of Chesterfield, were lieutenants in the same company.
Captain Marsh and Lieutenants Hamilton and Mead went to Portsmouth
with the detachment, which was five days in marching to that place.
Samuel L. Draper went as a substitute, but, on his arrival at
Portsmouth, Captain Marsh procured for him the position of fifer for
the company.  John H. Fuller, then of Chesterfield, afterwards of
Keene, was adjutant of the regiment to which Captain Marsh's comopany
belonged.  The men were to serve sixty days but they were discharge
a few days before the expiration of their term of service.  Elijah
Lyons was discharged Nov 3.  The British did not attack Portsmouth,
as was anticipated, and the greater part of the troops that had 
assembled there were discharged before their term of service expired.

RECORD OF THE CITIZENS OF CHESTERFIELD WHO ENLiSTED IN THE MILITARY
SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
(1861-65).
[NOTE: ONly names of those serving, not regiments, etc that can be
found in the original, are included here]
Norris E. Bancroft, Clinton A. Bancroft, Bradford Britton, George B.
Britton, Roswell Butler, John H. Butler, Richard T. Cobb, Warren
Colburn, Julius C. Converse, Nelson S. Crouch, Calvin G. Darling,
Murray Davis, Noyes J. Davis, George P. Eddy, John M. Farnum,
Charles M. Farr, Ransom C. Farr, Bradford C. Farr, Wesley O. Farr,
Larkin D. Farr, Chancey S. Farr, Stephen P. Faulkner, James C. Field,
Francis A. Field, Harrison F. Fisk, Oscar T. Frink, Calvin P. Gilson,
Walter W. Glazier, James F. Goodrich, John H. Goodwin, Charles L.
Harvey, Foster W. Hastings, Eugene F. Hastings, Hubbard W. Henry,
Dwight L. Herrick, Sidney B. Higgins, John W. Hildreth, George L.
Hildreth, Taylor E. Hill, Frank J. Holt, Joseph Holt, George Hopkins,
Wayland N. Hosley, Henry H. Howe, Barton Howe Jr., Robert Jackson,
Charles B. Lewis, Reuben A. Lewis, Lucian O. Lincoln, Horace S.
Lincoln, James M. Martin, Henry L. McClenning, J. Milo Richardson,
Daniel E. Robbins, Otis Safford, Norman D. Safford, Leavitt W. Safford,
Otis H. Scott, George D. Scott, Henry Herbert Snow, James S. Stoddard,
Edwin H. Streeter, Albert W. Streeter, Herbert N. Streeter, Marshall 
S. Streeter, Herbert B. Titus, David B. Tyrrel, Everett C. Tyrrel,
David S. Walton Jr., Lyman H. Warren, Alonzo W. Wheeler.  Of the
seventy-four men whose names have been given above, none were killed
in battle; one died from the effects of a wound received in battle;
eleven were wounded and survived; six died of disease.

POPULATION:
A census taken by order of the provincial government in the year 1767
shows that Chesterfield then had 365 inhabitants.  In 1773 the number
of inhabitants was 747, of whom 400 were males.  In September 1775,
the selectmen made an enumeration of the inhabitants of the town and
found the number to be, including 36 men absent in the army, 874.
Of this number, 462 were males. No slaves were returned during the
early censuses.

During the War of the Revolution many families came into the town
from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  By the year 1786
the number of inhabitants had reached 1535, notwithstanding the
unsettled state of affairs the existed in the town during the
Revolutionary period.

The number of inhabitants of the town in every tenth year since 1790
(inclusive) have been as follows:
1790, 1905; 1800, 2161; 1810, 1839; 1820, 2110; 1830, 2046; 1840, 1765;
1850, 1680; 1860, 1434; 1870, 1289; 1880, 1173.

THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS--[excerpts only] The schools are mentioned for 
the first time, in the records of the town, in the warrant for a 
town-meeting held the second Tuesday in June, 1767.  At that time the
town had not been divided into school-wards, or districts, and what
few schools there were, were taught in private houses.  The sum of
money raised for school purposes in 1767 (if any) was not recorded;
but at the annual town meeting in 1771 it was voted to raise fifteen
pounds for the support of schools.  From 1771 to 1779 the amount
raised annually seems at no time to have exceeded fifty pounds....
When or where the first school-house was built in Chesterfield has
not been ascertained.  It is doubtful if one was built before 1785.
The oldest school-house now standing appear to have been erected
between 1800 and 1812.  The one in District No. 7 is known to have
been built about 1810.... At one time, near the beginning of the
present century [1800's] the school in District No. 7 (the
Hardscrabble District) was kept in Gibson Willard's barn....

CHESTERFIELD ACADEMY--On the 12th day of January 1790 the NH
Legislature passed an act entitled, "An Act to incorporate an
Academy in the Town of Chesterfield, by the name of the
Chesterfield Academy." This document noted that "Peter Stone, of
Chesterfield, gentleman, and sundry other persons, have voluntarily
contributed certain sums of money for the purpose of establishing
and supporting a public school, or academy, in said Chesterfield."
The first section of the act sets forth the object of the academy,
namely, "the promoting piety and virtue, and the instruction of
youth in such branches of useful Literature as the trustees hereby
appointed shall think proper to direct." The trustees named included
Rev. Abraham Wood, Solomon Harvey, physician, Moses Smith, Esq.,
Silas Richardson, Zur Evans, Simon Willard and Abner Johnson,
gentlemen, all of Chesterfield. The academy was not opened until
August 14, 1794 [reportedly] but the trustees voted August 31, 1791
to hire Sheldon Logan as instructor/preceptor.  Other following
preceptors included John Noyes (1795), Broughton Wright (?) 1797,
Levi Jackson 1799-1805, Daniel Hardy 1805, Isaac Fletcher 1808,
Jonathan Hartwell 1809, Asa Keys 1810 (for 2 years), -- McConihe
taught six months in 1812; Otis Hutchins 1812 (for 2 years) and 
spring of 1820 for 3 years [he died in Westmoreland Oct 6, 1866],
Elisha S. Plumb 1815-16, Thomas Hardy 1817-19 [died Feb 6, 1838],
George Freeman 1822 (3 months), Rev. John Walker 1823 (6 months or
more), John Chamberlain 1824, Josiah W. Fairfield 1824-26. [more
preceptors in original document, not included here, unless there
is genealogical information of interest, then posted below]. Since
1850 the academy had not been in a flourishing condition and closed.
The original academy building stood on the southereastern part of 
the common, at the Centre village, a few rods from the old
meeting-house.  It was a two-story structure surmounted by a belfry,
in which, however, there was no bell.  April 9, 1859 it was burned
to the ground.  A new building was erected the same year, having
nearly the same location, by School District No. 5.

ISAAC FLETCHER, a student of Dartmouth College was preceptor of the
Chesterfield Academy in 1808. He married, in 1812, Abigail, daughter
of Peter Stone Sr. of this town, and afterwards practiced law at
Lyndon Vt.

ASA KEYES was preceptor of Chesterfield Academy for two years from
April 16, 1810. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College and became
a distinguished lawyer.  He died at Brattleborough VT June 4, 1880
at the great age of 93 years.  His wife was Sarah, daughter of
Asa Britton, Esq. of Chesterfield.

JOSIAH W. FAIRFIELD, preceptor of Chesterfield Academy 1824-26.
He was a native of New Boston NH, and graduated at Dartmouth College
in 1827. He married Laura, Daughter of Asa Britton Esq. of this
town in 1829 and settled in Hudson NY where he died Dec. 3, 1878.

CHARLES L. STRONG, preceptor of Chesterfield Academy 1832-33,
and again in 1841-44.  Mr. Strong was a graduate of Amherst College,
and was a teacher by profession. He married in 1843, Prusha,
daughter of Ashbel Wheeler Sr. of Chesterfield and died in this
town August 2, 1847.

JOHN E. BUTLER, of Jamaica Vt., was an assistant teacher at
Chesterfield Academy in 1833.  He afterwards became a distinguished
lawyer in the State of Vermont.

page 153
THE CHURCHES

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHESTERFIELD--was probably
organized in 1771, but it is evident that a site had been selected
for a meeting-house, on the common, as early as 1767. April 24, 1770
the town voted to raise one hundred pounds, to cover the meeting-house
frame, that had already been erected.  June 8 1772 voted money to use
to finish the outside of the meeting-house.  This building stood on
the common, at the Centre village, about 35 feet south of the site of
the present town-house, and was about 65 feet long and 45 feet wide.
It was two stories high, with 2 rows of windows, and originally had a
porch on each end. [more not included here].  The first settled
minister in Chesterfield was Abraham Wood. [more not included here].

THE UNIVERSAL RESTORATION SOCIETY--organized as early as 1798 and
perhaps earlier. ANnual meetings for the election of officers were
held.  In June 1818, 55 members petitioned the legislature for an
act of incorporation. The petition was granted, and an act passed
incorporating Oliver Baker, Stephen Streeter and Jonathan Cochran,
with their associates and successors, into the society. Prior to 
1830 they held their meetings in school-houses or private dwellings.
In 1816 they were allowed to use the meeting-house at the Centre
village for a convention. In 1830 the town granted them the use of
the meeting-house every alternate Sunday, for one year.  The same
year, however, the house now occupied by them, at the West village,
was built.  The Universalist preachers before 1830 are not known.
January 2, 1882 it was voted to hire Robert Bartlett, of Langdon,
to preach on 5 Sundays during the year [more in original document
not included here]. 

BAPTIST CHURCH--No records of the Baptist Church of Chesterfield
have been found, but it is known that Nathan Worden, a preacher of
this denomination, settled in the town as early as 1787, and in 1819
a society was incorporated under the name of the "First Baptist
Church."... this society has been extinct for many years.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH--The organization of the present Methodist
Episcopal Society of Chesterfield dates from June 18, 1842.  It is said
that Jesse Lee visited the town as early as 1793, and from that time
to the present it has been a "preaching-place." In 1796 the first
circuit of New Hampshire was formed, called the "Chesterfield Circuit,"
and which had only 68 members.  The names of but few of the early
Methodist preachers in this town are now know.  Rev. Jonathan Nichols,
of Thompson, Conn, preached here at an early period, and Rev. Martin
Rutter is said to have preached his first sermon in James Robertson's
house (now owned and occupied by his grandson, Timothy N. Robertson).
One of the earliest Methodist preachers at Factory Village is said to
have been a Rev. Mr. House.  In 1844 the Methodists built a 
meeting-house at the Centre village (before that worshipping in private
homes, school-houses and sometimes in the Old Congregational
meeting-house).  From 1839-49 the pastor was Rev. C.L. McCurdy [more
in original document not included here].

UNITARIAN CHURCH--organized in Chesterfield about 1834, and existed a
few years.  Composed in part, of person who had withdrawn from the
Congregational Society.  Rev. Stephan A. Barnard was pastor of this
church in 1835, 1836 and 1837, preaching every alternate Sunday in
the old meeting-house at Centre village.  The meeting-house at
Factory village was erected in 1853 (as a "union" house).

MANUFACTURES--The manufacture of any kind of goods or ware has never
been carried on very extensively in Chesterfield... In December 1805,
Ebenezer Stearns, Moses Smith, Ebenezer Cheney and seventeen others
were incorporated into a company called the CHESTERFIELD MANUFACTORY,
for the purpose of manufacturing "cotton yarn, cloth and woolens."
In 1810 the company erected a facatory at the village, which has ever
since been called "Factory Village," or "Chesterfield Factory," the
latter being the correct post-office name.  This building, which is
one hundred feet long, by thirty feet wide, and two stories high
(exclusive of the basement) was built by Presson Farwell for $700.
For a few years after the factory was built, cotton yard is said to
have been made in it; then it was closed for a while.  In 1821,
Capt. William Brooks, who settled in Chesterfield that year, was
chosen agent of the corporation and began the manufacture of cotton
shirting. Capt. Brooks continued to manage as agent until 1839
when he removed to Brattleborough; but he retained his connection with
the factory until 1850.  The manufacture of shrting was afterwards
continued in this factory for some time by Olney Goff and by
Barton Skinner.  The building was next converted into a manufactory
of doors, window-sashes and blinds by R. Henry Hopkins and Horace 
Howe.  It is used for this purpose at the present by George L.
Hamilton, who employs ten men.

About 1820 the manufacture of "patent accelerating spinning-wheel
heads" was begun at Factory Village by Ezekiel P. Pierce, with whom 
were associated Asahel Porter and George Metcalf.  The manufacture of
these articles has since been conducted at that village by Jonathan S.
Hopkins, Elliot P. and Samuel F. Hopkins, [more names mentioned not
included here].

In 1834 or 1835 the manufacture of augurs, bits and gimlets was
commenced, near the West village, by Joshua Richardson and Oliver B.
Huggins, with associate E.P. Pierce Sr.  They were succeeded by
E.P. Pierce Jr and Charles Cross, and later by Pierce, Cross, and
Alonzo Farr.

In 1836 or 1837 the making of bits, augurs, etc. was begun at Factory
Village by Richardson & Huggins, later by George Goodrich alone,
then he with George Atherton.

[several manufactures in original document, not included here]

About 1815 (probably) David and William Arnold engaged in tanning
hides at the Centre Village.  About 1817 their tannery was bought by
Moses Dudley, who continued the business until about 1851.

About 1832 Lloyd Stearns and David Arnold began the same business
in the present tannery building at Factory village. Stearns removed
to Illinois about 1835, and the business was continued by Arnold,
then associated with Nathaniel Walton for a few years.From 1844 to
1865 this tannery was owned by Sumner Warren, later of Keene, then
by Earl Warren of Westmoreland.

The largest saw-mill in Chesterfield was built by the Steam Mill
Company, at the former village, in 1872.  In 1878 this mill was
burned and rebuilt the same year by James H. & George Goodrich...

OTHER MANUFACTURES MENTIONED:

CURRIER BROTHERS BIT AND AUGUR FACTORY--Started in 1836 or 1837 by
Richardson & Huggins at Factory Village, purchased by Benjamin and
Gilman Farwell. In 1851 Barton SKinner bought it, with Benjamin
Pierce furnishing the stock.  Currier Brothers came from
Newburyport, Mass in 1882.

FRED B. PIERCE'S BRUSH HANDLE FACTORY at Factory Village, established
in 1875.

J.H. GOODRICH'S STEAM SAW MILL-formed in 1872 by the Steam Power
Company. in 1878 this mill burned.  Bought and rebuilt by
J.H. Goodrich and his brother George. 

GEORGE L. HAMILTON SASH DOOR AND BLIND FACTORY, established in 1868
at Factory Village.

OLIVER J. BUTTERFIELD'S SAW MILL, located on road 6, was built in
1882. Manufactures lumber, shingles, pail-stock, box-boards etc.

WILLIAM W. FORD'S GRIST AND CIDER MILL located at West Chesterfield.

W.W. FARR'S GRIST AND SAW MILL, O.R. FARR'S BOX-STOC FACTORY (built
in 1875 by Ransom Farr, and bought by O.R. Farr in 1877),
BRADFORD C. FARR'S GRIST MILL, FOWLER & BUXTON'S CIDER MILL,
ARTHUR M. DAVIS'S CIDER MILL, BUTLER BROTHER'S SAW MILL.

TAVERNS AND HOTELS--The earliest taverns were merely private houses
situated near the principal highways, and those owners availed
themselves of the opportunity to add the income derived from their
farms by providing food and lodging for hungry and weary travelers,
and an abundance of spiritous and fermented drinks for the thirsty.
  After a while a law was passed compelling tavern-keepers and 
retailers of spiritous liquors to obtain a license from the selectmen.
The first recorded licenses for this purpose, were granted in 1792,
in which year four persons were licensed as taverners and one to sell
spiritous liquors.  In 1793 there were only two licensed taverners
while five persons were licensed to retail spirits; and in 1794 the
number of tavern-keepers was three, the number of retailers of
spirits retaining the same.  Among the earliest tavern-keepers were
Oliver Cobleigh, Nathaniel Stone, Andrew Hastings, Abraham Stearns,
Nathaniel Bingham and Ebenezer Harvey Sr.
  Ebenezer Harvey's tavern stood on the site of the late Parker D.
Cressey's residence at the Centre village, and was probably one of
the oldest taverns in town.
  In 1801 Levi Mead came to Chesterfield, from Lexington, Mass, and
lived in the house now occupied by Roswell Butler, at the Centre
village, which he kept as a tavern.  In 1816 he built at the same
village what was known for many years as the Mead tavern, and
which is now called the Chesterfield Hotel.  Since his death in 1828,
this tavern has had several different owners, amont them his sons,
Bradley and Elias.  From 1860 to 1868 it was owned and kept by
Parker D. Cressey, and since 1876 it has been owned by Lucius
Thatcher.
  The present hotel at Factory village, known as the Spafford House,
was built in 1807, by Elnathan Forham for a dwelling-house.  It was
first used as a tavern by Presson Farwell.  Afterwards it was owned
and kept many years by Samuel Burt, who in 1867 sold it to Sanford
Guernsey.  In 1880 it was purchased of Mr. Guernsey by Walter J.
Wheeler.  Its present proprietor is Alfred L. Proctor.
  In 1831, Ezekiel P. Pierce Sr. built a large stone house on the
old Pierce homestead, near the lake, which he kept as a tavern
several years.
  The tavern which Amos Smith kept near the river, in the northwestern
quarter of the town, and which was afterward kept by his son, George
Smith, was frequented by boatsmen and raftsmen in the days where
merchandise was transported up and down the river by means of boats,
and logs were conducted down in rafts.  The same is true of the old
Snow tavern, afterwards the town poor-house.
  The Prospect House, situated on an eminencne near the southern
shore of Spafford's Lake, of which it commands a fine view was built in
1873 by the late John W. Herrick, of Keene.  Since its erection it
has been enlarged and otherwise improved.  This hotel is kept open
only during the summer and is now owned by Hon. Charles A. Rapallo,
of New York City, one of the judges of the Court of Appeals for the
State of New York.  It has been managed, since 1879, by A.R. Mason,
of Keene.

POST-OFFICES:  The post-office at the Centre village (Chesterfield)
was established August 12, 1802.  The following persons have been
postmasters at the village: Ebenezer Harvey (1802), Asa Britton (1810),
Daniel Waldo (1830), Warham R. Platts (1833), Nelson W. Herrick
(1841), Warham R. Platts (1843), Charles J. Amidon (1849),
Henry O. Coolidge (1851); Warham R. Platts (1853), Henry O. Coolidge
(1861), James M. Herrick (1867), Romanzo C. Cressey (1868),
Murray Davis (1873), James H. Goodrich 2d (1875), and Sewall F.
Rugg (1881).
  The post office at Factory Village (Chesterfield Factory) was
established January 12, 1828.  The postmasters at this village have
been as follows: George S. Root (1828), Horatio N. Chandler (1835),
Samuel Burt Jr (1838), Bela Chase (1841), Samuel Burt (1844),
David W. Beckley (1850), Samuel Burt (1854), David W. Beckley (1861),
and James C. Farwell (1866).
  The post office at the West village (West Chesterfield) was 
established April 17, 1866 at which time James H. Ford was
commissioned postmaster.  He held the office til Nov 1870.  Since
December 19, 1870, Emory H Colburn has been postmaster at this
village.

PHYSICIANS--The following are the names of some of the physicians
who have practiced their profession in Chesterfield for longer or
shorter periods: Dr. Elkanah Day, 1767 (or earlier) til --;
Dr. Moses Ellis, before 1787; Dr. Samuel King, 1785 (or earlier)
till --; Dr. Solomon Harvey about 1775-1821 (or later); Dr. --
Barnard, about 1779; Dr. Joshua Tyler, from between 1776 and 1781
till 1807; Dr. Oliver Atherton, from about 1787 till 1812; Dr.
Prescott Hall, about 1806; Dr. James R. Grow, about 1812; Dr. Oliver
Baker, 1809-40; Dr. George Farrington, 1814-16; Dr. Joshua Converse,
-- to 1833; Dr. Jason Farr, several years previous to 1825; Dr.
Jerry Lyons 1814-25; Dr. Philip Hall, a number of years previous to
1828; Dr. Harvey Carpenter 1827 or 1828 till 1852; Dr. John P. Warren,
1842-44; Dr. Algernon Sidney Carpenter 1841; Dr. John O. French,
about ten years from 1844 or 1845; Dr. John F. Butler, 1854 to the
present time; Dr. Daniel F. Randall, 1855 to the present time; Dr.
Willie G. Cain, August 1884 to the present time.
  Dr. George Farrington died in Chesterfield July 29, 1816, aged
47 years.  His epitaph is found on his gravestone in the old town
burying ground at the Centre village [epitaph not included here, but
found in original document].
  DR. JOHN F. BUTLER is the son of Jonathan and Martha (Russell) Butler
of Marlow, and was born June 14, 1831; graduated at the Harvard Medical
School March 1854, and came to Chesterfield the next April.  In the
Spring of 1864 he joined the Thirty-ninth Regiment Massachusetts
Volunteers as assistant surgeon, and served till the war closed,
when he returned to Chesterfield.  He married, in 1857, Julia, daughter
of Rev. Silas Quimby of Lebanon, and who died AUgust 19, 1861. In
1863 he married Celia A., daughter of John L. Brewster, of Lowell MA.
  DR. DANIEL F. RANDALL has resided in Chesterfield since 1855,
engaged in the practice of his profession.  He was born May 24, 1829,
and is the son of Menzias R. Randall MD, a veteran physician of
Rehoboth, Mass. He graduated at the medical school in Woodstock, Vt.
in 1852, and settled in this town in 1855, where he has ever since
resided.  He married Miss Amelia C. French of Berkley, Mass.

LAWYERS--
HON. PHINEAS HANDERSON was probably the first lawyer who practiced
his profession in Chesterfield.  His office was at the Centre village,
where he resided from 1805 or 1806 until 1833, when he removed to
Keene.
  HON. LARKIN G. MEAD, who read law with Mr. Handerson, also practiced
in this town till 1839, when he removed to Brattleborough Vt.
  CHARLES C. WEBSTER, Esq., late of keene, practiced law in
Chesterfield from July 1839 to January 1846.
  HON. HARVEY CARLTON, now of Winchester, engaged in the practice of
law in this town from 1841 to 1854.
  ALLEN P. DUDLEY, Esq. now of San Francisco, CA, practiced law in
Chesterfield a while previous to 1855, about which time he removed
to California.
  WILLIAM L. DUDLEY, Esq., commenced the practice of law in this
town in 1846, but removed to California in 1849, and resides at
present in Stockton, engaged in the practice of his profession.

SPAFFORD'S LAKE AS A SUMMER RESORT--A brief description of Spafford's
Lake has been given in another place.  Thought it had been for many
years a favorite resort for local fisherman and the students of the
academy, and had occasionally been visited by pleasure-seekers from
abroad, it was not till within the past twelve years that any
measures were taken to establish a hotel, boat-house, cottages, etc.,
for the accomodation of persons who desire to withdraw from the
noise and tumult of the "madding crowd," and spend a few weeks in the
quietness of the country.... "Captain Bulky" was the nickname of
the captain who is said to have put the first sail-boat on this
lake." Ezekiel P. Pierce Sr., had a sail boat
on this lake, sometimes manned by an experience seaman, used more or
less by sailing-parties for several years.  Pierce's Island, too, 
has been for a long time a resort for students and others who
desire to enjoy camp-life for a few days at a time...
  In 1873 the PROSPECT HOUSE, as mentioned in another place, was
built by John W. Herrick, of Keene, and was designed for the
accomodation of persons who might come to the lake seeking health
or pleasure.
  The boat-house on the southern shore of the lake, was finished in
1875.  Near it are a skating-rink, dining hall, lodging-house, etc.,
now managed by Frank H. Farr, as is also the boat-house.
  On the southern and western shores are pretty extensive picnic-
grounds.  On the west of the lake Lucius Thatcher has a large
stable for horses, a lodging-house, restaurant and skating-rink.
  A number of individuals have also erected private cottages near
the lake, which are occupied most of the time during the hot season.
  The little steamer, "Enterprise," the construction of which was
mainly due to the efforts of John W. White, was finished in 1876.
"Her model was drafted by D.J. Lawlor, of East Boston, Mass. Her
length is 40 feet, breadth of beam 15 feet, depth of hold 4 feet,
draft 28 inches, diameter of propellor-wheeler 32 inches. Her
engine is of 8 horse-power, boiler of 12 horse-power.  Her carrying
capacity is about 125 persons, though upon occasion as many as 150
have been on board at a single trip."
  No serious accident has occurred on or about the lake since it
has become popular as a resort, except the drowning of the musicians
Conly and Reitzel.
  In the afternoon of Friday, the 26th day of May 1882, George A.
Conly, basso, and Herman Reitzel, pianist, of Clara Louise Kellogg's
concert company, were drowned in the lake while rowing for pleasure.
These gentlemen, with others, came over from Brattleborough, where the
company had an engagement to give a concert in the evening of the 
next day.  Having procured a boat at F.H. Farr's boat-house, Conly
and Reitzel started out, leaving the rest of the party on land, and
were last seen by the latter off the northern point of the island.
Not having returned at the proper time, fears were entertained for
their safety, as a strong southerly wind was blowing, and the waves
were running pretty high.  Search was consequently made for them,
and their boat found bottom upwards; but not till the next day was
unmistakeable evidence obtained that they had been drowned. Vigorous
efforts were then made to recover the bodies of the unfortunate men,
by dredging, by firing a cannon, by exploding dynamite cartridges
in the lake, and by the employment of various other devices.
  The bodies were not found, however, till they rose, Reitzel's
being discovered floating Wednesday forenoon, the 7th day of the
following June, and Conly's Wednesday morning, the 14th day of the
same month.  The latter was without coat or shoes, and had evidently
made a desperate effort to save his own, and perhaps his companion's
life.  The place of the disaster seems to have been about sixty rods
northeast of the northern point of the island.  Mr. Conly was a native
of Southwark, now part of Philadelphia, and was 37 years old;
Mr. Reitzel was a native of New York, and was only nineteen years old.

AGED PERSONS--The following is probably an incomplete list of the
persons who have died in Chesterfield at an age of ninety years or
more.
Mrs. Mary Hamilton, December 16, 1842, aged ninety.
Mrs. Lydia Cheney, April 4, 1849, aged ninety.
Mrs. Orpha Presho, April 17, 1856, aged ninety.
Thomas Dunham, March 20, 1870, aged ninety.
Mrs. Sarah Johnson, December 31, 1837, aged ninety.
Mrs. Sally Hinds, August 24, 1864, aged ninety.
Asa Fullam, December 14, 1870, aged ninety.
Mrs. Persis Dudley, January 13, 1885, aged ninety.
Mrs. Judith Tyler, August 11, 1854, aged ninety-one.
Elisha Rockwood, February 13, 1832, aged ninety-one.
Mrs. Betsey Smith, January 26, 1863, aged ninety-one.
Mrs. Sophia Day, November 11, 1883, aged ninety-one.
Mrs. Grata Thomas, August 4, 1884, aged ninety-one
Samuel Hamilton, October 19, 1878, aged ninety-one.
Jonathan Cressy, April 26, 1824, aged ninety-one.
Mrs. Polly Spaulding, February 22, 1885, aged ninety-one (very nearly)
Mrs. Mary Putnam, January 30, 1830, aged ninety-two.
Stephen Streeter Sr., March 11, 1845, aged ninety-two
William Clark Sr., February 19, 1849, aged ninety-two
Amos Crouch, August 18, 1861, aged ninety-two.
Mrs. Submit Sanderson, June 27, 1822, aged ninety-three
Ebenezer Robertson, April 22, 1882, aged ninety-four
Nathaniel Bacon, September 10, 1823, aged ninety-five
Mrs. Mary Titus, May 7, 1845, aged ninety-five
Mrs. Clarissa Norcross, March 30, 1877, aged ninety-five.
Mrs. Rachel Jackson, March 12, 1836, aged ninety-six.
Timothy Ladd, August 30, 1834, aged ninety-six
John Butler, September 10, 1883, aged ninety-seven
Mrs. Esther Faulkner, November 29, 1876, aged one hundred and one
years, one month, seven days.
Mrs. Sarah Draper, December 19, 1863, aged one hundred and one
years, five months, sixteen days.
Mrs. Hannah Bailey, November 1822, aged one hundred and four years,
three months.
-The oldest person now living in the town is Mrs. Sophronia (Mann)
Pierce, born in Smithfield, R.I. June 14, 1785.

CIVIL LIST
TOWN CLERKS OF CHESTERFIELD (1770-1885)
[not all in original document included here]
Ephraim Baldwin 1770-1784
Jacob Amidon 1785-1799
Solomon Harvey 1800-1817
Abraham Wood Jr 1818-1833
George H. Fitch 1834-1835
Oscar Coolidge 1836-1838
Nelson W. Herrick 1839-1842
Warham R. Platts 1843-1844
Sumner Warren 1845
Harvey Carpenter 1846-1848
John O. French 1849-1852

SELECTMEN OF CHESTERFIELD (1767-1885)
[not all in original document included here]
1767-Simon Davis, John Snow, Jonathan Hildreth, Eleazer Cobleigh,
Ebenezer Davison
1768-69 no record
1770-Jonathan Hildreth, Silas Thompson, Elkanah Day, Thomas Emmons,
Nathaniel Bingham
1771-Moses Smith, David Stoddard, Timothy Ladd
1772-same as in 1771
1773-Zerubbabel Snow, Ephraim Baldwin, Martin Warner
1774-same as in 1773
1775-Nathaniel Bingham, Ephraim Hubbard, Stephen Carter, Moses Smith
Jr., John Davison
1776-Ephraim Baldwin, Michael Cressey, Samuel Hildreth, Moses Smith
Jr., Ephraim Hubbard
1777-Samuel Fairbanks, Elisha Rockwood, James Robertson, Nathaniel
Bingham, Jonathan Farr 2d
1778-Samuel Hildreth, Moses Smith, Abner Johnson, Kimball Carlton,
Jacob Hinds
1779-Jonathan Hildreth, Oliver Cobleigh, Warren Snow
1780-Michael Cressey, Elisha Rockwood, Andrew Hastings
1781-Moses Smith Jr., Abner Johnson, Samuel King [Jr.]
1872-Samuel King [Jr.], Jonas Fairbanks, Abner Johnson, Moses Smith,
Eleazer Jackson
1783-Ebenezer Harvey, Eleazer Pomeroy, Eleazer Jackson, Captain --
Davis, Lieut. -- Fletcher
1784-Benjamin Haskell, Peter Stone, Amos Hubbard
1785-Paul Eager, Jacob Amidon, Reuben Graves
1786-Martin Warner, William Hildreth, Ezra Day
1787-Eleazer Jackson, Michael Cressey, Benjamin Haskell
1788-Eleazer Jackson, Benjamin Haskell, Silas Richardson
1789-Moses Smith, Abner Johnson, Solomon Harvey
1790-1791 same as in 1789
1792-Solomon Harvey, John Braley, James Wheeler
1793&1794-Eleazer Jackson, Peter Stone, Silas Richardson
1795-Eleazer Jackson, Silas Richardson, Asahel Shurtleff
1796-Eleazer Jackson, Silas Richardson, David Stoddard
1797-Michael Cressey, Jacob Amidon, Abraham Stearns
1798&1799-Joseph Atherton, Benjamin Haskell, Oliver Brown
1800-Eleazer Jackson, James Wheeler, Asahel Shurtleff
1801-James Wheeler, Asahel Shurtleff, Joseph Pattridge
1802-Martin Pomeroy, Joseph Pattridge, John Day
1803-Joseph Pattridge, John Day, Ebenezer Harvey

REPRESENTATIVES OF CHESTERFIELD IN THE GENERAL COURT (1775-1885)
[Only a partial listing shown here]
1775. Archb. Robertson.
1776, 1777, 1778. Michael Cressey.
1779. Nath. Bingham.
1780. None chosen
1781. No rep in the NH legislature, but Saml King Jr. and Silas
Thompson represented the town in the Vermont assembly.
1782, 1783, 1784. Samuel King [Jr.]
1785. Ebenezer Harvey.
1786, 1787, 1788. Moses Smith
1789. Benjamin Haskell.
1790, 1791. Moses Smith
1792, 1793. Eleazer Jackson
1794, 1795, 1796. Simon Willard
1797. Eleazer Jackson
1798. Simon Willard
1799, 1800. Benjamin Haskell.
1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807. Simon Willard
1808, 1809. 1810 1811. Levi Jackson
1812, 1813. Phin. Handerson.
1814. Benjamin Cook
1815, Benjamin Cook, Phin. Handerson
1816. Benjamin Cook, John Putnam
1817. John Putnam, Joseph Atherton.
1818. John Putnam, John Kneeland
1819. John Kneeland, Benjamin Cook.
1820. John Kneeland
1821. Levi Jackson
1822. John Kneeland
1823 & 1824. Ebenezer Stearns
1825. John Kneeland
1826. John Putnam
1827. Ezekiel P. Pierce
1828 & 1829. Orlo Richardson
1830. None chosen
1833, 1834, 1835 Otis Amidon
1836, 1837. Charles Converse
1838. Otis Amidon
1840, 1841. Oscar Coolidge, Ara Hamilton
1842 Jay Jackson, Edwin Sargent
1843. Ara Hamilton
1844. Jay Jackson, Nathaniel Walton
1845. Ara Hamilton, John Pierce
1846. Nathaniel Walton, Saml. J. Pattridge
1847. None chosen
1848 Harvey Carpenter
1849. Alpheus Snow, John Harris
1850. John Harris, David Day

DELEGATES FROM CHESTERFIELD TO THE CONVENTIONS FOR REVISING THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (NH)
In 1791, Eleazer Jackson; in 1850 Ara Hamilton and Moses Dudley,
in 1876, Jay Jackson.  Dr. Solomon Harvey was the delegate from
Chesterfield to the convention that adopted the Federal Constitution
in 1788.

SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST (not included here)

MEMBERS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE FROM CHESTERFIELD:
Levi Jackson 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815
Phineas Handerson, 1816, 1817, 1825, 1831, 1832
Nathan Wild, 1833, 1834
Murray Davis, 1885
Levi Jackson was also a member of the Council in 1816 and 1817

**************
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES
**************

JACOB AMIDON, born in Mendon, Mass, in 1753 or 1754, was in college
at the time of the commencement of the Revolution, but soon enlisted
in the patriot army and served during the most of the war, with the
exception of twenty-eight months, during which time he was detained
a prisoner on a British prison-ship.
  December 23, 1782, he purchased in Chesterfield a portion of lot
No. 5, in the eighth range, and probably settled in the town soon
afterwards.  He resided near the Centre village, on the farm afterwards
owned and occupied many years by his son Otis, and built the house
now owned by the Methodist Society of Chesterfield, and used as a
parsonage.  He probably engaged in trade for a while after coming to
Chesterfield, as he was styled, in the deed of the land he had 
purchased in this town, a "trader."  In 1785 he was chosen clerk of the
town, and held the office, by successive elections until 1800.  He
was also selectman in 1785 and 1797.
  His wife was Esther, daughter of Timothy Ladd.  She died March 26,
1852, in her ninetieth year.  He died February 11, 1839, aged
eighty-five years.
  OTIS AMIDON, son of Jacob Amidon, born April 26, 1794, [note one 
genealogy states he was born March 6, 1825] settled in
Chesterfield, after his marriage, on the old homestead, and continued
to reside here as long as he lived, engaging in some extent in
agriculture, and, for a while, in trade at the Centre village. For
many years he took a prominent part in the affairs of the town and
church, serving the former in the capacity of selectman in 1828, 1829,
1830 and 1831, and representing it in the General COurt in 1833,
1834, 1835, 1838 and 1856.  For a long time also, he held the office
of justice of the peace, the duties of which he was well qualified to
perform, and was one of the veteran "Squires" of the town.
  He married, in 1825, Nancy, daughter of Benjamin Cook, and had only
one son that lived to adult age--Hon. Charles J. Amidon, now of
Hinsdale. He died July 22, 1866.

EPHRAIM AMIDON, from Oxford, Mass, came to Westmoreland previous to
1777, and located on a farm now owned by his grandson, Ephraim. He
married Jane Robbins, reared ten children--Hephzibah, Matilda, Abigail,
Ebenezer, Noah, Polly, Salome, Nathaniel, Jane and Ephraim--and died
March 21, 1822, aged seventy-three years.  Squire, son of Nathaniel,
now resides in this town, off road 2.  Elijah, son of Ephraim, 3d,
resides on road 40.  Charles L., son of Squire, resides on road 21.
Other descendants reside in different parts of town.

JOSEPH ATHERTON, son of Oliver Atherton, of Harvard [or Howard], Mass., 
and a descendant of James Atherton, of Milton, Mass., was born August 
15, 1750.  He married in 1771, Hannah Farnsworth of Groton, Mass.
June 28, 1794 he purchased, in Chesterfield, lots Nos. 11 and 12, in
the fourth range, and soon after settled on one of them.  The hill
on which he lived, and on which he built a large dwelling house,
is now called "Atherton Hill." He was selectman in 1798, 1799, 1809,
1811 and representative in 1817.  He died April 4, 1839, "honored
and respected by his neighbors and townsmen." His eight children were
Nathaniel, Oliver, Arathusa, Sally, Humphrey, Fanny, Rachel and Lucy.
William, son of Nathaniel, born December 18, 1826, married Hannah M.
Pierce, and resided on road 13.  Maria, daughter of Oliver, resided
on road 28.

DR. OLIVER BAKER, son of Dr. Oliver Baker, born in Plainfield
August 16, 1788, studied medicine in the Medical Department of
Dartmouth College, under Dr. Nathan Smith.  In 1809 he settled in
Chesterfield, where he practiced his profession till 1840. He then
removed to West Harford, Vt., where he remained about two years.
He afterwards practiced in Plainfield, and in Windsor, Vt. He died
at his daughter's home in Plainfield, July 4, 1865.

EPHRAIM BALDWIN was in Chesterfield in 1763, in which year he bought
land in this town.  He was town clerk from 1770 to 1785, and
selectman in 1773, 1774, 1776.  He was also, for some time, justice
of the peace.  His name appears for the last time on the tax-lists
for 1790. (for an account of his citation before the New Hampshire
Assembly, for alleged Toryism, see under "War of the Rebellion.")

JOHN H. BARRETT was born November 8, 1789, and came to Chesterfield
in 1851.  He married Charlotte Thomas of Hinsdale, who bore him
four children--Shubael, Miranda, Julia and George W., The latter came
here in 1851 and now resides on road 37.

WILLIAM BENNETT  married Sally Pierce and came from Harvard, Mass
about 1788, settling near Chesterfield line in the southern part of
Westmoreland, near the farm which George Bennett owned.  He was a
Revolutionary soldier and was at the battle of Lexington. His grandson,
George Bennett had in his possession a bullet which his grandfather
made. Tradition says he run the bullet and passed it to the soldier
who stood beside him, which killed the first British officer in the
Revolutionary war.
  WILLIAM BENNETT 2d, born in Westmoreland, married for his first
wife in 1807, Catharine Smith, born July 9, 1782, and who bore him
three children, Edon, Eliza and Caroline. He married for his second
wife, Rhoda, daughter of Caleb Howe, who bore him eight children,
namely--Catharine S., William, Shubael, Holland, Cordelia, Sally,
Jotham, and Lucy.
  WILLIAM BENNETT 3d, born in Westmoreland, September 1, 1817, married
August 18, 1841, Caroline W. Fisk, who was born December 10, 1820. She
was the daughter of Aaron Fisk.  The latter settled in Chesterfield at
an early age, on the hill west of the lake. William Bennett 3d has
one child, Angeline M., born March 15, 1846 and who married David H.
Pierce, a merchant of Chesterfield, and who lived in Fitchburg, Mass.
Mr. Bennett attended common schools and Chesterfield Academy. He 
taught school winters and worked on his father's farm. He held a
commission in the militia, attaining a rank of colonel under
Major-Gen. E.P. Pierce Jr. He held the office of justice of the peace.
He was a farmer and owned a large tract of land, including three
nice farms.

NATHANIEL BINGHAM appears to have settled in Chesterfield as early as
1767.  In the deed of the land purchased by him in this town he
was styled a "cooper."  He lived on Wetherbee Hill, a short distance
north of the Centre village.  He was selectman in 1770, 1775, and
1777; representative in 1779 (For an account of his arrest and
imprisonment by Vermont officers, etc., see under "Controversy about
the New Hampshire Grants in the original document).  He died April 26,
1802, in his seventy-seventh year.

ASA BRITTON, born in Raynham, Mass, April 30, 1763, son of Ebenezer 
and Sarah (Bullock) Britton.  In 1771 with his father's family he
moved to Westmoreland NH where his early youth was passed, and here in 1788 he married Sally, eldest daughter of Major Leonard Keep, a son
of Experience (Lawrence) and Capt. Jabez Keep. Early in their married
life the young couple removed to Lansingburg NY where they buried
their eldest son, soon after returning and settling on a farm in
Chesterfield, about 1790 or 1791, near Spafford's Lake. From this farm
Mr. Britton removed to Chesterfield village about the year 1805,
where for many years he was an active, energetic business man,
merchant, sheriff, farmer, postmaster and justice of the peace. His
business career was a successful one, and he acquired what in the
country, in those early days, was considered a large proprty, which
he enjoyed, and bestowed freely upon others, until past middle age.
Soon after the year 1815 he met with business reverses, caused by the
absconding of two successive partners.  Old Mrs. Britton, in after-days
used to tell with much gusto a story connected with this fact. Mr.
Britton, or "Esquire Britton," as he was called, was a tall, large
man, weighing perhaps two hundred pounds, and his success, of course,
made him enemies as well as friends.  On the occasion of the 
decamping of the second of his partners, while the village was
ringing with the news of the gutten store and money-box, a party of
gamins, instigated by the enemy, set the church-bell also ringing,
and above the noise and confusion of the crowd, which the sound of the
bell at that unusual hour had collected, was heard the cry, even
louder and louder, "Great Britton has fallen! Great Britton has
fallen!"  Mr. Britton died in Chesterfield, June 30, 1849.
  Of Mr. Britton's four children, three grew to maturity--Sarah, Laura, George and Asa. Sarah born June 28, 1791 married January 1815, ASA
KEYS, then of Putney, Vt., later of Brattleboro, who graduated at 
Dartmouth in 1810, taught Chesterfield academy two years, studied law 
in Boston and became a prominent lawyer and citizen of Brattleboro. One 
daughter married Judge Royal Tyler of Brattleboro. Another married Dr. 
F.N. Palmer of Boston, Mass.  A son, Judge George N. Keyes died in 
California in 1878. Laura, born 1796 married April 1827 Josiah W. 
Fairfield of Hudson NY a graduate of Dartmouth, a preceptor of 
Chesterfield Academy, a lawyer, a wealthy and influential man.  Their 
only daughter, SARAH died at 21. George B., the oldest of their two sons, was a prominent business man of Hudson, N.Y. The second son, 
William, became a judge of the circuit court in Iowa, and both brothers 
died within a few years.  Mrs. Fairfield died in 1864. George, who
studied law went West and settled in Galena, IL where he died about 
1830. Asa Britton died in Chesterfield, June 30, 1849.  Mrs. Britton
died at the house of her daughter in Brattleboro October 19, 1859
and both were buried in Westmoreland NH.
 
CAPT. WILLIAM S. BROOKS, born in Medford, Mass, March 5, 1781, went
on a voyage at sea with his uncle at the age of nine years.  He was
in France during the French Revolution, and also at the time Napoleon
the First was at the height of his power.  Once, when in the Cove of
Cork, he was pressed into the English navy, and served six months
in the royal frigate, "Diamond." At another time, while cruising in
the England Channel, he was captured twice in one day--first by
the English and then by the French.  By the latter he was retained in
prison six months, a part of which time was occupied in making sails
for French ships.  On his return from France, President John Adams
appointed him lieutenant in the navy, which office he declined.  He
was engaged for some time in commerce, as commander of a merchant-
vessle, at a period when the American flag did not always command of
foreign nations the respect that it now does, and many were the
adventures and "hair-breadth 'scapes" that he used to relate in the
latter years of his life.
  On retiring from the sea, he settled at Cambridge, Mass, where he
was postmaster four years.  In August, 1821, he came to Chesterfield,
and engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods at Factory village,
in which business he continued till 1850. In 1839, however, he
removed to Brattleborough, but still retained his connection with the
factory.  He married, 20 June 1807, Eleanor Forman, of Middletown, N.J. 
He died in Brattleborough Vt April 1865. He died in Brattleboro in
April 1865. His seven children were--William, Horace, Ellen M., 
George J., Francis W., Mary E., and Lucy T.  George J. built and still
owns, the well known Brooks House of Brattleboro.
  FRANCIS W. BROOKS, who died at Brattleboro Vt Feb 5, 1885, was born
in Boston May 14, 1821 during the residence of his parents in that 
city.  The following August the family removed to Chesterfield.  About
1839 "Frank" went to Putney where he was a clerk of Mr. P.R. Chandler,
now of Chicago.  After a few years spent here he went to New York city
as a clerk in the large mercantile house of Pierce & Brooks. Due to
his health, he was send on a voyage to Europe where he spent some
time.  In the fall of 1844 he went to Alabama to settle a bankrupt
estate.  There he met Mr. N.F. Cabot, who he entered into business
with in the firm of Cabot, Tullis & Co. in the city of Wetumpka.
After the firm dissolved a few years later, he came north, and then
went to San Francisco to become a member of the firm George J. Brooks
& Co. (a large paper business established by George J. Brooks).
On June 20, 1855 he married Miss Matilda C. Smith of New York, and
they had 4 surviving daughters: Catharine Ritter, born in NYC
8 June 1859 and married in Brattleboro 25 Sep 1883 to Oscar Azor
Marshall; Matilda, born in San Francisco CA 29 Aug 1860; Alice Medora
born in San Francisco 26 Nov 1863; and Mabel b in Brattleboro Vt
12 May 1869. Eight children in all were born to them, two of whom were
sons.  One son died on a steamer voyage from Panama in 1865.

JOHN F. BUTLER is the youngest of the children of Jonathan and Martha
(Russell) Butler, and was born in Marlow, June 14, 1831. His father,
who was a farmer, died when John was 12 yrs of age, leaving him
chiefly to his own efforts to provide the means of his support and
education, which he accomplished by jobbing, teaching district and
writing schools during his vacations, recieiving also substantial aid
from the best of mothers. He received his preliminary training in the
district school and at Marlow academy, "Tubb's Union," at Washington,
and under the private instruction of Prof. Wood of Marlow, and was
fitted to enter college when about 19 years of age. He then
reluctantly decided not to pursue a collegiate course, and commenced
the study of medicine with Dr. Marshall Perkins, of Marlow, attending
a course of medical lectures at Dartmouth college in 1852, and in 1853
entered Fremont medical school in Boston, Mass., visiting the hospitals
in and around the city daily. In the ensuing winter he attended a 
course of lectures, and graduated in the spring of 1854, from the
medical department of Harvard university. He commenced the practice of
medicine and surgery at Chesterfield Factory where he was actively
engaged in his profession. December 17, 1857 he married Julia Quimby,
daughter of Rev. Silas Quimby, of Lebanon NH. She died August 19,
1861, followed in a few weeks by her infant son, Arthur.  January 17,
1863 he married Celia A. Brewster, of Lowell, Mass. Both ladies were
educated at Tilton seminary, and were persons of refinement and worth.
During the Crimean war, soon after he commenced the practice of his
profession, he was offered the appointment of surgeon in the medical
staff of the Russian army, by the Russian ambassador to the United
States, but declined the service. In the spring of 1864 he was
commissioned by Gov. Andrews Asst. Surgeon of the 39th Regt., Mass.
Vols., of the 5th Army Corps, then moving on Richmond through the
Wildnerness, and joined his regiment before Petersburg, Va, serving in
the field till the war closed, being present at the surrender of
General Lee and his army at Appomattox.  He was also for a time acting
surgeon of the 16th Regt. Me. Vols., and surgeon in charge of the
88th Regt., Penn Vols. In politics he is a decided Democrat. At the
annual election in 1874, his fellow-townsmen elected him representative
to the general court, and re-elected him in 1875. During his 34 years
of medical practice in Chesterfield Factory and vicinity...

JAMES BURT, the paternal grandfather of Samuel Burt, sailed from
London, England, April 1635 for the Barbadoes, in the "Falcon de
London," Thomas Irish, master.  He was in Newport in 1639; surveyor
in Taunton in 1645; and one of a company making the "Dighton purchase"
that year.  He took the oath of fidelity in 1657, and was entitled to
divisions of land.  His will was proved March 2, 1681.  His wife,
Annie, died August 17, 1668.  Richard, his brother, was one of the
forty-six persons who made the "Taunton Purchase," in 1637 to be
"eight miles square, liberal measure." He died previous to October
26, 1747; on that day his minor son, Richard chose his uncle,
James Burt, for his guardian, and the court at Plymouth confirmed his
choice.  The mother of these brothers was said to have dance for
expression of joy, on setting foot upon American soil. 
  HENRY-4 BURT is still held in remembrance as a man of superior
judgement, whose voice, when any local question agitated every voter,
was said to carry the town.  Three of four generations of them are
buried in Oakland Cemetery, Taunton Mass.
 SAMUEL BURT (Henry-4, Thomas-3, James-2, James-1) was born in
Taunton, Mass, November 20, 1760.  He married Olive, daughter of George
and Alvia Lincoln, born December 19, 1761, and in 1787 settled in
Westmoreland NH near the southern line. His brother, Henry-5, married
-- Strobridge settling upon either side of him, Mr. Strobridge's farm
being in Chesterfield, near the Westmoreland line.  The descendants
of Henry still live upon the same farm.  Mrs. Strobridge left no
children.  She cherished her family name, and was a Christian woman.
She died February 1852.  Samuel Burt first lived in a small log house.
He carried his grain to mill on his back, on foot-paths, over the
hills.  As a substantial man he kept pace with growth and improvement..
he possessed a keen sense of justice, was faithful to his obligations,
thinking more of the inner sense of right than "praise of man." His
pure and unselfish life led him to a tranquil old age, made more
pleasurable to his friends by reason of his industry, good eyesight,
and ardent love of reading and recounting the scenes of his youth...
He died November 3, 1850. Mrs. Burt died July 26, 1843.  Their
children were--Naomi, Samuel, Willard and Betsey.
  SAMUEL-6 (Samuel-5) BURT whose portrait appears in this book, was
born in Westmoreland November 5, 1790. He married Betsey, daughter of
Josiah Jr. and Lena (Holbrook) PENNIMAN, born in Mendon, Mass,
April 2, 1798.  He settled on the road where William Atherton now
lives. In the spring of 1837 he bought the farm where Rodney Fletcher
now lives, west of the village, where he lived until the spring of
1845, when he purchased of D.S. Walton, what is now Walter Wheeler's
hotel, residing there 22 years.  In the spring of 1867 he sold the
same to Sanford Guernsey, removing to the north side of the village and
occupying part of his son Daniel's house, and there on the evening of
March 21, 1868, he passed away.  They had two sons and seven daughters.
Mrs. Burt was an intelligent, self-denying woman, and to make others
happy was the counterpart of her life.  She died the day the Union
meeting-house was raised, July 30, 1853, followed August 10, by
August M., born July 30, 1830 and September 14 by Jane A., born
August 2, 1831.  Mr. Burt was a man who sought substantial comforts
rather than pomp or show; was characterized for integrity, a staunch
friend, making others welcome to his home, where beneath its rafters
the needy were sheltered and the poor fed.  He was a squire for a long
term of years, postmaster about 15 years, holding other offices of
trust. Eliza L., the oldest daughter, born May 7, 1819 married
June 1, 1842, Milo, son of Nathaniel Walton of Chesterfield. They lived
one year in Boston MA, two in Houghton Me, where he engaged in 
mercantile business.  His health failing in 1845, he removed to
Amity, engaged in agricultural and horticulture. The people bestowed
upon him their various offices, and he united a number in marriage.
He died May 22, 1854.  Mrs. Walton died December 2, 1871. We quote 
from her obituary: "All the knowledge that could be found in books was
brought to bear upon the soil. It is to her enterprise and industry,
that nearly all the farms in this section are to-day indebted for
their orchards. Her life, though filled with accomplishments, was
a short one. For the art her husband loved so well, for the sake of
her children, she spent the remainder of her life in ministering to
others. We feel that we, as a town, are mourners, and the county whose
true benefactress she was." They left two sons and one daughter.
Christiana A. Burt, born October 5, 1820 married April 12, 1847,
William A. Barnes of Swanzey, for several years a resident of
Chesterfield Factory, where he manufactured cotton goods.  His mills
were burned, and after a few months in Springfield, Mass, they
moved to Newton Township, in the northeastern part of Wisconsin in
1851, when that country was sparsely settled, making the last hundred
miles with a "sober ox team." They opened their house for a school,
and their influence was potent in adjusting the standard of moral and
intellectual improvement. Mr. Barnes died May 31, 1859. Mrs. Barnes
married second, Frank Weeks, whom she survived and in Portage City,
Wis., where she resided, April 30, 1884, while pleasantly conversing
in a nieghbor's house, she said, "I must go home," and her consistent
Christian life was ended.  Ellen S. Burt, born March 16, 1834,
married July 10, 1854 George Corbet, born at Gays Run, Nova Scotia,
September 14, 1828 and settled in Chesterfield Factory, living from
1855, thirteen years, near the southeastern portion of Mt. Pistareen,
where Nathan Puffer now lives. Mr. Corbet, for nearly twenty years,
was engaged in finishing leather, the larger portion of the time for
Sumner Warren, and employed from four to nine hands. He died May 3,
1872.  Their son, Clarence E., born July 30, 1859, is now manager in
Mulford & McKenzie's railroad ticket broker's fofice, St. Paul, MN.
George Burt, born December 20, 1860 is now in Chicago IL engaged in
selling chairs, etc. on commission, for a Milwaukee chair company.
Mrs Corbet resides on Main Street, Chesterfield Factory, in the house
built by Samuel Gilson previous to 1815, and for many years occupied
by the venerable Captain Nathaniel Albee, whose first wife was
Mrs. Penniman, the mother of Mrs. Samuel-2 Burt.  Martha A. Burt
born November 17, 1837, married April 2, 1860, Henry, son of Arba and
Maria (Albee) Barker, of Westmoreland, and with their six sons,
reside in Keene.  Melissa J. Burt, born February 28, 1844 is now in
Fitchburg, Mass.  Samuel George-7 Burt, son of Samuel C-6, was born
September 15, 1822.  He married December 6, 1852, Sarah Haskell of
Houlton, Me. and settled in Amity, engaging in mercantile pursuits;
he run a merchandise team between Amity and Calais, a distance of
seventy miles, where he purchased good, taking from Amity the
commodities of the surrounding county. He was retiring, and shunned
office; was appointed postmaster, but declined to serve, although he
held at times town offices.  Kate, their daughter, two years of age,
after one day's sickness, died June 19, followed by her father,
July 2, 1858.  Mrs. Burt, with her son George H-8 Burt, born June 10,
1857 (now) the only living male descendant of Samuel-5 Burt, bearing
the familiy name, removed to Hartford, Conn, watching with
tender solicitude, the progress of her boy, until her death,
October 3, 1858.  At the age of 17 he associated himself in a wholesale
produce business, under the firm name C.B. Haskell & Co. Two years
later he withdrew from the firm and employed with G.P. Bizzell & Co.,
the largest private banking house in the United States where he was
senior clerk and teller.  He married in Middleton, Conn. October 14,
1880, Mary Murdock. Their daughter, Bessie M-9, was born December 4,
1883.  They own a residence on Florence Street, Hartford, where they
reside.  Daniel E. Burt, son of Samuel-5 (?6) was born
June 5, 1825.  He married Thirza, daughter of Noyes and Thirza (Walton)
Scott.  Mrs. Scott was afterwards the wife of Dr. Harvey Carpenter.
Mr. Burt settled in Chesterfield Factory, working as a mechanic.
Afterwards he was teamster for 20 years between Chesterfield Factory
and Keene. He died May 27, 1882.  Their daughter, Cora, died at the
age of nine months.  Ida West Burt, born April 19, 1858 married 
January 13, 1877, Charles Butterfield of Westmoreland. THey live in
Chesterfield Factory. Their son, Arthur Burt Butterfield, died in
infancy. Eva W. Butterfield was born August 26, 1878. Mrs. Daniel
Burt resides in her former home.

JOHN BUTLER, whose father, Josiah, was a nephew of Col. Josiah
Willard, the principal grantee of Chesterfield, was born in Hinsdale
February 5, 1786 and settled in Chesterfield in 1824.  His widow,
Lydia (Crowinshield) Butler, survived him, residing on road 27. Mr.
Butler reared eight children--Marshall, Warren, Josiah, Ephraim, 
Erastus, Maria, Roswell, and Otis.  Thomas F., son of Otis resided on
road 53.  Mervin H., son of Otis, resided on road 53.  Warren H.,
son of Marshall resided on road 50.

SIDNEY S. CAMPELL, a retired manufacturer residing at Factory Village, 
was born in Westminster Vt and came to town in 1830. He married
Clarissa Daggett of Westmoreland, who bore him three children--
Mary E., Charles S. and Clara Anna.

DR. HENRY CARPENTER was born in Alstead NH December 14, 1803. His 
father, Eber Carpenter was a practicing physician in Alstead from
1802 until his death May 23, 1841.  HENRY, the eldest of his eight
sons, distinguished himself in the profession of medicine and
surgery.  He graduated in medicine at Castleton, Vt. in 1825, and
soon after settled in Chesterfield where he soon gave evidence of
superior skill, and with a growing reputation as such, continued the
practice of his profession until his death, August 14, 1852....
He married Lydia H. Chandler of Colerain, Mass, in 1829 and had born
to him two daughters, Helen and Lucretia. His wife died in 1837. Only
one of his daughter, Lucretia is living, and resides in Montrose, PA,
highly esteemed and noted for her Christian values. Dr. Carpenter
served as representative in the legislature of the state with
commendable ability... A son by a later marriage, Charles Henry,
served in the late Rebellion and distinguished himself by meritorious
acts and duties during the war, dying in Mississipi soon after the
close of the same, while yet in the service of the United States.

ALEXANDER CHANDLER, son of Clark Chandler, married Lydia J. Herrick
April 29, 1839 and died June 29, 1881. His widow resided on 14-1/2.
Their children were Maria F., Francis Mason, Harriet Barber and
Clark Nelson.

ITHAMER CHAMBERLIN was born at Oxford, Mass in 1745, married
Hephzibah Farr in 1770, and settled in Chesterfield during that year.
He built the grist-mill on the place where the upper one now stand,
at the West Village about 1810. He was killed by a runaway horse,
September 19, 1825, at the age of eighty years.  His children were
Rebecca, Samuel, Anna, Benjamin, Polly, Ithamer, and Hepzibah.
Joshua Wilder Jr., grandson of Samuel, now resides at Factory Village.
His son David W. is in the employ of Currier Brothers.

ELEAZER COBLEIGH was an early settlers in Chesterfield, being here as
early as 1776. The first grist-mill as previously mentioned, was
probably built by him.  DAN COBLEIGH was also an early settlers, being
here as early as 1770, JONATHAN COBLEIGH also an early settlers,
purchased property here April 13, 1763.  JONATHAN COBLEIGH JR. is also
mentioned here in the tax list of 1770, and his children were Lemuel,
Lydda, Jonathan, James and Sally and Lydia, twins.  OLIVER COBLEIGH
was here in 1770 and reared a family.  JOHN COBLEIGH's name appears
here in 1776.  His son JOHN, born April 10, 1776 married Polly 
Stanford in 1795 and reared ten children, one of whom, Jonathan,
was the father of ERASTUS H, who resided on road 19, corner 21.

CHARLES CONVERSE, son of Joseph Converse, and a descendant of Deacon
Edward Converse, of Charlestown, Mass, was born December 30, 1788.
He spent most of his life in Chesterfield, engaged in farming. For
many years he was a justice of the peace, and held the office of
selectman in 1833-1835. He was also a representative in the General
Court in 1836-37.  He died September 18, 1858.

OSCAR COOLIDGE, son of Abraham Coolidge, of Marlborough, born July 22,
1798, settled in Chesterfield in 1824.  He married, in 1824,
Lovina Rockwood of Fitzwilliam.  For a period of about eleven years
(till 1835) he was engaged in trade at the West village.  He then
removed to Centre village, where he continued in the same business
till his death, with the exception of one year, when he was in trade
at Factory village.  he also took an active part in the affairs of 
the town, and was a selectman in 1840, 1841, and 1850; town clerk
1836-38; representative 1840 and 1841. He died March 4, 1862,
having survived his wife but a few hours.
  His son, Henry O. Coolidge, was born January 5, 1830. In 1849 and 
1850 he engaged in trade at the town Center village in partnership
with Hon. C.J. Amidon; He was also postmaster about 8 years, town
clerk from 1852 to 1869 (with exception of years 1854 and 1868);
selectman 1860 and 1861, 1865 and 1867; representative 1867.
He removed to Keene in 1869.  He is cashier of the Ashuelot National 
Bank, of that city, and register of Probate for Cheshire County.
In 1880 chosen one of the representatives from Keene to the General
Court.

AMOS CROUCH, born in 1769, son of John Crouch, of Boxborough, Mass,
afterwards of Chesterfield, settled in this town in 1802 or 1803.
In his youth he had no opportunity to attend school; nevertheless
he learned to read and to write his name.  In his early manhood
he had to contend with poverty and adversity, but by hard labor
and extreme prudence succeeded in gaining some property.  He was
noted for his promptness in paying his debts and with him "the 'first
of the month was always the first day." A strict observor of the
Sabbath himself, he brought up his children to attend church,
and would not allow them to play or visit on that day. He was married
three times.  He died August 18, 1861.

JOHN DARLING, from Winchendon, Mass February 17, 1778, appears to have settled in Chesterfield in 1778, in which year he bought land here,
and settled on what is now known as Barrett Hill.
  He was one of the party that made the famous march to Quebec in
1775, under command of Benedict Arnold, through the wilderness of
Maine.  On this march the men suffered extremely from cold and
hunger.  John used to relate that, having one day found the leg of
a dog that had been killed for food, he scorched off the hair and
ate every morsel of flesh and skin that he could get from it. He
declared that he never ate anything in his life that tasted better!
At one time, while in the army, he came near dying of small-pox.
He probably settled in Chesterfield soon after buying his land, he
and his wife (according to a tradition in ths family) coming from
Winchendon on foot. He was an active, enterprising man, and at one 
time, owned an extensive tract of timber-land in the "Winchester 
woods," from which he cut large quantities of lumber, sawing it in a 
mill erected for that purpose, then drawing it to the Connecticut and 
rafting it down to Hartford. He died March 28, 1824 in his 
seventy-third year.His first wife (Sarah BLood of Groton, Mass)
died in 6 June 1804.  He married 2d, Mrs. Lydia Baker of Westmoreland
who died September 9, 1815, and third, Mrs. Mary Taylor, daughter of
Rev. Abraham Wood.  His children were as follows: JOHN, born December
17, 1778; NAHUM, born August 22, 1781; MONTGOMERY, born April 8,
1785; DARIUS, born June 26, 1787; BOYNTON, born January 23, 1790;
SARAH, born September 23, 1791; MARY ANN born April 31, 1794;
LOUIS born January 2, 1796; and by his second marriage, MIRANDA,
and by his third marriage, HELIANN and JOSEPH.  John Jr. married
Nancy Norcoss of Rindge and had born to him 7 children.  His wife
died October 14, 1862 and his death occurred December 3, 1862.  His 
son George W., born November 18, 1818 was the proprietor of the 
Darling picnic grounds on Spafford lake and resided on road 51,
corner 55.

SAMUEL DAVIS settled in Chesterfield as early as 1766. There are
reasons for believing that he was the son of Samuel Davis, of
Lunenburgh, Mass, who was probably one of the grantees of
Chesterfield.  He owned much land in Chesterfield at different times,
having possession, at one time, of a part of the "Governor's Farm."
He appears to have removed from this town about 1790.

MOSES DUDLEY, son of NAHUM, was born October 18, 1794 and married
Persis, daughter of Rev. Allen Pratt of Westmoreland.  From 1817
until 1851 he was engaged in tanning at the Centre village, and
afterwards in farming, having purchased a farm in the western part
of the town where he died April 16, 1874.  He was selectman in
1832, 1833, 1835, 1847 and delegate to the constitutional convention
in 1850.  His children were Allen Pratt, Hannah C., Charles P.,
William L. and Persis M.  William L., born December 20, 1824,
married Mary Caroline, daughter of Thomas B. and Betsey R. (Mead)
Doak, November 11, 1858.  He was admitted to the bar at Newport in
1846, and commenced the practice of law in Chesterfield the same year.
In 1849 he went to California and resided in Stockton, engaged in his
profession.  His children are Elizabeth Mead, born at Mokelumne
Hill, Cal., August 16, 1860; Elinor Gertrude born there January 4,
1862; William Little, born at Stockton June 13, 1869, and Mary Frances,
born at Stockton, November 26, 1872.

SAMUEL FAIRBANKS was in Chesterfield in 1776, which year he signed
the "Association Test."  He was one of the town Committee of Safety,
and appears to have been one of the most zealous patriots in the town.
He was also selectman in 1777.  In his will, made August 9, 1787,
and proved June 16, 1790, he bequeathed all his property to his wife,
for the support of his children, and named his son Zenas sole
executor.  He died April 14, 1790, in his seventy-first year.

MARSHALL H. FARR, son of Ora Farr, born in Chesterfield January 16, 
1817, was a carpenter by trade, and resided in Chesterfield till 1854,
when he removed to Canada West (Ontario), where he engaged extensively
in the construction of railway and other buildings.  March 12, 1857,
the train on which he was riding was precipitated into the Des Jardins
Canal, by the breaking of a bridge, near Hamilton, P.O. and he
received injuries that caused his death in a few hours.

DENNIE W. FARR, son of Worcester and Abial (Kneeland) Farr, born
in Chesterfield January 7, 1840, was serving as a clerk in the store
in Brattleborough Vt, when the Civil War broke out.  He soon enlisted
in the Fourth Regiment of Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and was
commissioned second lieutenant.  August 13, 1862, he was commissioned
captain of Company C., in the same regiment, in which capacity he
served with honor.  At the battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864,
he was killed by a shot that struck him in the head.

The ancestors of the FIELD family of Chesterfield were of old Puritan
stock who settled in Taunton MA early in the colonial times, where 
many of their descendants still live. BETHUEL FIELD, son of NATHANIEL 
FIELD, of Taunton, married Sally Lincoln, of Norton, Mass, and settled 
in Chesterfield in 1819 or 1820. "He was someone given to accounts,
being a 'Squire' and a prominent man in town matters." He died in
1847, Mrs. Field surviving him until 1767.
  JESSIE FIELD, one of their ten children, born November 3, 1811,
inherited his mother's refinded sensibilities and his father's good
sense and mental acument; while Hannah J. Streeter, whom he married
in 1838 possessed tact, energy and executive ability. An unfortunate
fall, resulting in permanent lameness, blighted Mr. Field's future
prospects, and necessitated his removal from the farm in 1846, to
Factory Village, to engaged in a less active occupation, and finally
caused his death in April 1851, at the early age of thirty-nine years.
His wife lived at Wilmington Vt.  This was also the residence of her
youngest daughter, Mary E. Field, born October 6, 1845, who married
John R. Buell, a worthy young man of business ability, and a native of
Wilmington.  They have three children, Orrin R., a bright, scholarly
lad of thirteen, and Helen M. and Albert J., born in June 1882 and 
1884, respectively. Helen M. Field, born September 3, 1840, married
Ransford A. Comstock, of Shelburne Falls, Mass, where they lived until
they moved to Rochelle, ILL in 1871, their present residence. Their
children, born in Massachusetts, are Delbert A. Comstock, now 22,
possessing good natural business qualifications, and Percy Field
Comstock, born October 29, 1867, who is truly a Field and inherits
his mother's mental characteristics and literary tastes.  Mrs. F.M.
Leonard, of Taunton, Mass., Jesse Fields youngest sister also
possesses literary ability, having won quite a reputation as a 
dramatic and poetical writer.  Albert O. Field, born March 15, 1842,
has risen, unaided studying the mercantile business, while holding
positions of trust, until qualified as a professional expert
accountant. This work he followed for some years, until his connection
in 1876 with the large clothing firm of Naumburg, Kraus, Lauer & Co.
of New York, in which he is now partner. He is president of the
Book-keepers and Accountants' Institute, of the city of New York,
and highly respected in social and business circles. In 1865 he
married Susie Daniels of Keene, who survived only a year, and was
buried with her infant son, born in January 1866.  In 1868 Mr.
Field married Eva H. Swan of Chesterfield Factory, a refined, 
cultivated, intellectual lady, a graceful writer, and at one time a
contributor of poetry and fiction to Boston periodicals.  Of five
children, they have lost their two sons. Their three interesting
daughters give promise of rare mental endowments, Grace, the eldest,
being at thirteen a good Latin and French scholar. Their pleasant
home is at Orange, N.J. Near them lives Mr. Field's mother and
sisters, Mrs. Chamberlain, a native of Chesterfield who lived many
years at the Factory Village, is a lady of refinement and excellent
ability. Her daughters Eva and Abbie, graduated with high honors from
Westbrook seminar, near Portland Maine in 1866.  Abbie M. Swan married
George Morse, a native of Stoddard NH. They have one child and are
medical practitioners of Gloucester, Mass where they reside.
Benjamin Herbert Swan, a graduate of Columbia Veterinary College, NY,
married Sarah, dau of Rodney Fletcher of Chesterfield Factory, and is
at present in Colorado.  May Ella Swan is a successful teacher in the
schools of Orange NJ where also, Anna P. Chamberlain is a teacher of
music.

THOMAS FISK, born 1774, son of John Fisk, of Framingham, Mass, and a
descendant of Nathaniel Fisk, who came from England, came to 
Chesterfield in 1807, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied
by his son, John B. Fisk, Esq., building the large house in which the
latter now lives.  When about two years old he had an attack of
scarlet fever, which caused him to be deaf, and consequently, dumb.
He learned, nevertheless, to read, and to cipher in the four
fundamental rules of arithmetic.  At the age of fifty years he was
admitted to the school for deaf-mutes at Hartford, Conn, for the
term of one year.  He made rapid progress, and acquired knowledge
that was of great use to him during the remaining years of his life.
His wife was Lucinda Trowbridge, of Pomfret, Conn.  He died July 25,
1861.

RODNEY FLETCHER, son of Arad H. and Bethana (Darling) Fletcher, was
born in Chesterfield November 18, 1826 and married Olive W. Albee,
daughter of Captain Nathaniel Albee of Chesterfield, November 3, 1847.
He had one daughter, Sarah E., who was married in 1873, to B.H. Swan,
D.V.S.  Since 1843 Mr. Fletcher resided at Chesterfield Factory,
and worked in the augur factories there, under various firms at
different periods as finisher, having had charge of the polishing
room, where he had been for more than forty years. Under the old 
military regime he was a prominent member of the Chesterfield Light
Infantry, in which organiztion he held a commission four years, and the
last two commanding the company... For a score and more of years he
acted as undertaker in and about Chesterfield Factory,, and as marshall
at nearly 150 funerals... In the Masonic Order he was Knight Templar.

REUBEN B. FOSTER SR. was born September 9, 1812, and married Betsey H.,
daughter of Richard Hopkins June 11, 1832.  He was an employee of
Currier Brothers at Chesterfield Factory.  He had born to him seven
children as follows: James M., Helen M., Mary Jane, Mahalia S.,
Reuben B., Frank H. and William E., Reuben B Jr. was born March 17,
1844, married Julia A., daughter of Hosea L. Stoddard February 16,
1869.  He was a mechanic for Currier Brothers at Chesterfield Factory.

REV. T.L. Fowler [pastor of the Chesterfield Methodist Church] was
superintending school committee for a number of years, and also
taught a term of high school in Factory Village in 1862. He married
in 1843, Miss Mary Folgier Hazzelton of Northfield NH. She lived
about 3 years, leaving one son, Eugene  A, born February 3, 1845.
In 1848 he married Nancy M. Giles of Windsor ME. THey have four
children--Hershcel J., b. April 23, 1846; Orin R., born May 21, 1851;
Otis L., born April 13, 1853, died Nov 1855; and Manson L., born
February 30, 1859.

PHINEAS FULLMAN, born February 26, 1749, came to Chesterfield from
Westminster, Mass about 1778.  He married twice, first, Lucy
Lampson, and second Mrs. Bathsheba (Britton) Leach.  He died
August 4, 1823.  His children were Paul, Asa, Lucy, Myra, Ellis and
Almira.  Asa, born February 25, 1780 married Lucena, daughter of
Jonathan Farwell in 1811.  From May 1815 to 1821 he engaged in trade
at the Center Village, in partnership with Hon. Levi Jackson, after-
wards with Ashbel Wheeler Sr. and alone.  For a number of years he ran
a freight boat on the COnnecticut [River] between chesterfield and
Hartford.  He also erected a mill on Broad brook, for the manufacture
of lumber. He was selectman in 1815. His wife died November 10, 1817,
and his death occurred December 14, 1870.  George Lampon, one of his
three children was born July 20, 1815 and married Persis S. Davis
of Holden, Mass, a teacher of music, February 20, 1850. He engaged in
business with his father, on Broad brook until their mill was burned
in July 1853, when he removed to Lowell, Mass, where he remained 8
years.  He then returned to Chesterfield and rebuilt the mill. He was
also a surveyor and musician.

SAMUEL GILSON, born about 1752 appears to have settled in Chesterfield
about 1791, and is said to have been the first blacksmith at
Factory Village.  He died in 1826, aged seventy-four years.  His son
CALVIN GILSON married Mehitabel, daughter of Joseph Pattridge in 1810.
Their children were Prescott W., Louisa M., Luke H., Sarah, and
Joseph P.  Prescott W. born December 21, 1812 married twice, first,
Adeline Whitney who died in 1836, and second, Urania M., daughter of
Benoni Streeter February 2, 1837.  He had born to him two children,
Calvin P. and Adeline L.  The former (Calvin P.) was born 
October 5, 1839, married Ann E., daughter of Clark Streeter,
March 25, 1867, was an auctioneer, proprietor of Gilson's ferry, and
also a dealer in horses, carriages and harnesses.

SAMUEL GOODRICH, born in Fitchburg, Mass, September 6, 1788,
son of Abijah, settled in Chesterfield in 1813, on the farm now owned and occupied by Willard Henry, and where he continued to reside till 
his death. He was a man of great industry and perseverance, and his 
life was one of ceaseless activity.  Thought not an extensive farmer, 
in comparison with some, he was nevertheless a successful one; and his 
success in this respect is a fine illustration of what intelligent and
well-directed effort can accomplish in overcoming natural obstacles.
His wife was Hannah Cain of Weymouth, Mass., who he married March 31,
1811. He died January 1 1877. He was selectman 1836, 1837 and 1842.
He was an influential member of the Methodist church, was deaf for
many years, yet occupied his seat at church.  His children were Sarah,
Hannah, Emily, Joseph C., Abijah, George, and James H.  Joseph C.
Goodrich was selectman in 1849, 1852 and 1853, was town representative
in 1853-54 and died October 27, 1863.  James H., son of Joseph C.,
was born June 26, 1846 and married Sarah E., daughter of Africa
Hildreth October 2, 1869. He served in the Rebellion [Civil War] in
Co. F, 1st NH Vols. He was selectman in 1874 and 1875, was the town
clerk, and a general merchant residing on road 46.  James H., son of
Samuel was born November 10, 1823, married Martha S., dau of
Eleazer Randall December 8, 1847. He was selectman and town
representative 1868-69 and resided on Church Street.
  
DAVID W. GOODRICH, son of George and Lucinda (Wells) Goodrich, and
a descendant of William Goodrich, was from Gill, Mass., settled in 
Chesterfield about 1810. He was a cloth dresser by trade, and had a 
mill on Catsbane Brook, at the West Village.  After following his trade 
for some years, he engaged in farming. In 1838 he married Salome, 
daughter of Benjamin Wheeler.  He died at the "Kneeland place" (now owned and occupied by his son, Charles C.P. Goodrich, Esq.) March 22, 1857. His children [David's] were Honor, George W., Lucinda, Mary E.,
Charles C.P., Sarah, David W., William and Ellen.  Lucinda W., born
April 13, 1818, married 1) in 1838 Noyes, son of John Harris, and
m2) in 1858 William S. Newton, Esq. of Brattleboro, Vt. George W.
was a manufacturer of flour in Minneapolis, MN.

SANFORD GUERNSEY, son of Cyril, was born in Richmond June 30, 1820.
He married Lydia, dau of John Starkey of Richmond, January 20, 1846,
she being born October 11, 1822. Mr. Guernsey moved to this town
in 1867, and kept the hotel at Chesterfield Factory for 13 years,
where he resided. He has an adopted daughter Lydia S., born
January 23, 1868.

WILLIAM HAILE, son of John and Eunice (Henry) Haile, was born in
Putney, Vt., May 1807.  At the age of about fourteen years he came to
this town with his parents, but was soon afterwards taken into the
family of Ezekiel P. Pierce Sr., with whom he lived till he was about
twenty-one years old.  Having attended school about two years, he
entered in 1823, Mr. Pierce's store as a clerk.  In 1827 or 1828
he borrowed a small sum of money and opened a store on his own
account at the Centre village.  With characteristic sagacity, he soon
foresaw, however, that Hinsdale was destined to become a busy and
thriving town on account of the abundance of power furnished by the
Ashuelot River.  He therefore, in 1834 or 1835, removed to that town,
where he continued to engage in mercantile pursuits until 1846, when 
he became interested in the lumber business.  In 1849 he began, as
a member of the firm of Haile & Todd, the manufacture of cashmerettes.
Afterwards the name of the firm was changed to that of Haile, Frost &
Co., by which name it is know at present.
  Though extensively engaged in business, Mr. Haile took a prominent
part in political affairs. With the exception of two years, he
represented Hinsdale in the General Court from 1846 to 1854; was
elected to the New Hampshire Senate in 1854 and 1855, of which body
he was also president the latter year, and was again representative
in 1856.  The next year he was elected Governor, to which office he
was re-elected in 1858.  In 1873 he removed from Hinsdale to Keene,
where he had built a fine residence.  He did not cease, however, to
take an active part in business till his death, which occurred
July 22, 1876.  Mr. Haile married, in 1828, Sabrana S., daughter of
Azra Walker, of Chesterfield.

SAMUEL HAMILTON, born in Ireland in 1752, was the son of a linen
merchant, or weaver, came to Boston about 1772, and settled in
Chesterfield sometime between 1780 and 1785. He married Mary, sister
of Dr. Joshua Tyler, May 9, 1775.  He was engaged after coming to
Chesterfield in the weaving of linen cloth.  He died February 12, 1810.
His children were John, Hannah, Hance, Loammi, James, Samuel, Ara,
Fanny, Uri and Amadella.  Ara, born May 22, 1789 married twice, first,
Sally, daughter of James Robertson in 1815, who died December 1823, and 2d, Almira, daughter of Phineas Fullam in 1824.  He was lieutenant in
Capt. Reuben Marsh'a company, which was station at Portsmouth in the
autumn of 1814.  He was selectman in 1839, 1841, 1843 and 1845. He
died July 24, 1865.  He had born to him five children as follows:
Frank, Luella A., Frederick M., Frank C., and Vanetta M.  George L.
was a manufacturer of sash, doors, and blinds at Chesterfield Factory.
His son Frederick M was born April 29, 1854 and married Addie M.,
daughter of James C. Farwell, November 4, 1880.  Frank C. was born
November 23, 1855.

PHINEAS HANDERSON, son of GIDEON and Abigail (Church) HANDERSON,
was born in Amherst, Mass., December 13, 1778. He was born in his
grandfather's house, which was torn down, when it was more than a
hundred years old, to make room for the Agricultural College. While
he was yet an infant his parents removed to Claremont, this State [NH]
his mother making the journey on horseback and carrying him in her
arms.  Having obtained what education the common schools of that
town afforded, he began the study of law in the office of Hon. George
B. Upham. In 1805 or 1806 he settled in this town, in which he
practiced his profession till 1833.  While a resident of Chesterfield
he frequently held town and State offices.  In 1811 he was
selectman; in 1812, 1813 and 1815 he represented the town in the
General Court; in 1816 he was elected State Senator, an office to
which he was re-elected in 1817, 1825, 1831 and 1832. He married, 1818,
Hannah W., daughter of Rev. Samuel Mead, of Walpole.  She died
December 30, 1863.  In 1833 he removed to Keene, where he continued
the practice of law.  At the time of his death, in March 1854, he was
president of the Cheshire bar.

THE HARRIS FAMILY--The founder of the Harris family in Chesterfield 
was ABNER HARRIS, a probable descendant of Arthur Harris, who
emigrated from England to America at an early period, and was living
in Duxbury, Mass, in 1640.  ABNER HARRIS, son of Abner, came from Woodstock, Conn.,and appears to have settled in Chesterfield in 1777, and purchased 150 acres of land, being a part of the farm long
been known as the Harris farm.  His children were Abner, John, Perley,
Elizabeth, Experience, Esther, Tamar, Deborah, Sarah, Lydia, Mary,
Thomas, Zerviah and Dolly. His will was proved Ausut 23, 1798.
  One of his sons was JOHN HARRIS, who lived and died in Chesterfield.
John married, in 1783, Hannah Colburn, of this town, and had a family
of eleven children, three of whom are now living, the youngest being
more than eighty years old.  The eldest of the three, WILDER HARRIS,
born May 11, 1797, now resides in Brattleborough, Vt., but was a 
resident of this town till 1865. Wilder married 3 times, first, Harriet
daughter of John Davis in 1817, who died November 20, 1851; second,
Mrs. Nancy J. Wood of Saxton's River Vt July 5, 1854, who died in
December 1869; and third, Mrs. Mary J. Clark of Springfield Vt
21 July 1871.  In his earlier years he was a carpenter and worked at
his trade. Mr. Harris was also interested in the manufacture of
lumber and shingles, in two mills erected for that purpose on Lily
Pond brook, near where it empties into the Catsbane.  He removed to
Brattleboro in 1865. His children were George Francis, Broughton
Davis, Gordis Day, and Urban Wilder.
  BROUGHTON D. HARRIS, son of Wilder Harris born August 6, 1822,
married Sarah Buel Hollister 24 March 1851.  He graduated from
Dartmouth College in 1845, studied law in the office of Hon. Asa
Keys of Brattleboro and then engaged in the newspaper business,
being editor of the "Vermont Phoenix" for a while, and for several
years of the "Semi-Weekly Eagle."  In the spring of 1851 he went to
Utah as the first secretary of that territory, Brigham Young being at
that time governor of the same.  After he left Utah he was appointed
secretary and acting governor of New Mexico, but this appointment he
declined.  In 1847, 1848 and 1849 he was register of probate for
Windham Co, Vt., and a member of the Vermont senate in 1860 and 1861,
being also chairman of the senate committee on military affairs. He
was a member of the "Peace Congress," which assembled at Washington
in 1860 and 1861.  For a number of years he has been extensively
engaged in the construction of railways.  Mr. B.D. Harris was one of
the incorporators of the Brattleboro Savings bank and a trustee from
its beginning, and also president.  He was delegate at large from
Vermont to the Republican National COnvention in 1884. 
  Another son of JOHN HARRIS, and brother of WILDER HARRIS, was
JOHN HARRIS JR. He was a farmer in Chesterfield, and married, in 1808,
Luna, daughter of Abel Fletcher, of this town.  He was selectman in
1830-32, and represented the town in the Legislature in 1849-50.
He died February 27, 1856, aged seventy-one years.
  A third son of JOHN HARRIS SR., was NORMAN HARRIS. He was engaged
a number of years in the mercantile business, and in "packing" in
California.  He died at Bellows Falls, Vt. July 22, 1875, aged
seventy-one years.
  Two other sons of JOHN HARRIS SR., EZEKIEL and ERASTUS, were
farmers in Chesterfield during the greater part of their lives.
Both died in Brattleborough in 1859.

CAPT. EBNEZER HARVEY was of Northfield, Mass, in 1758, having come to
that town from Sunderland. He appears to have removed from Northfield
to Winchester, and from that town to Chesterfield.  September 17, 1772
he purchased of Elkanah Day,, of this town, a part of house-lots
Nos. 5 and 6, in the tenth and eleventh ranges. This land was near
the common at the Centre village, which was mentioned in the deed as
having been conveyed to the town.  In JUne 1777, he was sentenced by
the "court of inquiry" at Keene to be confined to the limits of his 
farm and to pay a fine for alleged hostility to the American cause.
He appears also to have been a zealous partisan of Vermont in the
controversy about the "New Hampshire Grants." He was selectman in
1783 and 1803; representative in 1785.  He was the first postmaster
in Chesterfield commissioned by the United States, holding the office
from 1802 to 1810. 
  One of his sons, RUFUS HARVEY SR., lived and died in Chesterfield.
For many years he (Rufus) was a deputy sheriff for the county of
Cheshire.

DR. SOLOMON HARVEY was in Dummerston, Vt in 1773, of which town he
was clerk several years.  He appears to have settled in Chesterfield
in 1775 or 1776, and to have taken an active part in the affairs of
the town during the War of the Revolution.  In 1788 he represented
Chesterfield in the convention that adopted the Federal Constitution.
He was selectman in 1789-92; town clerk 1800-17. He probably died in
Chesterfield after 1820.

BENJ. HASKELL was in Chesterfield in 1784. He appears to have settled
on Lot No. 12 or 13, in the thirteenth range.  Justice of the peace;
selectman 1784, 1787, 1788, 1798, 1799; representative, 1789, 1799,
1800.  SOme of his descendants now live at Ascott, Lower Canada; but
whether he himself removed to that town has not been ascertained.
He removed from Chesterfield, however, between 1815 and 1819.

GEORGE HAWES, son of John, was born in Barre, Mass. He married
Eunice M., dau of JOseph Day of Chesterfield NH in 1858, and lived
in Worcester, Mass where he was engaged in railroad business about
twenty years. He removed to this town in 1870 where he resided.
He has an adopted daughter, Bessie B., who was the daughter of
William BEMIS of Brattleboro Vt.

WILLIAM HENRY is said to have come to chesterfield from Lunenburg,
Mass between 1770 and 1776. He married May Conn, who bore him
six children--May, William, James, Betty, Eunice and Freelove.
James married Mary, daughter of Gibson Willard in 1798, who bore him six children--Frederick W., Rebecca H., John P., Willard, Mary F.
and Betsey E.  Willard born February 1, 1809 married 3 times, first,
Mary B. Shaw in 1834, second Emily dau of Samuel GOodrich 8 Oct 1856,
and third Mrs. Sarah M. Reed of Fitzwilliam in 1877.  His children
were--Nathaniel C., Mary E., Lydia A., Hubbard W., Martha J., Ella J.,
Emily J. and John G.  Nathaniel C., born September 21, 1837 married for
his first wife Augusta M. Snow of Swanzey November 9, 1864 and for his
second wife Jennie N. Chamberlain of North Dana, Mass, December 15,
1872.

JONATHAN HILDRETH settled in Westmoreland as early as 1751 and moved
to this town about 1763, settling on the farm now owned by Watson
Wheeler. He was selectman in 1767, 1770, 1779.  
  LOTAN, son of Jonathan was born March 29, 1763, married Sarah Pierce 
and died June 3, 1812.  
  AFRICA, one of his eleven children, was born April 1,1797, married 
twice, first Mariam Blanchard and second, Mary Blanchard, a sister of 
his first wife.  He died June 22, 1869. His children were as follows--
Frances A., Cyrus C., Louisa E., Henry S., Lotan B., John W.,
George L., Elathine A., Christina C., Larkin J., Charles C., and
Sarah E.
  HENRY S. HILDRETH (son of Africa) was born March 4, 1826 and
married Carrie E. Pettee June 1, 1848.  His only son, Irving A,
was born June 5, 1850 and married Addie O. Wilber who died September 
24, 1874.  
  CHARLES C. HILDRETH (son of Africa) was born November 4, 1848, and
George L was born March 31, 1838.

JESSE HINDS came to Chesterfield about 1805, and settled on a farm
in the southeastern part of town.  CORLIS, son of Jesse was born
November 12, 1814 and married Harriet M., daughter of ELisha Hill,
November 26, 1846.  His children are--Arthur C., Fernando P.,
Harriet E., Sarah M., Caroline L., Jesse B., Manly H., Louisa L.,
Royal T., Flora May, Noble A., Ernest W., William W. and Melvin A.

DAVID HOLMAN settled in Chesterfield about 1805, married twice,
first Mehitable Gale, and second, Mrs. Laura (Stone) Henry. He had
two children, James, an adopted son, and Ella F. The former married
Mary Falkner in 1824 who died August 31, 1841. He died April 28, 1844,
aged thirty-five years.  His children were David, Hetta, William,
Jason R., Sarah J., Esther M., Cynthia, George and Henry M.
  DAVID HOLMAN, son of James was born January 5, 1825 and married
Sarah R., daughter of Ara Hamilton April 27, 1848. He was selectman
in 1879 and 1882. His children are--Frederick H., Alice M., Evelyn A.,
and Gertrude L.  WILLIAM HOLMAN, son of James was born August 2, 1828,
married Mary M., dau of Josiah Higgins, April 8, 1851 and had
children--Mary Rosetta, b May 5, 1853; Frank M. born December 30, 1854;
Frederick W born Sept 30 1856; George A. b October 26 1858, and Helen
L born March 6, 1861 who died August 3, 1874.

JOSEPH HOLT came to Chesterfield from Fitchburg, Mass, about 1812.
his son JOSEPH HOLT JR. married Elizabeth Osborn and died in
Chesterfield in 1832. He kept a hotel where Leonard W. Leach now
lives, also where Mrs. L.F. Bonney now lives.  He was also of the
firm Holt & White merchants, more than 50 years.  
  ABEL, son of JOSEPH JR. was born January 15, 1803, married Hepsibeth
J. Brown of Damers, Mass [not a typo] October 11, 1829, and had born
to him five children.  Of these, JOSEPH was born December 9, 1830,
married Mrs. Martha E. Bowen in September 1869 and resided in
Chesterfield.  EDWIN A. was born November 3, 1834 and resided in town,
and his daughter, Mrs. L.F. Bonney resided in Chesterfield Factory,
where she had for a long time a millinery store.

RICHARD HOPKINS came to this town as early as 1787, married Lucy 
Fairbanks and died April 5, 1847 aged eighty-three years.
  THORNTON HOPKINS, son of Richard, married Diantha, daughter of
William Farr, and died in Fitzwilliam about 1855.  William W.,
son of Thornton was born December 21, 1831, married Miranda, daughter
of Squire Streeter, September 12, 1854, was a mechanic and resided
in town. His children are--Fred W., born October 2, 1859; Etta M.,
born September 21, 1863, and Harry D., born August 18, 1869.
  RICHARD HENRY HOPKINS, son of Richard and Emeline (Lewis) HOPKINS,
was born in Chesterfield May 9, 1831 and died February 21, 1877. He
received a good business education, and then learned the machinist
trade at Hinsdale NH after which he returned to Chesterfield Factory
and soon engaged in the manufacture of bits and augers for Benjamin
pierce, and continued in the business until April 1, 1870. From
1868 to 1870 Fred B. Pierce was his partner, under the firm name of
Hopkins & Pierce. He also in company with Horace Howe (who for many
years had been overseer in a cotton mill) purchased the cotton factory
and converted it into a shop for the manufacture of woodenware, and
under the firm name of Howe & Hopkins, made spinning wheels, flax
wheels, hatchels [? hatchets] &c., several years.  In April 1870 he
removed to Hinsdale NH and went into company with G.S. Wilder, under
the firm name of Wilder & Hopkins, edge-tool manufacturers. In 1872
in company with George C. Fisk, president of the Wason Manufacturing
Company, car builders of Springfield, Mass., under the firm name of
Fisk & Hopkins Paper Co., he built a paper mill at Hinsdale, of which
he was the successful manager until his death...In 1858 and 1859
he was elected selectmen by the voters of Chesterfield, and in 1865
and 1866 represented the same in the NH house of representatives. He
was also a trustee of the Hinsdale Savings bank, a Master mason, and
a member of the Congregational Church.  January 6, 1853, he married
Ellen M. Newton, who was born October 21, 1831 and died September 26,
1875.  The following were their children--Charles B., born May 16,
1855, resided in Hinsdale and was manager of the Brightwood paper
mill since his father's death; Isabel A., b May 28, 1857, died
September 6, 1858; Herbert H. born July 2, 1861, married and resided in
Hinckley, Illinois; Hattie E., born February 24, 1864, and died
August 18, 1865; Clara E., born February 3, 1868, graduated from
Tilden Seminar June 17, 1885; and George C., born January 10, 1873
and lived in Greenfield, Mass.

ELEAZER JACKSON supposed to have been a descendant of Edward Jackson,
who came from London, England, and settled in what is now Newton,
Mass, as early as 1643, was born May 12, 1736.  In 1767 he was in
Walpole, Mass., but afterwards removed to Wrentham, and thence, in
1771, to Dudley.  He was originally a clothier by trade.  October 6,
1778, he took a deed of 82 acres of land in Chesterfield, upon which
he settled.  This land is part of the farm on which his grandson,
Jay Jackson, now resides, and has always been, since 1778, owned by
members of the Jackson family. He was selectman in 1782, 1783, 1787,
1788, 1793-1796, and 1800; representative in 1792, 1793, 1797.  In
1791 he was the delegate from Chesterfield to the convention for 
revising the Constitution of the State [of NH]. He died November 11,
1814.  His wife was Rachel Pond, who he married in 1761, and who died 
March 12, 1836 at the great age of ninety-six years. His children were
Prudence, Jacob, Jarib, Lydia, Enoch, Elijah, Levi, Wilkes, James and
David.
  One of his sons, ENOCH JACKSON, born October 20, 1769, married 
Martha, daughter of Andrew Phillips in 1779, and lived on the paternal 
farm till 1837, when he removed to Winhall, Vt., where he died at the 
age of nearly eighty-four years. He was a noted pedestrian and seldom 
made use of a horse in performing long journeys.  
  His son, JAY JACKSON, (son of Enoch) was born May 15, 1816, the youngest of the eight children, and also the youngest of thirty
grandchildren of Eleazor.  He was born at the "Jackson Home" in
Chesterfield, and resided on the ancestral farm, as mentioned above, and is a well-known farmer. He traded in cattle, was a trustee of
Chesterfield academy; a member of the NH House of representatives in
1842 and 1844 and of the constitutional convention in 1876. He married
in 1845 Betsey E. Henry of Swanzey, who died i 1870, and in 1872 he
married Mrs. Lucy S. Whitney of TOwnsend, Vt. He had at least the
follwoing children--Laura, b September 12, 1846 a successful and
highly educated teacher; Robert, born March 3, 1848 a soldier in the
war of the Rebellion and a seaman, later engaged in mercantile business
with his brother at Chesterfield Factory; Martha E., born September 5,
1850 and died August 13, 1876; Andrew H. born January 13, 1853, 
merchant and assistant postmaster at Chesterfield Factory; and John,
born March 16, 1857, died December 27, 1861.
  LEVI JACKSON, son of Eleazer Jackson, was one of the most 
intellectual men that Chesterfield has ever produced.  Of him, his
nephew Jay Jackson, writes as follows: "In a history of the town of
Chesterfield, justice to the memory of Hon. Levi Jackson seems to
require something more than the bare mention of his name; for
probably no one has done more for the honor of the town, or to elevate
the moral and intellectual standard of the community in which he
moved.  The youthful years of Levi were principally spent in company
with his father and brothers in clearing up and cultivating their
new farm; but he manifested a desire to obtain a better education than
the common schools of that day were calculated to impart, and told his
father that he thought he might afford to send one of his numerous
family of boys to college.  Improving his meagre common-school
privileges, and dividing the remainder of his time between his labors
upon the farm and his fireside studies, with the benefit of a few
months at the then infant institution of Chesterfield Academy, he
qualified himself for college, and entered Dartmouth in 1797, two
years in advance.  Graduating in 1799, his services were immediately
secured by the trustees of Chesterfield Academy as preceptor of
that institution, which position he held for six consecutive years.
During this time he academy acquired an enviable reputation as a 
literary institution. Possessing a fine personal appearance, an
unassumed dignity and firmness, yet easy and pleasant in his manners
and conversation, it was said of him that he commanded both the love
and fear of his pupils and the respect of all.  On retiring from the
preceptorship of the academy, he engaged in trade at Chesterfield
Centre, and continued in that business during the remainder of his
life.  He was a member of the NH House of Representatives in 1808,
1809, 1810 and 1811 and again in 1821; a member of the State Senate
in 1812, 1813, 1814, and 1815; and of the Council in 1816 and 1817.
Modest and unaspiring in his depoartment.. the offices of honor and
trust that he held were unbought and unsought by him, but bestowed
on him by an appreciative constituency in consideration of his
eminent qualifications for the same. A man of temperate habits and
strong constitution, in the full strength and vigor of life and
usefulness, and with a prospect before him amounting to nearly a
certainty, that if his life was spared, he would soon be called to
fill the highest office in the gift of the State, his unexpected
death, which occurred August 30, 1821, at the age of 49, was a severe
loss to the town, the State, and the community; and brought deep
mourning upon his family and friends....

EDWARD JARVIS, son of Edward, was born at St. John City, New Brunswick.
He married Calista M. Gibson of that city September 16, 1856 and came
to Chesterfield June 29, 1860 and lived near the southern boundary of
Westmoreland, in the house where Mr. Strobridge lived and died.
After 3 years he went to Swanzey, and engaged in lumbering in
California woods.  Three years afterwards he removed to Westmoreland,
and lived on the farm last towned by Sanford Guernsey, and the house
built by Samuel Burt 1st.  They lived there 14 years, when the
buildings were destroyed by fire. He then removed to Chesterfield
Factory in September 1880 where he keeps a boarding house and
livery stable. He lived on Main street, in the house long occupied by
Jacob White.  His children were four sons and four daughters, viz:--
Eugene, born October 17, 1859, died at the age of seven; Peter A.,
born March 3, 1863, died at the age of four years; Stanley E.,
born October 17, 1857; Joseph A., b July 1, 1861; Eliza J. b April 10,
1865; Lettica S.V. b December 7, 1868; Ada Corinne, b March 31, 1872;
and Edna M, b January 12, 1875.

SAMUEL KING, son of DR. SAMUEL KING, appears to have settled in
Chesterfield about 1773.  He probably came from Petersham, Mass.
He was one of the most conspicuous characters in the history of the
town.  In 1776 he refused to sign the "Association Test," and in
June 1777, he was summoned before the "court of inquiry," at Keene,
"as being inimical to the United States of America;" was tried and
sentenced to pay a fine and to be confined to the limits of his farm.
When the controversy about the "Grants" was at its height, he
espoused the cause of Vermont, and labored strenuously to effect the
union of the disaffected towns with that State, and at one time held
a commission as colonel in the Vermont militia.  According to the
records of the Superior Court of Cheshire County, he was indicted at
the same time with Samuel Davis, for attempting to break up the
Inferior Court in September 1782; but this indictment was quashed.
In 1781 he was chosen, together with Deacon Silas Thompson, to
represent Chesterfield in the General Assembly of Vermont, and was
selectman the same and the following year.  In 1782, 1783, and 1784
he represented the town in the General COurt of New Hampshire.  He
died September 13, 1785 in his thirty-fourth year, and was buried in
the old town grave-yard at the Centre village.  In his will, which
was made twelve ays before his death, he devised the use of his farm
to his father and mother, and made certain provisions respecting his
sisters and children.  The appraised value of his estate was
2497 pounds, 9s. 4d.

JOHN KNEELAND, son of Timothy Kneeland, and brother of the celebrated
Abner Kneeland, was born in Gardner, Mass, in 1766 or 1767. He was a
carpenter by trade, and helped build, in 1790, the large square house,
near the West village, now owned and occupied by Ira D. Farr.  He
lived a few years after his marriage in Dummerston, Vt., but returned
to Chesterfield in 1797.  He resided many years on the farm now owned
and occupied by Charles C.P. GOodrich, Esq., and which has long been
known as the "Squire Kneeland farm."  He was a justice of the peace
for many years, and held the office of selectman longer than it has
ever been held by any other person since the town was incorporated,
viz: 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812-1816, 1820-26, or sixteen years in all.
He was also representative 1818-20, 1822, and 1825.  He died
February 9, 1850. He married Polly Johnson in 1791. His children were
Polly, Cynthia, Electa, Lucy, Azra, Abial, Eliza and John W.  
  ABNER KNEELAND, the celebrated author and preacher, was a brother
of John and often visited the town.

BENJAMIN MARSH, son of Rev. Elisha Marsh, came here from Walpole,
about 1785.  He married Mrs. Hannah Graves in 1788, and died April 7,
1811.  His children were Reuben, Asa, Elizabeth and Mary L.
  REUBEN MARSH was born December 20, 1788 and married Mary, daughter of
Joab Wetherbee in 1815.  He was captain of one of the companies of the
2d Regiment detached militia, station at Portsmouth in 1814, and was
selectman in 1839, 1842, 1844.  He died November 16, 1855.  He had
born to him seven children, namely--Laura A. H., Mary W., Benjamin
Lloyd, Sophira S., Charlotte and Charles, twins, and Helen E.
  CHARLES MARSH, born November 6, 1829, married Julia M. Barrett of
Boston, where he later resided.  He is one of the great firm of
Jordan, Marsh & CO., as was also his brother, Benjamin L.
  CHARLOTTE MARSH, twin sister of Charles, married Henry Fletcher in
1849, and resided in Chesterfield on a section of the old Marsh farm.
About 1872 the family removed to Brattleboro Vt., Mr. Fletcher being
engaged in the lumber business and milling.  They have three
children--Lelia, Helen and William, all born in Chesterfield. Mr.
Fletcher was deputy-sheriff of Cheshire county for many years.
  BENJAMIN LLOYD MARSH, son of Captain Reuben and Mary (Wetherbee)
Marsh, was born in Chesterfield, November 8, 1823.  While a young man
he went to Boston, and became, in 1851, a member of the great
dry-goods firm of Jordan, Marsh & Co., the senior partner of which is
Eben D. Jordan.  Mr. Marsh retained his connection with this firm till
his death, which occurred June 13, 1865, "Having shared in all the
struggles, vicissitudes and triumphs of the house."  His brother,
Charles Marsh, is still a member of the same firm.

LEVI MEAD, son of MATTHEW MEAD, was born in Lexington, Mass,
October 14, 1759.  He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, came to
this town about 1801. Soon after the War of the Revolution began he
enlisted in the American army and served during the whole war.
In 1782 he married Betsey, daughter of Joseph Converse, who settled
in Chesterfield about 1794.  In October 1800 he purchased of Asa
Britton of this town what is known as the "Mead farm," having a
frontage on the main street, at the Centre village, extending from the
old "back road" (leading westward, and now disused) to the "Dr. Tyler
place." In the spring of 1801 he came to Chesterfield with his
family and occupied the next house south of the Tyler place, which he
kept as a tavern.  In 1816 he build the present hotel at the Centre
village, long known as the "Mead tavern."  In 1802 he was appointed
deputy sheriff for Cheshire County, and held this office many
years.  He died April 29, 1828. He had born to him eight children as
follows:--Levi, Joseph, James, Bradley, Larkin Goldsmith, Elias,
Marshall S. and Betsey R.
  LARKIN G. MEAD, born in Lexington, Mass, October 2, 1795, was the
son of Levi Mead.  He was educated at the Chesterfield Academy and at
Dartmouth College, and then read law with Hon. Phineas Handerson.
For many years he was a prominent member of the Cheshire bar.  He was
a man of culture, and possessed rare business qualities.  He was ever
foremost in promoting the cause of education, and took great interest
in the public schools.  In 1839 he removed to Brattleborough, where he
resided the remainder of his life, and where he continued to practice
his profession.  He procured the charter for the first savings-bank
in Vermont, now called the Vermont Savings-Bank of Brattleborough,
and was treasurer of the institution about twenty-five years.  In
1846 he was a member of the Vermont Senate.  He died July 6, 1869.
His wife was Mary Jane, (who he married 2 October 1795) daughter of 
Hon. John Noyes of Putney, Vt. and Polly (Hayes) Noyes.
  One of his sons is the well-known sculptor, Larkin G. Mead Jr.,
who was born in Chesterfield, January 3, 1835, but removed to
Brattleborough with his parents in 1839.  In 1862 he went to Florence,
Italy, where he has since resided the greater part of the time.  Among
the most important of his works are the "Recording Angel" the
colossal statue "Vermont," "Ethan Allen," "The Returned Soldier,"
"Columbus' Last Appeal to Isabella," "Amercia," the bronze statue of
Abraham Lincoln, "Venice, the Bride of the Sea,' etc.

CALVIN E. NURSE, son of Benjamin, was born in Keene NH March 20, 1825.
He has resided a number of years in Chesterfield, having previously
travelled extensively in the United States and Canada as an attache
of a circus company; he was a painter and paper-hanger.

ELI PATTTRIDGE moved here from Mendon, Mass about 1776, and remained
in this town until 1800 when he moved to the northern part of the
state.  He had born to him nine children, namely--Eli, Joseph, Amos,
Mary, Rachel, Charles, Nathaniel, Abel and Adam.
  JOSEPH PATTRIDGE born in 1753 married Sarah Warren of Mendon, Mass.
He was selectman in 1801, 1803, 1816, 1817 and died in 1817 at the age
of sixty-four. His children were Caroline, Prussia, John W., Mehitable, 
Joseph, Simon, Winslow, Sally, Abel, Ora and Samuel J.  
  SAMUEL J PATTRIDGE, born November 22, 1800, was the youngest of 
Joseph and Sarah (Warren) Pattridge's eleven children; while Lucretia 
born November 9, 1801, whom he married October 25, 1827, was the
oldest of Ziba and Nancy (Babbit) Albee's fourteen children.  He
settled on the paternal homestead, about two miles east of Factory
Village, and was a succesful farmer. His mother, and also the mother 
of Mrs. Pattridge, received their personal care in their last years,
the former attaining to the ripe age of eighty-nine, and the latter
eighty-two.  She was known to say that during the years she had lived
in the home of Samuel, she had no knowledge of an unpleasant word
between him and her daughter.  He served the town as selectman in 1868,
was elected representative to the general court in 1846, and was
re-elected in 1852.  He was commissioned an officer of the Chesterfield
Light Infantry (under the old state militia). Samuel died suddenly
on the morning of April 30, 1884. Their children were--
Sarah W., born January 10, 1831 married 11 Feb 1851 William R.
Bullock of Winchester where they resided and had at least 4 children;
Winslow Albee born 25 October 1838, and went to California in the
spring of 1864 and engaged mostly in mining; on Jan 19, 1869 he
married Georgina J., daughter of Henry Woodfield of Grass Valley
Nevada Co. California.  In the precinct where he lived, during
elections he was clerk and recorder six years.  He was also deputized
foreign tax collector.  In the fall of 1873 he returned to
Chesterfield with his family and settled on the homestead with his
father, and where his mother later lived.  Their two oldest children
were born in California, Hattie L. born 1 Jan 1871 and E. Maud
born 15 December 1872.  Then 3 children born in Chesterfield--
Fred W. born 6 Jan 1875, Ida Lucretia b 9 July 1878 and Lyra G.
born 8 Oct 1880.  He was elected representative of Chesterfield in
the fall of 1884. He belonged to the masonic order, having attained
to 32d degree.

Sergeant THOMAS PIERCE, the emigrant ancestor of the Pierce family,
came to this country from England, with his wife, Elizabeth Pierce,
and settled in Charlestown MA in 1634-35. From him was descended,
in the sixth generation, CAPT. JOHN PIERCE.
  CAPT. JOHN PIERCE was born in Groton MA January 26, 1743. He married
Tabitha Porter of Groton, and came to Chesterfield from Groton, Mass 
between 1770 and 1776.  According to tradition, he served in the last 
French and Indian War (under General Ruggles). When the Revolutionary
War broke out, he owned a large quantity of land, including five nice
farms, much of which, it is said, he sacrificed to the cause of
liberty.  Under the order from General Stark he promptly volunteered
and went to Bennington, taking part in the battle (probably as an
independent volunteer).  Tradition states that he and his two 
lieutenants started ahead of the company, and as they neared the 
British forces at Bennington, they found themselves between a company 
of Hessian, who were bathing in a stream, and the main body of the 
British.  Carefully crawling upon the bathers, who had their arms 
stacked, they separated, and representing themselves as three 
companies, called upon them to surrender, which they did, and they 
marched them as prisoners into the American lines. On coming to 
Chesterfield, he appears to have located on what is now  the Centre 
village, where he have kept a small store near where the  stone store now stands. April 19, 1782 he purchased of Samuel Davis Converse, the
western half (the other half lying in Spafford's Lake) of lot No. 12,
in the tenth range, on which he built a house.  Here he passed the
remaining years of his life, erecting, after a while, a larger and
more commodious house near the highway that formerly led from the
Centre village to Westmoreland.  He died July 7, 1812, aged sixty-nine 
years. His widow died April 23, 1831, aged seventy-four years. He had
nine children as follows--William born 1776; twins born 1779; John,
born 1780; Silas, born 1781; Ezekiel P. born 1785; Ebenezer born 1788;
Esther born 1791; and Lucy born 1799.  All were born in CHesterfield.
  EZEKIEL PORTER PIERCE, son of John and Tabitha (Porter) Pierce was 
born April 20, 1785 and spent the most of his life in Chesterfield.  He
lived at home, working on his father's farm, attending the common
schools and Chesterfield academy until he learned the carpenter's
and joiner's trade.  At the age of 21 he left home, going to
Farmington, Me. where he engaged in drafting and architecture.
March 1, 1808 he married Susanna, dau of Colonel Ezekiel Porter, of
Farmington, Me. who was born May 4, 1785. He moved to Chesterfield from
Maine, to live with his mother on the John Pierce homestead, in
October 1814. Here he attended to farming, trading and manufacturing,
entering largely into the manufacture of "patent acceleratory wheel-
heads," at the Factory Village, and the manufacture of bits and
augers at West Chesterfield.  About 1821 he purchased the so-called
Cook Stand, at the Centre Village and kept a store and tavern there
until 1831, when he built the large stone tavern near the lake.
Here he lived the remaining years of his life, keeping the E.P. Pierce
Temperance Lake House. He afterwards engaged in trade for a while at
Factory Village, and in Londonderry Vt.,  The first "patent 
accelerating wheel-heads," for spinning wool, that were made in
Chesterfield, were manufactured by him at Factory village, probably
about 1820.  He also engaged to some extent in the manufacture of bits
and augurs.  In 1827 he represented the town in the General COurt.
He died May 23, 1865, in the eighty-first year of his age. His widow
died January 11, 1866. He had born to him ten children, viz: Susanna 
P., Theresa J., Ezekiel P., Julia A., Lucius D., Horace T.H., Lafayette 
W., Andrew Jackson, Augusta E., and Benjamin F.
  SUSANNA P. PIERCE (dau of Ezekiel P.) married Colonel Bethuel Farley
of Marlow November 12, 1840 and had two children--Lucius P. and
Dallas J. He died February 9, 1864 and she died July 9, 1881.
 EZEKIEL PORTER PIERCE JR. (son of Ezekiel P Sr.) married Sarah E. 
Webster of Salem, Mass, May 1, 1844 and has had two children--Georgie 
C. and Edward E. and resided in North Woburn Mass.
 JULIA ANGELINA PIERCE (dau of Ezekiel P) resided in Chesterfield NH
 HORACE TRUMAN HANKS PIERCE (son of Ezekiel P) married Sophia C.
Dickinson of Hinsdale June 12, 1850 and his children were Julia L.,
William E., and Frank D.
 LAFAYETTE WASHINGTON PIERCE (son of Ezekiel P.) married three times:
first Cleopatra S. Barry who bore him one child, Charles L.; second,
Mrs. Lydia M. Brooks who also bore him one child, John A.; and third,
Harriet E. Derby and had one child, Thirza B. He practices law in
Winchendon, Mass.
 AUGUSTA E. and BENJAMIN F. PIERCE resided in Chesterfield.
 LUCIUS DARWIN PIERCE (son of Ezekiel P. Sr.) Esq. was born at
Chesterfield August 9, 1820.  In his boyhood and youth he attended
the common schools and Chesterfield academy. In 1841 he entered
Norwich University (Vt.) gained a commendable proficincy in the 
ancient languages, and yet while an undergraduate was appointed to
and accepted the position of Professor of Languages, in a seminar in
Portsmouth, Va.  He resigned and returned to Norwich University where
he graduated with A.B. in the class of 1846.  He studied law in the
office of Hon. William P. Chamberlain at Keene, was admitted to the
bar in 1849, practiced law at Marlow until November 1853, when he
moved to Winchendon, Mass and formed a law partnershp with
Benjamin O. Tyler, Esq. He continued for one year then opened an
office by himself continuing until his death, May 8, 1858. While in
practice in NH he held a commssion as justice of the peace, and at
the time of his death held commissions as justice of the peace and
notary public for Massachusetts.  He married Lucy C., daughter of
Major John H. Fuller of Keene.  His remains are interred in the
Joslin cemetery in Chesterfield.
  BENJAMIN F. PIERCE, youngest son of Ezekiel P. Pierce, was born in
Chesterfield, August 1, 1833.  He attended the district school and
the academy, fitted for college under Professor Lafayette W. Ward, of
Westminster, Vt. and afterwards attended Corner's Commercial college at
Boston. In 1859, he was employed in the counting-room of Gilson's
last factory in Boston, was in trade in Winchendon, Mass, during the
following year, and later resided in Chesterfield.  He owned about
170 acres of land, a large share being timber land and a saw-mill.
The making of cider vinegar was a specialty with him. He manufactured
cider jelly, and cultivated choice grafted fruit for market.  He was
the first successful navigator of Spafford's Lake, having sailed it
about 10 years, no noteworthy accident having occurred during the time.

FRANK A. PIERCE, son of Alson and Susanna (Wheeler) PIERCE was born
in Chesterfield, April 20, 1854, and married October 25, 1870,
Persis M., daughter of Snow Printice.  Previous to her marriage she
taught several terms of school with good success.  She died June 12,
1883.  Mr. Pierce was a farmer, residing on the Ebenezer Pierce
homestead, and has had four children as follows: Earl, born January 8,
1872; Anna L., born October 26, 1874; Guy L., born January 14, 1878;
and Ida M. born January 11, 1880, died March 6, 1881.

GEORGE PIERCE came from Smithfield, R.I. to Chesterfield about 1816,
and settled upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Joseph W. Pierce, on
road 11, where he carried on farming.  He married Sophrona Mann,
of Smithfield RI, who was born June 14, 1785 and was still living in
Chesterfield as a centenarian.  The one hundredth anniversary of this
aged lady's birthday was observed in proper form by her relatives and
friends, about 200 guests being present, and on which occasion the
Rev. Mr. Fowler read a history of the family, written in rhyme.  Others
of those present made short speeches, read appropriate poems, etc. and
Mrs. Pierce, in whose honor her friends had gathered, entertained the
company with vocal selections, which were enthusiastically recieved.
Mr. Pierce lived on the farm about nine years and then went back to
his native town to take care of his mother, and after her death he
came again about 1825 on to his farm, where he lived until his
death, August 14, 1876, aged about eighty-three years.  He had
eleven children--six sons and five daughters--eight of whom are living.
  BENJAMIN PIERCE, son of GEORGE, was born in Smithfield, RI, 
February 26, 1815 and in early life lived with his father on the
farm. He attended common schools and the Chesterfield academy, taught
schools winters until his marriage, which took place November 15, 1842
to Caroline A. Gale, of Petersham, Mass, when he settled at
Chesterfield Factory. Here he was engaged in selling goods manufactured
by Richardson & Huggins, also goods made by Pliny Merrill of Hinsdale.
In 1853 he bought the bit and auger factory of Barton Skinner and
commenced the business of manufacturing Pierce's celebrated boring
implments, until 1882 when he sold out to Currier Brothers.  By his
business tact Mr. Pierce accumulated a large fortune. He also
manufactured spinning wheels and wheel heads. His wife died
October 30, 1882 having had six children born to her, viz.: Fred B.;
Caroline M., married and living at Atchinson, Kan (KS); Nellie K.,
living with her sister at Atchison; Gracie M., born December 30, 1854,
died Oct 3, 1873; Alice H. born November 14, 1858 and died Sept 5,
1860; and one son died in infancy.
  JOSEPH W. PIERCE, son of George was born in Smithfield RI and came
to this town (Chesterfield) with his parents when an infant. He
married Sarah J. dau of Davis Arnold, who bore him six children,
namely--Ansel J., Harry A., John M., David W., S. Jennie, and Josie
M. Mr. Pierce died February 27, 1884.
  FRED B. PIERCE, son of Benjamin, was born at Chesterfield Factory,
April 20, 1845. He married Emma F., daughter of Josiah W. Cook of
Alstead, December 16, 1868 and has one daughter, Maude E., born
May 23, 1871, a son Frank M., born May 17, 1875, died Sept 18th of
the same year.  From 1868 to 1882 he was interested with his father
in the manufacture of bits and augurs. In 1877 he established the
business of manufacturing brush-handles, and doing a large business
in Chesterfield Factory...
  
WARHAM R. PLATTS, son of Captain Joseph Platts, of Rindge, born
July 18, 1792, married Sarah Harvey in 1821, and settled in
Chesterfield.  FOr about twenty-one years he was postmaster at the
Centre village.  He was also, for many years, a deputy sheriff for
Cheshire county, and for a while sheriff of the county.  He was
always interested in the affairs of the town and in national politics.
In 1848 and 1851 he held the office of selectman,, and was town clerk
in 1843-44.  He died February 21, 1871.

JOHN PUTNAM, born in Winchester May 10, 1761, came to Chesterfield in
his boyhood, and lived in the family of Ebenezer Harvey Sr.  In 1779
he enlisted in Colonel Hercules Mooney's regiment, and served for a
while.  This regiment was ordered to march to Rhode Island.  In 1801
he married Mary, the daughter of Joseph Converse, and lived many years
at the Centre village, in the large house that once stood near the
south side of the comon, and which was burned about 1845.  THough
he commenced life in very humble circumstances, he succeeded,
by his sagacity and perseverance, in acquiring a considerable fortune,
owning much timber-land in the Winchester woods.  FOr a number of
years he was one of the trustees of the academy, and served the town
in the capacity of selectman in the years 1808, 1809, 1820, 1821,
1826.  He also represented the town in the Legislature in 1816, 1817,
1818, and 1826.  He died November 17, 1849 at the age of eighty-eight
years.

WILLIAM RANDALL came to Chesterfield from Cranston, R.I. about 1780.
his children were Eleazar, Anthony, Benajah, and Esther.
  ELEAZAR RANDALL married Martha Staples, and settled in Chesterfield
on land given him by his father. His children were Roxana, Prusha,
Diana, Nathan and Eleazer.  
  ELEAZER (son of Eleazar) born August 4, 1796 married Clarissa,
daughter of Benjamin Wheeler in 1815.  He resided many years in this
town, on the farm which his father-in-law had settled, later owned by
William L. Clegg.  He died in Westmoreland June 17, 1860.  He had born
to him eight children, namely--Diana, Roxana, Eleazer, Sarah Harris,
Shubel Hastings, Martha Staples, Abigail Rockwood and George.
  ELEAZAR RANDALL, son of Eleazar and Clarissa (Wheeler) Randall, was
born in Chesterfield February 27, 1820.  Having learned the 
carpenter's trade when a young man, he engaged pretty extensively,
from about 1850 til 1860 in the construction of railway and other
buildings in Vermont, Western Canada, and Michigan, being associated,
most of the time with Marshall H. Farr, and his own brothers--
Shubel H. and George Randall.  He married 18 October 1846, Elvia 
Rumrill,of Hillsborough Bridge, daughter of William and Sally (Little)
Rumrill. From 1860 till the time of his death he engaged in farming in 
Chesterfield, on the farm that he had owned and managed since 1850, and 
which is now owned by his sons, Oran Edmund and Frederick Rumrill.  
He died July 30, 1882.
 ORAN EDMUND RANDALL, born December 28, 1847, married Maria N., dau
of Moses N. Smith on April 13, 1871.  She is the author of "History
of Chesterfield," published in 1882.
 FREDERICK R. RANDALL born in Chesterfield NH January 29, 1854 married
Alice C., daughter of John A. and Fanniel E. (Barrow) Kathan, of
Westmoreland.

SILAS RICHARDSON, a descendant of John Richardson, who came to this
country from England, was born in Medford, Mass 1748. He appears to 
have settled in this town about 1776, having come from Mendon, Mass. 
and settled on land one mile north of the Factory Village. The deed of 
his purchase under colonial government, still preserved, is dated May 
1776. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was called "Lieutenant
Richardson." He was one of the original trustees of Chesterfield 
Academy, and was selectman in 1788, 1793-96. He died in 1803. His wife 
was Silence (or Sileme) Daniels, of Medway, Mass who he married in 
1771. His children were: Wilkes, Sarah, Orlo
 WILKES RICHARDSON (son of Silas) born December 1772 marrried Mehitable 
Clark, resided in Chesterfield until 1808 when he removed to Champion 
N.Y. He was selectman in 1804 & 1805.
 ORLO RICHARDSON (son of Silas) married Nancy Wild, dau of Benjamin
Wild, who died April 4, 1872, aged nearly ninety years. He settled 
here and lived in Chesterfield all his life. In 1826-1828, 1834, 1835 
he (Orlo) also held the office of selectman, and represented the town 
in the Legislature in 1828-1829. He was also Justice of the peace,
and an active businessman.  He died May 27, 1852.  His children were:
John Milton, b. November 25, 1807; Laura, born Jan 28, 1861; Nancy,
born Sept 1810, died Dec 1, 1857; Edwin, b. Aug 24 1812, married
Sarah B. Wheeler of Westmoreland, was a manufacaturer of scythes in
Fitchburg MA; Sarah Wild, b Aug 1, 1814, married Col Charles
Butterfield of Westmoreland who was a graduate of Kimbal Union
Academy and a prominent teacher; Silas D., b Dec 10, 1816, married
Lura M. Choate, in Orland, Ind., has been practicing physician in
Indiana, Michigan and Iowa, and resides in Chicago; Diana, born
January 1, 1819, married George F. son of Wilder Harris of 
Chesterfield and died Sep 14, 1871 at St. Albans Vt; Julia A.,
b Sept 6, 1821, married J.W.H. Baker MD, son of Dr. Oliver Baker of
Chesterfield; and Lucretia Adeline, b. Oct 4, 1824, died Oct 8, 1828.
 JOHN MILTON RICHARDSON (son of Orlo) born November 25, 1807, is a 
farmer and justice of the peace in Chesterfield. He married May 31,
183? Bathsheba D. Hemenway of Framingham Mass.  He was selectman in
1851, 1856 and 1857, representative in 1861 and 1862. An adopted son,
John Milo Richardson, born in 1843, married Laura Maria, dau of J.W.H.
Baker.  She resided in Chesterfield some time and has been a teacher
in Davenport, Iowa for several years. He died in St. Alban's Vt of
consumption October 31, 1871 and was buried in Chesterfield. Their
dau, Julia B. was born in Chesterfield December 3, 1871.

ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1708, emigrated
to America in 1754 with his wife Elizabeth (Watson) and children,
James, WIlliam, John (?) and Anna (?).  Archibald and his wife were
dissenters from the old-established Church of Scotland, and joined
with the "New DIsciples."  Their names appear among those of the
subscribers for the new book of "Confession of Faith," a copy of
which is now in possession of their great-grandson, Timothy N.
Robertson.  They came to Chesterfield (having lived a few years near
Boston) after their son James had settled here, but just how long
after has not been ascertained.  December 14, 1775, Archibald was
chosen to represent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the "Provincial
Congress" that was to assemble at Exeter the 21st day of the same
month, being the first person ever chosen by the town for such
purpose.  After living here a number of years he removed to
Brattleborough or Vernon, Vt.  He died in Brattleborough in 1803.
  JAMES ROBERTSON, son of Archibald Robertson, born in Scotland
March 8, 1741, came to this country with his father in 1754.  For a 
few years after coming to this country he worked in Old Dunstable and
vicinity, and, probably, also took part in the last French and Indian
War.  In the summer of 1762 he came to Chesterfield, and began to 
prepare a home for himself and future wife.  The place where he built
his cabin is about thirty rods west of the present residence of his
grandson, T.N. Robertson.  When the war broke out between the
mother-country and the American colonies he ardently espouse the cause
of the latter, though a Briton by birth.  In September 1776, he
enlisted in Captain Houghton's company of Colonel Nahum Baldwin's
regiment.  In 1777 he was a lieutenant in Colonel Ashley's regiment,
but the date of his commission has not been ascertained.  He was, also,
at one time a member of the town "Committee of Safety."  During the
controversy about the New Hampshire Grants he was firm in his
opposition to the Vermont party, by some of whom he appears to have
been rather roughly treated.  He died March 19, 1830.  His first wife
was Sarah Bancroft, of Dunstable (now Tyngsborough) Mass.  She died
June 28, 1798 in her fifty-fifth year.

ELISHA ROCKWOOD, born in Groton, Mass, November 20, 1740 purchased in
Chesterfield, in 1769, the larger part of house-lots Nos. 7 and 8,
in the tenth range.  In his deed he was styled a "clothier." He took
a prominent part in the affairs of the town during the War of the
Revolution, being one of the town Committee of Safety in 1777. He
also was selectman the same year and in 1780.  He died February 13,
1832.

AARON ROYCE came from Rhode Island at an early day. He has four
children--one son and three daughters. His son DAVID ROYCE was born
in town (Chesterfield), married Harriet Streeter of Hinsdale NH and
located in Hinsdale. After living here and in different parts of
NH and Vermont for several years, he moved to Charleston, Vt. where 
he and his wife both died.  He reared a family of nine children, six
of whom are living. Of these, BURNHAM ROYCE lives in Boston; HARRIET
ROYCE married H. Osman and lived in Vermont; CYNTHIA ROYCE in
Lyndon, Vt.; CHARLES ROYCE AND cLARK ROYCE lived in Charleston, Vt.;
and LYMAN ROYCE a farmer resides in Chesterfield.  Lyman married
Eveline C. Hildreth and has had born to him six children, as follows:
Ellis D. of this town; Harriet L., Anna J. and Adelar, who are dead;
Isabel who married H.M. Butler, and Herman D. who is also dead.

EBENEZER SAFFORD came to Chesterfield about 1780 and settled upon
what was known as the "Dudley farm." His children were Luke, Roswell,
and Ebenezer.
  ROSWELL SAFFORD, born November 18, 1784 married Fanny, daughter of
Jonathan Farr, in 1809, and had born to him five children--Electa C.,
Philip, Ebial, Jonathan and Eliza C.
  EBNEZER JR., born October 2, 1787 married Dolly, daughter of William
Farr in 1809 who bore him six children--Mary T., Norman E., Lydia P.,
Watson, Oliver H. and Otis.  Watson, born February 24, 1819 married
Catharine, daughter of ELijah Hildreth September 27, 1843 who bore
him five children--Leavitt W., born Nov 10, 1844; Ellon A, born March
19, 1849, married Mary R dau of William Holman on February 14, 1871;
Charles H. born June 25, 1854; Frank L., born July 27, 1857; and
Eddie A., born December 28, 1861.

THE SARGENT FAMILY--The founder of the Sargent family in Chesterfield
was ERASTUS SARGENT, son of THOMAS, and a great-grandson of Digory Sargent, of Mass.,who was killed by the Indians about 1704, and whose wife and children were captured and taken to Canada.  Erastus 
settled in Chesterfield in 1792 or 1793.  He married Annas, daughter of
Warren Snow, of Chesterfield, and lived many years here, finally
removing to Stukely, P.Q. where he died AUgust 24, 1847, aged
seventy-five years.  His seven children were--Edwin, Diana, Jason,
Edith, Warren, Angeline, and Alanson.
  One of his sons, Edwin Sargent, was born December 16, 1793, married 
27 Dec 1815 to Sally,daughter of David Stoddard, of this town, and lived here most of his life. He resided for a time on the paternal
farm, then moved to the farm afterwards owned by his son, Oscar E.
He represnted the town in the General Court in 1842.  He had born to him nine children--Louisa, Emily, Corydon, John H., David W.,
Charles R., Jude S., Oscar E., and Frederich. One of his sons, Charles 
R. Sargent, engaged to a considerable extent, in his earlier years, in 
school-teaching; but at the time of his death, which occured in 
Hinsdale April 2, 1880, he was one of the commissioners of Cheshire 
County, to which office had been twice elected.

WAITSTILL SCOTT was in Westmoreland at the time of the Revolution, and
commanded the company that marched from that town on the occasion of
the alarm at Ticonderoga. He probably came to Chesterfield between
1815 and 1819. His children were Eunice, Lydia, Waitstill, Rufus,
Rhodolphus, Lucy, Lyman, Chester and Justus.  Rhodolphus born January
7, 1780, married twice, first, Lydia Haven, and second Mrs. Diantha
Hopkins.  He had born to him eight children--Noyes, born Oct 7, 1803;
Horace; Alonzo born in 1807; Cordelia born August 9, 1809;
Rhodolphus, died in infancy; Otis H born May 14, 1826; Romanzo J.,
born July 9, 1841, married Sarah M. dau of Benjamin B. Faulkner,
May 15, 1870 is a mechanic in Chesterfield; and George D., born
August 20, 1842.
  HORACE SCOTT, son of Rhodolphus married stice and had born to him
eight children--Persis M., who married ALonzo Wilson; Horace P;
James W; Cordelia L; Sarah A; Elizabeth A.; Marcia A and George F.
  HORACE P. SCOTT (son of Horace) born January 18, 1830 married Syrena,
dau of Ebenezer Perry of Keene 4 July 1852.
  JAMES W. SCOTT (son of Horace, and brother of Horace P.) was born
September 18, 1834, and married Mrs. Lydia (Perry) Field.
  OTIS H. SCOTT (son of Rhodolphus) married Maria N. daughter of
Jonathan Hill of Swanzey, November 13, 1848.  he had born to him
eight children as follows: Stella M. born June 6, 1850; Frank O.,
born September 14, 1852; Letta G., born February 12, 1857; Herbert W.
born January 18, 1859; Mary E. born January 28, 1864; Alice G., born
October 20, 1865; Emma, born November 3, 1867 and Nora C., born
September 16, 1869.
  
WILLIAM SHURTLEFF came to Chesterfield from Ellington, Conn., in 1787,
and died here in 1801.  His wife was Hannah Cady, and one of his nine
children was ROSWELL SHURTLEFF, born August 29, 1773.  At the age of
about nineteen years, Roswell entered Chesterfield Academy, where he
studied Latin, going through Ross's Grammar in just two weeks.
One of his mates at the academy was Levi Jackson, who was afterwards
his classmate and room-mate at Dartmouth College.  After a while he
took up the study of Greek, and went through the "Westminister Greek
Grammar" in one week.  In 1797 he and Jackson entered Dartmouth two
years in advance, and graduated in 1799. From 1800 to 1804 he was 
tutor in that college; from 1804 to 1872, professor of divinity;
from 1827 to 1838 professor of moral philosophy and political economy.
For nearly twenty years he was also college preacher, and pastor of the
church on Hanover Plain.  He was a man of great intellectual force,
an excellent teacher and a devoted friend to all young men who were
striving to obtain an education.  He died at Hanover Feburary 4,
1861 in his eighty-eighth year.

BARTON SKINNER, son of Timothy Skinner of Westmoreland, was born
December 19, 1801 and resided in Chesterfield from 1853 to April 1863.
He was a manufacturer at Factory Village and was town representative
in 1857-58. He removed to Keene, where he died February 11, 1865.

MOSES SMITH, the first settler of Chesterfield, was of Leicester, Mass.
in 1738, where he owned land purchased of John Nobels, of Norwich,
Conn.  In 1761 he was of Hinsdale, as was stated in the deed of the
land which he purchased in Chesterfield that year.  His wife was
Elizabeth --, who died July 20 in her sixty first year.  He was
selectman in 1777, 1771-72.  The inscription on his gravestone is
as follows, "In memory of Ensign Moses Smith, the first settler in
Chesterfield, who departed his life Dec. ye 30th, 1785, in ye 75th
year of his age."  He was buried in the town graveyard, near the
"river road" and a short distance south of the residence of 
Charles C.P. Goodrich, Esq.
  MOSES SMITH JR., son of Moses Smith, the first settlers, married
in 1768, Phebe, daughter of John Snow, of Chesterfield.  He was one
of the first settlers in the eastern part of the town, having
purchased, December 25, 1764, Lot No. 12, in the sixth range.
He was lieutenant in 1777, and justice of the peace for many years.
He was also one of the original trustees of the academy.  During
the controversy about the "New Hampshire Grants" he espoused the 
cause of Vermont, and at one time the New Hampshire government gave
orders for his arrest.  He held the office of selectman in 1776,
1776, 1778, 1781, 1789-1791.  About 1824 he removed, with his son
Moses Jr. to Pike, Allegheny County, New York, where he died about
1830, aged eighty-eight years.

JOHN SNOW appears to have settled in Chesterfield about 1762, which
year he and Moses Smith built the first saw-mill erected in the town.
He probably lived on or near what was afterwards the town poor-farm.
He undoubtedly came from some town in Massachusetts.  He was
selectman in 1767, and died May 12, 1777 in his seventy-second year.
One of his sons, ZERUBBABEL SNOW married Mary Trowbridge of Worcester,
Mass., and settled in Chesterfield before 1770.  He was one of the
selectmen in 1773-74 and died April 12, 1795, in his fifty-fourth year.
Another snow of John Snow, WARREN SNOW, married Amy Harvey, and 
settled in this town in 1769 or 1770 having come from Princeton, Mass.
In 1777 he was a member of the "Committee of Inspection and 
Correspondence" of Chesterfield, and selectman in 1779.  He died in
1824.
  ALPHEUS SNOW, a grandson of Zerubbabel Snow, was born in Chesterfield
May 10, 1791.  He married in 1815, Salome, daughter of Perley Harris,
of this town.  In his youth he attended school only a few weeks;
nonetheless by private study, he afterwards succeeded in acquiring an
ordinary education.  He had a special aptitude for arithmetic, and it
is said that even persons who ought to have been his superiors in 
this branch of mathematics sometimes sought his aid in the solution
of a difficult problem.  When a young man he learned the blacksmith's
trade, which he followed for many years at the West Village. He also
engaged in farming, living a long time on the farm now owned and
occupied by Horace D. Smith.  He was selectman in 1837-39, 1845,
1849, 1853 and represented the town in the General Court in 1849.
He died May 28, 1869.

EBENEZER STEARNS, born in 1776, son of Ebenezer Stearns of Milford,
Mass., appears to have come to Chesterfield about 1797.  About 1800
he opened the first store at Factory Village.  In 1805 the
Chesterfield Manufacturing Company was incorporated, of which he was
agent and treasurer most of the time from 1809 to 1821.  He was an
active, enterprising man, and did much to promote the welfare and
interests of the village in which he lived.  In 1823-24 he represented
the town in the Legislature.  He died October 11, 1825.

DAVID STODDARD may have come from Rutland, Mass.  He appears to have
settled in Chesterfield about 1767, on the farm now owned and
occupied by Truman A. Stoddard.  Whether he married more than once is
not known; but the name of the wife who came to Chesterfield with him
was Joanna --. He was selectman in 1771 and 1772, and in the spring
of 1775 he enlisted in Captain Hind's company of the Third New 
Hampshire Regiment.  According to tradition, he died while in the
army.
  One of his sons, DAVID STODDARD JR. married Sarah French, and lived
on the paternal farm in town.

PETER STONE, a descendant of Simon Stone, who came to this country
from England in 1635, was born in Groton, Mass, August 25, 1741.
In 1773 he married Abigail Fassett, of Westford, Mass.  
March 27, 1777 he purchased, in Chesterfield, of Silas Thompson, the
farm on which the latter settled (consisting in part, at least, of
lot No. 12, in the thirteenth range. He appears to have come to this
town with his family in 1778 or 1779.  He built, at an early period,
the house owned and occupied by the late Charles N. Clark.  In 1790
he helped establish the academy.  In his efforts to aid others he
became involved in debt, and was obliged to mortage his farm, which
he eventually lost.  Though permitted to remain in the house which he
formerly owned (being old and infirm) he chose not to do so, and
passed his last days in the school-house that stood on the site of
the present one in School District No. 10.  He died about 1820 (as
nearly as can be ascertained) having survived his wife a number of
years.
  WARREN STONE, a grandson of Peter Stone, was born at St. Albans,
Vt. in 1808, but came at an early age to Chesterfield, whence his
father and mother had removed but a few years earlier.  His early
years were spent in manual labor, and in obtaining such education
as the schools of the town afforded.  As he approached manhood,
however, the desire to pursue the study of medicine became so
strong that he resolved to quit the rural scenes of his youth and
devote his life to that calling for which he had an especial fitness.
Accordingly, he went to Keene and studied a while with the
distinguished Dr. Twitchell, afterwards attending the medical school
in Pittsfield, Mass., from which he graduated with the degree of
M.D. in 1831.  The next thing to be done was to find a suitable
location for practicing his profession.  Endowed by nature with a bold
and enterprising spirit, he at least decided to seek his fortune in
the far-distant regions of the South.  He accordingly went to Boston,
where, October 10, 1832, he took passage for New Orleans in the brig
"Amelia." The brig was wrecked on Folly Island, near Charleston, S.C.,
but the passengers were rescued, Dr. Stone especially displaying on
this occasion the firmness and presence of mind for which he was
noted.  Cholera also broke out among the passengers and crew, from
which he, too, suffered with the rest.  He finally arrived, however,
in New Orleans, late in November or early in December, in poor
health and with insufficient clothing.  After a while he succeeded in
getting employment, in a subordinate capacity, in Charity Hospital,
of which he afterwards became assistant surgeon.  In January 1837,
he was appointed professor of anatomy in the Medical Department of 
the University of Louisiana, and soon afterwards professor of
surgery--a position that he held until he resigned it, in the spring
of 1872.  In 1839 he established, in connection with Dr. William E.
Kennedy, a private hospital.  In 1841 he was unfortunate enough to
lose one of his eyes from "a specific inflammation contracted from
a child."  When the war broke out in 1861, Dr. STone was appointed,
by the Confederate authorities, surgeon-general of Louisiana, in
which capacity he rendered very efficient service.  After the
occupation of New Orleans by the Federal forces he was imprisoned for
a while by General Benjamin F. Butler.
 As a surgeon, Dr. Stone possessed remarkable skill, and
successfully performed the most difficult operations.  He was, in 
fact, "the admitted head of the profession in the Southwest."  He
died in New Orleans, December 6, 1872.

STEPHEN STREETER JR., son of Stephen and Starah (Chamberlain) Streeter,
was born December 7, 1782, about which time his father and mother
came from Oxford, Mass to Chesterfield. He was locally celebrated as
a poet, being noted also for his retentive memory. Some of his songs,
epigrams, and longer poems were very popular with his contemporaries,
and he well merited the appelation of the "Bard of Streeter Hill."
He died May 22, 1864 having never married.

NATHAN SYMONDS, son of Thomas and Lydia (Pratt) Symonds, was born
in Rindge, July 6, 1807 on what is known as the "Symonds farm."
He is a descendant of John Symonds who came from England, and was
residing in Salem MA in 1636, being of the seventh generation counting
John Symonds as first.  Nathan was brought up under religious 
influences, his mother being a devout woman... He married Eliza Herrick
July 3, 1831. They came to Chesterfield March 31, 1837 settling near
the "Channel" south side, where Dr. Butler now lives. He worked at
forging bits, for Richardson & Huggins, continued the work for the
different firms until 2 or 3 years before his death, which occured
suddenly of apoplexy, on the morning of December 26, 1882. Mrs.
Symonds died March 2, 1881. They were a united, home-loving couple.
Eddie Buzzell, who married their granddaughter, M. Lizzie (daughter
of Charles and Elizabeth Chase, of Westmoreland) lived on School
street in the house where Mr. Symonds died, and where they lived,
about 20 years.  Charles T. Symonds, born in Keene February 21, 1835,
went to Chelsea MA in 1858 where he was in the employ of the gas
comopany, 16 years, being for 11 years treasurer, and of which
company he was a prominent stockholder. He died September 16, 1871.
Ann F., born June 14, 1847 died in infancy. Amelia A., born in
Rindge Feb 17, 1833 went to Chelsea, Mass in 1858. She lives in the
family of Hon. Erastus Rugg, who married her father's sister, and
to whom she stands in their affections a daughter. She is a consistent
member of the Methodist church. She has for many years been 
saleswoman in the establishment of A.B. Richardson, much of the time
having charge of a portion of the business.

SILAS THOMPSON, of Dunstable, Mass, purchased in Chesterfield, March
12, 1766, lot No. 12, in the thirteenth range, and probably settled
on the same soon after.  This lot formed part, at least, of the farm
which he sold in 1777 to Peter Stone Sr.  After selling this farm
he lived on the one now owned by Henry J. Dunham.  He took a
prominent part in the affairs of the town and the church, being one
of the deacons of the latter.  Together with Colonel Samuel King,
he represented the town, after its union with Vermont, in the
Assembly of the State.  In 1770 he was selectman and in 1776 coroner
for Cheshire County.  His wife was Abigail Bancroft.  He died April 25,
1806 in his seventy-second year.

JOSEPH TITUS, came to Chesterfield in 1777 from Douglas, Mass, soon
after his marriage to Mary Bigelow, and cleared and put in thorough
cultivation one of its most rocky, hillside farms.  He was fourth in
descent from Robert Titus who came from near Stanstead Abbey,
Hartfordshire, England in 1635, and finally settled on Long Island.
The immigrant was a family of some note [more in original document
not included here]. The children of Joseph were Lucy, Lydia, Joseph,
Martin, Mary, Demmis, Isaac, Samuel, Anna and Ezra, but two of whom
settled in this town or state.
  EZRA TITUS, son of Joseph and Mary (Bigelow) Titus was born in 
Chesterfield, January 15, 1789.  Being of a studious turn of mind and
fond of mathematical studies, he is said to have applied himself so
assiduously to these in his early years as to have seriously 
overtasked his brain--a circumstance which caused him to change his
course of life.  He, nevertheless, following school-teaching to a
considerable extent, and acquired the reputation of being one of the
best teachers of his time.  After his marriage he also engaged in
farming in this town, and for a while held a colonel's commission
in the New Hampshire militia.  He also held the office of selectman
in 1836 and 1847.  His wife was Electa, daughter of John Kneeland,
Esq.  He died March 25, 1869.  His children were Elvira E., Ezra B.,
Alfred W., Arvilla E., Marion M., John O., Herbert B., Adele E.,
and Eleanor M.
   One of his sons, Herbert B. Titus, was born in the old farm house
built by his grandfather, and long since demolished.  At the age of
fourteen he taught his first school of forty scholars, sixteen of whom
were older than himself. Teaching and work upon the farm alternated
with study at the academy at West Brattleboro Vt, Chesterfield and
Meriden until 1854, when he entered Yale College where he remained but
a single term, the death of a relative who had promise pecuniary
assistance... He resumed teaching and farming in 1859 and was
appointed county commissioner of common schools.  In April 1861,
he was holding a teachers' institute in Keene, when, his name was first
upon the list for a volunteer company (when President Lincoln called
for troops during the Civil War) to Company A., of the 2d NH Regiment.
Re-enlisting for 3 years, he was commissioned its second lieutenant.
After the Battle of Bull Run, in which his bravery and perfect
coolness under fire were conspicuous, he was promoted to 1st
lieutenant and assigned to command of another company. Served as
judge advocate of a general court martial from January 1, 1862, as
a signal officer until July following, then notified of his
appointment June 14, 1862 as Major 9th NH Vols, then being raised.
Promoted to Lieut-Colonel August 26th.  At the battle of South
Mountain he directed a charge of his regiment which broke the
enemy's line and decided the fate of the date on that part of the
field.... He was promoted to Colonel November 22, 1862... Volunteering
as a private soldier, he was at Appomattox, in command of a brigade of
ten regiments, including the sixth, ninth and eleventh New Hampshire.
He was commissioned Brigadier General U.S. Vols, by brevet from
March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war."
After the close of the war he was employed for nearly 3 years as a
special agent of the government mainly in connection with the 
collection of captured and abandoned property in the Southern states,
and the recovery of Confederate ships in England and France.  Still
suffering from the exposures of army life, he engaged in his favorite
occupation of farming for two years in Virgina, and then commenced the
practice of law. He had been specially employed on behalf of the
Government in some important cases, and by the French government in
cases before the French and American claims commission.  The firm was
Hovey & Titus, Washington, D.C. with an office in New York City, 
where he resided for at least 3 years.  He had also been interested in
mining operations in the Black Hills, and New Mexico, where he had
spent several months, and in other business enterprises.

JOSIAH TORREY, born October 7, 1758, came to Chesterfield from
Upton, Mass, about 1785 and settled in the eastern part of the town
on the farm afterwards owned and occupied by his grandson, Levi
Torrey.  He married twice, first, Lydia Fisk who died in 1806,
and second, Anna, daughter of Israel Amsbry.  He died January 25, 1832.
He had born to him eight children namely--Samuel, Joel, Anna, Levi,
Jemima, Polly, Nathaniel and Fanny.
  SAMUEL TORREY (son of Josiah) born August 12, 1782, married Mary
Cook November 21, 1815, who bore him seven children as follows--
Maria, Levi, Lucius, Mary M., Marshall, Lucretia and Elvira.
  LEVI TORREY (son of Samuel) born March 2, 1820 married Polly,
daughter of Squire Spaulding May 3, 1847 and had born to him three
children--Mary M., born January 26, 1848; Lucius L., born May 1, 1853;
and Frank W. born November 5, 1856.

FRANCIS TUTTLE came here from Winchester about 1859. He married
Sarah J., dau of John Beal of this town October 6, 1857, and has
a family of six children as follows: George A., born September 7, 1859;
Frankie, born February 22, 1863, and died May 22, 1864; Fred M.,
born March 27, 1867; Willie R., born April 29, 1870; and Charlie A.,
born January 27, 1876.

DR. JOSHUA TYLER came from Brookfield, Mass, and settled in
Chesterfield, probably between 1776 and 1781.  He located at the
Centre village, where he built a large house in which his son,
Rolston G. Tyler, lived many years, and which is now occupied by
Sewall F. Rugg.  He practiced his profession in this town many years.
His wife, Judith Ayres, died August 11, 1854, aged ninety-one years.

LAWRENcE WALTON was in Chesterfield as early as 1770, and died here
November 28, 1795, aged seventy-eight years.  His children were as
follows: Elisha, Nathaniel, Peru, Sarah, Lucretia, Margaret, Deborah,
and Elijah.
 NATHANIEL WALTON, a son of Lawrence Walton, married first Mary, 
daughter of Eli Pattridge,of this town, and second, Jemima, daughter 
of John Sanderon, and settled here in the "New Boston" district on the farm later owned by Charles M. Davis.  He was a blacksmith by trade, 
and noted for his extraordinary physical strength.  It is said of him
that he could pick up his anvil by the horn and carry it some distance. 
He was also a celebrated wrestler, and is said to have rarely found his 
match.  He died April 25, 1817, in his sixty-first year. His children
were Elijah, Azariah, Nathaniel, Polly, Lovilla and Rachel.
  ELIJAH WALTON, son of Nathaniel, married Joanna, daughter of Shadrack
Herrick and died September 24, 1861. His children were David Stoddard,
Thirza L., Lafrinda, Sophronia, Lovell M., George P. and Caroline M.
DAVID S. WALTON, son of ELIJAH, married Elizabeth, daughter of Abel
Eaton, April 22, 1830 who died August 22, 1850, and for his second
wife, Catharine H. Brandt, of Darby, PA, November 19, 1853 and reared
seven children.  He was a stone mason, and built the Episcopal church
in Keene, the old jail and other prominent buildings.  After the death
of his first wife he engaged in building railroad bridges in Pennsyl-
vania, but soon after his second marriage returned to Chesterfield
Factory where he died March 11, 1882.  Mrs. Walton later resided in
Philadelphia. Their children (daughters) were May E. (Mrs. Jude S.
Sargent of Keene); Ellen O. (Mrs. Lorenzo Stebbins of Hinsdale);
Sebette S., died in 1860; Sarah H., died 1838; Harriet A. married
Proctor Roberts of Boston; and Martha Clementine married P. Frank
Amidon of Hinsdale. His only son, David Stoddard Walton, was born at
Chesterfield Factory, April 5, 1842 and spent the earlier years of his
life in the immediate vicinity of his birth. He attende the district
school and one term in Chesterfield Academy. David S. Walton entered
the employment at Hinsdale of Newhall & Stebbins machinists in 1859
at the age of 17. During the Civil War he joined at West Randolph Vt.
The First Regiment of US Sharpshooters (Beradn's Sharpshooters). He
served with his regiment until after the capture of Yorktown, where he
was sent to a hospital for illness then sent home on furlough to 
recover his health. He shortly rejoined his regiment in Virginia, but
again due to failing health he was sent home and given final discharge.
In 1864 he went west to seek his fortune, arriving in Chicago IL he
found employement at his trade in the shops of the Illinois Chicago
railroad, then later moved to Beloit, Wisconsin as superintendent of
a large paper manufacturing establishment. After this he removed to
New York city as superintendent of a company owned by Mr. B.E. Hale
in a new industry of printing wrapping paper, and was admitted to
partnership. When Mr. Hale died in 1877, Mr. Walton owned a half
interest in the business, being known as B.E. Hale & Co. After Mr.
Hale's death, Mr. Walton continued in partnership with Mr. Hale's
widow, being the sole manager of the business, then later purchased
the widow's interest and the firm became D.S. Walton & Co.  Mr. Walton
also had an interest in an establishment at Petersburg, Va devoted to
the manufacture of wood veneers, butter boxes, etc. and also in a paper
bag factory and a paper-mill. In connection with the latter he opened
another extensive sales department in New York.  Mr. Walton married
Mary A. Shove, of Beloit, Wis, May 17, 1871 and their four children
are David S., born July 10, 1872; Edith S., born November 2, 1876;
Harold L., born November 9, 1879; and Rudolph L, born March 19, 1883.
Mr. Walton is a deacon of the Munn Avenue Presbyterian Church at
East Orange. His beautiful home, "The Beeches," is one of the finest
in that part of New Jersey. 
  One of his sons, NATHANIEL WALTON JR. was a farmer
of Chesterfield, and served the town as a selectman twelve years,
viz 1822-25, 1827-29, 1834, 1842-44, 1846.  He was also a represenative
in the General Court in 1844 and 1846.  He died April 12, 1872.
One of the sons of Nathaniel Jr. MILO WALTON, became a prominent 
citizen of Amity, Maine, where he engaged extensively in fruit-culture.

SUMNER WARREN, son of Increase Warren of Westmoreland, married
Luthera Willard of Charlestown NH Sept 30, 1841. He resided many years
in Chesterfield Factory, was a tanner and very successful in business;
he was town clerk in 1845 and contributed largely to the building of
the Union church, and lately resided in Keene. He had five children,
three of whom died young. The eldest, LYMAN H. WARREN, born June 26,
1842, enlisted in Sep 1861 in the 17th Reg US Infantry, distinguished
himself... and was rapidly promoted to captaincy. He was wounded in the
foot at the battle of Chancellorsville. After the war he was stationed
at Houston, Texas, where he died September 18, 1867 and was buried in
Chesterfield Factory.

PETER WHEELER, born probably about 1733, served seven years with
Captain Patch, of Littleton, Mass, as an apprentice to the trade of
carpenter and joiner.  He married Olive Davis, and lived a while in
Littleton.  July 23, 1762 he purchased in Chesterfield lot No. 9,
in the fifteenth range; and January 22, 1766, house lots No. 1 and 2,
in the twelfth range.  He settled where Russel H. Davis now lives,
not far from the brook that bears his name.  It is said that he
helped build the "old meeting-house," and that he took an active
part in promoting the welfare of the town.  He appears to have died
about 1814. His children were--Lydia, Peter, Jane, John, Ephraim, 
Jonathan, Olive, Samuel and Sally.
  PETER WHEELER (son of Peter Sr.) born in 1762 married Sarah, daughter 
of Amos Hubbard, who bore him twelve children, namely--Hubbard, Sophia,
Maria T., Sally, Samuel, Laura, Philena, William, Warren, Ward, Watson,
and Arminda.
  JONATHAN (son of Peter Sr.) was born September 30, 1770 and married
Lavina, daughter of Aaron Fisk in 1802, who bore him 3 children--John,
Louisa, and Addison. JOHN, born August 6, 1802 married Rosea Hall,
daughter of Demmis and niece of Ezra Titus, in whose family she lived
until her marriage.  His children were Olive D., John A., Jonathan F.,
Hoyt H., Francis W., Ann V. and Norman F.
  JONATHAN F. (son of Jonathan above) born May 22, 1827, married
Mary A., daughter of Elias Brown and has had born to him five children
as follows:--George B September 12, 1848; James F. May 5, 1852;
Elias E. February 24, 1855; Gustina M. August 11, 1859; and Norman F.
February 2, 1861.
  Hon. HOYT H. WHEELER (son of Jonathan) was born on the home farm,
August 30, 1833.  He taught school for several years in this and in
neighboring towns, was admitted to the bar of Windham Co. VT in 1859,
and commenced the practice of law with the late Hon. John E. Butler,
at Jamaica Vt. He was representative from that town to the Vermont
assembly in 1867, and was a member of the senate of that state in
1868 and 1869.  In 1869 he was also elected judge of the supreme court
of Vermont, which office he held by successive elections until he was
appointed by President Hayes, judge of the United States district 
court, for the district of Vermont, March 16, 1877. He resided in
Brattleboro Vt. 

ASHBEL WHEELER, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Harris) Wheeler, born in
this town November 26, 1785, married Diana, daughter of Eleazer
Randall (1st) and settled here. 
  For many years he was a well-known merchant and distiller at the
West village, being also engaged, a part of the time, in farming.
COmmencing business with little or no capital, save his own native
tact and shrewdness, he succeeded in acquiring a considerable
fortune.  He was also a violin-player and in his early and middle
manhood was extensively employed to play at balls and "kitchen-
dances."  The store which he established in the West village was
extensively patronized, and was long one of the principal stores in
town.  He died June 20, 1866.

BENJAMIN WILD, came to Chesterfield NH from Norton, Mass in the
autumn of 1801 and settled in the eastern part of town. His wife was
Sarah Babbitt, who died in Chesterfield in 1826, in her seventy-fourth
year, he dying soon after in his seventy-ninth year.  His children were
Sally, John, Nancy, David, Nathan, Abigail and Elsie.
  NATHAN WILD, son of Benjamin Wild, born in Norton, Mass. June 14, 
1787, came to Chesterfield with his father in 1801.  In his youth
he had a fondness for mathematical studies, which he pursued at
home, with the assistance of his brother David.  Nathan applied
himself assiduously to the study of surveying and astronomy, and
soon became one of the most skillful surveyors in the State, and
an astronomer of considerable proficiency.  After his marriage he
settled on a farm situated near the present stage-road leading from
Factory village to Keene, about one mile from the former place.
This farm is at present owned by Rev. T.L. Fowler. He now engaged
not only in practical farming and surveying, but in the publication
of an almanac, known for a while as "The Improved New England
Almanack and Ephemeris," and afterwards as "The Farmer's Mechanic's
and Gentleman's Almanack."  He appears to have begun the publication
of his almanacs about 1819, and they were generally, though not
always, printed by John Prentiss, at Keene.  Not only was Mr. Wild
a practical farmer, surveyor, astronomer and almanac-maker, but he
also held several important civil offices.  He was selectman from
1820 to 1825, and representative in the General Court in 1831 and
1832.  In 1834 and 1834 he was a member of the New Hampshire Senate.
His wife, whom he married August 18, 1814, was Rachel Newcombe.  She 
died in Greene County, Ind. in 1840.  He died in Chesterfield March 5,
1838 and his body was interred in the village cemetery at Factory
village.  
  His son, Nathan R. Wild, was also a surveyor and civil engineer.  He 
married in 1838, Marie E. Wood, a granddaughter of Rev. Abraham Wood, 
and removed to Green County, Ind., in 1840, where he died April 7, 
1851, in his thirty-sixth year.

CAPTAIN SIMON WILLARD, probably from Winchester, appears to have
settled in Chesterfield about 1788.  He married, about the same time,
Molly King, the widow of Colonel Samuel King.  He lived in this
town till about 1813, when he removed to Winchester, where he died
at a great age.  He represented Chesterfield in the General Court
in 1794-96, 1801-7 or ten years in all.

REV. ABRAHAM WOOD, a descendant of William Wood, who came to this
country from England in 1638, was the first settled minister of the
Congregational Church of Chesterfield. His ancestor, William Wood,
was the author of a book entitled, "New England's Prospects."
Rev. Wood's grandson, PRofessor Alphonso Wood, the botanist wrote 
the following sketch about this grandfather: "Rev. Abraham Wood was
born in Sudbury, Mass. 1748 (Sept 26); was educated in Harvard
University, and graduated with the class of 1767.  June 4, 1771
he married to Sarah Loring, of Hingham, Mass., granddaughter of
the Rev. Israel Loring, and both were soon on their way by a
perilous journey, into the then all-pervading wilderness of New
Hampshire.  Here, in the town of Chesterfield, 1772, he began a
ministry which was to continued without interruption unto the end of
his days. His annual salary was fixed at 80 pounds, and assumed as
a town charge...in person Mr. Wood was of medium height with a full
habit, smooth face, florid complexion and an attractive face, as shown 
in a life-size portrait painted by Belknap."  He died October 18,
1823.  His widow survived him twenty years, and died in Indiana at
the age of ninety-three years.
  One of his sons, ABRAHAM WOOD JR. lived many years in
Chesterfield on the paternal farm, and was town clerk from 1818 to
1833.  In 1839 he removed to Greene County, Ind., where he died
September 24, 1846.  His wife was Patty, daughter of Asa Dutton, of
Dummerston, Vt.
  PROFESSOR ALPHONSO WOOD, son of Abraham Wood Jr. was born 
September 17, 1810.  His first fifteen years were spent at home in
the old manse, dividing his time between rural occupations and study
in the village school and the academy.  After this his winters were
employed in teaching village schools in other towns--notably in
Keene, Walpole, Claremont, Fitzwilliam, Vernon, Newburyport--until
the date of his graduation at Dartmouth College in 1834.  
Immediately after this event he was called to Kimball Union Academy,
at Meriden, as teacher of natural science and Latin, where, with an
interruption of one year only, he remained during the next fifteen
years.  This one year he spent at Andover, Mass, in the study of
theology, endeavoring to fulfill the long-cherished purpose of his
parents.  But his theological training was cut short by a peremptory
summons to return to Meriden.  Soon after this, Mr. Wood was licensed,
after examination, by the Sullivan County Association as a preacher
of the gospel, but his ministry was confined to the army of
students that filled the academy (from town hundred to three hundred)
and occasional services in the neighboring churches.  It was during
his resident in Meriden that he first conceived the purpose of
preparing a class-book of botany.  The purpose arose very naturally,--
first from his excessive fondness for the science, and secondly,
from his felt necessities as a teacher of natural history.  Devoting
his leisure hours and vacations largely to botanical excursions
and studies, seven years passed, till 1845, when the "Class-Book"
was first issued.  The work was not stereotyped, being with the 
publishers a mere experiement, and only fifteen hundred copies were
printed.  A demand unexpectedly great soon exhausted his edition.
In preparing for a new issue, Mr. Wood passed the spring and summer
of 1846 in the Western States, whither his parents had then removed,
botanizing in the prairies and barrens, in order to extend the
limits of his flora as far west as the Mississippi River.  He was
accompanied by his wife, Lucy, and son, Frank Alphonso, then two
years old.  In the spring of 1849, on account of impaired health, he
resigned his connection with the Kimball Union Academy, and entered
the more active service of civil engineer in the construction of a
railway from Rutland, Vt. to Albany, NY.  From 1852 to 1858 he was
engaged in teaching in Cleveland, Ohio and at College Hill near
Cincinnati.  In 1858 he established, in connection with Mr. Covert,
the Terre Haute (Ind.) Female College; but in 1860 removed to
Brooklyn NY.  The "Class Book" was now an important interest.  To
extend the area of its flora, Professor Wood had made an exploration
of the southern states, lasting six months of the year 1857. In
1861 he opened the Brooklyn Female Academy, but was again induced by
love of his favorite science to resume his investigations.
Accordingly, he embarked for California in October 1865.  In the
Pacific States he sojourned one year in constant travel, surveying
the mountain, the mines, the rocks, the peoples, and espcially the
plants of that glorious land, from San Diego to Puget's Sound,
and returning, by the way of the Isthmus in November 1866.  In the
spring of 1867, having transferred his interests in Brooklyn, he
once more collected his family into a new home in the village of
West Farms, a suburb of the city of New York (and now annexed to
it) on the north.  Here he suffered affliction in the death of his
wife Lucy.  While he resided at West Farms, Professor Wood was
employed in revising and republishing his botanical works, and
in performing the duties connected with the chair of botany in
the New York College of Pharmacy.  He sometimes also preached,
as openings in the churches occurred.  He was the author of the
following works, which are all published at present by A.S. Barnes
& Co: The "Class-Book of Botany," "Object Lessons in Botany,"
"The Botanist and Florist," "Monograph of the Liliaceae of the United
States," "The Plant Record," "Flora Atlantica," "How to Study
Plants" (written cojointly with Professor Steele).  Professor WOod
died at his home at West Farms, after a short illness,
January 4, 1881.

(end)