HISTORY OF NELSON, 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.

page 318 & 340
HISTORY OF NELSON NH

NELSON lies in the eastern part of the county, in lat. 43 degrees, and
long. 4 degrees 57', bounded north by Stoddard, east by Hancock,
south by Harrisville, and west by Sullivan.  It was originally 
chartered by the Masonian proprietors, May 10, 1752, under the name
of Monadnock No. 6.  This grant conveyed, "all the Right, Title,
Property and Possession" of the said proprietors in that tract or
township of land Monadnock No. 6,--excepting twenty shares, three of
which were reserved for public use, and seventeen for the benefit of
the original proprietors or grantors--to John Hutchinson, Alexander 
Park, Benjamin French, Eleazar Farwell, Robert Fletcher, James Minot
and thirty others, one hundred and twenty shares, each share containing
two 'lots.'"  These share-holders were called grantees, and afterwards,
proprietors.  Of the three shares set apart for public use, one was
"reserved for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, and
one for public schools, forever."  The shares were to be drawn by lot
on or before the last day of November, 1754, and the township was laid
out eight miles in length, east and west, and five miles in width,
north and south, containing 25,000 acres of land.  The lines as then
established, on the north and east, were as they now exist, except that
the north line extended west to the line known as the 'Patent line,'
which was the eastern boundary of Keene, and which may still be traced
in the lines of Gilsum and Marlow.  That line ran south ten degrees
west, and included in this town the farms in Sullivan formerly owned
by David W. Buckminster and Gilman Nims, crossing the 'Branch' at the
edge of the woods, about a half a mile below what is now known as
Roxbury bridge.  In 1870, a large portion of the southern territory
was taken to form the town of Harrisville, as is stated in detail in
connection with the sketch of that town.  On the 22d of February 1774,
Governor Wentworth signed an act of incorporation, giving the town
the name of Packersfield, in honor of Colonel Thomas Packer, who, at
one time, owned the greater part of the township. [He was of Portsmouth
NH] This was changed to Nelson in June, 1814. [Note: once source states
that in 1777 an attempt was made to have the name changed to Sullivan,
which was unsuccessful].  By an act passed September 27, 1787, a 
portion of the northwest part of the town, about two miles square,
was combined with portions of Keene, Gilsum, and Stoddard, and
incorporated into the town of Sullivan.  The formation of the town
of Roxbury, December 9, 1812 took off the southwest corner of this
town, and a portion of Keene and Marlborough. The boundary line between
this town and Roxbury was changed June 15, 1820, a small tract of land
being severed from the former and annexed to the latter town. 
June 25, 1835, the farm of Ebenezer Tarbox was severed from Stoddard,
and annexed to Nelson.

Occupying the summit of the highlands between the Connecticut and
Merrimack rivers, the surface of the town is rough and broken, though
many fertile farms are afforded and much fine grazing land, while the
scenery is romantic and pleasing in the extreme.  This scenic effect
is greatly heightened by the numerous ponds distributed over the
surface.  The streams are small, though there are several good mill
privileges afforded.  Near the center of the town is an eminence
locally known as "City Hill," which, next to Monadnock, is the highest
land in the county.  Near its summit the first settlers in the present
town limits located.  It affords a view of the White Mountains, and
even Agamentus mountain in Maine, can be seen.  More than a doze lakes
are also visible.  From the head of Breed pond one of the finest 
views of Monadnock may be had, with the pond in the immediate 
foreground.

POPULATION / DESCRIPTION
In 1880 Nelson had a population of 438 souls, and in 1884 the town had
six school districts, and six common schools, where were valued,
including furniture, etc. at $1,500.  There were 100 pupils attending
the schools, taught by six female teachers, at an average monthly
salary of $24.00 each. During the year the town raised $802.32 for
school purposes, while the entire amount expended was $816.82, with
Miss Sarah E. Beverstock, superintendent.

DESCRIPTION OF VILLAGES
NELSON is a small post village, located in the central part of the
town. It has one church (Congregational), one store building, a
blacksmith shop, saw-mill, clothes-pin shop, and about fifteen
dwellings. In front of the church the citizens have erected a fine
soldier's monument, in honor of the brave ones from Nelson who laid
down their lives in the late great struggle [Civil War].

MUNSONVILLE is a thriving post village, located at the foot of the pond
of that name, in the northern part of the town.  It has one church
(Baptist), a store, chair shop, saw-mill, etc. and about twenty
dwellings.

MANUFACTURES / BUSINESSES
L.J. COLONY'S CHAIR FACTORY is located at the latter village. The
building originally used as a cotton factory, established by
ALVIN MUNSON about 1843, was in 1860 bought by J.D. & L.J. Colony,
who carried on the manufacture of cotton goods until 1877, when the
building was destroyed by fire.  They immediately rebuilt, adding
another story.  Subsequent to this, about 1867, L.J. Coloney had
sold his interest to his brothers, O.E. and O.L., and from that time
until the fire the firm was known as J.D. Colony & Sons.  After the
fire L.J. Colony purchased the entire property, and in 1878, began
the manufacture of basket and rattan chairs.  He now employs from
thirty to fifty hands in weaving seats and backs outside the factory,
and five in the finishing shop, in Keene.  He makes from 25,000 to
30,000 chairs annually. O.B. Blake is superintendent of the works.

HENRY D. HOLMES's CHAIR-STOCK AND CIDER-MILL, located on road 17,
near the center of the town, came into his possession in 1883. He
manufactures a large amount of chair-stock and cider, and also does
a great deal of threshing in the season, and also has facilities for
manufacturing one hundred and twenty-five gross of clothes-pins per
day.

JOHN H. OSGOOD's SAW MILL on road 7, is located just north of Nelson
village.

FRANK B. HARDY'S SAW AND SHINGLE-MILL is located on road 4, on the 
outlet of Munsonville pond.  Asa Stone first utilizied this site for
a mill about sixty years ago.

HENRY D. TAYLOR's SAW-MILL is located on road 15, upon a sight [sic
site] utilized at a very early date.

HISTORY
On the 6th of October, 1761, a meeting of the grantees was held at the
house of Robert McClandenen, in Londonderry NH, at which Thomas Packer
was chosen moderator, and Thomas Packer Jr., clerk of the proprietors.
At this meeting it was voted, among other things, that the township
be divided into quarters, by lines running through the center, that
the quarters be numbered, and that ten acres be laid out near the
center of the town for the purpose of building a meeting-house, and
for other public uses.  On the 19th Of October, 1763, Breed Batchelder,
then of Brookfield, Mass., received a deed from Jonathan Blanchard,
of Dunstable NH, of 2,135 acres of land in the southwest quarter of the
town.  The consideration named in the deed was sixty pounds sterling,
and the deed was recorded in New Hampshire recrods in May 1765.
Mr. Batchelder afterwards became the first permanent settler in the
town, and his homestead was the place now owned and occupied by
Gilman Nims of Roxbury, which was a part of this tract of land
purchased of Blanchard.  He was born in Beverly, Mass., in 1740.
His father, John Batchelder, afterwards removed to Brookfield, where
he died, leaving considerable property, and by administration papers
it appears that Breed settled his estate about the year 1763.  In
1758, at the age of eighteen, young Batchelder was in the army under
General Abercrombie, in the expedition against Ticonderoga, where he
kept a journal, which is still preserved.  [Note: Breed Batchelder
was in the British Army, and was a "Tory." One of the town documents
refers to him as "Majr Breed Batchellor"] Possessed of a great deal 
of energy, of character and perseverance, and having served in the 
army, and had some intercourse with the world, he acquired an education
superior to that generally obtained by the young men of his time.
In 1762 we find him surveyor of land, as appears by his minutes,
which testify to the intelligence and capacity of the young pioneer.
In 1764 he appears, by deeds, to have been a resident of Keene--the
nearest settler to this land--(Where Brigham Nims now lives, in
Roxbury), and boarded for a time while he was clearing his land and
preparing a home on his own premises.  On the 11th day of march, 1766,
Breed Batchelder married Ruth Davis, of Rutland, Mass, and was 
published as belonging to Keene, at that time.  The same year he built
a large and heavily-timbered barn on his homestead, which is still
standing, and was, without doubt, the first framed barn built in town.
A house had previously been built on the place, on the opposite side
of the road from that now occupied by Gilman Nims, (where his sugar-
house now stands), and there is a tradition in the neighborhood that
another man had been on Batchelder's place and built a cabin, and
that he suddenly disappeared, leaving all of his effects, which 
were taken possession of by Batchelder, except one hammer, the iron
handle of which is still in the possession of Brigham Nims, of 
Roxbury, with whose ancestors it was left.  Many of Mr. Batchelder's
papers have been preserved, and among them is found the indenture by
which, on the 27th of June, 1767, "Josiah Billings, of Monadnock No.
6," bound out his son, Ebenzer Billings, as an apprentice to
'Breed Batchelder, gentleman.'  By the town records it appears that
Batchelder was afterwards paid for labor on the highway in June, 1767,
and from the record of births, we find that his daughter, Betsey
Batchelder, was born in this town on the 24th of August, 1767, and was
the first child born in town.  [In a document dated December 30, 1780,
addressed to the Honorable Council and assembly of the Estate of
Newhamshire [sic]-- regarding town records, "first because We Receivd
the act for Making the tax but about a Week Past & the time is too
Short to Sell the Lands Seacondly because Majr Breed Batchellor who is
Proprietors Clerk has absconded and Joyned the Enemy (tho we have
searched) we cannot find the Plan or Records of the Proprietors Rights
or the Publick Lotts..." This was signed by William Barker and John
Brown, 'Select Men of the town of Packerfield.'  On June 2d, 1789 there
is another document, submitted by Ruth Batcheller, addressed to the
Honorable Senate and House of Representatives [of New Hampshire]
concerning her husband's [widow relict of Breed Batchellor Esq. late of Packersfield, deceased] stating that he left his wife, children and
estate, and went to the British Army, upon which the whole of his
Estate, real & personal were confiscated, "and were left in distressing
Circumstances, her Children being then Small, And unable to earn their
Living, tho your Petitioner, by the Indulgence of the honorable Judge
of Probates, has been for some Years past, indulged with the
Improvements of the Home Farm...' and requested the repair of the 
buildings and fences. In House of Representatives, June 12, 1789,
it was voted that Mrs. Batcheller have the use of the estate free of
rent until the matter was finally settled.

The Gazeteers state that the town was
first settled in 1767; but, from the facts and circumstances above
stated, it is altogether probable that Batchelder settled in 1766,
and others came about the same time.  Those who appear to have been
here in 1767, were Josiah Billings, who lived near Batchelder;
Joseph Stanhope, (a half-breed Indian) and Abraham Griffiths, who lived
in the northeast quarter, Dr. Nathaniel Breed, who settled where John
Osgood now lives, Abijah Brown, who lived where the old orchard is,
above the lead mine, east of Mr. Osgood's, and James Bancroft, who
settled in the south part of the town, on the hill north of the late
homestead of Joel Bancroft.  Dr. Breed was probably the first
permanent settlers within the present limits of the town.  He was a
regularly educated physician--had practiced medicine in Eastham, on
Cape Cod [MA], and afterwards at Sudbury, Mass., from which place he
came to this town.  He brought his family here in 1768, and soon after
removed to the south part of the town, to the place now owned and
occupied by Wellington Seaver.  He bilt a mill directly east of the
house--one of the first in town--and from him, "Breed Pond" derived
its name.

As early as 1771 several families had taken up their residence within
the township, in addition to those already mentioned.  Samuel Cook,
Beriah Wetmore, Thomas Upham and John Stroud, had settled in the
eastern and northeastern part, John Farwell where Darius Farwell now
lives in Harrisville, Richard Farwell, Derby place, and John Frink,
John LeBourveau and John Proutee, and probably several others, were
somewhere in town, but the particular location is not known.

On the 5th of February 1772, a meeting of the proprietors of Monadnock
No. 6, was held at the house of "Ensign Breed Batchelder, Innholder
in said town," and was the first town meeting held in town. The
meeting had been legally called by Thomas Frink, Esq. of Keene, a
justice of the peace, upon a petition signed by Breed Batchelder, 
John Frink, and Nathaniel Breed, and the warrant was published three
weeks in the New Hampshire "Gazette," in January 1772.  Thomas Fink
was chosen moderator.  A vote was passed dismissing the proprietor's
clerk--Thomas Packer Jr--and Breed Batchelder was chosen in his place.
Breed Batchelder's account for surveying the town and making the plans
amounting to thirty-two pounds nine shillings, was accepted and
allowed.  Breed Batchelder, Abijah Brown and Thomas Upham were chosen
a committee to settle the town lines with all the town adjoining.
A tax of six shillings on each settling share was raised for defraying
proprietor's charges, and twelve shillings for the use of highways.
Abijah Brown was chosen collector.  It was also voted to clear four
acres on the ten acres reserved for public use, and build a "duty
meeting-house."  On the 21st of April, another meeting was held in the
same place, at which John LeBourveau was chosen moderator, and
Nathaniel Breed, Breed Batchelder, and John LeBourveau, assessors.
Breed Batchelder was chosen highway surveyor for the west half of the
town, Beriah Wetmore for the southeast quarter, and John Proutee for
the northeast quarter.

From the records of births in the town books, it appears that
Abigail Breed, daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Breed, was born on the 16th
of June of that year, and was the first person baptized in town.
The ceremony was performed in October following, by Rev. Stephen 
Farrar, of New Ipswich.

On the 8th of June, 1770, Thomas Packer Batchelder, son of Breed
Batchelder, was born, and was presented with a lot of land, by
Thomas Packer, for being the first male child born in town, and also
with another lot for receiving the name of the donor.

Probably the first highway in town laid out and built by authority,
was the one leading from Keene to the center of town, passing
Batchelder's house, as Batchelder was one of the committee in 1767 to
lay out highways, and was paid for work on the highway in that year
and those following.  But the first of which we have any record is
the one described as leading "From Dublin line near Mr. Wood's mill
to the meeting house," and is identical with the old road from the
outlet of Breed pond, running by the Derby, Chase and Seaver places to
Nelson Center, excepting that opposite N.W. Hardy's it turned up the
hill, and ran directly over the top of the hill northwest of his house,
passing down on the other side probably to the west of the buildings
on the "Newell place."  It was laid out in July 1773, by
Nathaniel Breed, and Aaron Beal, proprietor's committee.

*****
CHURCHES
*****
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, located at Nelson village, was
organized January 31, 1781, by a council of clergymen and delegates
from other churches convened for the purpose, with thirty-four
members, among whom were the following: Reuben Wellman, William Beal
and wife, Amos Taylor and wife, John French and wife, Peter Wheeler,
William Follett and wife, James Bancroft and wife, Nathaniel Breed,
William Barker and wife, Thomas Butterfield and wife, and Noah Harvey,
their first pastor being Rev. Jacob Foster [who remained until November
23, 1791] There had been a church building erected by the town in 1773, 
and preaching had been maintained therein by the town employing Rev. 
James Treadway and Rev. Solomon Reed.  This building was located on road 21, upon the site of the present cemetery.  It was 25x30 feet, 
eight-foot posts, and had three windows of twelve lights each.  This 
building gave place to a second structure, in 1786, which was used 
until 1841, when the present edifice was built.  It is a wood structure 
capable of seating 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., 
at $1,000.00 The society now has seventy-nine members, with Rev. George 
H. Dunlap, pastor.  It also supports a Sabbath-school with sixty-five 
members.  A second source notes that the pastors were Jacob Foster,
Revs. Gad Newell, Josiah Ballard, Daniel French, W.P. Gale, A.H. 
Cutter, J. Ordway, E. Dow, J. Marsh, C. Willy, Mark Gould, T.W.
Darling and G.H. Dunlap.  The "present" church clerk is V.C. Atwood.

A BAPTIST SOCIETY formerly existed at Munsonville, but their building
is now used for town purposes.

******
BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS OF NELSON NH
[See the biography of Breed Batchelder above]

JOHN ATWOOD came from England, served in the Revolutionary war, and
was one of the first settlers in town. He had two sons, Philip and
Josiah, and one daughter who married a Mr. Griffin.  JOSIAH ATWOOD
served in the war of 1812, married twice, first Huldah --, who bore
him three sons and three daughters, and second, Lydia White.  The
sons lived in New Hampshire and the daughters married and went to
Vermont.  PHILIP ATWOOD occupied the old homestead upon which his
grandfather settled.  He married Eunice Farwell and brought up
eleven children--five daughters and six sons, of whom VARANES C. 
ATWOOD is the eldest.  He and his brother MILAN W. ATWOOD served in
the war of the Rebellion, where the latter died.  Varanes C. carried
on the tailoring business in Nelson many years.  WINSLOW W. ATWOOD
is a farmer and ORIEL P. ATWOOD is a carpenter in Greenfield, Mass.,
and LYDIA A. ATWOOD married Nelson Robbins, and is now a widow
residing in Nelson.  SAMANTHA ATWOOD married William Robb and resides
in East Sullivan.

PHILIP ATWOOD, a soldier of the Revolution was born in Woburn, Mass.,
January 4, 1756.  He married Ruth Gates, of Bolton, Mass., and came to
Packerfield where eight children were born to them.  He died in 1841.
The names of his sons were Silas, who died in Sullivan NH; John,
who went to New York; and Rufus.  The latter has twice married, and
his sons, who lived to manhood, were Silas, George W., and Rufus G.
He was a colonel in the state militia, a teacher of some note, and a
man of very upright character.  He moved to Nashua NH where he died.
His son, George W., was a young man of much promise, also died there.
Silas, son of Rufus, lived for many years in Harrisville, and married
a daughter of Hon. Milan Harris of that place.  He also lived some
years in Woonsocket, R.I. where he was a deacon of the church to
which he belonged; but his health failing, he returned to Harrisville,
where he died.  Rufus G. lived in Nashua and in Nelson for some years,
where he was engaged in the wooden-ware business. He moved to Keene
where he enlisted in the NH Vols and where he died in 1864, of
consumption.  His two sons, Charles and Don F., are all the male
representatives of Philip Atwood's family now living, excepting a son
of John Atwood, who lives in Wisconsin.

ASA BEARD was the fifth son of DAVID BEARD, who came to this town at
an early date.  Early town records show that the family took an
active part in town affairs, but in educational matters, Asa Beard
was especially active.  He was a teacher of the "Moral School" for
many years, and was probably one of its founders.  He wrote himself
"Instructor A. Beard," and was noted as a teacher of penmanship.
He was one of the committee who drew up the rules for the proper
conduct of schools in town. He also held the offices of selectman and
town clerk, and was a captain in the state militia.  His twin sons,
Alfred and Albin, edited the "Telegraph" [newspaper], a paper printed
in Nashua NH and the latter continued to do so for many years after
the death of Alfred.  Asa Beard had five brothers, some of whom
spelled the family name "BARD," and whose children have followed
their example.

JOHN BURNAP, a descendant of Robert, the first of that name who came
over from England, was born in Reading, Mass, June 25, 1744. He married
Mary Hayward, December 24, 1767, and had born to him six children, as
follows: John Jr., Mary, Eli, Pious U., Molly, and Amos. He moved to
Nelson about a hundred years ago, and settled half a mile north of the
center of town, where he died.  PIOUS UPTON BURNAP, son of John,
was born in Reading, Mass., February 5, 1775, and married Sally,
daughter of Josiah Whitney, June 15, 1802.  He was a farmer, held
several of the offices of the town and was engaged in manufacturing.
He reared a family of twelve children, as follows: John, Upton, Josiah,
Eli, Polly, Nancy, Mary, Lura, James, George, Laura and Loren. Five
of these are now living.  JOSIAH BURNAP lives in North Adams, Mass;
NANCY B. BURNAP married Asa Taft, is a widow and lives in Keene;
LURA BURNAP, who married Maynard Wilson, is also a widow and lives in
Keene; and GEORGE BURNAP resides there.  Mr. P.U. Burnap died in
Nelson August 11, 1827, and his widow died February 26, 1846.

JOHN GREENE was a German from the province of Hesse, was impressed into
the service at the age of fourteen, and served under the English
colonel, Baum, at the battle of Bennington, during the Revolution.
He was confined in the old church at Bennington with other prisoners,
and after his release, came to New Hampshire and settled in the town
of Stoddard.  He made a clearing in the southwestern part and had a
farm of 150 acres. He has twice married and had three sons and three
daughters.  SAMUEL GREENE born in 1793, lived on the homestead, married
Mary Ball, a native of Shutesbury, Mass, and brought up five sons and
one daughter, viz: Nancy (Mrs. William Loomis) of Ackworth [sic 
Acworth]; Alonzo, a chair dealer of Keene; Alden, a chair manufacturer
of Norfolk, Conn; Silas B., located in Cold River, a grain dealer
and station agent; and Sidney A., of Munsonville, a merchant and
postmaster.  SAMUEL C. GREEN [sic Greene] died in 1869, aged
seventy-six.  His brother, JOHN GREENE JR. settled in Deerfield, NY,
where his daughter now lives.  AMOS GREENE went to Lowell, Mass, where
two daughters now live and where four sons were born.  Two of the
daughters of John Sr., Betsey and Mary, married two brothers by the
name of Henshaw.  Mary has one son, Albert, a tanner in Keene.
Betsey had one son and three daughters born in Massachusetts.  Anna,
the third daughter of John Sr. married Jesse Pike of Stoddard, moved
to Marlow and had one son and four daughters.  The son lives in
Cambridge, Mass., and the daughters are Mrs. Luman Weeks, Mrs. Harvey
Fisher of Keene and Mrs. Elisha Buss of Marlow.

SAMUEL GRIFFIN ESQ. was the first of the name to settle in Nelson,
then called Packersfield.  He was the son of Samuel Griffin Esq of
Bradford, Mass., and a descendant of one of two brothers, who came from
Wales about two hundred and fifty years ago.  History states that young
Samuel enlisted as a "minute man" from Temple NH in 1775, and was in
Reed's regiment at the battle of Bunker Hill.  His name first appears
in the town records of Packersfield in 1779, and those records show
that, besides being a deacon in the church, he held all the important
offices, being selectman and town clerk at the same time.  He
represented not only Parkersfield [sic Packersfield] in the 
legislature, but Stoddard also, when those towns were classed together,
while for some years all marriages in town are recorded as having been
solemnized by him.  He married Sophia, daughter of Rev. Jacob Foster,
the first settled minister in town, and had three sons, one of whom
died in infancy, and eight daughters.  He died January 21, 1811,
aged fifty-five years.  SAMUEL GRIFFIN JR. was the eldest son of
Samuel Griffin, Esq. hence his name, which had been borne by the 
eldest son for many generations.  He was born May 30, 1784, married
Silence Goodenow and was prominent in town affairs both in Nelson and
Roxbury.  He rose to the rank of major-general in the state militia,
acquired a competence, and died childless at the age of eighty-three.
NATHAN GRIFFIN, second son of Samuel Griffin, Esq. was born November
25, 1785.  He was active in educational and religious matters, as well
as town affairs, was a noted teacher and held important offices in
town. He married Sally, daughter of Nehemiah Wright, a soldier at the
battle of Bunker Hill.  They reared three sons and four daughters.
He died at the age of eighty-seven. His wife died in 1881, aged
ninety-four.  SAMUEL GRIFFIN, son of Nathan, went to Wisconsin, and
died there leaving one son.  ALVARO N. GILMAN [? GRIFFIN], son of 
Nathan, married Harriet, daughter of Col. Rufus Atwood, was a man of 
ability and a deacon in the church like his ancestors.  He had the
honors and labors of town offices heaped upon him, and was very active
in the cause of common schools. He died at the age of forty-two.

NOAH W. HARDY is a descendant of an early one of their family, who at
one time had charge of the port of Boston, and who married a native
of one of the adjacent Indian tribes.  Noah W.'s grandfather served
in the Revolution, and was doing guard duty at the time of the capture
of Major Andre.  He married Jerusha, daughter of David Kimball, of
this town, who was also a soldier in that war, and was for many
years deacon of the Congregational church here, hence was known as
Deacon Hardy.  Noah W., son of Noah 2d, was born here in 1820, on road
18, upon the farm now owned by Charles C. Brooks.  He was one of a
family of ten children, five of whom now reside in the county, viz:
a sister of Noah W., and his three brothers, E. Prescott, Silas and
Frank B.  Noah W. has been town agent, selectman, represented the town
in 1871 and 1876, has been a director of the state agricultural
society eight years, justice of the peace fourteen years, was census
enumerator in 1870, and has been a member of the Republican state
committee five years.  He married for his first wife, Maria R.,
daughter of Oliver Stone of Nelson, who bore him five children, and for
his second wife, Mrs. Sarah E. Wilson of Swanzey.  E. Prescott and
Silas reside in Keene.  The latter is a prominent lawyer, has been
judge of the probate eight years and is known as Judge Hardy. Frank B.
was born in Munsonville and now resides on road 3.  He served in Co. G,
6th NH Vols during the late war [Civil War], has been selectman about
ten years, constable eighteen years, and representative in 1872-1873.
He married Christina E. Jenkins of Stoddard, who has borne him two
children, one now living.  WILLIAM P., son of George G. Hardy, was
left an orphan at the age of nine years, and has lived with his uncle
and guardian, Noah W. since.  He is a member of the sophomore class of
Amherst, and is preparing for the ministry.  Of George W.'s children,
Webster is a successful physician at Winchester, Edward is a member
of the sophomore class of Amherst, Rosa M. (Mrs. Thaddeus W. Barker)
resides on road 13, and Carrie L. resides at home with her parents.

WILLARD JEWETT was born in the house which Charles Tarbox now occupies,
on road 5.  His father, ISAAC JEWETT, who was born in Hollis NH
July 5, 1763, was one of the earliest settlers here, having for his
guide, when he moved, only a few marked trees.  He cleared a little
ground and lived alone all one summer, but went after his wife in the
fall. He had a family of ten children, four of whom are now living.
AXA JEWETT married Samuel Parker, is now a widow and resides in
Peterboro [sic Peterborough] NH.  ANNA JEWETT (Mrs. Anna Dodge) is a
widow and lives in Randolph, Ohio.  HARVEY JEWETT is in Rock River,
Illinois, and WILLARD JEWETT, who is seventy-eight years old, resides
on road 13.  He has always lived here except four or five years when
he resided in Boscawen NH, is a farmer, and has been selectman several
years.  He married twice, Elvira Blodgett of Nelson, who bore him two
children, both of whom are dead, and second, Mary Kittredge, by whom
he had eight children, only two of whom are living.  FRANK K. JEWETT
is a farmer, and was born on the farm where he now lives. He has held
every town office, having been selectman seven years, and town clerk
the same length of time.  He represented Nelson and Roxbury in the
legislature in 1881 and 1882, has been justice of the peace eight
years, and has settled a great many estates, his judgment being greatly
valued.  He married Louise M. Stacy, of Gill, Mass., and has had four
children, two of whom are living and at home.  CHARLES JEWETT, son of
Willard, lives in Sullivan NH.

SAMUEL W. LOVELAND, a pensioner of the war of 1812,, was born in
Stoddard NH about 1796. He enlisted in the 12th U.S. Infantry, served
five years, and was in the battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater, being
wounded at Bridgewater. Since he passed his eightieth birthday he has
served as town clerk of Nelson for four years.  His eye-sight is
remarkably good, he being able to read any print without the aid of
glasses.

JOSIAH MELVILLE, the first of the family in Cheshire county, came
from Concord, Mass, previous to 1792, with his wife, Sarah (Minot) to
whom he was married January 28, 1790.  His name was originally MELVIN, 
but was changed by legislation, at his request, June 15, 1811.  He was
a soldier in the Revolution and was one of the guards at the execution
of Major Andre.  He had a family of three sons and one daughter,
was engaged in trade, and was probably one of the first merchants in
Packersfield.  His store was located on the brow of the hill, just
south of the present village.  He also manufactured potash.  He died
January 8, 1818, aged fifty-nine years.  His youngest son,
HENRY MELVILLE succeeded him as a merchant and carried on the business
until his death, in April 1838, which was occasioned by the premature
discharge of a blast in a rock near his house.  His age was forty-
three.  He was justice of the peace, and the second postmaster of the
town, the first having been his uncle by marriage, Dr. Simon Goodell.
He was also town representative and president of the Manufacturers
bank, of New Ipswich.  He was an efficient promoter of social and
religious enterprises, and at the time of his death was connected
with the woolen manufacturing at Harrisville.  His wife was Lydia,
daughter of Josiah Whitney, who had twelve children, Lydia being next
to the youngest.  She was born July 6, 1795 and bore five children,
of whom JOSIAH H. MELVILLE is the only one living.  Sarah M., the
eldest, married Dr. Leonard French, bore one son, Leonard, who is a
physician with his father in Manchester.  After the death of Sarah,
Doctor French married her sister, Anna M., who bore him one son,
Henry M., who is now a physician in Concord NH.  Caroline L., the
third child, married F.W. Wright, of Ashby, Mass., and had two sons,
one of whom died in his youth, the other F.D. is a farmer in that
town.  Mary J. Melville, the youngest, married Rev. Samuel H. Tolman,
and had two children, one of whom, Mary M., resides in Manchester.
Josiah H., the second chld, and only son of Henry, has spent his life
in his native town and upon the same farm where his grandfather located
and had his store.  He married, October 15, 1857, Nancy R., daughter of
Thomas D. Nesmith, of Antrim, who bore him three children, Henry,
Arthur N., and Caroline L.  Josiah H. represented the town in 1865
and 1866, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1876.
This son Henry graduated from Dartmouth college in 1879, and from
Harvard Law school in 1884, he being the orator of his class. He is
now a lawyer in New York City.  Arthur N. died at the age of twenty-
one.  Caroline L. is a student at Cushing academy.

JOHN AND NATHANIEL OSGOOD came here from Andover, Mass, the former
about 1791 or 1792, and the latter a little later.  JOHN OSGOOD was
a blacksmith, and had his shop on road 8, about half a mile from the
present village. He married twice, first, Lydia Heath, in May 1792,
and second, Betsey Rice in October 1802. He brought up three sons,
John, Josiah and Horatio, the last two remaining in Nelson as farmers.
JOSIAH OSGOOD married Hannah M. Rice, and brought up two sons of a
family of four. He represented Nelson two years in the NH legislature,
and died April 3, 1869.  His eldest son, DAUPHIN W. OSGOOD, a graduate
of New York university, became a physician and missionary to Foochow,
China, where he died August 5, 1880, leaving a wife and four children.
J.H. OSGOOD, the second, is a blacksmith, farmer, and lumber
manufacturer of Nelson. He married Delia, daughter of George Hardy,
and has three children, has filled most of the local offices, and is
the present town treasurer.  HORATIO OSGOOD married Hannah Dinsmore,
of Sutton, Vt., who bore him three children. He lived in Nelson until
1870, when he moved to Hancock, where he died in 1882, and where his
widow and daughter Lydia now reside.  He was chosen to all the offices
in the gift of the town. His son, JOHN OSGOOD resies in Weare, Mass.
NATHANIEL OSGOOD married Abigail Wilson, of Temple NH in 1801, and
their eldest son, SAMUEL, was born in 1803.  Nathaniel was deacon of
the Nelson Congregational church from 1829, to his death in 1852.
He reared a family of four children, two of whom were sons,
Samuel and Orlando.  They spent their  lives on the old homestead where
A. Davis now lives.  The former brought up four children of seven
born, was selectman, and died November 1, 1865.  GEORGE W., the only
one now living, served in the civil war and was mustered out as a
lieutenant.  He was superintendent of schools three years, justice of
the peace ten years, and is reckoned among those worthy of a place
among the "poets of New Hampshire." He has twice married, first,
Roxana B. Pierce, second, Nancy L. Tolman, and four of his six
children are now living.

BENJAMIN RICE was born in Rutland, Vt. where he married Betsey Oliver,
who bore him six children.  With this family he came, in 1814, to 
Nelson, where he had three more children born to him.  He spent the
last years of his life in Roxbury, where he died in 1834, aged
seventy.  His wife died April 3, 1858, at the age of eighty years.
Mrs. Hannah M. Osgood, of Nelson, Mrs. Eliza Davis of Keene, mother
of Almon Davis of Roxbury, Mrs. Mehitable Lovell of Marlboro, and
Mrs. Lucy Buckminster of Waltham MA, all widows, are daughters of
Benjamin Rice.

ASA SPAULDING was born in Hancock NH May 11, 1796, and about 1820
he came to Nelson and worked in a tannery for Col. Asaph Harrington,
one or two years. He then bought the tannery and carried on the
business until 1857, when he left and occupied his time in farming.
He married Betsey W. WHitney, of this town, who was born here
January 4, 1800, and had a family of five children, two sons and
three daughters.  His daughters are dead, but his sons, SYLVESTER M.
SPAULDING and AFRED SPAULDING are living.  THey both reside in Keene,
the former having a boot and shoe store there, and the latter a fancy
goods and notion store.  ASA SPAULDING was captain of a milita company
there, and was known as Captain Asa.  He was a member of the
orthodox church, and took great interest in church matters. He was much
esteemed and highly respected by all who knew him. He died
December 5, 1869, and his wife died in March 1869.

DANFORTH TAYLOR, born in Dunstable, Mass in 1791, moved with his
father, Danforth, to Stoddard about 1795, and finally settled in 
Nelson. He reared a family of children, of whom Frederick and Henry D.
now reside in town. The former came here when seventeen years of age,
with his ather, and settled on road 15. He was engaged in the
manufacture of chairs on the place now occupied by the mill owned by
his brother, Henry D., on road 15. He then built the saw-mill now
owned by Frank B. Hardy, on road 4, and also built Mr. Beverstock's
mill.  Henry D., also a native of Stoddard, came here when only nine
years of age, and has always lived on the old homestead. He has been
selectman five years.

EBENEZER TOLMAN came to Nelson about 1780, and settled in the
eastern part of the town, upon the farm where his grandson, Eben
Tolman now lives.  He reared a family of seven children, only one of
whom, William, who resides in Watertown NY, is living. George, son
of Ebenezer, was born at Nelson in 1786. He was a farmer, married
Joanna Whiteman, and reared a family of six children--two sons and
four daughters. He died in Nelson May 10, 1875.  Two of his children
are now living as follows: Anna, widow of J.C. Tolman, and Adaline,
widow of Josiah H. Carter, both in Keene.  Cyrus, son of Ebenezer,
born here, married Lucy Abbott, and had born to him five children.

JOSIAH WHITNEY, the first of the family who came to this town, located
in Packersfield, among the earliest settlers.  His father was a
general in the Revolution. JOSIAH WHITNEY came from Massachusetts to
Nelson about 1770, and settled in the northeast part of town, where he
took up land and cleared a farm.  He had a family of twelve children,
ten of whom grew to be men and women.  JOSIAH WHITNEY JR. was born in
Nelson, February 24, 1782 and married Sarah Emes, daughter of Robert,
and settled in Nelson on the old place, and took care of his father.
He represented the town in the legislature two years, was selectman,
and held other town offices.  He reared a family of four children:
George married Nancy Nims, and in the latter part of his life, he
lived at Keene, where he died June 24, 1868.  Joseph married Mary A.
Newcomb, settled in Nelson, and after some years moved to Keene.
Mary Ann married David W. Buckminster of Roxbury.  Charles H. lives
in Keene.
  STEPHEN WHITNEY, son of Josiah Sr., was born in Nelson, but went to
Deerfield, Mass and settled there, where he carried on the mercantile
business. His son, James S., was the father of the present Secretary
of the Navy, William C.  He was a general of militia, also collector
at part of Boston, and was a prominent man.

ARCHELAUS WILSON, a farmer, came from New Ipswich and settled in
Packersfield, now Nelson, about the time he was married, in 1778 or
1778. His wife was Sarah Morse, of Shrewsbury, Mass.  He settled about
a mile and a half northwest of where Nelson Center now is.
CAPT. ASA WILSON, the eldest son, inherited his father's farm, but
devoted his time largely to the carpenter's trade and to sawing
lumber.  He lived to be over ninety years old, and reared a family of
six children--five sons and one daughter.  He died in 1869, having
been selectman, and captain of the militia.  His eldest son,
ASA E. WILSON learned the tanner's trade, and in 1825, went to
Massachusetts where he remained ten years.  He afterwards lived in
Antrim and Sullivan NH, where he carried on the tanning business over
twenty years, during which time he brought up four children.  He
represented the town two years and was a deacon in the Congregational
church over forty years.  His first wife was Almira Breed, 
granddaughter of the first settler of Packersfield.  His second wife
was Elizabeth Hunt.
 

(end)