HISTORY OF SURRY, 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 452 & 418
HISTORY OF SURRY NH
[EXCERPTS ONLY]

SURRY is one of the smaller towns of the county, lying just northeast
of the central part of the same, in lat. 43 degrees, 1' and long
4 degrees 45', bounded north by Alstead, east by Gilsum, south by
Keene and est by Walpole and Westmoreland.  The little town has an area
of 12, 212 acres, which were severed from the towns of Gilsum and
Westmoreland, and incorporated in to a separate townwhip, named in
honor of Surry, England, March 9, 1769. [the document granting this
privilege is found in the original document, but not included here].

The surface of the little valley township is exceeding picturesque
and pleasing, having within its narrow limits all the variety of 
valley, upland, and rugged mountain scenery. Through the center of the
town, from north to south, extends the arable valley of Ashuelot, with
its gentle river, entering from Gilsum in the esat, winding through
it.  Here are locted many excellent farms, making up the principal
wealth of the township. On the west the valley gradually rises by a
succession of swells to the highlands that form the boundary line
between Surry and Westmoreland and Walpole.  But on the east its rise
is abrupt, terminating in Surry mountain, the barrier which led to the
erection of the township.  This mountain is interesting and valuable
both on account of the rugged scenery it presents and the fine view it
affords, as well as for the valuable treasure it holds within its
rocky recesses.  The mountain rises in a succession of foot-hills, just
north of the city of Keene, and gradually ascending, it reaches its
greatest altitude, 1,500 feet at a point opposite the village of
Surry, eight miles from its base in Keene.  About a mile from the
northern boundary of the town, where the Ashuelot enters from Gilsum,
and, after flowing westerly to about midway between the eastern and
western boundary lines, suddenly sweeps to the south, the stream cuts
the mountain.  In this passage it has made a canon, the descent from
the mountain top to the river bed being in places almost perpendicular.
The view from White Rock, the highest peak, is one of exceeding
beauty, combining rugged sublimity with gentle picturesqueness. To the
east may be seen Monadnock and Wachusett, "rearing high their foreheads
bare," and away to the north, a part of the horizon, Mrs. Crawford and
Washington, with the many cultivated acres between, and all imbued with
the generous life of New England village, cot and hall.
  But laying the scenice attributes aside.  It forms in integral part
of the great mineral belt extending from New Brunswick through Maine,
New Hampshire, and Vermont, a part of Western Massachusetts and Eastern
New York, sinking at the Hudson, to appear again in Southern
Pennsylvania and Western Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
  In Surry there have been left almost in juxtaposition, deposits of
gold, silver, copper and galena.  The gold is associated with perites
of iron, occasionally occurring as free gold, the silver in the form
of black sulphurets and argentiferous galena flecked in spots with
gray copper--or hidtrate of silver--and the copper as carbonates,
sulphurets and native, many specimens of the copper being very
beautiful, occurring as leaves, fern-shaped, and minute wires 
interwoven with crystalline quartz.  Tradition has it that the Indians
knew of, and utilized lead deposits here more than a hundred years ago,
and that about that time a party of Spaniards came here and carried
away with them gold ore.  In November 1879, however, to come down to
modern facts, practical workings were begun by the Granite State Gold
and Silver Mining Company, which, it is said, took out gold in paying
quantities.  The work was vigorously pushed for several months,
and a shaft sunk about a hundred feet.  But whether the company failed
in their expectations, or in their finances, we are unable to state.
Northing has been done for a long time, at least, in pushing the
enterprise toward success.
  Upon the summit of the mountain, east of the village, lies Lilly
pond, a body of water covering several acres, which, from its
altitude, is looked upon as an interesting natural curiousity. It has
its outlet in a sparking brook which rushes down the mountain side to
unite with the Ashuelot. The river has also many other dashing
tributaries here, which afford some excellent mill-privileges.

POPULATION / DESCRIPTION 1880, 1884
In 1880 Surry's population was 315. In 1884 the town had four school
districts, and supported four common schools, the school-houses 
including furniture, etc., being valued at $2,000.  There were
seventy six pupils attending these schools, taught by five female
teachers during the year, each at an average monthly salary of $23.50.
The entire revenue for school purposes was $507.84, the entire amount
expended for the year being $1,031.51.

VILLAGES
SURRY, the only post village in the township, lies in the central part
of the same, upon the banks of the Ashuelot. It consists of one church,
an hotel, etc., and about a dozen dwellings.  The town-house is
identical with the old Congregational house of worship, built in 1770,
in which is also located the Reed Free Library.  The latter was brought
into existence by the liberality of Charles D. and Gideon F.T. Reed,
the former of Philadelphia, and the latter of Boston, natives of the
town.  They donated $5,000 for this purpose, which amount was placed
in the hands of five trustees.  One thousand dollars was spent for a
selection of books, and the remaining $4,000 was placed at interest,
which accumulation is used for keeping up the library and in procuring
new books.  The library is free to all, and is open every Saturdayf
from one to eight P.M.  The librarian, Miss Mary E. Wilcox, received a
salary of $50.00 which is paid by the town.  These brothers also
liquidated the town debt, which was $5,000.

MILLS / BUSINESS / MANUFACTURES
HARRISON N. SCRIPTURE'S SAW AND GRiST-MILL is located on the Ashuelot,
road 6.  This site has been in use for the past one hundred and twenty
years, and has been utilized by Mr. Scripture for the past eighteen
years. He employs two men in the manufacture of shingles, lumber and
pail stock, and in doing custom grinding.

JOHN H. ROGER'S SAW MILL AND SHINGLE-MILL, located on road 16,
utilizes the power furnished by a small tributary of the Ashuelot.
It is an ancient mill-site, but adequate power is furnished only during
the spring and autumn months.

CHARLES W. WILCOX'S MACHINE SHOP is located on road 2, power being
furnished by a small tributary of the Ashuelot. The site was first
used by a Mr. Locke, for cloth-dressing works.

FIRST SETTLER
  The first settler within the limits of the town was PETER HAYWARD,
who located here in 1764, in that part formerly known as Westmoreland
Leg. He commenced clearing his farm the preceeding summer, making his
home at the fort, in Keene, as he subsequently did, indeed, after his
family came here. He would make the journey between the fort and his
farm every night and morning, guarded by his trusty dog and gun. On 
one occasion, in 1775, he was obliged to hurry his family to the fort
for protection against the Indians, while he, with a company of men,
went in pursuit of the treacherous foe, who had already killed one
woman near the gate of the fort.  The Indians, however, escaped,
having captured one man, whom they carried to Canada. Mr. Hayward,
it seems, was a dangerous and dreaded foe to the Indians. In later 
times of quiet, a friendly Indian said that he lay, at one time,
concealed in the bushes where he saw Mr. Hayward and his dog pass by
on a log. He aimed his gun at one and then at the other, but dared not
fire, knowing that if he killed either the other would certainly
kill him.  Another tradition of the doughty pioneer is, that he went
to the battle of Bunker Hill, wearing a leather apron, and taking his
dog with him; that, on the charging bayonets, after their ammunition
failed, he was in the front rank with his dog.  The old long rifle he
used in his many hunting excursions is now the property of one of his
descendants, N.O. Hayward, of Gilsum.  Settlers must have followed
Mr. Hayward very rapidly, for in 1773 the town had a population of
208 souls.

FIRST TOWN MEETING
The first town meeting was held at the residence of Jonathan Smith,
Monday April 10, 1769, when the following officers were elected:
Peter Hayward, moderator; Obadiah Wilcox, town clerk; Obadiah Wilcox,
John Matson, and Peter Hayward, Selectmen and assessors; 
Nathaniel Dart, constable; Obadiah Wilcox, town treasurer; Abel Allen,
tythingman; Obadiah WIlcox and William Barnes, surveyors of highways;
Joshua Fuller, clerk of the market; Nathaniel Dart, leather sealer;
John Marvin, deer-reeve; Charles Rice and Jonathan Smith Jr.,
hog-reeves and fence-viewers; and Moses Dickinson and William Hayward,
field drivers.  The first representative was Obadiah Wilcox, chosen
December 1776, he representing Surry, Marlow and Alstead.

OTHER EARLY HISTORY
  Surry was one of the towns that voted to unite with Vermont, and
in 1781, the majority of the selectmen refused to call a meeting for
the election of a member of the Legislature, in obedience to a
precept from this State, "being under oath to the State of Vermont."

EARLY SETTLERS
Among the names most familiar as having been prominent in making
Surry's history, may be mentioned the following: Deacon and Eli Dart
(now called DORT), Moses Field, Capt. Asa Wilcox, William Baxter,
James Hatch, Captain Holbrook, Squire Hill, Dr. Thompson (originator
of the Thompsonian system), George Baxter, James Kingsbury, 
John Dustin, William Perkins, Ezra Carpenter, Sylvester Smith,
Timothy Isham, Jonathan Harvey (tavern keeper for a long time where
F.A. Bolster now lives), Elijah Fuller, Elijah Norris,
Rev. Perley Howe, Phineas Allen, Aaron Howard, Jonathan Robinson,
Otis Daggett, Moses Hill, James Ingalls, John McCurdy, James Britton,
Philip Thomas, Jonas Pollard, David Allen, etc., while among the
family names may be mentioned the Robbinses, Streeters, Fields,
Sawyers, Shaws, Reddings, Hixons, Monroes, Hancocks, Austins, etc.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR:
  The following Surry men were in the First New Hampshire Regiment in
the war of the revolution:
 - Joshua Church, enlisted March 18, 1777; discharged April 30, 1780
 - Anthony Gilman, enlisted July 1, 1777; taken prisoner
 - Samuel Liscomb, enlisted May 8, 1777; discharged December 1779
 - Jacob Bonney, enlisted May 20, 1777; died July 1778
 A petition was submitted to the State of NH, February 10, 1780 by
Lemuel Holmes, Captain of the Corps of Rangers, stating that he was
captured by the British Army on the 16th day of November, 1776 at
Fort Washington, and carried into New York, where he was detained a
prisoner until 20 September 1778. At a later day Lemuel Holmes petitioned again, and was granted an allowance by the State of NH. That document mentions that Lemuel was a Lieut. In another document he mentions others who served as Samuel Silsby, Daniel Griswold and William Haywood, and in yet a third petition mentions Samuel Silsby,
Niles Beckwith, William Hayward and Daniel Griswold as having served 
with him, and were prisoners at Fort Washington.  
  In a document dated October 24, 1783, one Thomas Dodge states that
in the year 1777 he enlisted into the continental service for three
years for the town of Surry, and requested a bounty.
  In February 22, 1786, a document relating to the collection of beef
for the army includes the names of John Mellen Esqr. collector for the
county of Cheshire, was signed by Lemuel Holmes. In 1783 a document
for the town's ratable polls is signed by Lemuel Holmes, town clerk.
A document of 1784 shows he was also the town clerk that year. 
 
OTHER EARLY DOCUMENTS AND NAMES:
 A document dated February 1, 1786 petitioning for authority to
raise money by lottery to work a silver mine in Surry, was signed by
said miner owners, Jedh Sanger, Joseph Blake and Wm Russell. 
 In 1800 a petition against the incorporation of a baptist society
was signed by a committee: Lemuel Holmes, John Stiles, Jonathan
Robinson and Nathan Howard; along with residents: Lemuel Holmes,
Nathan Howard, Abia Crane, Philip Monro, Jonathan Smith, Ichabod
Smith, Sylvester SKinner, Abner Skinner, Eldad Skinner, Jonathan
Skinner, Obadiah Wilcox, Moses Field, Asa Wilcox, Daniel Smith,
Asa Holmes, Calvin Hayward, Jno McCurdy, Levi Fuller, Cushman Smith,
Asahel Harvey, John Stiles, Thos Harvey, Cyrus Harvey, Eli Dort,
and Jonat [Jonathan] Robinson.   

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH--On June 12, 1769, a Congregational society
was organized with fifteen members. The Rev. David Darling, a graduate
from Yale in 1779, was ordained as their first settled pastor,
January 18, 1781. He was dismissed December 30, 1783, "difficulties
having arisen on account of a marriage."  Rev. Perley Howe, a graduate
of Dartmouth in 1790, was ordained September 16, 1795, who remained
until 1837, when the church was re-organized. The old church building,
erected about 1770, is now used as a town-hall. The present structure
was built in 1840, by Mr. Britton, at a cost of $3,000.  When he died
he presented the building to the Home Missionary Society, who still
own it.  It has been used in late years by all denominations, the town
not having enough united effort in any one denomination to support a
church and pastor. At present the town has no pastor. The church
building is a wood structure capable of seating 200 persons, and 
valued, including grounds, at $3,000.

THE BAPTIST SOCIETY
  Despite a protest against this society [see under "Other Documents"]
it was incorporated December 10, 1800 and comprised persons from the
Towns of Surry, Walpole, Westmoreland and Keene.

THE METHODIST CHURCH
THe Methodists now have a church in this town.

BIOGRAPHIES/GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS

JAMES BRITTON lived with his uncle, Asa, of Chesterfield, until of
age, when he married Rhoda Benton, daughter of Abijah, of Surry,
and settled in Surry, where he carried on shoemaking and farming.
He had a family of twelve children, three of whom are now living.
John L., born in 1805, and now living in Keene, married Mary Dean,
who died, and for his second wife, Sarah M. Tufts. He has had five
children, enlisted i 1861 in Company A., 2d NH Vols, and was promoted
to drum-major, was drum-major on the same ground that his grandfather,
Abijah Benton, was while at the seige of Yorktown in 1783, was in the
service until May 1865.  Charles A. Britton lives in Keene.  
Bradford Britton lives in Hinsdale.

WILLIAM CARPENTER, was a son of Ezra, who was born in this town, and
the grandson of Jedediah, who came here from Rehoboth, Mass. He
married Abigail White of Gilsum, and reared a family of fifteen
children, eight sons and seven daughters, fourteen of whom are living,
viz: Luman M., Josephine A., Ellen M., Jasper H., Mason A., Frank D.W.,
Eugene R., Hattie R., Marietta C., Flora A., Merrill D., Fred R.,
Myra A., and Martha.  John H. died in infancy.
  LUMAN M. CARPENTER lives on road 13, is a farmer, first selectman and
has one son.
  MASON A. CARPENTER lives on road 14, is a farmer, has been selectman,
is now town treasurer, and has 3 children.
  FRANK D.W. CARPENTER has always been a farmer, lives on the Isaac
Brown place, on road 6, and has two children.
  MARTHA CARPENTER is single and lives at home with her father and
mother, who are respectively, seventy-two and sixty-five years of age.
  MERRILL D. CARPENTER, lives on road 6, and has one child.

WARREN CARPENTER was born in Surry village, October 21, 1803. His
grandfather, Jedediah, moved to Keene from Rehoboth, Mass about 1764
or 1765, and about 1774, when his eldest son, Charles, was thirteen
years of age, he came to Surry. He exchanged his farm in Keene for
500 acres of land in the northwestern part of this town. He had
four sons and four daughters. The sons were, Charles, born February 25,
1761; Jedediah Jr. born March 24, 1765; Aaron born April 22, 1767;
and Ezra born June 9, 1774.  CHARLES CARPENTER when a boy had a fever
which left him a cripple for life. He was a farmer, married Sarah
Thompson, and reared a family of seven children, of whom WARREN,
aged eighty-two years is the only one living. He has been a farmer,
and also run a freight team from Bellows Falls to Boston for twelve
years. He has been selectman several years, was captain of the 4th Co.,
20th NH militia from 1826 to 1830, and was offered a major's
commission but declined it. He married Diantha Brett, and his children
are as follows: Albert B., a machinist in Keene; Charles Milan of
Surry; and Sarah J. (Mrs. Fred A. Comstock) of Fall River, Mass.

JOHN COLE came to Surry NH from Westminster, Mass in 1803, and located
in the southern part of the town. He was a shoemaker by trade, dealt
in boots and shoes, and was a general trader.  He married Mary Bemis,
of Westminster, and reared six children--three sons and three 
daughters. He died in October 1807, and his widow died in December 
1825. Two of his children, John and Asa Cole, are living and reside
in Keene.  The latter (Asa Cole) was born in Surry NH, October 20, 
1804. When he was seven or eight years of age he went to Rockingham, 
Vt. and lived with his sister, Betsey Howard. She dying when he was
fourteen years of age, he went to Gilsum and lived with Luther Whitney
where he learned the carder and clothier's trade. He worked at this
in different places in Massachusetts. He married Sarah Pitts of
Uxbridge, Mass in 1829, returned to Gilsum about 1831, and formed a
partnership with David Brigham, carrying on wool-carding and cloth-
dressing about two years. He then went out of business and bought a
farm in Gilsum, and has been a farmer since. He has lived at Keene
since 1859.  His son, Daniel R., who also resides in Keene, is the
representative of the first ward of that city.

HENRY T. ELLIS, born in Concord Vt., in 1808 was the third child and
oldest son of Archelaus Ellis, who had a family of seven children.
He went to Keene at the age of twenty-one where he remained five years.
From there he went to Vergennes, Vt. and was engaged in the manufacture
of pails seven years. He return to Surry in 1840, locating on the
place where he now lives, on road 16. He has been selectman sixteen
years, and was town representative 1855-56. He married twice, first
Almira Blake of Keene, who bore him five children, only one of whom,
Mrs. J.R. Holman of Hinsdale NH is living. His second wife is Sarah,
daughter of Eliphaz Field, who has born him twelve children, only four
of whom are living. They are Mrs. Sarah Cook of Brattleboro, Vt.,
Susan F., and Mary E., who remain at home, and Frank E., who lives
near his old home, on road 16.

CAPT. THOmAS L. HARMON, a native of Boston, Mass, came to Surry in
1884. He served in the Rebellion, enlisted in the 36th NY Infantry,
April 20, 1861, and October 25, 1862 enlisted in the 13th Mass.
Battery, and became sergeant. He was commissioned second lieutenant
in the 55th Mass Infantry May 25, 1863, then promoted to first
lieutenant, and vrevetted Captain. He resigned June 3, 1865, on account
of disability inccurred in the service. He is now proprietor of 
Surry Hotel.

THOMAS HARVEy, born in Lyme, Conn. in 1740, and came to Surry about
1770, served as selectman, was captain of militia and lieutenant
in Capt. Reuben Alexander's company at Ticonderoga in 1777. He married
Grace Willie, had born to him seven children, and died March 20, 1826.
His son, ASAHEL HARVEY was born at Hadlyme, Conn, June 3, 1764, came
to Surry with his father, and married, for his first wife, Eunice
Chamberlain of Westmoreland, who bore him five children. He married for
his second wife Elizabeth Hall, and had born to him one child, Fannie,
who resides in Keene.  Mr. Harvey was a mechanic, served as town
clerk twenty-five years, and was town treasurer many years. He died
in 1835.

PETER HAYWARD [not taken from the above two sources, but from several
others] was born 1725 in Mendon, MA and died 1 Aug 1791 in Surry NH.
He is probably buried in South Cemetery, Surry NH. He married 1 March
1744 in Mendon MA to Ruth Rutter. He removed to Surry NH in 1764.
His children included Ruth Hayward, who married Benjamin Carpenter; 
Sibyl Hayward; and Calvin Hayward who married Lucinda Field. He was the
first settler in the town of Surry, and was an officer in the first 
town meeting [see other sections of this history]. 

HON. LEMUEL HOLMES, was lieutenant in a company of rangers (during the
AMerican Revolution) from January 1, 1776 until the 1st of September
following, when he was appointed captain by General Washington.
On the 16th of November next following he was taken prisoner at
Fort Washington and carried to New York, where he remained in captivity
until September 20, 1778. He was town clerk of Surry for some years,
and represented Gilsum and Surry in the House of Representatives in
1784-86, 1789-92. He was elected a member of the Governor's Council
in 1790 and held the office four years; was a judge of the Court of
Common Pleas for the county of Cheshire until 1808, at which 
time he was debarred from holding the office any longer by reason of
his having arrived at the age of seventy years. He lived for some years
at the foot of Bald Hill, Surry, and is described as an agreeable
and courteous gentleman of strict integrity and a prominent man in
his day.  Subsequently he removed to Vermont and there died.

AUGUSTUS JOHNSON, a native of Alstead, came here in 1817, and first
located upon the farm known as the Chase place, but lived for a number
of years before his death on the farm now owned by his son John, on
road 6.  He reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are
living.  Of these, CHARLES JOHNSON lives on road 6, is a retired 
farmer, and was a shoemaker fifteen years.  MARY JOHNSON married E.T.
Wilson and lives in Gilsum.  GEORGE JOHNSON lives in Illinois.
SOPHIA WILSON is a widow and lives in Kansas.  BETSEY JOHNSON in
Missouri.  HENRY JOHNSON in Indiana, and JOHN JOHNSON in this town.
The latter is a native of Langdon NH, and came here with his father
when very young.  He remained at home until twenty-one years of age,
then went to work on the Erie Canal, running a line boat from Albany
to Buffalo, after which he returned to Surry and kept a hotel for six
years, being postmaster during the same time. He served twenty years
as engineer on the Boston & Providence Railroad, and since then, for
the past fourteen years, he has lived in Surry, on the farm where his
father died.  He married twice, first Sarah Humphrey, who bore him
five children, two of whom are living. His second wife, Mrs. Helen
M. Purcell of Adams, was a widow with three children. Their only
child, a son, remains at home.

THOMAS HARVEY came here from Hadlyme, Connecticut, about 1766, one of
the earliest settlers of Surry, being located upon the farm now owned
by Edward H. Joslin, on road 7.  His son JONATHAN HARVEY and his
grandson JONATHAN HARVEY JR. were both born in this town. The latter
reared a family of five children, two of whom, Persis E., and George K., are living.  The former lives in Keene and the latter in this
town, on road 6.  GEORGE K. HARVEY has served in all the town
offices, was town representative in 1866-67 and 1879, and was elected
state senator in 1882. He has been a justice of the peace twenty
years, and is a member of the board of the State Agricultural Society.
He married Sarah, daughter of Hollis Wilcox, and has had born to him
five children, one of whom died in the winter of 1883.  Of the others,
James Harvey is a student of Dartmouth Agricultural college,
John Harvey is a clerk for Wilkinson & McGregor, of Keene, and the
other two remain at home.

DANIEL HODGKINS JR., whose father was a native of Fitchburg, Mass, was
born in Alstead in 1814, and lived there until after the death of
his father. He camed to this town in 1857, and located upon the farm
where he now lives, on road 2. He married, Rhoda, daughter of
James Britton, who bore him four children, two of whom, Charles H.
and George M. are living. Mrs. Hodgkins dued in July 1871.

ELIJAH HOLBROOK, an early settler in Alstead, had three children,
Francis, Abigail and Stephen.  FRANCIS HOLBROOK married Hannah Wood,
of that town, and moved to Surry, settling in the north part of the
town. He was councilor under Governor Hubbard, represented the town
several terms, and also held the several town offices. He died here
in 1855.  He had a family of four children, two sons and two
daughters.  Of these, Mary is living in Troy NY, the wife of 
S.B. Harvey; Persis L., deceased, married Alba Daniels; Elijah married
Abigail Robinson, daughter of Samuel, and lived in Surry a number of
years, then went to Keene, where he died, and two of his sons,
George E. and S.F. are now living here; George W. married Susan J.
Robinson, daughter of Samuel of Surry. The latter lived with his
father on the old place, and after his father's death, he moved to
Keene, where he was engaged in the mercantile business with
William Kilburn. He was with Kilburn about two years, when he retired
from the firm. About a year after he went into the wholesale and retail
grocery and feed store (where N.G. Gurnsey & Son's are now) with
George E. Holbrook, remaining three years, when he gave up the
business. He represtend the town of Surry for several terms in the
legislature, was high sheriff of the county, and was selectman of
the town. He was well known in the county, was very social and
courteous. He died May 9, 1877. His widow now lives in Keene.

JOHN HOWE and Mary his wife, supposed to have originated from
Europe, first settled in Sudbury and afterwards in Marlboro, Mass,
where he was the first settler not far from the year 1650. His
grandson, THOMAS HOWE was the grandfather of REV. PERLEY HOWE,
who was born September 19, 1762 in Marlboro, Mass, graduated at
Dartmouth college in 1790, and married Lemiah Barnes, of Marlboro
Mass. He was ordained at Surry, September 16, 1795, where he preached
until two weeks before his death, which occurred October 20, 1840.
He had two children, one of whom, Phebe, born August 29, 1798,
married John Petts, M.D. January 11, 1825 and died at Springfield, OH
in 1877, aged 79.  Her husband still resides in Springfield. Her
children were Sarah B., Eliza H., Charles L., Maria J. and John QUincy.
The other daughter of Rev. Perley was Eliza, born February 28, 1801,
and married first, James Redding, February 11, 1821. Mr. Redding died
October 29, 1826, and her second husband was Jonathan Harvey Jr.,
June 12, 1828. Mr. Harvey died August 25, 1862, aged sixty-three
years.  Mrs. Harvey died January 20, 1879. Their children were
George K., James H., Persis E., Sarah B., and Sidney B.

JAMES KINGSBURY came from Dedham, Mass and reared a family of eight
children, six of whom are living, one of them, William L., being
a farmer on road 6-1/2.  William L. married Hannah W., daughter of
True Webster of Gilsum, who bore him five children, only two of whom
are living--Mrs. Nancy E. Carpenter in Keene, and Otis W., at home with
his father.  Otis W. married Nellie R. Cheever, and has three children.
William L. has been selectman three years.

JOHN McCURDY, son of Samuel, came to Surry, from Ireland in 1772. He
bought a farm and settled in the southern part of the town, where he
built a house and kept a hotel and store.  He married Sarah Watts,
of Alstead, and had born to him nine children, five sons and four
daughters. He resided in Surry until 1820, when he moved to Concord VT,
where he died January 1, 1838.  His five sons are living, only one,
however, SAMUEL McCURDY, resides in this county.  He was born
September 4, 1798, married and has had three children, only one of
whom, Sarah (Mrs. C.R. Colony) is living. The latter resides in Keene,
on road 19, her mother and father residing with her.

WILLIAM PERKINS, from Massachusetts, came to Surry in the spring of
1794 (as shown by his deed now in the family) and settled in the
extreme northwest part of the town, on road 1, where he reared a
large family. William Perkins Jr., the eldest son, was six years old
when they settled here. He became captain of a military company,
and though never enjoying robust health, was an extensive farmer and
reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife was
Prudence Porter of Surry, who bore him twelve children, and died in
February 1885, aged eighty-seven years. Though seven of this family are
living, all are out of state.  Charles H. Perkins, the youngest of
the children married Lucy A. Durrell, a native of Bradford NH, was a
farmer and reared one son and one daughter, the two having died in
childhood. He died July 26, 1877, aged thirty-seven years.

DR. WILLIAM H. PORTER was born in Morristown, Vt., the son of 
Dr. Vine Porter, subsequently a practicing physician in Walpole NH,
moving there when William was but three years of age. [The latter was
of a family of five sons, all of whom are living.  The oldest son,
Winslow B. Porter, is a physician.  Samuel H. Porter, a farmer; and
George P. Porter, a merchant in Walpole.  James H. Porter is in
Chicago, in the Michigan Central Railroad office.] WILLIAM H. PORTER
received a common school education while in Walpole, attended the
academy at Saxton's River, Vt., and received his medical education at
Harvard and Worcester, being a graduate of Worcester Medical college.
After graduating he practiced a year with his brother, Winslow B.,
in Walpole, and then came to Surry, where he has followed his 
profession for the past thirty years. He has been school committee
six years, town clerk, twenty-four years, town treasurer ten years,
and selectman two years. He represented his town in 1868-69 and is at
present postmaster, which position he has held for the last sixteen
years. He married Clementine R. Balch, of Johnson, Vt., who has borne
him four children, three of whom, one son and two daughters, are 
living, all at home.

DANIEL REED came here from Rockville, ILL in 1751. He married twice,
his first wife being Lucy Thayer, who bore him nine children, three
of whom are living--Charles D. Reed, who resides in Philadelphia,
in the boot and shoe business; Maria L. Reed (Mrs. M.L. Jackson) who
also lives in Philadelphia; and Gideon F.T. Reed a retired jeweler
in Boston.  Charles D. and Gideon F.T. donated $5,000 for a public
library, and also paid a town debt of $5,000 for Surry. David Reed's
second wife was Lucinda Knight of Lancaster NH, who bore him eight
children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are Francis H.,
Harvey H., Hubbard, Mary E., Missouri, Jackson, and Newton. Mr. Reed
died in 1864. Jackson Reed is a native of Rockville, IL, came here
when but seven years of age, and has resided upon his present farm, off
road 3, for the last sixteen years.  He married Nancy A., daughter of
George Wilcox, and has one child, now at home. Newton was born in
Illinois, but has lived here most of his life. He married Mary L.,
daughter of Calvin Wright of Gilsum.

JONATHAN ROBINSON came from Boxford, Mass, to Surry, and settled at
the center of the town, about 1790. He kept the hotel, store and had
also a farm. He was one of the principal men of the town, and died
here. He had two sons and seven daughters. SAMUEL ROBINSON, one of
his sons, born in 1786, married Nancy Harvey of Alstead, lived with
his father, and carried on the hotel, store, and farm until about
1843, when he went to Keene, where he died in 1869.  He represented
the town for several years in the state legislature, was selectman
and postmaster. He had seven children, one son and six daughters,
Abigail, Elizabeth, Emily, Edna, Susan J., Nancy, Samuel and Mary,
four of whom are living.  

OBADIAH WILCOX, from Connecticut, was the first town clerk of Surry.
His son GAYLORD WILCOX was born here, reared a family of four children,
two of whom are now living, and died in 1815.  His daughter, Mrs.
Elmira March, resides in Gilsum, and his son, Hollis Wilcox, lives
here upon the place where he was born in 1810, on road 6. He was
town representative in 1845, 1847 and 1875, town clerk in 1860, 1861
and 1873, town treasurer in 1842, 1861 and 1871, and selectman in
1835, 1836, 1843, 1844, 1850, 1851, 1855, 1856, 1863, 1872, 1873, 1874.
He married Thankful, daughter of Jeremiah Robbins, who bore him six
children, four of whom are living.  Two sons, George H. Wilcox and
Wallace W. Wilcox, live in Chicago, IL.  His daughter, Alice L. Wilcox
married Charles Wadkins, and resides in Walpole NH, and Sarah L. Wilcox
married George K. Harvey and resides on road 6.

ASA WILCOX, a soldier in the Revolution, was one of nine children who
came here from Hebron, Conn about 1765. He kept a hotel here several
years, and his son, Asa Wilcox, and his grandson, George Wilcox,
were both born here.  The latter was a carriage maker and painter,
and reared a family of six children, only three of whom are living.
They are Nancy A., who married Jackson Reed and lives off road 2,
Mary E., who lives on road 2, and Charles W., a carriage maker, also
on road 2.  George Wilcox married three time, and his third wife
survives him.


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