HISTORY OF SWANZEY, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com
On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 
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TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN 
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The original source of this information is in the public domain, 
however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is 
restricted without written permission from the transcriber 
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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 --- & 428
HISTORY OF SWANZEY NH
[EXCERPTS ONLY]

SWANZEY is an irregularly outlined town with an area of about 28,057
acres lying in the south-central part of the county, in lat. 42 degrees
51' and long. 4 degrees 47', bounded north by Keene, east by Marlboro
and Troy, south by Richmond and a part of Winchester, and west by
Winchester and Chesterfield. The town was originally granted by
Massachusetts in 1733 to sixty-four grantees, and again by New 
Hampshire, July 2, 1753. Until its second charter, it was known as
"Lower Ashuelot."

Occupying a portion of the beautiful valley of the Ashuelot, the 
surface of the territory presents a panorama of handsomely diversified
scenic beauty. The opinion seems to be general among those who have
given the subject scientific investigation, that this valley was once
the bottom of a lake, during which time most of the surface of Swanzey
was formed.  Three general divisions characterize the surface, the 
first and largest being composed of hills and mountains, the second
mostly of pine plain, and the third of intervale and meadowland.
  The hills and mountains are of granitic formation--rough and uneven.
Several of these attain considerable prominence, among which may be
mentioned Mount Huggins, in the northeastern part of the town; Chripon
mountain, at the west side of the township, in the central part; Picket
Mountain, in the southwestern part; and Franklin Mountain, southeast of
the Ashuelot, partly in Winchester.
 [More of a description of the early land formation found in the
original document, not included here].

In 1880 Swanzey's population was 1,660. In 1884 the town had ten
school districts, and contained thirteen public schools, three of
which were graded, and eleven school-houses, the estimated value of
which, including furniture was $13,000.  There were 357 pupils
attending schools, taught by seventeen female teachers, at an average
salary of $28.03 per month.  There was $2,795.78 raised for school
purposes during the year ending in June, while the entire amount
expended was $2,608., with George L. Cutler and Alonzo A. Ware,
school committee.

VILLAGES
WEST SWANZEY, the principal post village of the town, and a station on
the Ashuelot railroad, lies in the western part of the same. It has
two churches (Baptist and Universalist), the Stratton Free Library,
three stores, one hotel, a woolen mill, two box factories, two pail
and bucket factories, a meat market, wheelwright shop, blacksmith
shop, school-house and about 400 inhabitants.

SWANZEY, a post village, located in the central part of the town, has
one church (Congregational), town hall, Mt. Caesar academy, a district
school, blacksmith shop, and about 100 inhabitants

EAST SWANZEY, a post village, located in the eastern part of the town,
has one store, a school-house, wooden-ware factory, two bucket
factories, and from 150 to 100 inhabitants.

WESTPORT, a post village and station on the Ashuelot railroad, located
in the southwestern part of the town, has two stores, two pail and
bucket factories, a blacksmith shop, and about 175 inhabitants.

SWANZEY FACTORY, a hamlet located in the northeastern part of the town,
was one hotel, a school-house, pail factory, sash and blind factory,
blacksmith shop and about 100 inhabitants

SPRAGUEVILLE, a hamlet located in the northeastern part of the town,
contains the Cheshire Box Co.'s works, and about fifty inhabitants.

MANUFACTURES / BUSINESS ETC.

ALVIN HOLMAN was associated with John Chamberlain at Westport in
the lumbering business a number of years. He may have been there as
early as 1840.  Franklin Holman, a brother of Alvin, commenced the
manufacturing of nest buckets at the same place about the same time. 
[more on very early manufactures included in original document, not
included here -- see individual biographies for more info].

THE WEST SWANZEY MANUF. CO.'S WOOLEN MILLS, formerly known as the
Stratton Woolen Mills, located at West Swanzey, were built by
JOHN STRATTON JR., assisted by his father. They were run about six
years, with varying success, when, in 1866 they were purchased by
the present proprietors, now known as the West Swanzey Manufacturing
Co.  Since then they have greatly enlarged the mill and its
capacity, so that they now employ fifty hands, operate twenty-two
broad loams, four sets of card, and manufacture about 500 years of
flannel and seventy-five blankets per day. The mill is under the
management of Obadiah Sprague, and is superintended by John Holland.

E.F. LANE & SON'S TUB FACTORY, located on route 11, was built by 
JONATHAN HALL in 1872, and came into the present firm's possession
in 1878. THey manufacture about 70,000 pails per annum, employing
from ten to twelve hands.

EDWARD WILCOX' BOX AND HOOP FACTORY, located on road 11, was built by
Lane, Batchelder & Bigelow, for a chair-stock factory, in 1861.
Mr. Wilcox purchased a half interest with Mr. Batchelder, and in 1863
became sole owner. He employs six men and manufactures about 
$3,500,000 worth of boxes and hoops per year.

EDMUND STONE'S SAW MILL, located on road 12, was built by Mr. Stone
in 1862, and is now operated by his son, Lyman M., who manufactures
stock for about 20,000 pails per annum.

C.L. RUSSELL & CO.'s PAIL AND BUCKET FACTORY, located at West Swanzey,
was established by E.F. Reed, and came into the present firm's
possession in 1876. They employ forty men and manufacture 1,500 pails
and buckets per day.

SPRAGUE, PARSONS & CO's BOX FACTORY, located at West Swanzey employs
fifteen men and turns out 440,000 boxes per year.

J.C. FIELD'S PAIL AND BUCKET FACTORY AND SAW MILL, located at Westport,
was built in 1880. The saw-mill cuts about 1,500,000 feet of lumber
per year, while the factory has the capacity for turning out about
half a million pails and buckets per annum. About twenty men are
employed.

F.F. LOMBARD'S SAW MILL, located on road 41, was formerly an old-
fashioned affair, and was rebuilt by B.F. Lombard in 1868. In 1878
it came into the present proprietor's possession, who employs five
men, turning out 125,000 feet of lumber and 150 cords of staves per
year.

WALTER H. PERRY'S SAW MILL and PAIL-STOCK FACTORY, located on road 44,
was built in 1884, upon the site of a mill built by NAHUM PERRY about
fifty years ago, and destroyed by fire in 1883. He employs seven men
and manufactures 300,000 feet of lumber into pail-stock per year.

G.F. LANE & SONS'S BUCKET AND PAIL FACTORY, located at East Swanzey,
was established by Howe & Willis, about thirty years ago, and came 
into the present firms' hands about 1870. They employ about twenty
men and manufacture 200,000 buckets and pails per year.
  
H.W. MASON'S WOODEN-WARE SHOP, located at East Swanzey, was built in
1877 by Murphy & ALexander, and came into Mr. Mason's hands in March,
1882. He employs fifteen men and turns out 200,000 pails per year.

THE CHESHIRE BOX CO'S FACTORY, located on road 7, was established in
June 1882, by Sprague, Whipple & Wright. In November 1883, C.L. Howes
purchased Mr. Whipple's interest, and it since then that the
present name has been used. The firm employs thirty men and
manufactures about 60,000 packing boxes per year.

G.W. GARFIELD'S STAVE AND PAIL FACTORY gives employment to twenty men
and turns about about 150,000 pails and a large amount of pail stock
per annum. Mr. Garfield resides in Keene.

O. DICKINSON & SON'S SASH AND BLIND FACTORY, located at Factory 
Village, was established by Oren Dickinson, and in September, 1883,
his son became a partner. They employ fifteen men, and manufacture
fifty sets of sash and blinds per day.

JAMES M. RAMSDELL'S BUCKET FACTORY, located at East Swanzey, was
established by him in 1879. He employs fifteen men, and manufactures
about 100,000 buckets per year.

F.L. SNOW & CO.'s PAIL FACTORY located in West Swanzey, gives
employment to twenty men.

S.W. SNOW'S BOX FACTORY is located in the same building with F.L. Snow
& Co's pail factory.

JAMES MARSH'S SAW MILL AND PAIL AND BUCKET FACTORY, located at
Westport, was built by JOHN CHAMBERLAIN about 1844, and came into the
present proprietor's hands in 1864. He employs forty men, cuts
100,000 feet of lumber, and manufactures 250,000 pails and buckets
per year.

EARLY HISTORY
  Previous to the establishment of the boundary line between the
colonies of NH and Massachusetts, it was supposed that the valley of
the Ashuelot was included within the limits of the latter [MA].
Consequently, when Massachusetts made a move to settle some of its
ungranted land, 1 July 1732, it was decided to grant (by Governor Belcher) two townships, each six miles square, in Ashuelot valley. This was accordingly done, and they were named "Upper" and "Lowe Ashuelot," 
respectively, the latter corresponding with what is now the township of 
Swanzey.
  October 19, 1733, Joseph Kellogg, Timothy Dwight and William
Chandler were appointed a committee to lay out forthwith the townships
on Ashuelot River. In February 1734, the committee made a return to
the General Court of a "plot of two townships, each of the contents
of six miles square, situated on each side of Ashuelot River, above
the tract of land lately granted to Colonel Josiah Willard and 
others.. To prepare the township for settlement, a committee was sent
by Massachusetts in May 1734, to lay out sixty-three house-lots. The
First meeting held by those who became proprietors of the township
was at Concord, Mass, June 27, 1734. At this meeting Nathaniel Hammond
of Littleton, was chosen moderator; Ephraim Jones of Concord, clerk;
John Flint of Concord, Joseph Hill of Billerica, Thomas Cutler of
Lexington, Eleazer Robbins of Harvard, and Nathaniel Hammond, of
Littleton, were chosen to manage the prudential affairs of the
township.

In May, 1735, sixty-three house-lots of three or four acres each were laid out, extending on each side of a surveyed highway, leading from the South Branch, over Meeting-house hill, to a point opposite the "moat." 

The scheme in surveying these sixty-three lots, was to have sixty
proprietors, each entitled to one share, and then to have one share
for school-lot, one for the first settled minister, and one for the
cause of the ministry [meeting-house or church].
 [Terms of the early proprietors included in original document, but 
not shown here].
  Those who became the original proprietors of the town, with the
number of their lot is as follows:
  Josiah Dival, 1; Thomas Hapgood, 2; Thomas Randal, 3; Samuel Mason,
4; James Heaton, 5; John Holdin, 6; William Negars, 7; John Mead, 8;
Joseph Lee, 9; David Brown, 10; Joseph Hill, 11; James Wallis, 12;
John Flint, 13; Elnathan Jones, 14; Benjamin Reed, 15; 
Benjamin Whitney, 17; Nathaniel Hammond, 18; James Houghton Jr., 19;
John White 20; John Muzzey, 21; Jonathan Prescott, 22; David Cutler, 
23; John King, 24; Joseph Hill Jr. 25; Robert Cummings, 26;
Nathaniel Hammond, 27; James Henry, 28; Thomas Cutler 29;
Hezekiah Sprague, 30; Benjamin Haywood, 31; Jonathan Hammond, 32;
Joseph Haskel, 33; Eleazer Robbins, 34; William Whitaker, 35;
Samuel Douglass, 36; Aaron Lyon, 37; Benjamin Thompson, 38;
Nathaniel Whittemore, 39; Thomas Kendal, 40; Timothy Stearns, 41;
John King 42; John Thompson 43; John Starr, 44; John King 45;
John Newherter, 46; Nathaniel Mattoon, 49; Ephraim Jones, 50;
William Lyon, 51; Benjamin Farnsworth, 52; Oliver Wallis, 53;
William Armes, 54; Charles Prescott, 55; Enos Goodale, 56;
John Tyler, 57; Ebenezer Conant, 58; William Carr, 59; Thomas Heaton,
60; Thomas Kendal, 61; Samuel Dolittle, 62; Gardner Wilder, 63.
Lot No. 16 fell to the school right, No. 48 to the first settled
minister, and No. 47 to the cause of the ministry.

FIRST PROPRIETOR'S MEETING
THe first proprietor's meeting was held at Concord, Mass., June 27,
1734, when Nathaniel Hammond was chosen moderator; Ephraim Jones,
clerk; and John Flint, Joseph Hill, Thomas Cutler, Eleazer Robbins and
Nathaniel Hammond, a committee to manage the prudential affairs of the
town.  This meeting was adjounred to the 18th day of the following
September, to meet in the township at noon.  This meeting was
adjourned until the next morning, and finally until the second
Wednesday in October, to meet at the house of Ephraim Jones,
"inn holder at Concord." At this meeting, on the 9th of October,
the proprietors voted to make a division of the intervale land
now called "great meadlow," and of that lying below what is now
called town-house bridge, on the South Branch, into sixty-three
lots, equal as practicable in area and quality, and appointed
Eleazer Robbins, Nathaniel Hammond, Ephraim Jones, Benjamin Read
and Nathaniel Mattoon, as a committee to make such a division.
These lots average about eight acres each. At a meeting held at
Concord, June 11, 1735, the committee appointed to make this second
division, made their report, which was accepted, and the proprietors
drew for their shares.
  At a meeting held in the township, September 8, 1736, it was voted
to make a division of twenty acres of the undivided lands to each
owner of a house lot, and appointed Nathaniel Hammond, Nathaniel
Mattoon, James Heaton, Benjamin Haywood and Peter Evans a committee,
to make said division.  This, called the third division of the
intervale land, included most of the remaining land of that character.
The lots laid on the South Branch above where the town-house bridge now
is, were called the South Branch meadows, those on Pond Brook, the
Pond Brook meadows, those on the Ashuelot, above West Swanzey, the
Mill meadows, and those between West Swanzey and Westport, the
Hypoeco meadows.  The lost of the third division were drawn Oct. 27,
1736.
 [more lots were divided Nathaniel Hammond, Benjamin Read, Samuel
Chamberlain, Ephraim Jones and Nathaniel Mattoon being the committee;
more info in original document not included here]

It was a great disappointment to the settlers in Lower Ashuelot to 
find, in 1740, that the township was not in the jurisdiction of
Massachusetts.... the result of which left the settlers unprotected,
and they eventually left their possession and fled to their former
homes in Massachusetts in the spring of 1747 [and left the Indians
in complete possession of the territory].  The following list gives,
the names of inhabitants PREVIOUS to the abandonment of the township,
with the year in which their names first appear on the records,
and where they came from, if known:
  Nathaniel Hammond, Littleton, Mass, 1737; Charles Tummis, Bolton
Mass. 1737; John Evans, Bolton Mass 1737; Samuel Farnsworth, 1737;
Thomas Cresson, Sunderland Mass 1737; William Carr, Deerfield Mass,
1737; Samuel Hills, Sunderland Mass 1737; Benjamin Brown, Concord
Mass, 1738; Jethro Evans 1738; Abraham Graves, Hatfield Mass 1738;
Samuel Mitchel, 1738; David Belding 1738; William Grimes, Lancaster
Mass 1738; Samuel Gunn, Sunderland Mass 1738; Nathaniel Gunn,
Sunderland Mass 1738; Ephraim Jones, Concord Mass 1739; William Scott,
1739; Andrew Gardner 1739; charles Armes 1740; Timothy Brown,
Brookfield Mass 1740; Thomas Hammond, Littleton Mass 1740;
Rev. Timothy Harrington, 1741; Jonathan Hammond, Littleon Mass 1741;
Nathaniel Hammond, Littleton Mass 1741; Eliakim King 1743;
James Heaton, 1743; Seth Heaton, Wrentham Mass 1744; Joseph Hammond,
Littleton Mass 1744; Samuel Belding 1745; Charles Eams 1746;
Samuel Chamberlain 1746; Samuel Hulls Jr, Sunderland Mass 1746;
Timothy Hammond, Littleton Mass 1746.

Very soon after the settlement was commenced, grave apprehensions of
the settler's safety from Indian attacks were entertained, forebodings
that were soon revealed into fact. As early as 1738 the building of a
fort was commenced, re-building and stockading Captain Nathaniel
Hammond's dwelling for this purpose. And on November 6, of this year,
the proprietors voted that eighteen pounds of powder and 36 pounds of
lead be purchased for a reserve stock.  Subsequently it was voted to
finish the fort, and to built two more. These were built, one about
the house of John Evans, and the other upon Meeting-house hill....
During the period from 1741 to 1747, several of the inhabitants lost
their lives, and a number were made prisoners. In the spring of the
latter date, it was decided by those who remained in the territory,
to brave these dangers, no longer.. They collected together their
household effects, and buried any valuables they could not transport,
and fled to Massachusetts.  The savages visited the town soon after,
and destroyed everything they could find, leaving but a single house
standing.
  With the close of the Cape Breton war, or first French and Indian
war, however, these dangers ceased, and a few of the settlers returned
to the scene [exactly when this occured is not known]. It has
generally ben stated that "three years after" their first flight they
returned, possibly about the spring of 1750, but perhaps as late as
1752.  
 On July 2d of 1753, the townshp was re-granted to the following
persons, under the name of SWANZEY--
  Nathaniel Hammond, Abraham Graves, William Grimes, Benjamin Grout,
Thomas cresson, Thomas Cresson Jr., William Hill, William Cresson,
William Carr, Elijah Graves, Samuel Hills, Nathaniel Hills,
Jonathan Woodcock Jr., Jonathan Hammond, Thomas Nutter, Ebenezer Hills,
John Pratt, Timothy Pratt, Joseph Hammond, Thomas Hammond, 
Seth Gay McGrout, Daniel Armes, Ebenezer Armes, Nathaniel Gunn,
Wyat Gunn, Corniel Gunn, Ebezezer Sprague, Ebenzer Sprague Jr.,
Joseph merchant, Noah Rodman, Samuel Belding, Eliakim King,
Jonathan Woodcock, Joshua Graves, Abener Graves, David Belding,
Timothy Brown, James Heaton, James Heaton Jr., William Heaton,
Benjamin Shelding, Mark Terry, Jonathan Tracy, John Tracy,
Phineas Tracy, Jonathan Armes, Jonathan Bardwell, Oliver Witt,
Oliver Hammond, Joshua Prime, Joseph Write, Benjamin Brown,
Simon Davis, Samuel McClenen, Zebulon Balord, STephen Nutter,
Caesar Freeman, Samuel Gaylon, James Blood Jr., Christopher Grout,
Hon. Benning Wentworth.
  The grantees under the Massachusetts charter, who had forfeited
the terms of the grant, were confirmed in their rights, and no
outsiders gained any possession under the new charter, except by
coming into possession of the right of some of the old grantees.
  Previous to 1762, Richmond's territory extended on the east of
Swanzey to the Keene line, but during that year this portion became
part of Swanzey. This tract was called Richmond Gore. It extended
about thirty rods on the Keene line, was three miles in width from
east to west, and seven in length from north to south. When Troy was
incorporated in 1815, the part of Swanzey taken towards making up
its territory was formerly a part of this gore. At the time it was
annexed to the town it was entirely unsettled.
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Swanzey, legally met
at the meeting-house in said Swanzey, on Tuesday, the fifth day of
March 1771, the meeting being opened, Capt. Joseph Hammond was chosen
Moderator; then the meeting was adjourned for the space of half an
hour to meet at the house of Lieut. Johnathan Whitcomb. Re-assembled
at the time and place appointed. Thomas Applin was chosen Town Clerk;
Thomas Applin, Samuel Hills, Benjamin Brown, David Elijah Groves,
chosen Selectmen. Voted that the Selectmen be assessors. Caleb Sawyer
was chosen constable; Capt. Joseph Hammon chosen town treasurer;
Thomas Hammond and Amasa Parker, chosen Tythingmen; Lieut. Joseph
Whitcomb, Joseph Cummings, Henry Morse, David Belding, Roger THompson
and Benjamin Brown, chosen surveyors of highways; Elisha Scott and
Elijah Belding, chosen fence viewers; John Starkey, sen., deer-reef;
Wyat Gunn, Ebenezer Hills and Jonathan Woodcock Jr. chosen hogreaves;
Nathaniel Scott and Gardner Duston, chosen field Drivers; Samuel
Belding, chosen sealer of leather... Voted that Mr. Samuel Hills be
apointed a Deputy to represent the town at the COnvention of Deputies
proprosed to be held at Exeter on the 17th day of this instant..
  

MILITARY-REVOLUTIONARY WAR
  Between the time of the re-charter and the period of the Revolution,
many valuble acquisitions to the population of the town were made,
and the whole of Swanzey's people gave an enthusiastic support to
the Revolutionary cause. It is believed that none who were able to do
render support, either by military service or financially, failed to
do so. 
  April 21, 1775, a company consisting of one lieutenant, one ensign,
four sergeants, four corporals, and fifty-two privates, marched from
Swanzey, at daylight, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph
Hammond (Vo. xiii, page 526). Twenty-two of them enlisted at Cambridge
for eight months, and the remainder returned after an absence of
fifteen days. [The document states, "We do not claim that all of the
company was composed of Swanzey men, but that they composed a large
part of it there can be no doubt]. One of those from Swanzey, who
enlisted for eight months, was Captain Jonathan Whitcomb. He was made
a captain, and his company was attached to Colonel Reed's regiment.
  In 1777 the town of Swanzey "Voted that each man that shall, pursuant
to orders from Colonel Ashley to Captain Whitcomb, enlist into the
Continental Army for three years, or during the war with Great
Britain, shall be allowed and paid by the town 26 pounds, and also,
that each man in this town that has already done service in the present
war shall be allowed for the same in such proportion as shall be 
determined by a committee to be apointed for that purpose, allowing
a year's service at 13p6s8d."  The committee for this purpose
consisted of Thomas Applin, Calvin Frink, Samuel Hills, Daniel Warner,
Henry Morse and Joseph Whitcomb Jr., who reported as follows:
  [The list of those paid for service during the AMerican Revolution
can be found in a PDF file on the web site above, on the Cheshire
County web page, under TOWN OF SWANZEY, History & Genealogy]:
 
  Voted December 18, 1775, that it is the opinion of the town that
Col. Joseph Hammond, Maj. Elisha Whitcomb, Capt. Joseph Whitcomb Jr.,
Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb, Mr. Thomas Hammond, Mr. Benjamin Brown,
and Lieut. Daniel Warner be chosen a committee of Safety agreeable
to the advice of the Continental Congress, and we acknowledge them a
COmmittee of Safety for this town...
  Voted March 4, 1777 to allow to Mr. David Belder twenty shillings
for his time, trouble, and expenses as selectman last year, and to
Colo. Hammond, Thomas Hammond and Elijah Groves nine shillings each
for their services as selectmen last year; to allow Thomas Applin 
twelve shillings for his service as selectman last year.
  In 1777 a committee of safety was chosen, consisting of Samuel Page,
Dea. Calvin Frink, Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb, Lieut. Elisha Whitcomb,
and Lieut. Elijah Belding.  The same year the town voted a bounty
of 26 pounds for volunteers.  During the war, also, the town voted
sums for military service, the entire list of which is included here
[SEE THE PDF DOCUMENT ON THIS WEB SITE under SWANZEY NH for this list].
  The most conspicuous services were perfomed by Cols. Joseph Hammond,
Jonathan Whitcomb and Elisha Whitcomb. Col. Hammond, on learning of
the battle of Lexington, organized a company and immediately departed
with it to Cambridge. They returned after an absence of twelve days.
He afterwards held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in Col. Ashley's
regiment, and was appointed to important trusts during the war.
Col. Jonathan Whitcomb was captain in one of the New Hampshire
companies at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Col. Elisha Whitcomb held a
commission in the army which went to Canada in 1776.
  Voted at a special town meeting, January 22, 1778, that this town
approves of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between
the United States of America, as proposed by the Continental Congress,
and desire that the same may be ratified and confirmed.
  Voted, May 12, 1778, to send one man to meet with the Convention at
COncord, the tenth day of June next, and Calvin Frink, Esq. was chosen.
  Voted March 2, 1779 to allow Calvin Frink twenty-five pounds as a 
reward for his services as Delegate for the town in the Convention,
held at Concord, June 10, 1778.
  The first town meeting held in Swanzey under the (new) Constitution,
which had been adopted, was held March 2, 1784. The chief executive
officer of the State under this Constitution was styled a President.
The town officers elected at this meeting were: Moderator, Samuel 
Hills; town clerk, Calvin Frink; selectmen, Isaac Hammond,
David Belding Jr. and Benjamin Hammond.

WAR OF 1812
Of Swanzey's soldiers in the war of 1812, William C. Belding was
killed at Chippewa Plains, July 5, 1814; Rufus Graves was killed at
Bridgewater, Canada, July 25, 1814; a son of John Guild was killed in
Upper Canada; Joshua Prime, a lieutenant of marines, died at
Sackett's Harbor, March 1, 1813; Gaines Cresson died at Burlington,
Vt.; and Benedict Arnold died at Portsmouth.

CIVIL WAR
Many of the town's soldiers in the late civil war were killed in
battle, many were mortally wounded, and many more died of disease
contracted while in the service.  The town gave liberal bounties
to encourage enlistment, and promptly filled its quota of men and
means. The war debt at the close of the struggle amounted to about
$56,000, which has been liquidated.
  The following persons contributed to fill the quotas of Swanzey by
enlisting, or by furnishing substitutes, or by paying commutation when
drafted: Charles R. Applin, David W. Hill, Albert G. Read, Sylvander
Hovey, Jonathan M. Holden, Demerit W. Stone, Allen B. Haywood, Harvey
Sargent, Anson Gilson, Thos. N. Woodward, Samuel Hurd, Daniel E.
Woodward, Henry S. Applin, Sanford Bolles, Philo Applin, Leonard Lyman,
William B. Marble, Sanford S. Wilber, Daniel H. Holbrook, RIchard R.
Ramsdell, Albert Ballou, Theodore Hovey, Charles Wheeler,
Oratus J. Very, Henry P. Read, Noyce G. Wheeler, Samuel Rockwood,
Roswell O. Aldrich, Charles H. Sebastian, Samuel Stephenson,
Edward P. Sebastian, Lyman C. Deeth, Sidney Stone, Aaron Lebourveau,
Lowell W. Darling, George Jackson, Amasa Bourne, Henry Hill, 
John Stone, Aaron Lebourveau, Lowell W. Darling, George Jackson,
Amasa Bourne, Henry Hill, John Stone, Asa C. Hemmenway, Willard Bragg,
Obed Holton, George F. Trowbridge, Menzies E. Stratton, 
Amos E. Cummings, Benjamin F. Mead, Elliot Wright, William W. Starkey,
Gardner Wheeler, Samuel Rockwood, Carlos Quinn, Charles R. Applin,
Samuel Quinn, John L. Meserve, Charles Quinn, Alonozo D. Sumner,
Elbridge G. Prentice, John A. Colby, Joseph Cross, William Read,
George B. Richardson, William Eastman, Jeremiah Plummer, 
Michael Farrel, Cyrus F. Holbrook, Harvey Thompson, Oliver L. Nash,
John Barker, Prescot D. Coburn, Thomas Smith, Stilman D. Nash,
Frank Canovan, Warren F. Allen, John Stewart, Horace Barney, 
George perkins, George O. Knapp, George Davis, John A. Bread,
Thomas Karney, George W. Robinson, Sexton W. Williams,
Thomas Burns, WIlliam Oakman, Aaron Dickinson, Silas W. Ballou,
Cyrus W. Stanley, Albert R. Ballou, Benjamin Pomeroy,
George A. Haywood, George Wilson, Charles Temple, Bradley Hill,
Asahel W. Dunton, Amos D. Combs, Moses D. Ballou, George W. Johnson,
George H. More, Oratus Very, Ansell B. Dickinson, George Mattoon,
John W. Taggard, Isaac Starkey, Timothy Sherman, Charles H. McIntosh,
Henry S. Applin, Henry Coburn, Amos E. Cummings, N.R. Smith,
Joseph Cross, Aaron Sumner, Elbridge Prentice, Obed Holton,
John A. Bread, Thomas Christie, Aaron Dickinson, James L. Davis,
John F. Hunt, Leonard S. Holden, Orick L. Haskell, Charles Barber,
Warren A. Pickering, Charles H. Barber Jr., John Barber,
William N. Ripley, Ira A. Hooper, John S. Thayer, George W. Sweetzer,
D. Brainerd Healey, John P. Hill, George W.B. Caffre, Charles Marsh,
A.W. Tupper, Jotham M. Ballou, Amos Davis, Martin Jewell,
Seamon A. Stone, Lewis Carpenter, Edward Doolittle, Nathaniel Bourn Jr.
George P. Ward, J.Q.A. Wilson, Eli W. Raynolds, Sylvander L. Hovey,
George I. Capron, Lemuel O. Hunt, Horace B. STarkey, 
Charles B. Blodgett, William Sebastian Jr., Benjamin F. Clark,
B.P. Lamson, Edward Dickinson, Charles G. Gilmore, Jonas C. Waters,
Samuel Mattoon, Clark H. Houghton, Charles W. Philbrook,
Fred E. Sebastian, William E. Thatcher, Oratus J. Very,
Charles W. Mattoon, George Burns, William Stone, Daniel W. Clark,
Chas. E. STephenson, Charles H. Howard, Charles H. Holbrook,
George E. Whitcomb, Franklin Burbank, J.N. Forrestall, 
Dexter H. Thomas, George Willis, Harrison R. Ward, Lyman C. Willis,
D.L.M. Comings, Charles Bowles, Calvin Greenleaf, Josiah Parsons,
Luther Smith, Benj. H. Richardson, Luther Beal, James C. Eames,
Willis Reason, Orloe E. Parson, Cyrus F. Holbrook, Thayer Thomson,
Lincoln Wheelock, George W. Eastman, Henry D. Holbrook, 
James H. Alcott, Charles H. Gove, Henry C. Clark, George B. Holbrook,
David Pelkey, A.D. Combs, Alvin W. Houghton, Carrol D. Wright,
Edward P. Sebastian, Franklin C. Whitcomb, George W. Ellis,
Daniel F. Healey, Henry B. Davis, David Buffom 2d, Charles S. Parks,
Charles W. Scott, Lewis Hunt.
  Anson Gilson, George F. Trowbridge, John Stone, Thomas Burns,
Aaron Dickinson were killed; Lowell W. Darling died from the effect of
a wound; Allen B. Haywood lost his right arm; Daniel K. Healey was
permanently disabled; Albert Ballou and Francis C. Whitcomb were
badly wounded. It is not known what became of Charles Wheeler and
Joseph Cross.  Eliot Wright, D. Brainard Healey, B.P. Lamson,
David Buffum 2d, Demerit W. Stone, Sanford Bolles, Sanford S. Wilber
and Henry S. Applin died.
  Amos D. Combs was a lieutenant in the Sixth Regiment and a captain
in the FOurteenth Regiment; David Buffum 2d was a captain in the
Sixteenth Regiment.
  Carrol D. Wright was a lieutenant in the FOurteenth Regiment when it
was organized and was promoted to colonel before he left the regiment.
  Many natives of Swanzey went into the army from other places, and
these it is known that Lyman Whitcomb, Lucius Whitcomb and 
Nathaniel F. Lane were killed, and that Wallace G. Dickinson and
Elmer F. Dickinson died while in the service.

EARLY MILLS
[excerpts only, only a few of the earliest ones found in the original
document are mentioned here].
  On March 16, 1737 it was voted that 200 acres of land would be given
to Ephraim Jones, on the condition that he built a good sawmill at
the Falls on Great River. This saw-mill was built by Jones, and he
subsequently built a grist-mill at the same lace.  These mills stood
a few rods below the site of the present mills at West Swanzey. They
were destroyed by the Indians when the township was early deserted
[see history above].
  Capt. Joseph Whitcomb came to Swanzey with his five sons about
1790, and located at the western part of the town, where he soon
erected mills [at West Swanzey].
  On June 1, 1759 the proprietors voted to give David Belding, Joshua
Graves, Elisha Scott and Abner Graves fifty acres of land [at what
is now Factory Village] in consideration of building a grist and
saw-mill at that place within 2 years.  The cotton factory, from which
the village took its name, was built there about 1810.
  John Whitcomb and his sons built a saw and grist-mill at East
Swanzy about 1780. Benjamin Page began the manufacture of pails by
machinery at the same place about 1830.
  Captain Samuel Brown and Moses Boardman Williams had a fifty-acre
lot pitched and surveyed at Westport, June 2, 1774, which included the
falls; mills were erected there at an early date.
  Richard Stratton commenced the business of cloth-dressing previous
to 1800 at West Swanzey, and colonel ELisha Whitcomb built a carding-
machine at East Swanzey at an early date.
  A tannery had been build and was in successful operation at what was
long known as the Blake tannery. Captain Timothy Bishop had at one time
a small foundry on the brook up amongst the hills in the east part of
the town.
  About 1810 a mill was built at Factory village for making cotton
yarn. Subsequently looms were put into the mill.  In 1830 the mill was 
in active operation making cotton cloth.  About 1820 a small amount
of machinery was running at East Swanzey, by William Ryder, Phineas
Stone, and Henry Cooper, making cloth.
  Between 1800 and 1830 an important business was commenced by the
owners of sawmills in manufacturing lumber for the principal towns low
down upon the Connecticut River. The principal men engaged in this
business were John Stratton, Major Benjamin Whitcomb, Moses Howard,
Alvin Holman, John Chamberlain, Daniel H. Holbrook, Lyman Parker
and Roswell Parker.
  The making of palm-leaf hats was introduced into the town prior to
1830, and at that time many of the women were busy making hats.

HOUSES
In 1800 there were many large and substantial houses in the town, many
of more moderate proportions and not a large number of small framed
houses and but a small number of log ones. ...
  The oldest type of the best houses that had been built previous to
1800 was a two-story house in front and one-story at the back part.
The plan was to have two good-sized front rooms on the lower level and
to have two good-sized chambers on the second floor. The centre of the
rear part contained a large kitchen, and at the ends of it bed-room,
pantry, cupboards, entries, etc. To accomodate the three large rooms
on the lower floor and the two front chambers, a very large chimney
was built in the centre of the house.  Another type, and one from 
which a larger number was built than from the first, was to have the
same construction upon the lower floor, but without the second story
in front.  A fashionable type for the best houses at a later date
was to build with two stories and with a four-cornered flat roof. If
it was built with two rooms upon each floor, it usually had a 
chimney at each end of the house. If it contained four rooms upon each
fllor, the chimneys were built between the front and reare rooms.


SCHOOLS
Schools were built in the township as early as 1742. The first
building of which there is any mention made after the return of the
settlers is the school-house, where the members of the churches of
Keene and Swanzey met in 1753, to form a union for the support of
gospel ordinances. This may have been the school-house that was
built in 1742, as it has always been said that one building was
left standing by the Indians, and this may have been the one.  As
the population increased, school-houses multiplied, so that at one
time there were thirteen in town.  The Mount Caesar Academy was built
in 1843, and for a number of years was a flourishing institution.

**
CHURCHES**
The early settlers of the town gave the subject of religion particular
consideration, in fact, it was a subject enjoined upon them by
Massachusetts in granting them the charter of the township. The
settlers were obligated to build a "suitable meeting-house," and to
settle a "learned and orthodox minister within five years from the
date of said settlement."  Accordingly on the 7th of September 1737,
the proprietors voted that a meeting house 46x36 feet with twenty-foot
posts be built upon "the rock near the corner of lot No 18" and again
December 28, 1738, it was voted to make the meeting house four feet
longer, four feet wider and two feet higher, and to built a decent
steeple upon it." At a subsequent meeting, however, it was voted
"not to build the meeting house," probably on account of the fear of
Indian depredations.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH--On December 4, 1741, Rev. TImothy Harrington
was ordained as pastor of the Congregational Church of Swanzey,
at that time formed, with thirteen members. After the town was
abandoned in 1747, the proprietors met at Rutland, Mass, and made a
settlement with Mr. Harrington.
  On August 21, 1753, the churches of Keene and Swanzey met here
"at the school-house... Mr. Harrington was succeeded by Rev. Edward
Goddard, September 27, 1769, who was dismissed July 5, 1798.
Rev. Caleb Mason was installed September 5, 1810 and remained until
October 1, 1815. Rev. Joshua Chandler was ordained January 20, 1819,
and dismissed November 26, 1822.  Rev. Ebenezer Colman was installed
May 23, 1827, and dismissed July 1, 1834.  Rev. Elisha Rockwood DD
was installed November 19, 1836, and his ministry continued until
his death June 19, 1858.  The present [sic] pastor is Rev. Benjamin
Merrill, his church having sixty-five members.  The church also has
a Sunday-school with 134 members, with Deacon A.A. Ware,
Superintendent. The first church building was located on
Meeting-house hill, was built previous to 1755, and was used for
public worship about forty years. This was succeeded by another
structure build by the town, which was in turn used about forty
years, and the present brick structure at Swanzey was erected in 1835.
The Congregational society did not, until a comparatively recent
date, have to support its pastors.  

THE BAPTIST CHURCH, located at West Swanzey, was organized in 1792.
Their church building was built in 1804. It is a wood structure,
capable of seating 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds,
at $8,000.  The society has ninety-eight members, with Rev. Stephen
G. Abbott, pastor. The church has a Sabbath-school with 66 scholars.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, located at West Swanzey, was organized by
Jonathan W. Frink, Adis Bennett, and Elliot Hammond, with 30 members,
in 1843, the first pastor being Rev. Joseph Barber.  The church
building, erected during that year will accomodate 400 persons and is
valued, including grounds at $300. The Society has about twenty members
with no regular pastor.

****
BIOGRAPHIeS AND GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS
****

REV. STEPHEN G. ABBOTT, son of Rev. Samuel Abbott, was born at Bridgewater, Mass, in 1819, and married Sarah B., daughter of Moses and 
Abigail Cheney, and sister of ex-Governor P.C. Cheney. He graduated at 
New Hampton Theological seminary, and commenced preaching at Campton, 
NH in 1848. In 1861 he was chaplain of the 1st NH Vols, and in 1871 he 
received the honorary degree of A.M. from Bates college, Maine. In 1882 
he moved to Hinsdale NH and in 1883 came to West Swanzey, where he is 
pastor of the Baptist Church. He has one child, John T. Abbott, a 
lawyer in Keene.

HARDIN ALBEE, son of Ichabod, was born in Westmoreland, March 8, 1800, 
married for his first wife, Almira H. Howard, and came to Swanzey in 
1827, locating upon the place where John Convoy now lives. He was town 
representative two terms, and selectman for several years. His first
wife, who died in 1853, bore him two children, George H Albee, who
lives in Wisconsin, and A. Melissa Albee, who married Abraham Stearns,
and resides in town. He married for his second wife, Anna A. May,
and had born to him one child, Ida M. Albee who died young. Mr. Albee
died November 13, 1863.

AMASA ALDRICH, came from Mendon, Mass to Swanzey some time after the
war of 1775, probably about 1784. He was a soldier and settled on 
the farm now owned by John Adams. He was a farmer and somewhat
prominent in town affairs, and died December 2, 1813. He had a family
of thirteen children.  AMASA ALDRICH JR., quite a prominent man,
lived on the old farm, represented the town, and was selectman.
His son, CARLON C. ALDRICH, lives in Illinois, and he has two sons
living in Winchendon, Mass--Harrison Aldrich and Simeon C. Aldrich,
and two daughters in Keene, Mrs. Candace C. Marsh and Mrs. Calista F.
Read.  PAUL F. ALDRICH, son of Amasa Sr., was well known as a drover.
He represented the town and held other town offices. His son,
HENRY H. ALDRICH is also well known in the county as a drover.
DAVID ALDRICH, another son of Amasa Sr., was a colonel in the state
militia, and died young.

ABLE ANGIER came to Fitzwilliam from Wendell, Mass about 1790,
and died there in 1861. He had a family of ten children, all of whom
lived to be over forty years of age. One of the three now living,
Philip D. Angier, resides in this town, on road 21.

DEA. THOMAS APPLIN came to this town about 1761, from Palmer, Mass.
He was a blacksmith and farmer, and was the first town clerk and first
justice of the peace. There are some of his descendants now in town,
Thomas Applin Jr. was a deacon in the church, and has one son,
Wesson Applin, now living here.

DR. HENRY BAXTER, son of Robert was born in Pomfret, Conn,
March 15, 1784 and graduated at Castleton Vt. About 1819 came to
West Swanzey and commenced the practice which he continued until his
death, April 4, 1853. He was very successful in his practice, and held several town offices, being town clerk seventeen years, and justice of 
the peace eighteen years. He married, for his first wife, Polly Weeden, 
October 24, 1804, who bore him eight children, four of whom are living. 
Of these, Anna H. married Rufus Thomson; Belinda B. married J.W. 
Capron; Sarah W. married Hiram Drury; and Philotha P. married Thomas H. 
Wellington. He married for his second wife Mary Ann Wilson, and had 
born to him one child, Mary A., who lives in Keene.

The BELDEN FAMILY of Swanzey was quite a prominent one in the town,
at least for the first 100 years of the town's history. The name of
HAMMOND also appears often in the records. Some of this family
represented the town in both houses of the legislature. Some of the
descendants reside here.

AMOS BENNETT, an early settler, living upon the place where Thomas
Hanahan now resides, on road 28. He afterwards removed to Richmond,
married Lucretia Buffom, of that town, and reared a family of nine
children, eight of whom are now living. He died there in 1856.
His son, Amos G., now resides in this town on road 28.

FISHER BULLARD, came here from Franklin, Mass in 1804, married Rhoda
Clark, of Sharon, Mass, and lived here until four years before his
death, when he went to Acworth NH.  His son, LEWIS C. BULLARD lives
in Sharon, his daughter Susan in Acworth, Edwin M. Bullard in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Marcus on road 40 of this town.

WILLIAM CARPENTER came to Massachusetts from England in 1638,
accompanied by his wife and four children. He resided in Weymouth 
until 1643 when he moved to Rehoboth. REV. EZRA CARPENTER, supposed to
be a descendant of William, was born at Rehoboth, April 1, 1699, and
took his first degree at Harvard College in 1720. He married Elizabeth,
dau of Rev. Thomas Greenwood, November 28, 1723. Mr. Carpenter was
ordained at Hull, November 24, 1725, at which place he preached until
November 23, 1746. In 1753 he settled in Swanzey, and October 14th of
that year, the churches of Swanzey and Keene united for the support of
gospel ordinances with Mr. Carpenter as pastor. This continued seven
years after which he remained as pastor of the church in Swanzey until
1765. His wife died March 19, 1766, and his death occurred at Walpole,
August 26, 1785. Greenwood Carpenter, one of his eight children, and
his successor on the old homestead, was born at Hull, March 31, 1733,
and married for his first wife, Sarah Leathers, of Boston, who bore
him three children. He married for his second wife, Susan Hammond,
of Swanzey, and had born to him ten children, one of whom was the
Hon. Elijah Carpenter. The latter, born at the homestead, December 23,
1779, was for a long time one of the most influential men of Swanzey.
He was appointed high sheriff of the county by Governor Dinsmore,
September 22, 1832, which office he held ten years, and was a member
of the state senate. He married Fanny Partridge, who was born at
Mantagus, Mass., November 1, 1787. George Carpenter, one of his seven
children, was born September 13, 1828, married Lucy J., daughter of
Calo Carter Whitcomb, June 17, 1864, and resides on the old homestead.
Mr. Carpenter takes great interest in public arffairs, and is a man of
means, which he is using liberally for the public benefit. He has
recently given to Mt. Caesar Library association a building for a
library. This building was built in 1843, for an academy. Mr. Carpenter
has taken great interest in the Greenback party, having been a
candidate for that party for governor.

THOMAS CROSS came to Swanzey from Bradford, Mass, some time previous
to the Revolution. He cleared a farm in the west part of the town, and
reared a large family of children.  His son PETER CROSS was born in
town, where he lived all his life, and had several children, though
only one of them, GEORGE is now living.

GEORGE INGERSOLL CUTLER was born at Keene NH December 10, 1833, and
there first attended school. He subsequently moved with his parents to
Charlestown, where he lived about ten years. After this his home was 
in Alstead. His early education was recieved in common schools, and
he obtained his academical education in the high school at
Brattleboro Vt., and several terms at Westminster Seminary, Vt. under
the instruction of the late Prof. L.F. Ward. After fitting for
teaching and successfully following that profession for some years,
in different grades of schools, he commenced the study of medicine
in 1860, with Dr. D.L.M. Cummings, and afterwards continued it under
the direction of Dr. William M. French of Alstead, now of Washington,
D.C. He graduated at the medical department of the University of
Vermont, at Burlington in 1864, and in the following February (1856)
settled at West Swanzey, and commenced the practice of medicine,
where he has been very successful and acquired a large and extensive
practice.  In February 1866, he married Miss E. Jennie Aldrich, dau
of Arvin Aldrich Esq. of East Westmoreland. Dr. Cutler is a 
Democrat in politics, has held different offices of trust and
responsibility since he became a resident of Swanzey. He was first
elected town clerk in 1867, and has continued to hold the office
nineteen successive years, and has also been superintending school
committee nineteen years. This is a fair showing of the confidence
he enjoys with the town's people, and the general respect they
entertain for him.

ENOCH DAY came to Swanzey from Taxter, Mass, [sic, there is no "Taxter"
MA, possibly this should say Baxter] at an early day, and settled
upon the farm now owned by his grandchildren, Lamson, Bradley and
Jewett J. Hill. He had given to him by his father fifty  acres of
land to which he kept adding until he owned over two hundred. He died
in 1818.

NATHANIEL DICKINSON and his brother Joseph came to Swanzey from 
Hatfield, Mass. prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in the 
northern part of the town. He reared a large family of children,
among whom were Ezaraiah, Abel, Aaron, Asa, Israel, and William.
EZARIAH DICKINSON, a native of this town, married Elizabeth Robley,
reared a family of nine children, and located on road 5.  In 1834 he
moved to Brattleboro Vt, where he spent the remainder of his life.
ABEL DICKINSON married Abigail scott, and lived on the home farm with
his father.  AARON DICKINSON married Polly Whitcomb, and located on
road 2.  ASA DICINSON also lived in this town.  ISRAEL DICKINSON
moved to Leominster, Mass; and WILLIAM DICKINSON, who reared a large
family of children, lived in this town for some time but moved to
Winchester where he died.
  OREN DICKINSON, son of Ezariah, married for his first wife,
Mary Ann Lawrence, who bore him two children, and for his second wife,
Emily H. daughter of Aaron Wilson, and has had born to him eight
children--six sons and two daughters.  Mr. Dickinson was engaged in
manufacturing sash, door, and blinds, at Keene for eighteen years,
and has been in the same business in this town the last 35 years,
at Swanzey Factory.

COLONEL TIMOTHY ELLIS, a colonel in the French and Indian War, came
to Keene, from France, at an early day, where he remained until his
death, in 1819. His son, JOSHUA ELLIS, who at the age of seventeen
was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, came to the county from
Dedham, Mass, and died about 1826. His son, JOSHUA ELLIS, was born in
Keene, where he lived until a short time before his death, when he
went to Swanzey, but returned to Keene before he died.  One of his son,
GEORGE W. ELLIS lives in Swanzey, DANIEL ELLIS lives in Keene, and
DAVID and J.R. ELLIS reside in Boston.

ISAAC FARR moved to Chesterfield from Massachusetts, some time
previous to the Revolution. His son, WILLIAM FARR was born in the
former place, July 7, 1787, and died there in 1866. He married twice,
first Lydia Carlton, in 1809 and second, Sarah Houghton of Putney Vt
October 30, 1839. His son ALONZO FARR, born in Chesterfield, May 30,
1838, married twice, first Sarah E., daughter of Mason Herrick,
October 11, 1838, and second, Phebe G. Stowell, February 8, 1881.
He was engaged in the manufacture of bits, augurs and gimblets, in
company with E.P. Pierce Jr. for nine years. He moved to Keene in 
1847, where he engaged in farming. He came here in 1870, has also
carried on farming here, and has been one of the selectmen of the
town.

CALVIN FIELD came to Swanzey from Winchester and located at Westford.
He was engaged in the mercantile business, and, with his brother,
ERASTUS FIELD, was engaged in the manufacture of shoe-lasts. He has
two children, who reside in town, Mrs. George Faulkner and Willard,
the latter of whom lives in the house built by his father.

AMOS H. FREEMAN, son of Luther, was born in Greenwich, Mass, in 1817,
 moved to Dublin in 1835, and married Harriet E. Hemingway, in 1838. 
He moved to Keene in 1843, and worked at the blacksmith's trade for 
several years. He went into the grocery business with A.H. Grimes in 
1861, and came to this town in 1879. Of his four children, Georgian, 
Sarah R., and Flora E., are living, and Harriet E. is dead.

WILLARD GAY came to Swanzey about 1840. He married Fanny Wright, and
had one child, DR. GEORGE W. GAY, of Boston, who has the reputation
of being one of the best physicians of that city. For his second
wife, Mr. Gay married Emily H. Farwell, by whom he had six children,
viz: Ella H. who married Z.G. Taft and lives in Swanzey; Phineas Z.
Gay of Swanzey; Mary A. Gay who married Calvin Hills and lives in town;
and three children who died young.  He was a good farmer and died
highly respected. His widow still lives here.

REV. EDWARD GODDARD came to this town about 1768 or 1769 and was
settled by the town as pastor of the church at the center of town.
He was pastor for about twenty-five years, and built the house where
David Parsons now lives, whose wife was his granddaughter.  He was
a delegate to the convention of New Hampshire for developing a plan
to form a state government. His son, Captain Edward Goddard, was well
known in town, was a representative and selectman.

PHINEAS HAMBLET, a soldier of the Revolution, came to Swanzey from
Pelham NH about a hundred years ago. He settled in the northwestern
part of the town, on road 1, married Rachel Atwood of Pelham, and
reared a family of ten children. JOSIAH HAMBLET, his brother, came 
here about the same time and located near him.  BENJAMIN HAMBLET, son
of Phineas, was born in Swanzey in 1791, was a blacksmith and farmer,
and lived on the old homestead. He married Lucy Willis of Westmoreland,
who bore him two children, HORACE HAMBLET, and GEORGE HAMBLET (who 
lives in Buffalo, NY).  HORACE HAMBLET married twice, first Olive
Stone of Chesterfield, second Nancy Lovins and has two children, 
both of whom reside in Keene. He settled in Keene in 1840 on road 32,
and in 1841 his father, mother, grandfather and grandmother came to
live with him, where they remained until they died.

NATHANIEL HAMMOND, from Watertown, Mass, came to this town somewhere
about 1740. He was one of the first settlers, built the first house
in town, and was one of the first proprietors for the grant of the
township. He was a prominent man and died in 1756. His son,
JOSEPH HAMMOND was born here, held some of the important offices,
and was well known. He was actively engaged in the Revolutionary
war, with others of the Hammond family. He died about 1804. His son,
BENJAMIN HAMMOND was also born here, married Sarah Fisk, and settled
upon the farm now owend by D.B.C. Hill. He reared a family of seven
children, only one of whom is living, AZUB, widow of Clark Albee,
who lives in Highgate, Vt.  He died in 1813.  His son, Joseph was
born January 31, 1782, married Mary, daughter of Erie Richardson of
Keene. He lived on the homestead most of his life, was a deacon of the
church for many years and reared a family of nine children, four sons
and five daughters. Three of these, Joseph Jr., Joel and Lizzie H.
(widow of John Hancock of Hinsdale) are living, and reside in town.
He died April 24, 1861. Joseph Hammond, son of Joseph was born in
town, April 5, 1809, married, for his first wife, Luthera S. Rogers,
who bore him two children, Sophina J. and Maria E. The former married
Martin Mason, and resides in town.  Maria E. married Eugene Keyes
and lives in Keene. Mrs. Hammond died April 24, 1860, and Joseph
married for his second wife, Ardelia C. Randall, who died February 11,
1884. Mr. Hammond was town representative 1850-51, selectman for 
several years, superintendent of school committee, postmaster,
justice of the peace since 1843 and supervisor for 41 years.
  
JOSEPH HAMMOND and his two brothers came to Boston from England
about 1730. Joseph finally settled in Swanzey, where he remained
until his death. His sons, Joseph and Benjamin, twis, were born here,
and the former always resided here. Benjamin was taken to Lunenburg
after the death of his mother, which occurred soon after his birth,
but returned to Swanzey when twenty-one years of age. He settled on
the farm now owend by D.B.C. Hill, and lived there until his death
in 1813. His son Joseph was born in 1782, on the farm where he
always lived. He was a deacon of the Baptist church many years,
and died April 24, 1861.

JOSIAH HAMMOND, born in Swanzey, November 1, 1785, married Pedee
Stanley and settled upon the farm now owned by Andrew Cook, where he
died November 1, 1829. He reared a family of eight children as 
follows: Joseph S., Horace, Hiram, Nancy S., Angela P., Allen,
Willard, and Esther M. Hammond. Two of these are now living. His
widow died October 1, 1875, aged ninety years and nine months.

SANFORD S. HARDY, a native of Hollis, Mass., enlisted in Co. G, 14th NH 
Vols, and, after three years service, was discharged on account of wounds received in battle. These wounds eventually caused his death. He 
came  to this town in 1876, his death occurring soon after. His widow 
now lives with her children, Cora and Ellen A.

DAVID W. HARRIS, son of David, who came to this town in 1838, was
born October 21, 1825, and settled on the farm where he now lives.
He has always been a farmer.

SIMEON HAWES, a pensioner of the Revolution, came to Swanzey from
Yarmouth, Mass soon after the war. He reared a family of eight
children, all now dead, and died in 1834. His son, Nicholas Hawes
was born here engaging in farming, and had three children, two now
living--Mrs. Susan Worcester and Lyman N. who resides on road 32.
His daughter Hannah became the wife of Samuel Holbrook.

SEMUEL HEALEY came to Winchester from Newton, Mass at an early day,
and resided there till his death, rearing a family of fourteen
children. His son DAVIS HEALEY was born there, but moved to Swanzey
where he died in 1824. Two of his children, Mrs. Edwin Stone and Asa
Healey, the present postmaster at Swanzey, reside here.

JONATHAN HILL, who was born in Winchester, came to this town when
but nine years of age, worked for Enoch Day, whose daughter he
married, and lived on the same farm until his death. He had a family
of fifteen children, nine of whom are now living, three of them
residing on the farm where their father died. DAVID HILL, son of
Jonathan, was born in Winchester, but came to Swanzey many years ago,
where he died in 1882, at the age of eighty-eight years. His son,
D.B.C. Hill now resides on road 1.

MOSES HILLS was an early settler upon the farm where Fred M. Farr now
lives, on road 17. His son, ELIJAH HILLS lived upon the farm nearly all
his life and died there in February 1874. One of his sons, CALVIN E.
now resides on road 17.

SAMUEL HILLS came from Sunderland, Mass, as one of the early pioneers.
In 1737 he was one of the leading men in the township, and the ancestor
of all the Hills that hve lived in town. His sons, Nathaniel, Samuel
and Ebenezer, were quite prominent men, the last being the second
child born in town.

CAPTAIN PETER HOLBROOK, son of Eliphalet, was born in Billingham,
Mass, Nov 23, 1762, and came to Swanzey in 1802, locating on the
place now occupied by Ozro Thompson, and followed farming and mason
work. He married Mary Bates of Mendon, Mass, who bore him nine 
children, viz: Elkanah, Isaac B., Mary, Olive, Sophia, Julia, Clark P.,
Peter, and Helon. He died December 3, 1837.
  CLARK BATES HOLBROOK, son of Captain Peter, born in Billingham [MA],
April 11, 1794, came to swanzey with his father, married Abigail,
daughter of Joel Mellen, of this town, December 26, 1817, and
settled upon the farm now owned by his son, Clark B., of Springfield,
Mass. Mrs. Holbrook died April 12, 1855 and Mr. Holbrook passed away
May 5, 1879. Their nine children were as follows:-
  MELLEN R. HOLBROOK, born February 7, 1829, and died at Poughkeepsie,
NY June 6, 1881. After the close of the common school education, Mr.
Holbrook was a student at Lawrence academy of Groton, Mass, two terms
and one year at Keene, and taught school a number of terms in this
town. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Hosea Pierce of
Winchester [NH] afterwards studied with Dr. Childs, of Pittsfield,
Mass, and Dr. Palmer of Woodstock, Vt. and graduated at the Vermont
Medical college, June 19, 1850. He commenced the practice of his
profession at Fulton NY, where he remained some ten years. In 1861
he removed back to Swanzey, and spent about two years with his friends;
when partially recovering his health, he returned to Poughkeepsie,
and resumed the practice of his profession, and continued it nearly up
to the time of his death. Dr. Holbrook in early life was studious and
industrious, and in all places where he resided he gained the 
confidence of his acquaintances as a man of character and a trusty
practitioner. He married twice, but was a widower for many years
previous to his death, and had no children. His first wife,
Emiline E. Smith of Volney NY, whom he married January 1, 1857, died
May 5, 1857; his second wife, Mary J. Lobdell of Poughkeepsie, whom
he married in 1861, died in 1863.
  LYMAN HOLBROOK, born April 18, 1821 resides in Springfield, Mass.
  MARY A. HOLBROOK, born August 12, 1823, married Chiron Holbrook of
this town, who died October 18, 1872 and now resides on road 35-1/2.
Her three children all reside in Swanzey, viz: Lucretia A., wife of
Harvey Carleton; Lovilla R., wife of George W. Taft; and Nancy M.,
wife of Arthur A. Woodward.
  CYRUS F. HOLBROOK, born February 13, 1825, died in Swanzey July 29,
1876.
  BETSEY M. HOLBROOK, born March 15, 1827, married Nathaniel B. Fisher
and lives in Richmond NH.
  OLIVE P. HOLBROOK, born October 25, 1828, is the wife of
Thayer Thomson, of Swanzey. Their only child, Ozro T. Thomson, now
lives on the Captain Peter Holbrook place.
  CHARLES HOLBROOK, now president of the wholesale stove and metal
house of Holbrook, Merrill & Stetson of San Francisco and Sacremento,
California, was born August 31, 1830. He was early sent to the public
schools, and then to the Mount Caesar seminary for two years, under
the charge of Rev. L.J. Fletcher; and, at the age of fifteen, to
Springfield, Mass, where he attended public school for two years, and
upon leaving which he learned the trade of machine builder at the
American Machine Works. The news of the discovery of gold in 
California reached Mr. Holbrook at an early day, and in the spring of
1850 he went to California. He sailed from New York April 13th,
on the steamer "Georgia" for Chagres river. On arriving at Chagres
river he sailed up the river in a small row-boat and walked over the
Isthmus, and then embarked on the brig "Thomas P. Hart" for San
Francisco, where he arrived July 27th, just eighty-one days from
Panama. He worked in the mines for eighteen months, and in the spring
of 1852 he entered the employ of Howes & Prader, iron merchants, of
Sacramento. While thus engaged their establishment was destroyed by
fire, and soon after the senior partner died, and later on the
destructive overflow of the American river occurred, submerging the
city of Sacramento for three months and paralyzing nearly all business.
In the summer of 1853, Mr. Holbrook engaged in the lumber business in
El Dorado county, and in the fall of 1854 entered the employment of
J.D. Lord & Co., stove and metal merchants of Sacramento. Here he
remained until the spring of 1857, when he was offered an interest in
the busines, but before he accepted the offer he visited his old home
in the East and subsequently made a tour of the Western states and
territories, and after making arrangements with Mr. Ambrose Merrill,
the eastern partner of the house of J.D. Lord & Co., he returned to
California and became a member of the firm of Lord, Holbrook & Co.,
January 1, 1858. During the winter of 18o61-62 the city was flooded
many times to the great damage of all business. It proved a very
serious loss to Mr. Holbrook, but his energy and perseverance enabled
him to continue the business of his firm. In the fall of 1863 he
opened a branch house at Austin, Nevada, and remained there as manager
for two years. In 1865 Mr. Lord retired, and Mr. Charles Merrill
entered the house, and the name was changed to Holbrook, Merrill &
Co. In 1867 San Francisco was chosen as the principal place of
business and Mr. John F. Merrill became a member of the firm. In 1869
the house joined the large establishment of J.W. Brittan & Co., under
the firm name of Brittan, Holbrook & Co.  In May 1876, the San
Francisco house was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of over
$200,000, which was so fully covered by insurance that the business
suffered no interruption. In 1878 Mr. James B. Stetson entered the
partnership, and the name was changed to Holbrook, Merrill & Stetson.
In August 1882, the firm was incorporated under the same name.
Mr. Holbrook was elected president, and has been re-elected every
year. He has been the financial manager of the firm and company...
Mr. Holbrook married January 29, 1866 at Sacramento, Miss Susan M.,
eldest daughter of M.S. Hurd, Esq. and four children have blessed
their union--Henry Morgan, Mary Hurd, Susan Maria, and Olive Mellen.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of
the Masonic fraternity.  Until the trouble in Kansas, he was a
Democrat, but then became an advocate of the doctrine that no more
slave states should be added to the American Union.... while residing
in Austin, Nevada in 1864 he accepted the office of mayor at its
first election, defeated the Hon. David E. Buell, the founder of the
city... It was during his election canvass for mayor that the
exciting incident occurred of selling the Gridley sack of flour over
and over from town to town for the benefit of the government sanitary
commission, until more than $100,000 were realized, an account of 
which sale can be seen in Harper's Magazine for June 1866. With the
exception of his short interval in Nevada, Mr. Holbrook has been
identified with California and her interests for thirty-five years.
During the spring of 1866, Mr. Holbrook, with his wife visited his
old home and made a tour of the Northern and Western states.
During 1875 he traveled in Mexico and Central America and the Eastern
states. In 1880 he built the Holbrook block, on the corner of Market
and Beale streets, San Francisco, one of the most substantial and
finest buildings on the Pacific coast. His health failing he went to
Europe in 1881, and traveled through England, Ireland, Scotland,
Wales, Holland, Belgium and Germany. Early in 1884 Mr. Holbrook,
with his family visited his friends in the East, and at a reunion of
his father's family, at the old homestead, forty-six of the descendants
were present.... Mr. Holbrook is one of the trustees of the Golden
Gate Kindergarten, which is doing the good work of caring for the
poor little children of the city of San Francisco... He has recently
purchased a country home at Menlo Park, in the celebrated Santa
Clara Valley, noted for its summer climate.
  CLARK B. HOLBROOK, born August 22, 1834, lives in Springfield, Mass.
and HENRY HOLBROOK, the youngest child of Clark Bates Holbrook died
in infancy.

JONATHAN HOLBROOK and his brother DANIEL HOLBROOK came to Chesterfield
from Mendon, Mass at an early day. The former after moved to Swanzey,
where his son SAMUEL HOLBROOK was born in 1784.  Samuel married
Hannah Hawes, who bore him ten children, seven of whom are now living,
six in this town and one in Alstead. His son, Leonard Holbrook lives
on road 28, upon the farm adjoining the one where his father died.

SAMUEL HOLBROOK, son of Peter, who came here with his father when but
eleven years of age, married Polly Crossett, who bore him two
children. He died at Westport in 1860, and the age of seventy-six
years. Only one of his children, Henry, who resides in Westport is
living.  Olive, daughter of Peter married Elisha Hutchins of
Winchester, and lived in that place until her death. Henry, son of
Samuel married Mary M. Holbrook, and located at Westport where he has
since lived. He has one son, Charles H., who married Julia M.
Atkinson, of New York City, and has one child, Emily W. He now resides
upon the farm formerly owned by Aaron and Josiah Holbrook, on road 42.

DAVID HOLBROOK moved to Richmond, from Smithfield, R.I. previous to
1800, and located in the northwestern part of the town, where he
carried on farming and blacksmithing. In 1823 he moved to Swanzey,
and occupied the farm now owned by William Belden, until his death.
He reared a family of nine children, only two of whom are living,
Olive and Lorenzo R.  The former married David Aldrich, is a widow,
and resides in Garner. Lorenzo R. married Electa, daughter of
Amasa S. Rogers, has had born to him five children--four sons and
a daughter, all living, and resides in town.

ELIJAH HOUGHTON, son of Joseph, moved to Putney Vt from Petersham,
Mass, about a hundred years ago. At the age of nineteen he entered the
Revolutionary war and did good service. He reared a family of eleven
children, three of whom, Thankful, Emily and Amos, are living, and died
in Putney, Vt.  Thankful and Emily live in Putney, and Amos resides in
town. The latter, a native of Putney, married Almira Page, of this
town. Five of his nine children are living. Curtis E. lives in town,
Charles A. in Portsmouth, Va.; Joseph J., who was in the "Tiger Regt."
in the late Rebellion [Civil War] lives in Dedham, Mass; Alvin W.,
who served in the 2d Mass Vols and in the 18th NH Vols, lives in 
Amherst, and Clark H., who enlisted September 1864 in Co. A, 18th NH
Vols, resides in town.

RICHARD HOVEY moved to Peterboro NH from Boxford, Mass at an early
day and remained there until death. His son, Robert Hovey came to
Swanzey in 1833 and after living in Swanzey village some time,
moved to the farm where he now resides. He married Elizabeth Smiley
of Peterboro NH and had born to him twelve children, three of whom,
Ruth C., Nettie and Ida A. are living. His wife died July 22, 1882.
Ruth C. married Willard Thomas and lives in Hudson, Mass; Nettie
married Henry Taylor and lives in Richmond NH; and Ida A. married
Frank E. Handy and lives on the homestead.

MOSES HOWARD was one of the large farmers of the town, and also was a
lumber dealer. There are two of his sons in Keene--Daniel C. Howard
and Oscar J. Howard, and one son in Ashuelot.

ASA KIMBALL, a native of Burlington, Mass, came to Fitzwilliam in
1851, and engaged in the tanning business there for seventeen years.
He then came to Swanzey, where he converted the Stratton saw-mills
into a tannery and carried on the business until 1883. He represented
the town of Fitzwilliam in 1855.

ELKANAH LANE and his son SAMUEL LANE, who was a soldier in the
Revolution, came to Swanzey from Connecticut about 1770, and settled
on the farm now owned by Mrs. Luther S. Lane. Elkanah died December 6,
1811, aged ninety-three years.  Ezekiel Lane, son of Samuel who died
in 1844, was born here and reared a family of ten children, only eight
of whom are now living. His death occurred about 1852.  His son,
G.F. resides here, and two sons, F.F. and E.F. now reside in Keene.

SETH LEONARD came to Westmoreland from Taunton, Mass and settled in
the southeastern part of the town, where he remained until his death
in 1830. Only one of his children is living, GEORGE LEONARD, who
resides in this town with his son-in-law, D.B.C. Hill.

SOLOMON MATTHEWS came from Massachusetts to Swanzey in 1802,
settled near the line of Keene, and died at the age of ninety-seven
years.  He had a family of fourteen children, only one of whom is
now living, OLIVE, who married Philip P. Carlton. JOHN H. MATTHEWS,
a son, married Lemira Crossett, and settled on the old farm, where he
lived and died. He had a family of three children.  One son,
JAMES H. MATTHEWS lives in Brattleboro VT.  LUCINA H. MATTHEWS married
Frank A. Hovey who died and is living at Keene with her mother.

LARSON MOORE, a soldier in the Revolution, lived a part of his life
in Marlboro, and a part in Swanzey, and died in the former place at
the age of ninety-two years. LAWSON MOORE JR. settled here soon after
the Revolution and remained until his death in 1872, and reared a 
family of nine children. Six of them are living, and three reside in
town, one of whom, JONAS L., has been enaged, since 1861, in the
manufacture of brooms, on road 17, where he now resides.

SAMUEL PAGE came to Swanzey, from Nottingham NH, about 1784, and
died upon the farm where his grandson now lives, on road 7.  His son,
EZEKIEL PAGE occupied the same farm until his death in October 1846,
having married Olive Thompson and reared eleven children, ten of whom
attained an adult age.  LEANDER PAGE, son of Ezekiel, was born there
in 1818, and with his son, George G., now occupies the old place.
He married Hannah W. Brown, of Stowe, Mass, and has had born to him
ten children, eight of whom are living as follows: Sarah C., who
married N.B. Cloutman and lives in Alexander NH; C.E. lives in this
town; H.S. lives in Marlboro NH; George lives on the homestead;
Elise E. married A.P. Howland and lives in Keene; Clara M. married
G.E. Lane and resides in town; Lillian A. married F.O. Dickinson of
this town; and Ida E. lives in town.  ARAVILLA PAGE, daughter of
Leander, married William Sebastian of this town, and died here in
1872.

BENJAMIN PAGE was born in 1792, and died when about sixty-years old.
During the time after he was twenty-one years old to the time of his
death, he was one of the marked men of the town. He was intensely in
earnest to become rich, and was extremely visionary. These traits in
his character led him to engage in many different branches of business.
He at first engaged in trade at Swanzey Centre; next he commenced to
make woolen flannels at the place of his birth, the old Ephraim Page
homestead.  The spinning of the yarn for these flannels and the
weaving was done at first by hand. A shop was built in which to do
the work, and women were employed. His next move for making these
goods was to purchase, at East Swanzey, the cloth-dressing business,
and change the machinery for making flannels. About 1830 the busines
of making flannels was given up, and the machinery for making pails was
put into the mill.  This was the first of the pail-making business
in Swanzey by machinery. A few years late, Mr. page bought the Parker
grist and saw-mills. He took out the grist-mill and put in pail
machinery (was in business about 27 years). His estate was settled
and the mills sold in 1859.

AARON PARSONS came from Palmer, Mass, to Swanzey, probably in 1763,
and settled on the place his grandson, Josiah Parsons, now owns. He
had a family of seven children, viz: Betty, Silas, Damaris, Abigail,
Aaron, and Josiah. Silas was well known in the country by his clocks,
which are now running in many of the families of the country.  Aaron
Parsons went to Vermont. Josiah Parsons settled on the old homestead,
and married Nattalla, daughter of Aquilla Ramsdill, by whom he had
seven children. David Parsons lives in town, has been a prominent
citizen. Amanda Parsons married Aaron Stone, and lived in New York.
Marinda Parsons died in infancy.  Alcista Parsons married Leverett 
Bryant, of Camden, NY, and Marinda Parsons married Newell J. Smith of
that town.  Louisa A. Parsons married Hiram Hammond, of this town,
and also settled in Camden.  Josiah Parsons Jr. the youngest, lives on
the old homestead.  He married Nancy B. Fish, and had one child,
Nathaniel F. Parsons, who died in infancy.  His wife died in 1848.
For his second wife he married Dolly W., daughter of Hubbard Williams,
and had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Parsons represented the
town in the legislature in 1866-67, and has been selectman for 
several years. He is a Democrat in politics.

JOHN PERRY from Richmond, located upon the place where his grandson,
Walter H. now resides. He reared a family and died in 1852. His son,
NAHUM PERRY was born here in 1814, engaged in farming and built a mill
upon the site of the one now owned by his son, Walter H. He died in
1870.

AQUILA RAMSDELL, a soldier of the Revolution, came to this town from
Mendon, Mass soon after the war. He reared a family of seven 
children, and died here about 1846. His son Elisha who was born here,
had a family of eleven children, six of whom are now living, and died
here in 1836.

TIMOTHY REED, son of Timothy, came from Rehoboth, Mass, to Swanzey
in 1779, and settled in the east part of the town. He was a descendant
of John, who came to this country in 1635. He married Martha Pidge,
was in the French and Indian, and in the Revolutionary wars, was a
shoemaker, and died in town. He had ten children, all of whom are 
dead. Three of his children, Joel Reed, John Reed and Josiah P. Reed
settled and died in Swanzey. Josiah P. Reed married Mary Forbes and
settled at East Swanzey, where he died at the age of ninety-three
years, having reared four sons and four daughters, six of whom are now
living.  William Reed, the oldest, was well known in town. Josiah M.
Reed lives in Boston. Colonel Benjamin Reed lives in Swanzey, and was
state senator in 1867 and 1878.  E.F. Reed also lives in the town.
John Reed settled on the place where A.Y. Read, his grandson now
lives.  Joel Reed, a farmer, settled in the south part of town.

AMASA S. ROGERS came to Swanzey from Bernardston, Mass in 1829, and
located at West Swanzey. His father came the same year and lived with
him. Justus R., Mary M. and Electa E, children of Amasa are living.
The first mentioned lives in Keene; Mary M. married Joel Hammond,
and lives in town; and Electa E. married L.R. Holbrook and also
resides in town.

REV. ELISHA ROCKWOOD, D.D. son of Elisha Rockwood, was born in
Chesterfield NH May 9, 1778, and graduated at Dartmouth college in
1802. He was principal of Plymouth Academy for two years, tutor in
Dartmouth college two years, and was ordained to the work of the
ministry in Westborough, Mass October 26, 1808. He remained there as
minister of the Congregational Church till March 1835, then settled
in Swanzey, November 16, 1836 and continued there as pastor of the
Congregational Church till the time of his death, June 19, 1859.
He married, for his first wife, Susan Parkman, daughter of Hon.
Breck Parkman of Westborough, by whom had had three children--
William, Susan and Hannah.  She died in 1835.  In 1836 he married
Mrs. Emily Wilder Herrick, widow of Rev. Osgood Herrick, of
Millbury, Mass, and daughter of Abel Wilder, of Keene.  The degree of
D.D. was conferred upon him in 1855, by Dartmouth College.

SAMUEL SARGENT, a native of Hubbardston, married Deborah Sylvester,
January 13, 1772, and soon after moved to Marlboro. John Sargent,
one of his ten children, was born December 19, 1780, married Anna,
daughter of Josiah and Martha (Bemis) Lewis, January 1, 1806,
and had born to him four children as follows:  John S., Josiah L.,
Martha and Mary.  John S., born September 29, 1808, married for his
first wife, Demaris Read, who bore him four children, Fidelia, Harvey,
Milton and Annette. She died December 4, 1849. He married for his
second wife, Malinda Read, sister of his first wife, September 8, 1850.
He moved to Swanzey in 1853.

CALEB SAWYER, an early settler, lived in the eastern part of the town,
and was killed by being run over by a sleigh. His son, ABIJAH SAWYER
was born in 1765 and died in 1823. HENRY SAWYER, son of Abijah,
was born here in 1784, and married twice, first Rebecca Bailey, and
second, Lucinda Bailey. He was a farmer and reared a family of eleven
children, only one of whom, Mrs. Clarissa Woodcock, is now living.
He died in 1877 at the great age of over ninety-three years.

ELIJAH SAWYER, son of Dr. Israel Sawyer, was quite a prominent man of
the town, a representative several times, was also a register of
probate, and held all the various town offices. He was long a leader
in the Democratic party here.

IVORY SNOW came here, it is thought, from New Bedford, Mass. He was
a farmer in the western part of the town. He reared a family of
eight children, none of whom are now living. His son, PETER SNOW
had two children, Edwin and Orraman, both of whom reside in West
Swanzey.

PENTICOST STANLEY moved to Troy from Attleborough, Mass, where he
resided for some time, and in 1772 moved to Swanzey, located on the
farm now owned by his grandson, Alonzo A. Stanley, on road 57.
He was engaged in farming, reared a family of eight children, none
of whom are now living, and died here at the age of ninety-one years.
His son, ISRAEL STANLEY was born in 1772, and always lived on the old
homestead. He married Eunice Norwood, who bore him six children as
follows: Nathaniel, Arvilla, Nancy, Susan, Orra and ALonzo A. 
Five of these are now living. He died in 1855 and his widow died in
1856.   ALONZO A. STANLEY was born on the homestead, which he now
occupies. He married Keziah, daughter of Aaron Thayer, and has had
seven children, four of whom, George W., Jennie M., Alice A. and
Addie L are living.  George W. lives in Langdon NH.
  RHODA, daughter of Penticost Stanley, married Silas Whitcomb;
Sally, daughter of Penticost, married Daniel Cummings; Pedee married
Josiah Hammond; and another daughter married John Whitcomb.

ABIJAH STEARNS came to Chesterfield, from Connecticut, some time 
previous to the Revolution, entered the service and was never again
heard from. His brother, ABRAHAM STEARNS lived there until the latter
part of his life, when he came to Swanzey. He reared a family of
twelve children, only three of whom are now living, and died in 1825.
Two of his children, Abraham and Mrs. Eunice Eaton, resided in 
Woodstock, Vt.
  ARBA STEARNS, son of Abraham, was born in Chesterfield NH
March 29, 1793. He married Harriet, daughter of Jonathan Whitcomb,
and settled in Chesterfield on the farm now owned by Mrs. Barlett.
He has born to him in that town six children--Emily, who married
Nathaniel Pomeroy and lives in West Townshend, Vt.; 
Daniel W. Stearns lives in Oakland, Oregon; Priscilla Stearns married
Henry Brown and lives in Elkton, Oregon; Jonathan W. Stearns lives
in Astoria, Oregon; Ellen Stearns married Daniel Holly of 
Evansville, Wisconsin.  In 1835 Mr. Stearns moved to Swanzey and
settled where he now resides, and has born to him two children in
this town, Miriam W., who married George Porter, and lives in Keene NH;
and Martha E., who married Rev. T.A. Hyland and lives in New York
City.  His wife Harriet, died February 14, 1857. For his second wife
he married Mary A. Howe of Brattleboro Vt. Mr. Stearns has been an
enterprising farmer and is well known as "Uncle Arba." In politics
he is a Democrat and has voted at every town-meeting since he was
a voter.
  ABRAHAM STEARNS, a son of Samuel, was born January 12, 1822, and
married A. Melissa Albee, May 8, 1849. He occupied the farm which
formerly belonged to his mother's father, Jotham Whitcomb, who built
the house thereon about 1798. Mr. Stearns has carried on farming most
of his life.

SAMUEL STONE, a pensioner of the Revolution, came to Fitzwilliam from
Framingham, Mass, where he remained until his death in 1844. His son
MARTIN STONE, came to Swanzey in 1817, reared a family of eleven
children, seven of whom are now living, and died October 1, 1851.
His son EDWIN STONE resides in town, and has been tax collector eight
successive years.

PHINEAS STONE, a native of Lancaster, Mass. moved to Marlboro about
1806, where he lived three years, and then came to Swanzey. He was a
farmer and a miller, married Dorothy, daughter of John Carter, of
Leominster, Mass, who bore him six children. Of these, John C.
died at the age of eighteen years.  Joseph and Henry Stone live in
Winchester MA.  Dorothy Ann married Otis Weatherbee and resides at
Winchester MA.  Phineas Stone married Demaris, daughter of Silas
Parsons, and located on the place where his widow now resides. He
reared three children, John P., Henry, and Marcus C. Stone.  John P.,
who enlisted in Co. H, 2d NH Vols was killed at the battle of
Gettysburg.  Henry died in town.  Marcus C. married Emma J., daughter
of Sanford Wilbur, has seven children, and resides in town.
  SYLVANDER STONE, son of Phineas, was born in 1809, married Vesta,
daughter of Jonathan Whitcomb, and has always resided in town. He has
had three children--two sons and one daughter. Of these D.W. Stone
enlisted in Co I, 16th NH Vols and died in New Orleans, aged nineteen
years.  Ellen C. married Lewis Proulett and lives in Keene. George D.
resides in town.

NATHANIEL STRATTON, a native of Cambridge, Mass, was born about the
year 1750, and resided there at the time of the American Revolution.
Tradition has it that was was of Russian extraction. He was a 
wealthy man, but lost his property by selling it for continental
money. He had several sons, whom his loss of property obliged to put
out to learn trades. His son, RICHARD STRATTON went to Watertown,
Mass, and learned the art of dyeing and dressing cloth, which was then
spun and wove by the wives and daughters of the farmers.  About 1790
he married Hannah Wheat, and emigrated to what is now called West
Swanzey, where he followed his trade with success.  He had a son and
daughter born to him, John Stratton and Hannah Stratton.  The latter
married a Mr. Marvin, and moved to Pennsylvania.  His son, John
Stratton, in 1806, at the age of twenty years, married Susannah
Whitcomb, by whom he had five sons and seven daughters, most of
whom settled in West Swanzey.  His oldest son, HON. ISAAC STRATTON,
was connected with his father in business and village improvements
many years, and was his constant adviser during his father's life.
His son, JOHN STRATTON, and his son-in-law J.W. FRINK, were the
founders of the Stratton woolen-mills in West Swanzey. For nearly
forty years he was extensively engaged in the lumber and shook trade,
and amassed considerable property, investing the same in improvements
in his native village. He was kind to his numerous family,
obliging to his neighbors, and liberal to the unfortunate.  From
some half dozen dingy houses he lived to see the village have near
a hundred nice residences, many of them built by his family. He died
at the age of eighty-four years. Three of his sons and three daughters
have gone the same way.  Like most all towns, Swanzey's old families
are becoming extinct. But there is to be a lasting monument for the
Stratton family. A grandson of John, George W. Stratton, of Boston,
is about to endow a library to the village, at a cost of about
$10,000. It is to be called the Stratton Free Library, full particulars
of which we publish on other pages.
  GEORGE W. STRATTON at the present time an Importer of and Wholesale
Dealer in Musical Instruments and Musical Merchandize and Publisher of
Music, Boston, Mass, was born in West Swanzey, NH, August 1, 1830.
At the age of seven he displayed a lively interest in music, and
begged his father to allow him to learn the Clarionet.  In a few
weeks he was able to play one or two airs with considerable 
correctness, and he was encouraged to go on.  With a steady
perseverance he continued practicing the next two years, at the
expiration of which time he could perform all the popular melodies of
the day in such a musician-like manner, that his father organized a
little band, with George as leader, with his E-flat Clarionet, and
with one or two singers, to make up a respectable concert troupe,
travelling during three years, nearly all the time in the N.E. States,
giving concerts with continued success.  At the age of nine the young
Clarionetist had studied the rudiments of music sufficiently to be
able to read, tolerably readily, waltzes, quicksteps, marches, etc.
At ten years of age he was seized with the idea of composing some
music [more about this in original document not included here].  At
twelve years of age, when he had been travelling giving concerts most
of the time during three years, playing nearly the same pieces over and
over again, George became very tired of the business.... He remained in
his native village from twelve to fourteen; from fourteen to eighteen
he was in Boston and Lowell most of the time...He began playing the
violin...and very soon the piano and organ... In Manchester NH at the
age of twenty.. he announced himself as a "teacher of music," and
held the position there during the next sixteen years. In the same
year he was Director of the Orchestra of the Choral Society.. [much
more in original document not included here].  He composed 
operettas including "The Buccaneer, The Fairy Grotto, Laila, 
Genevieve, and others.
In 1867 Mr. Stratton moved to Boston and established himself
in the General Musical Merchandise trade, as a wholesale house, which
has been his principal business to the present. He beacme a wholesale
agent of the Arlington Piano Co, and editor and proprietor of the
"MUsical Journal." He learned to speak and write German (he had
already learned French in his youth.)
  The library building (he is donating) is to be a most solid 
structure, intended to last several hundred years. The length is
forty feet, width twenty-five feet; height of walls eighteen feet,
with arched ceiling; the walls are of brick work, eighteen inches
thick, of the best quality; the floor is of marble, resting upon
piers. The two columns of the portico are of red granite, polished as
smooth as glass, and were made to order in Aberdeen, Scotland; the
window shutters are of heavy iron, the roof of iron (frame) and slate.
At the opening the Library and Art Gallery will contain over 2,000
books and over 200 pictures... The pictures, Mr. Stratton has been
gathering together in his travels during several years, the most,
however, in the past year and a half....

JAMES S. TAFT and ZADOCK L. TAFT, two brothers, sons of Nathan, lived
in the south part of the town, and were known all over the country as
millwrights and builders.  Two sons of Zadock L now live here, viz:
Giles Taft and Lovell Taft.  Don C. Taft, another son of Zadock L.
lives in Kansas, and has become prominent as a teacher, but is now
engaged in the banking business.

TIMOTHY THOMPSON was born in Swanzey in 1788 and died in 1857. His
son, CAPT. RUFUS THOMPSON was born in the eastern part of the town,
December 13, 1806 and married Annie Hathaway Baxter, August 13, 1831.
In the year 1833 he moved to Erie County, PA where he cleared a farm
and where his children, four in number were born. He afterwards lives
in Wisconsin, but returned to this town in 1878. Capt. Thompson has 
been town representative, and now lives near the residence of his
son Denman, at West Swanzey.
  DENMAN THOMPSON, the well known actor, son of Captain Rufus and 
Annie (Baxter) Thompson, better known, perhaps, by the name of his
great character, "Joshua Whitcomb," was born in a log house erected
by his father at Beech Woods, four miles from Girard, Erie County,
PA, October 11, 1833, to which place his parents removed, from
Swanzey, in 1832. While he was yet a child his parents returned to
Swanzey, in which place he received his early education. He first went
on the stage in the fall of 1852, in Lowell, Mass, the first part he
ever played being "Orasmund," in the "French Spy." The play of
"Joshua Whitcomb," was written by Mr. Thompson, and first produced as
an after-piece in Pittsburg, PA in 1875. He married Maria Bolton, of
Niagara, Ont., July 7, 1861 and has three children--Venie (mrs. E.A.
McFarland) of Philadelphia PA, Annie and Frank, the latter two living
at West Swanzey, and one grandchild, Alice, the daughter of Mrs.
McFarland. Mr. Thompson has a fine residence and beautiful grounds at
West Swanzey, [illustrated in the engraving on this web site]. The
farm was formerly owned by his grandfather, Dr. Henry Baxter.

ROGER THOMPSON, an early settler here, located in the southern part
of the town. His son, MOSES T. THOMPSON, lived in 1813, upon the farm
where Thayer, son of Moses, now resides on road 35-1/2, and died in
1880 at the age of eighty-nine years.  THAYER THOMPSON, born June 7,
1822 married Olive P., daughter of Clark B. Holbrook in 1852. Of his
two children, Ozro T. was born in 1856, Anthony F. was born in 1861 
and died April 14, 1862.  OZRO T. THOMPSON married Etta L. Twitchell,
January 1880 and they have two children, Lester L. and Leon O.

JAMES UNDERWOOD, the first one of that name who came to this town,
and kept the hotel at Factory Village, was a large farmer, and
represented the town in the legislature. His son, Hiram Underwood
lived where his son George now resides.  Two of his sons, George
Underwood and Elmer Underwood, now live in town.

ELEAZAR WARE, son of Eleazar Ware, was born November 11, 1711. He
married Hannah mann, and reared seven children, of whom, Ziba Ware,
born December 13, 1744 was the fifth.  Ziba moved from Franklin, Mass,
to Winchester NH, June 16, 1769 married Keziah Day, born March 4, 1744,
reared ten children, and died August 16, 1819.  ZENAS WARE, the eldest
son of Ziba, born February 4, 1771, removed from Winchester to Swanzey,
married Patience Crossett, who was born in Prescott, Mass, 
October 22, 1766 and died February 19, 1853, reared five children, and
died April 6, 1817.  JONATHAN DAY WARE, eldest child of Zenas,
born February 23, 1797, married Alice Hamblett, born October 26, 1801,
and died January 26, 1873, and reared four children--Alonzo A.,
Daniel H., Alice M., and Mary L.  He died October 23, 1876.  
ALONZO A. WARE born September 1, 1825, married Julia A. Kingman,
born in Winchester February 27, 1826, and had two children--
Arthur K. Ware, born November 23, 1854, who died January 4, 1862 and
Julia M. Ware born January 10, 1860 and who died January 5, 1862.
Alonzo's occupation is that of school teacher, land surveyor and
farmer. He has been superintendent, school committee, town treasurer,
selectman and county commissioner.

CAPTAIN JOSEPH WHITCOMB, grandson of JOHN WHITCOMB, who settled in
Dorchester, Mass as early as 1723, from Dorchester, England, was born
in Lancaster, Mass in 1700, and moved to West Swanzey NH from Lancaster
in 1760, with his five sons. It may have been earlier but the church
records show that Joseph and Elizabeth Whitcomb joined the church
by letter from the First church in Lancaster, July 27, 1760.
  Captain Joseph built a saw mill and grist-mill at West Swanzey,
making the privilege on which the Stratton mills and box and bucket
shops now stands. He must have owned quite a tract of land. At the
time the family arrived in Swanzey he was sixty years of age and a
man of experience and respectability. His sons were at the time of
their coming to Swanzey from eight to twenty-five years of age.
The names of the sons and the titles by which they were afterwards
known, were Lieutenant Joseph, Colonel Jonathan, Colonel Elisha,
General Philemon, and Abijah Whitcomb. The sons settled in Swanzey
where they brought up large families. LIEUTENANT JOSEPH WHITCOMB was 
the only one of the sons to move away. He went to Grafton, Vt,
taking his family with him. The father, Captain Joseph, died
November 1792, at the age of ninety-two years.
  It is said that COLONEL JONATHAN WHITCOMB kept the first store and
tavern in the town. He and his wife used to make journeys to Boston
on horseback to buy goods, loading each horse with as much as could
be carried in saddle-bags. Their place was where Mrs. Phineas Stone
now lives, but none of the old buildings are now standing.
  COLONEL ELISHA WHITCOMB bought three hundred acres of land and a
mill at Westmoreland, September 6, 1771 from Benjamin Whitcomb of
Westmoreland, for two hundred and forty pounds. He sold them October
15, 1773 to Josiah Richardson of Keene, trader.
  All of the five sons were soldiers in the Revolutionary war,
Colonel Jonathan, Colonel Elisha and Abijah were at the battle of
Bunker hill, and Joseph was at Ticonderoga as will be seen by the 
copy of the old pay-rolls in Swanzey records:
  "Joseph Whitcomb one month at Ticonderoga, 1776, and one month in
the army at Westward, 1777, four pounds, six shillings and eight pence;
Captain Jonathan Whitcomb eight and one-half months at Cambridge, 1775,
eighteen pounds, eight shillings and four pence; Major Elisha
Whitcomb, eleven months, eight days in army at Canada, 1776, and
twelve days at Otter Creeek, 1777, twenty pounds, nine shillings and
two pence.  Abijah Whitcomb eight and one-half months in army at
Cambridge, 1775, eighteen pounds eight shillings and four pence.
Philemon Whitcomb four months in 1777, by Benjamin Parker eight
pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence."  Colonel Jonathan was the
most famous soldier. He was captain of the largest company in Colonel
James Reed's regiment at Lexington, April 19, 1775, and at Bunker
Hill, June 17. His company numbered, June 21st, fifty-nine men,
nine in command. He was stationed between Colonel Reed's barracks
and the ferry, a most important position. His company encamped on
Winter Hill, numbering about seventy men from Keene and Swanzey;
his first lieutenant was Elijah Clayes, of Fitzwilliam.  October 13,
1775 he receipts for four dollars each man for coats promised by the
colony of New Hampshire, November 16, receipts for shoes for men.
  The brothers served their townsmen in different offices, some of
them serving in senate and house. Col. Jonathan Whitcomb died
June 13, 1792 in the fifty-third year of his life. His regiment
attended his funeral. The cortege was one and one-half miles long.
Drums were muffled and he death march played in very solemn strains.
His horse was saddled and bridled as it were in the army, his boots
were hanging beside the saddle and the horse was led behind the
bearers to his master's grave.  The military fired their guns over
the open grave.
  JONATHAN WHITCOMB, son of Col. Jonathan, was born here and lived in
Surry NH, and Montague, Mass, but afterwards returned to his native
place. He had a family of twelve children, all of whom lived to have
families of their own, and six of them are still living.  The youngest,
ROSWELL WHITCOMB, who was born in Swanzey in 1814, engaged in the
lumber business and in farming, and now resides in West Swanzey.
He has married three times, reared four children, and has three now
living, George E., Hiram R. who is a merchant in Lock Haven, PA, and
Arthur, who resides with his father.
  OTIS WHITCOMB, was born in this town in 1795, lived here most of
his life and died about 1882. He engaged in farming and in mercantile
pursuits, married Esther Osgood, and had nineteen children. Nine of
them are living, four of them being located in this town.

JOHN WHITCOMB married Sarah Whitcomb, came from Bolton, Mass to
Swanzey and settled on the farm now owned by Henry Bowen. He had a 
family of five children--Thomas, John Jr., Silas, Damaris and Betsey.
Mr. Whitcomb was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, followed farming,
and lived to be the oldest man in town, dying at the age of 103 years
four months and seven days.

MOSES B. WILLIAMS came from Rutland, Mass to Swanzey, locating in the
southwest part of the town. He had ten children, of whom, Hubbard
Williams, born in Swanzey, married Dolly, daughter of John Whitcomb Jr.
and lived on the homestead for a few years, then he lived on the
homestead of John Whitcomb. He had six children--David W., Arvilla S.,
Elizabeth M., Dolly W., Mary, and Rebecca.  David W. Williams lives
in Richmond, Dolly W. married Josiah Parsons, and Rebecca lives with
Dolly W.

NATHAN WOODCOCK, an early settler of the town, located in the south
part and died here in 1817. His son, LEVI WOODCOCK was born here,
December 1, 1780. He was a carpenter by trade, reared a family of
eight children, and died here in 1836. His son, VIRGIL WOODCOCK,
who was born July 16, 1806, was an architect and builder by profession,
and died in July 1875. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father,
Levi Woodcock. He had the contract to build many large buildings, such
as the meeting-house, hotels, etc. His residence was at Swanzey Center;
he there built a shop for his business, and put in a steam-engine. 
Soon after gold was discovered in California and he removed there,
returning after a few years. The shop that he first built had been
disposed of, and made into two dwelling houses. After his return from
California he associated himself with Phinehas Stone, and they erected
at Swanzey Center a large mill, put in steam-power sufficient to 
operate a saw-mill, grist-mill, pail-works and machinery for
manufacturing chair stock. That business did not prove profitable.

REUBEN WORCESTER was the first of the family in the town. THere are
now some of his descendants here, among them, Charles Worcester, is one
of the most prominent farmers here.


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