HISTORY OF WINCHESTER, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- 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 (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== 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. pages --- & --- HISTORY OF WINCHESTER NH [EXCERPTS ONLY] WINCHESTER lies in the southwesterly part of the country, in lat. 42 degrees 47' and long. 4 degrees 40', bounded north by Chesterfield and Swanzey, east by Swanzey and Richmond, south by the state line of Massachusetts and Hinsdale. It was originally granted to Col. Josiah Willard and his associated of Lunenburg Mass. Originally called the plantation of "Earlington" or "Arlington" [a great deal of detail on this early grant in original document not included here] on June 22, 1739 was merged, by the action of the house of Representatives of Massachusetts, into the town of Winchester. The boundaries of Winchester remained as established June 21, 1733 until August 5, 1753, a period of twenty years, one month and fifteen days. At this [latter] date, however, they were changed by the general court of New Hampshire, on petition of Colonel Ebenezer Hinsdale. The changed of boundary severed from Winchester nearly all that portion of her territory heretofore described as laying to the northward of Northfield, and added to her all that portion of Warwick lying within the province of New Hampshire, and a portion of that part of Norfield severed by the New Province line. The west boundary of Winchester was established by a point eighty rods from the west bank of the Connecticut river, at low water mark, on the New Province line, hence running due north by the neeedle till it reached the originally established north bound of the original grant. From the date the boundaries of Winchester remained unchanged until July 2, 1850... when the Senate and House of Representatives of New Hampshire, in general court convened, added a tract of land from the northwest corner of the town of Richmond. This addition was a triangular piece of land one mile and twenty rods in length, on the Swanzey and Richmond line, running east from the southwest corner of Swanzey, on the Winchester line, and was of the same length on the boundary line between Richmond and Winchester....Accordingly we find Winchester in its present form and limits to be made up of a portion of its original grant as made to Colonel Willard and his associates with quite a portion of what was originally part of Northfield, a smaller portion of what was originally a part of Warwick, then known as Roxbury or Gardiners Canada, and a still smaller portion of what was formerly a part of Richmond. Originally the grant was intended to convey a tract of land six miles square; but its form as shown by the plan of its lay-out and surveyes, proves it to have been more nearly in the form of a carpenter's square, though it included land enough to measure the full six miles square, as designed by the grantors. On the set-off of Hinsdale in 1753, together with the additions that have come to her from those postions of Northfield and Warwick, that were severed from the province of Massachusetts in 1741, the boundaries of Winchester assumed a very regular form; in fact the four corners of the town were very nearly right angled, and her area was maintained at the full six miles square. The intention of preserving to the grantees their original territorial rights was fully observed, and amply recognized in the set-off of Hinsdale. Winchester lies in what is believed to have been the basin of a lake that included, perhaps, a large portion of Cheshire county, if not more, and whose outlet was to the south, in Warwick, Mass. But in some convulsion of nature, the mountain chain on its western border was ruptured and a new outlet formed, where the Ashuelot river now runs, with the result of draining the submerged territory. The town is hilly with very little plains or level land, such as there is being found near the center village, in the valley of Mirey brook, on the banks of the river, and in the southwesterly part of the town, near the Connecticut river. The ranges of hills on the west, north and east of the Ashuelot extend in a northwardly and southwardly direction, whilst the range of hills upon the south of the river extend more nearly east and west. The valley of the Ashuelot here is about 400 feet above the sea level, and several of the hills and mountains within her limits have an altitude of from 600 to 1,000 feet. The soil is much as is common to most New England hill towns. Upon the sides of the mountains and upon the cultivatable hills, the soil is generally stony; but is very strong and very retentive of fertilizers when brought under cultivation, producing large crops of grain, potatoes and hay for many successive years. In the valleys and about the center village, the soil is free from stones and is of a lighter character, and produces equally as good crops as the land on the hills, though it requires closer attention and more frequent cultivation. The bottom lands on the Ashuelot and in the Connecticut valley are very fertile, and only require slight attention to yield abundant returns, year after year. The main crop grown is hay, to produce which the cultivation of all other crops seems to be secondary, as the usual method of cultivation is, first a crop of potatoes, second a crop of corn; third a crop of oats, wheat, barley or sometimes rye, with grass seed, and then follows the hay crop, continued so long as the land produces a paying return, or till the farmer can readily break up the sod again. The farmer has no trouble in growing, under ordinary circumstances, large crops of Irish potatoes, Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley and buck-wheats, as field crops, while with special cultivation he secures handsome returns from peas, cabbage, turnips, beats, and carrots. Tobacco was at one time a very paying crop, and was grown of a very fine quality; but owing to the decline in price a few years ago, the crop has been almost entirely abandoned. The apple, pear, peach, quince and red cherries, with the other small fruits, both native and cultivated, are to be hand in abundance. The grape, blackberry of both varieties, raspberry, goosberry, blueberry, both high and low, and strawberry grow wild in abundance. The grasses grown as mainly herd's-grass and red top, though in some localities we find orchard grass and white top, and in the lowlands the ordinary growth of meadow grasses [more about the plants, native and cultiviated in the original document, but not included here]. The Ashuelot river enters the town near its northeast corner, and runs in a general southwesterly direction until it passes the center village, where it curves somewhat abruptly and runs to the west and north, passing out of the town at very near the middle of its western boundary. This river is one of the largest streams that are tributary to the Connecticut from New Hampshire. It drains a district composed of the towns of Washington, where it takes its rise, Stoddard, a portion of Antrim Sullivan, Nelson, Surry, Keene, Roxbury, Harrisville, Marlboro, Swanzey, Troy, Richmond, a portion of Chesterfield, Winchester and Hinsdale. It is about one hundred and twenty-five feet in breadth as it passes through this town. It is subject to an annual freshet, commencing with the spring rains, that lasts from a few days to two and sometimes three weeks, at which times its banks are overflowed, and such manufactures as are dependent upon it for power are at a standstill. It received in its course through the town many small streams, the most notable of which are Broad brook, which takes its rise in Chesterfield and runs south through the west part of town, draining the east slope of Mt. Pisgah, and Mirey brook, that takes its rise on the east side of Mount Grace, in Warwick, Mass., and runs in a northwest course and empties into the river about half a mile below the village of Winchester. This stream drains the valley to the south, which was called by the Indians, "Sheomet," meaning pleasant or happy valley, and is historical as it is mentioned in all the early records of the town, being then known by the name it now bears. There are also four natural ponds or lakes within the town, the largest of which is Round pond, situated to the west of Mt. Pisgah, in the northwest corner. It is of an irregular outline, about two and half miles in length and one mile in breadth at its widest point. In its near vicinity is North Round pond and Kilburn pond. About two miles northward from the center village is situated a body of water about one mile in length by three-fourths of a mile in breadth, of a very regular outline. This was known for about a hundred years as Humphrey's pond; but in 1883 a self-constituted committee of citizens christened it "Forest Lake." Precisely what this body of water had done, either as a sin of omission or commission, to merit this innovation does not appear. Yet serenely, and with its usual placid countenance, when unvexed by wined and storm, it reflects the touches of the ruby tipped fingers of the morning and the rosey hues o fthe sunset, and it casts up from its depths the ever varying shadows of the mountains surrounding it, and continues to deck its bosom with the lily, undisturbed by the event. To the elder citizens it will always remain as of old, "Humphrey's Pond," while to the younger it will probably become "Forest Lake." Within a few years this body of water has become a favorite resort for the citizens of Winchester and surrounding towns during the summer months. Many fine cottages have been erected upon its west shore within the past five years, and all are fully occupied during the season, numbers beside occupying tents. The streams and ponds are stocked with the fish usual to New England streams and ponds, while within a few years, through the efforts of the fish commissioner of the state, the river has become stocked with black bass, and Forest Lake with land-locked salmon, these fish replacing the true Salmon, shad, alewives and herring, that in the days of the early settlers frequented these waters in abundance. In fact they were then so abundant that the citizen then "planted his corn with one large shad or two smaller ones to each hill, to make it grow." [More descriptions of animals of the area in original document, not included here]. The last black bear, of which we have any record, was killed in 1853, near Round pond, and a lynx was shot about five years ago, in the east part of the town, near Richmond.. The Ashuelot railroad passes through the town following the course of the river, and has a station at Winchester, Ashuelot and at Pisgah. The town's telegraphic communication is by the way of the American Telegraph Company and it is connected with the New England Telephone Company. DESCRIPTION OF TOWN IN 1880-1884 In 1880 Winchester had a population of 2,444 souls. In 1884 it had seventeen school districts and twenty-two public schools, eight of which were graded and one high school. There were 537 pupils attending public school, of which seventy-five pursued the higher branches. There were five male and twenty-six female teachers, the former receiving an average monthly salary of $62.00 and the latter $22.00. The seventeen school-houses, including furniture, etc. were valued at $23,831.95. The whole amount raised for school purposes during the year was $5,592.29 while the total amount expended was $5,570.76 with Rev. James Noyes, Elijah Harmon and Sydney M. Morse, committee. DESCRIPTION OF VILLAGES of WINcheSTER NH WINCHESTER--a handsome post village, is located very near the geographic center of the town. It has twenty stores, three churches (Methodist, Universalist, and Congregational), eight manufactories of boxes, pails and buckets, three blacksmith shops, two livery stables, one hotel, a savings bank, National bank, a public library of about 3,000 volumes, two lawyers, four physicians, and one dentist. The postoffice was established here in 1811. The town high-school is also located here, at which any scholar, a resident of Winchester, and having the necessary educational qualification, may enter and secure, without expense for tuition, as good an education as can be secured at any academy. The masonic fraternity also have a flourishing lodge here, and the grand army a post. ASHUELOT--a post village located west of the center of the town, is a flourishing manufacturing place. It has the factory of the Ashuelot Manufacturing Co., two stores, one hotel, a steam saw-mill, and a blacksmith shop. Its postoffice was established in 1854. At Lower Ashuelot, a little further down the river, is the woolen factory of Messrs. Thayer & Turner, the cotton-mill of the Ashuelot Warp Co., the lumber mill of Ansel Dickinson, the paper-mill of Robertson Brothers, and a blacksmith shop. It has also the Dickinson public library of 500 volumes. The different branches of industry are all in active operation, and are blessed with a reasonable degree of prosperity. ***BANKS*** THE WINCHESTER NATIONAL BANK--The Winchester bank was chartered July 3, 1847, and commenced business May 30, 1848. John H. Fuller, of Keene was the first president and resigned May 1, 1850, and Henry Kingman, was president from 1850 to 1864, when he died, and Hon. William Haile, of Hinsdale, was elected to his place, and was president of the old bank until its change to a nationla in 1865. William B. Hale was the first cashier, and resigned in 1851, and Erastus Snow, was elected in 1851, and resigned in 1859. O. Sprague was cashier from 1859 to September 5, 1864, when H. Abbott became cashier, and was in office until changed to a national bank February 7, 1865. He was then elected cashier of the National bank, and has held the office ever since. Hon. William Haile, president of the Winchester bank, was elected president of the Winchester National bank, and was its president to July 1876, when he died, and Edward C. Thayer, of Keene, was elected in his place, and is the president of the bank to the present time. The Winchester bank has had two presidents and one cashier. The Winchester bank had a capital of $100,000 and the Winchester National bank has a capital of $200,000 and a surplus of $32,800. The charter of 1865, for twenty years, was renewed in 1885 for twenty years more. THE SECURITY SAVINGS BANK was chartered August 3, 1881 and commenced to do business November 1st, of the same year. THe president is Ansel Dickinson, and treasruer, Miss J. Grace Alexander. Amounts of deposits, May 1, 1885, $110,000. Surplus $2,700. Miss Alexander is the first and only female bank treasurer ever elected in New Hampshire. THE ASHUELOT MANUFACTURING CO., incorporated in 1878, A.B. Turner of Ashuelot, president, Edward C. Thayer of Keene, treasurer, is located on the Ashuelot river, in the pleasant village of the same name. They manufacture Union and Moscow beavers. The capacity of these mills is twelve sets of woolen cards, and it gives employment ot about 250 hands. The mills are substantial brick buildings. The main structure is 200 feet in length and three stories above the basement, with finishing rooms and dye-house 225 feet in length, also a substantial picker-house detached from the main building, and large and substantial brick store-houses. The corporation owns a well-stocked store and tenements and boarding-house, mostly of brick, sufficient for the accomodation of their operatives. THAYER & TURNER'S WOOLEN MILLS, located in Lower Ashuelot, on the Ashuelot river, manufactures Union beavers. The capacity of the mills is four sets of woolen cards, and employs about 75 hands. The main building is about 100 feet in length and three stories high, and is furnished with picker-house, dye-house and store-room separate from main building, also, good boarding-house and tenements for operatives. ASHUELOT WARP CO is located on the Ashuelot river, at Ashuelot village. The company is composed of Messrs. Ansel Dickinson, Arthur L. Maxfield and Andrew H. Woodbury. They manufacture cotton warps exclusively. The mills are furnished with new and improved machinery, run 3,400 spindles, and give employment to 50 hands. DICKINSON, SEAVER & Co, manufacturers of pails and buckets, have their extensive shops located in the village of Winchester, on the banks of the Ashuelot river. This company was formed in October 1883, and is composed of Ansel Dickinson, Luman B. Seaver, and Martin M. Baker. Their building is 150 feet long, and 42 feet wide, two stories high. The motive power is a steam engine of forty-five horse power. This industry gives employment to thirty-five hands, and consumes about 1,800 cords of second growth pine timber per annum. DICKINSON & BAKER, lumbermen, have their mills in the village of Winchester on the Ashuelot river. They manufacture mainly dimenson lumber, and pine, hemlock, chestnut, and oak. They employ twenty men, and manufacture annually 500,000 to 600,000 feet. A.M. HOWARD'S BOX MANUFACTORY is located in the village of Winchester, on the Ashuelot river. In 1870 Mr. A.M. Howard became the successor of Mr. Scott, and has enlarged the productions of the business to about double its former account, and has added the manufacture of toy tool-chests and fancy boxes. He gives employment, on an average, to thirty hands, and turns out annually about 400,000 boxes. C.M. NORWOOD & Co's BOX MANUFACTORY is located on the Ashuelot river, which affords the motive power, with steam in one department, and at the village of Winchester. The business was established by Mr. Norwood alone in July 1874, employing six hands. In September 1883, the present firm was organized, and the business has been largely increased, giving employment, on an average, to thirty hands, and consumes over 1,000,000 feet of lumber, from which 600,000 to 800,000 boxes are manufactured annually. ROBERTSON BROS' PAPER MILLS are located in the village of Ashuelot, on the river of the same name, which affords the motive power. They manufacture tissue, manila, and toilet paper, giving employment to fourteen operatives, and turn out daily 2,200 pounds of manufactured goods. The members of this firm reside in Hinsdale. FRANK H. EAME'S MANUFACTORY of INVINCIBLE WOVEN-WIRE MATRESSES located in the village of Winchester, on Main street, was organized August 1, 1884. He manufactures a superior wire spring-bed. Although this enterprise is in its infancy, it turns out about twenty-five beds per week. WINCHESTER BOX MANUFACTURING COMPANY was organized May 15, 1884. The mill is located on Main Street. The company manufactures all kinds of locked-corner packing boxes. Although this business is in its infancy, they employ from eleven to fifteen hands. The business is carried on in a two-story structure, known as the Coburn shop. SMITH & METCALF'S BOX MANUFACTORY is located on Main Street. This firm was established in 1877, for the manufacture of locked-corner wood packing boxes. The concern gives employment to from six to nine hands, and turns out about $8,000 worth of manufactured good annually. AMOS P. TUFT's STEAM SAW-MILL is located in the village of Ashuleot. He manufactures pine, hemlock and chestnut lumber, turning out annually from 150,000 to 200,000 feet, giving employment to about twelve men. CAPTAIN ANSEL DICKINSON'S LUMBER MILLS, located at Lower Ashuelot, manufacture dimension timber, boards and lath, turning out about 1,000,000 feet annually, and gives employment to about twenty-five hands. The Ashuelot railroad, which runs through the mill yard, furnishes ready means of transportation. BROAD BROOK STEAM LUMBER MILLS, located on Broad book, about two and one half miles from Lower Ashuelot, are run by steam power. THey are owned and operated by Messrs. Ansel and Erastus Dickinson, who manufacture boards, dimension lumber, lath and shingles, giving employment to about thirty-five hands, and turning out over 1,000,000 feet annually. D.T. SABIN's SAW, SHINGLE, STAVE and GRIST-MILL on Roaring brook, was built by him in 1858. HOSEA G. PICKETT's SAW, SHINGLE and STAVE-MILL on road 47, was built by his father in 1835. In 1858 it was burned and was rebuilt by the present proprietor. NARRAMORE BROTHERS' MILL, in the eastern part of the town, was built by William and Alvin Scott, in 1810, and was used as a grist-mill for many years. The stave-mill, built by William, was purchsaed by Lucius in 1855. He died in 1873, and the property came into the hands of his sons, the present proprietors. CHARLES B. MANSFIELD'S STAVE-MILL, at the outlet of Forest Lake, was built by him in 1884. It has the capacity for manufacturing 500 cords per annum. THE ADAMASCOBITE COMPANY, W.F. Flint, president and E.M. Forbes secretary and treasurer, manufacture from stone brought from their quarry in Missouri, sharpening stones for all grades of edge tools, also a diamon grit polish. The stone is also much used for honing down granite, marble and other ornamental stones. THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY MINING COMPANY, located at Winchester, has a capital of $400,000 with Henry Abbott, president, and E.M. Forbes, vice president and clerk. The company was founded in 1881, for mining purposes. They have a silver mine located in the southwest part of the town, where they have sunk a shaft 100 feet, with fair prospects of striking pay rock. **MORE HiSTORY OF THE TOWN** When Col. Willard and his associates had completed their weary journey through the unbroken wilderness from Lunenburg to "Arlington," they found the territory they were to possess absolutely uninhabited, as the tribe of Indians, the "Squakheags" who were its former owners, had sold the same to the white and had removed to and joined the St. Francis tribe, in Canada. This purchase included about 65,000 acres of the Ashuelot valley, and was known as "Nawelets country." The deed of this land from the Indians was signed by "Nawelet" who was the chief of the tribe, and bears the date of August 13, 1687. The price paid was "Forty-five pounds, sterling, in traders' goods," a sum equal in our money to one hundred and ninety-nine dollars and eighty cents. It should be said, in justice to this tribe of Indians, that from the date of the sale of their lands they lived in peace and harmony with the white settlers to whom they had sold, and that the most serious offense with which they can be charged is that of acting as guides to the French and their Indian allies during the war between France and England in their advances upon the frontier settlements of the English. Then traditions, well enough confirmed to bear the stamp of historic accuracy, declare them to have been steadfast in their individual friendships to these settlers, whom they often protected by a timely warning of impending dnagers. The first settlers of Winchester were men of ability, perseverance, endurance and pluck.....Their first encampment is said to have been made on the east side of Long Hill, near a large spring of water in the pasture just south of the south mowing lot on the farm of Morrison Forbush (This farm has been called Michigan for many years). Their first shelters were very rude, constructed by placing sticks against some projecting rock or steep hill-side, and covering the same with earth. Their fires were made just at the entrance of this "burrow." As soon as possible they each sought their own individual lands and house lots, which had been determined upon at Lunenburg, October 23, 1733, the land having been previously surveyed and a portion divided into equal lots as near as posisble both as to size and "goodness of land." Each lot had been previously given a number, and that each might share justly in it, distribution tickets bearing numbers equal to the number of the lots were prepared, thoroughly mixed, and then each proprietor drew from the package one ticket, the number upon which determine which lot of land in the new plantation was to be his own. Of these house lots, there were laid out forty two at "ye Bow," and twenty-eight at "ye Great River." Lots No. 5 and 6, at ye Bow, and lot No. 20 at ye Great River, were reserved for public use. The lots drawn were as follows: (Great River) Col. Josiah Willard - No. 28; Isaac Farnsworth - No. 15; Johnathan Hubbard, No 10; Charles Wilder - No 3; John Stevens - No 2; Josiah Willard Jr., No 1; Stephen Farnsworth No 11; Edward Hartwell, No 4; John Johnson, No. 26; John Waiting - No. 22; Edward Hartwell Jr. - No 14; Eleazer Heywood No. 27; Elisha Chapin No. 12; Shem Chapin No. 25; William Willard No. 21; William Lawrence No 5; Timothy Minot No. 17; John Keen No 13; Nathan Heywood No. 8; Joseph Kellog, Esq. No. 19; Zechariah Field No. 7; John Brown No. 6; Daniel Shattuck No 9; Timothy Dwight No. 16; Nathaniel Dwight No. 23; Joseph Severance No 24; Rufus Houghton No 18; Lot No. 20 being reserved for public use. At the Bow or Ashuelot River, Noah Dodge drew Lot No. 7; Ephraim Pearce Lot No. 18; James Jewell Lot No. 27; Moses Willard Lot No. 3; James Hosley Lot No. 17; Ephraim Wheeler Lot No. 4; William Jones Lot No. 12; Andrew Gardner Lot No. 16; Benjamin Prescott Esq. Lot No. 40; Samuel Farnsworth Lot No 21, Asael Hartwell Lot No. 2; Jonathan Willard Lot No. 29; Benjamin Bellows Jr., Lot No. 23; Samuel Chandler Jr. Lot No. 34; William Goss Lot No. 1; Silas Houghton, Lot No 33; Daniel Wright lot No. 15; Benoni Wright Lot No. 9; Joshua Wells Lot No 39; John Heywood Lot No. 22; Thomas Willard Lot No 38; Francis Cogswell Lot No. 26; Jethro Wheeler Lot No. 20; Ephraim Wetherby Lot No. 30; John Prescott Lot No 14; Ebenezer Alexander Lot No. 31; William Syms Lot No. 13; Nathaniel Chamberlin [sic Chamberlain] Lot No. 24; Elias Alexander Lot No. 37; Joseph Alexander Lot No. 32; Joseph Alexander Jr., Lot No. 25; John Alexander Lot No. 41; Ebenezer Alexander Jr., Lot No. 36; John Ellis Lot No. 8; Oliver Doolittle, Lot No. 28; James Porter Lot No. 11; John Summers Lot No. 10; Daniel Brown, Lot No. 19; Edmond Grandy Lot No 35; Benoni Moore Lot No. 42; and Lots No 5 and 6 were left for public use. As soon as possible they commenced the construction of their houses, the size of which had been prescribed in the grant made to them by the province, and were not to be less than eighteen feet square, and not less than seven feet stud. These dwellings were made of logs, or rude frames covered with cleft boards which were split from oak cuts form five to seven feet long, and were from eight to ten inches wide and about one and half inches thick on the back. They were laid lapping and made a durable and tolerably tight covering. The roofs were thatched, the material used being the tall meadow grass, which was found in the lowlands in abundance. One end of the hut was principally occupied by the chimney, a huge mass of stone piled up as a back for the fire place, whilst a hole in the house-top let out the smoke. Eight or ten feet in width was a fire place of moderate size. In connection with house building they were "clearing" a small patch of ground to plant with corn, potatoes then being very little known. Their method in clearing the land was to cut up such brush and undergrowth of bushes as there might be and to girdle the large trees. This they did by chopping a narrow trench around the body of the tree, removing the bark about a hand's breadth in width, when, soon after, the tree would cast its leaves and remain after only as a dead trunk, to rot down in time. Later, and subsequent clearings, they felled the trees and left them to lie upon the ground until fairly seasoned, and then burned them as they lay, afterwards, drawing together the remnants of unburned logs into huge heaps and again subjecting them to fire till completely consumed. The stock of these early settlers consisted of a few horses, neat cattle, swine and poultry, which they secured as early as they could be driven through the wilderness and from the attacks of wild beasts. They continued thus until 1744, when war was declared between ENgland and France. Then these settlers, who were left in a large degree, unprotected... As they were entirely dependent upon themselves [for protection] every occupied house was turned into a garrison, their harvests were destroyed and their horses and cattle killed. No man walked abroad unarmed, and soon it became unsafe to step outside a stockade to milk a cow or feed an animal, and no field labor could be performed. Then they abandoned their estates and buildings to their fate, and as the leaves were falling in the autumn of 1745, they returned to Lunenburg, to remain till more peaceful days should dawn upon them. On June 16, 1748, fourteen men were waylaid near the mouth of Broad Brook in going from Colonel Hinsdale's to Fort Dummer, and Joseph Richardson William Bickford, Nathan French, and John Frost were killed. William Bickford was only wounded, but died of his wounds later. William Blanchard, Benjamin Osgood, Mathew Wyman, Joel Johnson, Henry Stevens and Mark Perkins were captured. Daniel Farmer and three others escaped. One of the prisoners was killed by the Indians where they camped for the night. Upon one side of the monument erected in memory of Taylor and his men in this inscription: "In memory of fourteen men who were waylaid by the Indians, near this place, June 16, 1748." On July 14, 1748, Sergent Thomas Taylor, with a party of sixteen men, whilst on their way from Northfield to Keene, through the westerly part of Winchester, were attacked by about a hundred French and Indians, who, after a sharp fight, killed Joseph Rose, Asail Graves, James Billings and Henry Chandler, and captured Sergeant Thomas Taylor, Jonathan Lawrence, Thomas Crison, Reuben Walker, John Edgel, David How, Ephraim Powers, John Henry and Daniel Farmer. Robert Cooper and three others whose names are unknown, escaped. Two of the prisoners had been wounded in the fight and soon after their capture were killed by the Indians with their clubs. The Indians took the prisoners up the east side of the COnnecticut river and crossed to the west side about three miles above where West River empties into the Connecticut, and then made their way Direct to Canada. A monument stands about one mile below Fort Dummer with this inscription: "In memory of Sergeant Thomas Taylor, who with a part of sixteen men, was here overpowered by one hundred French and Indians, after heroic and bloody resistance, July 14, A.D. 1748. Four of their number were killed. Sgt. Taylor, with eight others, several of whom were wounded, were taken prisoners, and four escaped." Most of the original settlers remained [in Lunenburg] until the spring of 1753, when they returned, rebuilt their desolated homes, and began re-cultivating their wasted fields. At this time we find branches of two families, at least, of these very early settlers, in a distinct line of descent, still residents of winchester-- the Willards and the Alexanders. In 1753 the names of the grantees of Winchester were: "Josiah Willard, Elisha Root, Samuel Ashley, Joseph Ashley, Jacob Davis, Samuel Taylor, Simon Willard, Davis Field, Nathaniel Rockwood, James Jewell, Ebenezer Alexander, John Peirce, Anthony Peirce, Simon Peirce, Elias Alexander, William Symus, Benjamin Melvin, John Saylerman, John Ellis, Thadeus Mason, Jonathan Morton, Nathaniel Foster, John Summers, THomas Greemon, Henry Bond, The Heirs of Joseph Lemous, deceased, William Temple, Jonathan Parkest, Sarah Martin, Samuel Whitemore, Joseph Burchard, Samuel Chickley Jr. Daniel Lewis, Benjamin Bird, Benjamin Lynds, Francis Coggwell, Oliver Willard, Nathan Willard, William Willard, Wilder Willard, Valentine Butler, John Brown, Jonathan Edwards, Moses Belding, James Rider, Joanna Pierce, Joseph Marrifield, Ebenezer Hinsdale, Nathaniel Hastings, William Hancock, Jabez Hills, William Neagos, Moses Chamberlain, Ephraim Tuttle, John More, Samuel Stone, Hezekiah Wright, Martin Ashley, Thomas Swetman, Joseph Blanchard, Samuel Field, Timothy Minot, Samuel Hunt, Joshua Lyman. At a legal town meeting held at the house of Major Josiah Willard, Esq. in Winchester on Tuesday the 21 day of AUgust, Josiah Willard Esq was chosen moderator; Maj. Josiah Willard Esq, Colonel William Symes, and Mr. Samuel Ashley selectmen; Nathaniel Rockwood, town clerk; Lieut. Simon Willard town treasurer; Benjamin Melvin constable; Ebenezer Alexander & Elias Alexander, surveyors of highways; Josiah Foster and William Temple, fence-viewers; John Ellis, hog-reeve; Nathaniel Rockwood, Sealer of Weights and Measures. In 1801 a list of SOME of the citizens of the town can be found in a document protesting the hiring of a preacher, and the names include: "Daniel Hawkins, Johnathan Howard Jr., Jeremiah Hatch, Benj. H. Whipple, Daniel Holman, Caleb Holbrook, Abiather Dean, Stephen Randall, Benjamin Linkfield, Elisha Allen, Elisha Holman, Benj. Follet, Jona French, Eliab Howard, Peter Robinson, John Howard, Brown Taft, Amos Willard, Francis Verry, Paul Willard, David Verry, Peter Willard, Samuel Hammond, Joseph Marble, Oliver Marble, Levi Marble, John Willis, John Capron, Asa Willis, Francis Cooke, Timothy Willis, Stephen Franklin, Joshua Willis, Isaac King, Oliver Capron, Eldad Wright, Amos Adams, Azariah Wright, Daniel Adams, Daniel Wise, Johnathan Howard (farmer), John Morse, William Carlton, Johnathan Howard (carpenter), Rufus Burt, Bohen Holton, William Ripley, Luther Lawrence, Levi Ripley, Enoch Davis, Mathew Bartlet, Elihu Field, John Evans, Leonard Field, John Curtis Jr. Zachariah Field, John Erskin Jr., Zachariah FIeld Jr., Solomon Holton, Solomon Field, Ebenezer Franklin, Elias Field, Samuel Goss, Nathan Bent., Abraham Foster, Aseph Hall, Joel Miles, Ebenezer Hutchins, David Kelly, Simeon Wheelock, Walter Follet, Seth Willard, John Duncan, David Tourtelot, Thomas Wheelock, Prentice Field, Thomas Wheelock Jr., Peletiah Pomroy, Asa Wheeler, Samuel Warren, Charles Mansfield, Samuel Bond, Thomas How, Thomas Curtis, Sylvanus Stowell, Joshua Cook, Jeremiah Bullock, Reuben Bartlet, William Young, Abel Oldham, William Young Jr., Jonathan Hill, Ephraim Taft, Ephraim Hawkins, Micha Bent, Noah Caldwell, Elisha Gunn, Stephan Hawkins, Caleb Alexander, Anthony Combs, John Taylor, Joseph Tuttle, Nathan Fassett, John Erskin, Philip Goss, Joseph Goodenough, Daniel Twitchel, Elisha Knapp, Daniel Coon, Daniel Severance, Daniel Hawkins Jr., Jessa Brown, Daniel Ashley, Amasa Woolley, Thompson Thayer, Welcome Bartlet, George Farrington, Ebenezer Taylor Jr., Ebenezer Taylor, Cyrus Taylor, Moses Alton, Ebenezer French, Benjamin Flint, Thomas Gould, George Farrington, Asahel Jewel, and guardians for John, Juliet, Persis and Susanah Butler. **POST OFFICES** The first post-office was established in town in 1811, with Henry Pratt as postmaster. Jonas Bruce succeeded him in April 16, 1813. Henry Pratt was re-appointed Dec 1, 1817. Philip Ripley was appointed March 27, 1820; Calvin Burnap was appointed February 19, 1831; Horace Peirce July 10, 1841; Calvin Burnap August 29, 1842; Allen Cross, April 9, 1849; Abel Hammond, Nov. 26, 1852; John Severance, April 2, 1853; John A. Powers, Dec. 22, 1856; William H. Gurnsey June 28, 1861; George H. Snow, Sep 8, 1885. A most office was established at West Winchester January 4, 1833 with Horace Chapin as postmaster. He was succeeded by John G. Capron, Alvin W. Ball, Jotham W. Finch, Samuel P. Fairbanks, John G. Capron, DeLos C. Ball. The name of this office was changed to "Ashuelot" February 10, 1854 at which date DeLos C. Ball was reappointed. He was succeeded by Edwin L. Putnam, Horace Chapin, Jason C. Plummer, John T. Thayer, John L. Nickerson, William Dickenson, Wright Wood, and Henry H. Pratt. **FRATERNITIES** The Masonic fraternity have Philesian Lodge, No 40, located at Winchester village; also Prohibition Division S.T. No. 1 and the Grand Army of the Republic, "Edward N. Tafft Post, No. 19." **WINCHESTER DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION** On May 12, 1775, Capt. Samuel Smith, Ensign Reuben Alexander, Nehemiah Houghton, Philip Goss, Jeremiah Pratt and John Alexander were chosen a Committee of Inspection. This committee was chosen under an article in the warrant "to see if the town would provide a convenient stock of powder and lead." On September 7, 1775 the town selectmen, were Reuben Alexander, Joseph Stowel and Nehemiah Houghton, and John Stearns was one of the constables. At a meeting held on 12 Dec 1775, Col. Samuel Ashley was chosen to represent the Town of Winchester in the general congress held at Exeter. February 19, 1777 the Rev. Mica Lawrence, the second pastor of the town church was dismissed, reportedly because he was known as a "Tory." The town warrant of January 20, 1778 shows that it was voted to create a committee to hire their quota of men for the Continental army. This committee consisted of seven men: Lieut. Nehemiah Houghton, Joseph Stowel, Mr. Enoch Stowel, Lt. Benjamin Willson, Mr. Josiah Stebbins, Capt. Rheuben Alexander and Mr. Abraham Scott. On April 6, 1778 the town chose Colonel Samuel Ashley as delegate to sit in the convention at Concord to form a plan of government. On June 29, 1780 a committee was set up to hire continental men, which included Mr. Simon Willard, Lieutenant Abraham Scott and Lieutenant John Alexander. On February 5, 1781 the town voted that a committee should raise another quota of soldiers, that committee being made up of Samuel Wright, Lt. Enoch Stowel, Daniel Smith, Lt. Abraham Scott, and Nathaniel Brown Dodge. On July 11 1781 again the town set up a committee to raise men for hire for the Continental army, the committee being made up of Ensign JohN Curtis, Mr. N. brown Dodge, Dn ? Asahel Jewell, Samuel Wright and James Franklin. On April 22, 1782 again a committee created to hire soldiers made up of Lieut. Nathaniel Oaks, Asa Alexander, Francis Verry, and Moses Chamberlain. It would see that not all the citizens of Winchester were considered thoroughly loyal to the cause of the new government, for we find Reuben Alexander, Samuel Wright and Simon Willard, selectmen, issuing the following request to James Franklin, constable: "To James Franklin, one of the constables of the town of Winchester... In the name of this State you are hereby Required forthwith to warn out Roger Hill, Jonathan Hill, Anthony Combs, Lydia Combs, Daniel Combs, George Hill, Joseph Hill, Barnabus Hill, Stephen Combs, Lydia Hill, Rosilla Hill, Phebe Combs, Prudence Combs, Rosilla Edmonds and the Widow, Anna Fassett, to Depart out of this Town within fourteen Days, or otherwise they will be dealt with as the Law Directs; and see that you Return of this Warrant to the Clerk of the Court of the Quarter Sessions. [dated Feb 10, 1783 by the three above mentioned selectmen]. ***[Transcriber's note: I see nothing in this document that would indicate that any of the people mentioned in it were unpatriotic or being asked to leave because they were "Tories" (supported Britain). People were "warned out" of town for many reasons, including pauperism and because their religious beliefs were different, such as the Sabbatarian Baptists, Quakers, Shakers, etc.] [ALso note, I could find no mention of specific lists of "soldiers" from Winchester during the American Revolution, in the two sources noted above] **WAR OF THE REBELLION [CIVIL WAR]** The list of citizens of Winchester who participated in this war are as follows [their companies and regiments were included in the original documents, while only their names are listed here]: Nathaniel D. Davis, George G. Davis, Jno. W. Hammond, Elbridge E. Jewell, Geo. L. Pickett, Chas. H. Shrigley, Wm. H. Thorning, Amasa W. Bowen, Myric M. Burpee, Abel W. Colegan, Wm. Calkins, Lorenzo Calkins, F.H. Chamberlain, Herbert E. Cook, Asa Deming, Wm. Downing, Jas. W. Felt, Luther W. Fassett, Eli Thayer, Wm. L. Sprague, Albert E. Sholes, Chas. P. Hill, George Bell, Mitchell Bridge, Elijah Hammond, Arthur Hammond, L.D. Hammond, Freeman A. Lewis, Wm. L. Weeks, James Cooney, Patrick S. Farren, Geo. W. Newbold, Edward O'Han, John Hughes, John Nichols, Emers Gould, Samuel E. Goss, Frederick Barrett, Orrin B. Curtis, James T. Eaton, Gergory Henfin, George Hubbard, Chas. B. Lawrence, Nelson Wood, Amasa Amidon, Adrian Arew, Joseph Booth, John C. Clifford, James Hagan, Caswell J. Hall, Charles Meyers, John Murphy, Rienzi O. Rich, Thomas Riley, James Sullivan, Joseph Woodward, John L. Winch, E.P. Pierce, John Hays, James Houligan, James Mulligan, Joseph Worrell, J. Whittemore, Stephen Franklin, Henry Blake, John Burns, James O. Donnell, William Davis, Louis Eldred, Henry Geoffray, James Haven, William Hill, Edward Howard, Patrick Lynch, John Murphy, William Martin, Peter Olson, Paul Syne, William Stevens, William Smith, Henry Thompson, Michael Willey, Mathaias Evans, Fred C. Festland, John Bridges, Edward Crosby, Richard Daley, John B. Duchand, Francis Granville, JohN Glancy, Ruldof [?Rudolf] Hintman, George H. Marsh, Lucan Martenelle, James Roberts, Michael Sweney [sic Sweeney], Henry Underwood, W.A. Fosgate, T.A. Ripley, C.L. Combs, Wm. Combs, G.G. Marden, J.F. Hunt, G. Norwood, C.G. Howard, N. Graves, N.B. Fosgate, F.H. Wood, H.E. Baldwin, D.T. Swan, C.O. Colburn, J.H. Bolton, J. Buffum Jr., F.H. Buffum, C.W.W. Ball, C.A.Ball, L.E. Bent, L. Eaton Jr., P. Hays, H.E. Hutchins, L.E. Howard, W.A. Morey, J.H. Moore, V.Q.D. Murdock, R.E. Murdock, G.H. Nims, C. Pratt, G.F. Perry, C.P. Reede, F. Roark, E.O. Smith, D.H. Thompson, H.F. Thayer, H.L. Wilbur, H.A. Wood, H.F. Pratt, J.H. Doolittle, H. Colburn, W.A. Doolittle, F.B. Shepherd, S.P. Fairbanks, L.S. Pickell, D.W. Verry, G.W. Pierce (surgeon), L.A. Thayer, A.H. Bolles, N.A. Bryant, James H. Eaton, George H. Munn, John E. Morse, Lucius P. Scott, and S.E. Hines. [this list does not include ALL who enlisted from Winchester during the war, as many are known to have enlisted in neighboring States, and others assigned to regiments...] **CEMETERIES** In the old Evergreen Cemetery, are buried many of the early settlers. In the middle of the cemetery, is a slate stone slab, five inches in thickness, three feet in width by 6 feet in length, resting upon granite posts, with the inscription "Col. Josiah Willard, who died April ye 19th, 1786 in the 72nd year of his age.... [much more of the inscription in original document, not included here, it is lengthy]. By 1885, [approximately one hundred and fifty-two years after the first settlement] the population had grown to 2,444, and the "few" animals increased to 341 horses, and 997 neat cattle. *** CHURCHES **** THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WINCHESTER--The first meeting-house was built on what is still known as "Meeting-house Hill," in the village. It was forty feet long, thirty-two feet wide, and eighteen feet posts. The first preaching in the town of which there is record, is that of Rev. Edward Billing (afterwards spelled Billings) in 1735, to whom the proprietors voted 16 pounds for teaching eight Sabbaths. A Miss Billings, of great age, now living in Springfield, Mass, is said to be a great-granddaughter of this first preacher in town. On November 24, a church of twelve members was organized, and Rev. Joseph Ashley was ordained as its pastor. Mr. Ashley continued pastor ten years or a little more until the Indian eruption in 1746 and 1747 when the settlement was burned including the meeting-house and the inhabitants were dispersed. The second meeting house was built in 1760, on the site of the former one, and was 44x34 feet with twenty foot posts. The second pastor, Rev. Micah Lawrence, was ordained over the church November 14, 1764. The society was now gathered anew, consisting of 27 members, 8 of them former members and 19 new ones. The town gave Mr. Lawrence a settlement of land and fifty pounds sterling, and salary the first year of 45 pounds, to be gradually increased to the maximum of 60 pounds. A great falling off from the former settlement and salary. Mr. Lawrence's pastorate continued twelve years, during which time 91 members were added. He was dismissed February 19, 1777 beause of his sympathy with the Crown, rather than with the colonies in their struggle for independence. The third pastor was Rev. Ezra Conant, who settled February 20, 1788. He was dismissed in 1807. During his pastorate 47 were added, and a new meeting-house was built in 1794-95 and 1796, and is still in use... The fourth pastor, Rev. Experience Potter settled Nov 12, 1807. He was the last minister hired by the town. About 1803 the meeting-house now began to be claimed by other denominations a part of the time. It was finally voted that the Congregationalists should have it half of the time, and the other denominations the other half. The Congregationalists, when excluded from the meeting-house, worshipped in the town hall, adjacent, or in the hall of the academy, later used as the district school-house of the village.. Rev. Salmon Bennett was ordained over the church Sept 10, 1817. Further pastors included, Rev. William Ely, Rev. Sereno Talor, Rev. Francis Danforth (during his ministry the new Congregational meeting house was erected), Rev. John Thompson [who had been a missionary of the American Board among the Cherokees of Georgia, was arresteed by the state authorities for seeking to defend the rights of the Cherokees, and escaped imprisonment by promising to leave the state], Rev. John P. Humphrey, and Rev. Elijah Harmon. The present number of church members is 167--fiftey five males and 112 females. THe number of families in the parish is about ninety. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH--It is generally accepted as correct that Methodism was introduced into this town by the Rev. Jesse Lee, and that Mr. Adams, father of the Late J.F. Adams, was one of the converts who, through his preaching, was led to Christ. The first regular methodist preaching of which we have any reliable account, was about the year 1801. Prior to this the town, was, doubtless, visited by the Methodist itinerants, but the name of the first stationed preacher is not chronicled. Soon after the beginning of the present century, a revival of religion of great power was experience in this town, and in 1805 the first Methodist meeting-house was built. It was rough, but strong, like the men of the times. Its frame was of oak, the timbers being 12x18 inches in size. For years it was seatless, except a few benches, and though used, never contained a stove or other heating apparatus. The first Methodist church built in the village (the building now known as the armory) was dedicated in February 1826. The Rev. Amasa Taylor was pastor at that time. The member rapidly increased and a larger building was needed. A building committee assisting in the construction of a new church, completed in 1842. Since that time the church has been raised up and a spacious vestry finished on the first floor. The church has enjoyed the pastorate of such men as Rev. Charles Adams D.D., Hon. and Rev. Jared Perkins, Rev. Justin Spaulding, Rev. J.W. Adams, and others. The society has 127 members with Rev. C.W. Dockrill, pastor. *** BIoGRAPHIeS AND GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS *** AMOS ADAms was born in Wilkesbarre, PA August 16, 1773, and his father's family was one of many that sought refuge in the fort at Wyoming, PA at the time of the memorable Wyoming Massacre, and were among the fugitives of that event. Amos came to Winchester previous to 1800, became a Methodist at the age of sixteen, and a pioneer of New England Methodism. He married twice, first Mary Fassett, of Richmond, in 1798, and second, Thankful Hiscock, of Townshend, Vt. who bore him children as follows: Joab T., Lettie, now the widow of S. Tucker of Greenwich NY, Noah, Asa, Elizabeth, David, Anna, now a widow of Clark Sweetland, Lucy and Dennison, the latter born in 1823. Noah married Eunice Stearns of Warwick, Mass. His son Ebenezer married Rosetta Palmer in 1861, and has one daughter, Ethel May. Mr. Adams has been selectman several years, and resides on the homestead farm of Noah Adams. JOAB F. ADAMS oldest son of AMOS ADAMS, born in Winchester, October 17, 1799, was a farmer and died April 22, 1885. He married twice, first, Lucretia Herrick of Brooklyn CT, no children; second, Mary Richardson, of Marlboro NH, July 23, 1845, and they were parents of children as follows, who grew to adult years: Sarah Lucretia (Mrs. James Byers) resides at South Grove, IL; Charles Edward, resides at Brightwood, Mass, and Frank Lesie, who resides in this town. JAMES M. ALLEN, son of JOSEPH, was born in Vermont in 1833, married Mary A. Lymanin 1854 and lived one year in Deerfield, Mass. Mr. Allen enlisted in Co. F, 34th Mass Vols, served three years, and came to Winchester in 1866. He bought the Orlando Smith place, and died May 5, 1871, from the effects of a disease contracted in the army. He had born to him one son and three daughters, of whom Willie J. and Celestia A. reside with their mother, Ada A. married Charles H. White of keene, and Emerline M. died at the age of eighteen years. SAMUEL ATHERTON, born March 26, 1812, son of JONATHAN and Azuba ATHERTON, married Avaline Greenwood, born November 9, 1821, they being married November 17, 1841. THey lived in Winchester all their married life, and had one daughter, Alice Lerana Atherton, born May 17, 1851 who died September 7, 1869. Mr. Atherton held the positions of selectman, county commissioner, overseer of the poor, &c. He died September 4, 1878. He was also distinguished in his military career, having passed through the several gradations from private to colonel, to general satisfaction. AMOS B. ATHERTON, son of JONATHAN B. and Mary (Read) ATHeRTON, born here in 1840, married Abbie Williams of Millford, Mass, and has two daughters Mary A. and Salome W. Mr. Atherton served in Co NH 36th Mass Vols during the late war, and now resides on road 63. STEPHEN BAKER came to Winchester, from Bolton, Mass in 1804, and settled as a farmer where Daniel H. Thompson now lives, and where he continued to reside until his death in 1852, at the age of eighty-four years. He was twice married, and was the father of eighteen children, ten of whom are still living, viz: Dinah (Mrs. Phelps) in Winchester; Abram, in Winchester; Lydia (Mrs. Hill) in Dana, Mass; Eliza (Mrs. Leonard) in Winchester; Roxana (Mrs. Barry) at East Limington, ME; Mary (Mrs. Mason) in Winchester; Jonathan, at South Braintee, Mass; Martin M. in Winchester; Henry, in Somerville MA; and Elijah, in this town. Stephen baker was a decided Quaker, and regularly attended the meetings of his society in the adjoining town of Richmond, and was the first one who refused to pay taxes to the established church in Winchester. ALVAN W. BALL was born in Warwick, Mass, December 12, 1818. At the age of thirteen he came to the village of Ashuelot, where he engaged as a clerk in the store for his brother DAVID, and where he continued in this capacity till about 1840, when he purchased an interest. This firm continued till 1858, and in addition to their mercantile business, they were extensive manufacturers of tubs and pails. In 1858, however, the partnership closed, and Mr. A.W. Ball continued the mercantile business alone till 1866, and then formed a partnership with Wright Wood, and was also one of the firm of Ball, Pratt & Turner, in the manufacture of Union beaver cloths. In 1873, Mr. Ball sold his interest in the firm of Ball, Pratt & Turner, and formed the partnership of Ball & Scott, in the manufacture of cotton warps and fancy cloths. This firm closed in a little over a year, when Mr. Ball retired from manufacturing and is now giving his attention to his farm. In 1845 he married Jane A. Capron of Winchester, who was the mother of one son, John P. Ball, who is engaged in the hardware business at Ansonia, Conn. Mrs. Ball died in 1854, and December 20, 1857 he married Mrs. Mary E. Ramsdell. This union has been blessed with one daughter, Florence E. Ball, born July 13, 1866. Mrs. Ball is also the mother of one daughter, by her first marriage, Ella M. (Mrs. W.D. Ripley) residing in Ashuelot village. DAVID BALL--prominently identified with the active business life of the town of Winchester... In 1799 we find that STEPHEN BALL, a resident of Warwick, Mass, married Betsey Weld of the same place, and to them was born DAVID BALL, the subject of this sketch, October 7, 1801, and was the eldest of the family. His boyhood..was spent mainly at the home of his parents until about 1817 or 1818, when he went to Keene NH, and engaged as a clerk in mercantile business with Mr. Wheelock; from there he removed a few years later to the village of West Winchester, continuing in the same line of business with William F. Pulsifer, later as Pulsifer & Ball, Ball & Capron, and D.&A.W. Ball. He married Fanny P. Capron, December 29, 1825. He was also identified with other kinds of business, being interested in purchasing real estate, the lumber business, and later in manufacturing. Mr. W.F. Pulsifer, his partner, died February 22, 1837, leaving for that time quite a large estate, of which disposition was made by will to his heirs in Boston. Mr. Pulsifer showed his confidence in Mr. Ball by making him executor of his will. About the year 1838 he, with his brother, John P. formed a co-partnership and started the manufacture of linseend oil, locating a branch of their works in Pittstown NY. This partnership continued for over 20 years, David attending the mill in West Winchester, while his brother John Ball gave his time and attention to the one in Pittstown. In 1840 David Ball purchased the woolen-mill located at what has since been known as Scotland, and which had been owned by CYrus Greenwood. This he continued to operate until it was destroyed by fire in 1847. In 1860 he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. David Ball was one of the original instigators of the Ashuelot Railroad, and the Winchester Bank. The name of the village was changed to "Ashuelot" through the efforts of his son, D.L.C. Ball, postmaster in 1852, and has since been known by that name. David Ball died August 4, 1864. His children were: D.L.C. Ball, Mrs. W.E. Thayer and Jennie E. Ball all of whom survived him. His wife died September 6, 1863. DAVID BOLTON, from Fitchburg, Mass, married Phebe Kempt. Of this family, David A. Bolton, born in 1813 married Mary G. Morse in 1835. Of his six sons and five daughters, eight are living, viz: John A. of this town; Mariett who married charles Davis, and resides in the same neighborhood; James H. born in 1844; Amos born in 1847; Charles H., who resides in Northfield, Mass; Addie who married A.H. Holton of Indiana; Ida M. who married J.M. Shaw of Hinsdale; and Bell, who married Walter R. Holton. James H. married EMily M., daughter of Syndey and Elmira (Poland) Carlton, in 1877, has two sons and one daughter, namely: Hiram O., Mary E., and Arthur H. He lives on the home farm with his father. RUSSELL W. BOYCE, son of ROBERT BOYCE, born here in 1831, married Emily A. Whipple in 1855, and bought the Calvin Lyman farm in 1873. THey have four children, Emily L. (Mrs. A.H. Lyman), Flora J. (Mrs. Ernest S. Cadwell), Eugene R. and Addie M. JEDEDIAH BUFFUm, born in Richmond in 1786, married Nancy Wilder in 1806, and had born to him five sons and two daughters. His son, SAMPSON W. BUFFUM, born in 1807, came to Winchester in 1828, and married Mary E. Tower, of Lancaster, Mass in 1842. He has had born to him four sons and three daughters, namely: Charles S.W., George T., Fred, Mary E., a graduate of Mount Holyoke, Jennie G., also a graduate of Mount Holyoke, and now engaged in teaching, Phylina, a graduate of Wellesley college, became the wife of Willard Jennings, and wilder S., a graduate of Amherst college, class of 1884. Deacon Buffum is engaged in farming and resides on road 50, one mile south of the village. CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK, born in 1788, came to Winchester about 1814 and located upon the farm now occupied by his son, William R. Bullock. He married Hannah P. Mansfield in 1817, who bore him one son and two daughters. The son, William R., was born January 11, 1822, married Sarah W. Partridge, and has had born to him five children, as follows [Bullock]: Ellen, Hattie M., Willie S., Edson T. and George W. JOHN BURBANK, recently of this town, but now of Springfield, Mass, was a manufacturer at Forest Lake, and married Caroline Cady of Ludlow, Mass. He has but one son, Arthur L. Burbank, who married Ella M. Swan. He is the proprietor of the beautiful summer resort of Forest Lake, located about two miles north of the village, and only half a mile from a station on the Ashuelot railroad. EUGENE BURPEE, son of MERRICK M. BURPEE, was born in Sterling, Mass. in 1855 and came to Winchester in 1859. He married Ellen L. Russell, of Vermont, and has one son and one daughter, Henry H. and Ada May. Mr. Burpee owns a place near Mansfield Mill, on road 30. BENJAMIN CARLTON born in Bradford, Mass, a carpenter and farmer, settled in Coleraine, Mass, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. His son Rodolphus, born at COleraine in 1780, went to Dover Vt, after learning his trade of clothier, and remained there seven years. Soon after he went to Dover. He married Anna Permely, removed to Winchester in April 1811, and continued the cloth dressing business and farming. He settled on the farm now owned by his son Harvey, where he died in October 1861, aged eighty-two years. He represented Chesterfield in the legislature in 1852. He was the father of six children, only two of whom reside in this town, viz: Sidney, aged seventy-six, who has raised a large family, and Harvey, before mentioned, who was educated at the common schools and academies of Chesterfield and Brattleboro. He studied law in Keene, and was admitted to the bar of Cheshire County in October 1840, and has practiced his profession in Chesterfield, Keene and Winchester. He held the office of county school commissioner in 1854-55, and was judge of probate in 1874-76, and is now engaged in farming. J. BYRON CASS, son of JAMeS CASS, was born in Richmond March 28, 1849 and married Emma J. Bowen of that town January 1, 1882. Mr. Cass is a breeder of Jersey and Guernsey cattle and owns the Roswell Hutchins place on road 51. ANTHONY COMBS from Massachusetts came to this town soon after the Revolutionary war. He reared a large family of children, of whom Anthony, born in 1791, married Abigail Aldrich in 1811, who bore him five sons and six daughters. Of these, George W. Combs resides at Winchester; David A. Combs in Iowa; William Combs in Vermont; and Maria Combs, the wife of Sumner A. Baker in WInchester. George W. married Abigail Baker in 1839 who bore him three sons, George W. Combs Jr. of Iowa, Stephen B. Combs of Winchester, and Louis C. Combs of Vermont. For his second wife Mr. Combs married Mary Danforth, and for his third, Sarah F. Frink, who has borne him two sons and a daughter--Charles H., Earl A. and Clara A. Mr. Combs resides on road 50. JOSHUA COOK came to Winchester from Kingston, Mass, at a very early date and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town, near the line of Chesterfield, where he lived several years, and then removed to a farm about a mile from the village of Ashuelot, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was the father of five children, viz: Everson Cook, for many years a merchant of Winchester; Abel H. Cook, a farmer succeeded his father on the homestead, sold it and resides at the corner of road 36 and 22; Chloe Cook (Mrs. Willis) now eighty-seven years of age, resides at Ashuelot with her son, Mr. Dwight Willis; Huldah Cook (Mrs. Hawkins) a widow, resides in Worcester, Mass; and Clarissa Cook, the eldest of the family, who died early, married a Mr. Lyman. FRANCIS COOK came to Winchester, from Kingston, Mass as near as can be ascertained about 1782, and permanently settled on the farm now owned by Joel Fosgate, in the northern part of the town. He experienced all the privations and hardships incidental to a life in the woods, until by his energy, perseverance and industry, he changed his farm of forests to productive, cultivated fields. He married Ruth Berse, of Massachusetts, who bore him thirteen children, of whom four sons and eight daughters arrived to a mature age, viz: RUTH COOK married Silas French, settled in Glover Vt, finally returned to Winchester and resided with her daughter, Mrs. Russel Follet, where she died; MARY COOK married Samuel Torrey, settled in Westmoreland; THOMAS COOK married first, Relief King and second Orilla Baldwin, who was the mother of four children. He was a farmer and dealer in live stock, settled in Winchester where he died, aged eighty-six years. SALLY COOK married Roswell Stowell, settled in Chesterfield, where she died early, leaving a family of five children. After Mrs. Stowells death, Mr. Stowell married her sister, Lydia, who died in Chesterfield; HARRIET COOK married Daniel Tuttle, located in the eastern part of Winchester, had eight children, died at home, and one daughter, Sophronia, widow of Edmund Doolittle, resides in the northern part of this town; JOHN COOK married Mary Jackson, resided with his father a few years, and followed his trade as carpenter and manufacturer of lumber. He later bought the farm now owned by Elijah Baker, about a mile northwest from Winchester village, and then engaged wholly in farming. He was interested in the welfare of the town, and though not a politician was a decided Democrat, and was selectman six years, although his town was a Republican stronghold. He died at his home in 1860, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Clark survived her husband only ten months, aged fifty-seven years. Their children were Adaline J. (Mrs. Lucius Rixford) a widow residing at Winchester. John Jr. married twice, first Adaline S. Butler, and second Rachel Kelton, was a highly respected and influential citizen, a merchant in his native village, where he died in 1860, aged forty-one years. Sarah J. (Mrs. William Rixford) resides at Winchester. Finis, daughter of Francis Cook, never married, owned the old homestead, and died in town, aged fifty-one years. Prudence, daughter of Francis, married Sylvanus Stowell, made her home in the state of New York, where she died. Francis Jr., married Catharine Taft, settled in winchester, was a farmer, late in his life, removed to Swanzey where he died, and where his aged widow resides. They had four children, their only son, Andrew B. is a farmer in Swanzey. Frinda, youngest child of Francis married Willard Jackson, settled on a farm in Winchester, and died here. She had a family of seven sons and one daughter, and three of her sons now reside in Winchester, viz: Charles, a farmer, DeLos a teacher of music, and Frank, residing with their aged father in the village. The only daughter, Jane, resides with her father. The first born son of Francis died in childhood. ABEL DAVIS, a native of Leominster, Mass, married Cynthia Sylvester, and came to this town in 1786. Abel DAVIS JR. born in 1777, located on the place where his son Charles now lives, and reared three sons and four daughters, viz: Abel Davis, born in Warwick in 1813; Cynthia Davis born in Winchester in 1816, married John Nutting of New Ipswich NH and died June 18, 1867; Delana Davis married Mirrick Sylvester, became a widow and then married Daniel Mossman of Westminster Mass; Oliver B. Davis resides in Washington Territory; Ann B. Davis born July 13, 1823, married Benjamin Mossman of Barton Vt; Catharine Davis is the widow of Charles H. Walker of Ashuelot; Charles Davis, born in 1828, married Mariette Bolton, and has had born to him four sons and six daughters as follows: Lizzette, Charles F., M. Lizzette, Frank C., Eva V., Leon O., Lura C., Cora L., Elwin A., and Stella. Mr. Davis lives on the homestead, south of Ashuelot village. THE DICKINSON family are of English descent, and early settled in Deerfield, Mass. On April 15, 1747, NATHANIEL DICKINSON, of Deerfield, was one of the garrison of the fort at Northfield, and he and Asahel Burt were killed by the Indians as they were driving the cows home from Pauchang meadow. His family remained on their farm in Deerfield until his son JOSEPH DICKINSON, born after his death, became of age, when his brother NATHANIEL and he located as farmers in the wilderness of Swanzey, on a tract of 400 acres in the northern part of the town. Later they divided their territory and each built a residence, where they continued to live until their decease. This NATHANIEL DICKINSON married twice and was the father of six sons who grew to manhood, viz: William, Asa, Abel, Uriah, Aaron and Nathaniel. William married Lucinda Gardner, of Sunderland, Mass, and reared eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz: Gen. Erastus, Caroline, Nathaniel, Arvilla, David S., Ansel and Rollins. Ansel married twice, first, Jane L. Boleyn, of Hinsdale, second, Mary H. Felch, who is the mother of all his children, viz: LaFell, Milan A., John H., and William Eugene. At the age of seventeen Ansel came to Winchester and engaged with his brother Erastus as a laborer. He was born in Swanzey, February 22, 1822. He had only such educational advantages as were afforded by the common school of his district, but by close observation and steady reading, he has acquired much business knowledge. He is extensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, pails and buckets, locked-corner packing-boxes, and large amount of lumber, and also deals in wood, bark and railroad ties. Notwithstanding his great business interests, he has for four terms represented his town in the state legislature, although his town at that time a Republican stronghold and he a pronounced Democrat. ANSEL DICKINSON--in the fourth generation from Nathaniel (1), Nathaniel (2), William (3) is ANSEL (4) DICKINSON, the subject of this sketch. NATHANIEL (1) came from England early in the seventeenth century and settled in Deerfield, Mass and was a farmer. He was a soldier in the Indian War, stationed at the garrison at Northfield, Mass, and was killed by the Indians, April 15, 1747. His son, Nathaniel (2) with his brother, Joseph, left the home farm after the death of their father, and pushing northward, they located in the wilderness, on a tract of four hundred acres, in what is now the northern part of the town of Swanzey. Later they divided their tract of land, and each built residences thereon, in which they lived during the remainder of their lives. NATHANIEL (2) was twice married, and was the father of six sons and one daughter. The sons-- William (3), Asa, Abel, Uriah, Aaron and Nathaniel--all grew to manhood. The daughter died in infancy. The mother of these children was Caroline Cummings of Swanzey. William (3) was a farmer and married Lucinda Gardner, by whom he had eleven children, four of whom died young. The seven who lived to grow up were Erastus, Caroline, Nathaniel, Arvilla, David S., Ansel (4), and Rollins. Of this family, the eldest, ERASTUS, demands special mention. He was born December 1800 and attended the district school. He married Esther, daughter of Moses Hill Esq., of Swanzey and removed to Winchester where he engaged extensively in the business of lumbering, buying large tracts of timber-lands. He had no taste for politics, but represented the town of Winchester in the Legislature in 1852. Early in life he showed a fondness for military affairs, and when he became a man joined a local military company as a private. He was promoted through all the grades of office to that of major general of volunteers. He died July 22 1865. ANSEL (4) was born in Swanzey February 22, 1822. His boyhood was spent on the farm... his educational advantages were such as were afforded by the common schools... showing considerable capacity for business he came to Winchester and was associated with his brother, General Erastus, at the age of seventeen. ANSEL (4) married twice-- first in 1852 to Jane L. Boleyn of Hinsdale NH who died shortly after marriage; second, to Mary Theresa Felch, from which latter union there have been born: LaFell, Milan A., John H. and William Eugene DICKINSON. Captain Dickinson has acquired large business experience and is engaged in great number of business enterprises in his town and vicinity...in politics he is a Democrat, in religion a Methodist. For many years he has been a director of the Winchester national Bank, and is also president of the Security Savings-Bank of Winchester. He has represented the town of Winchester four terms in the General Court, and has been a member of the School Board. AMZI DOOLITTLE, from Townsend VT, came to Winchester in 1824, and located on a farm, where he died, April 9, 1830, aged ninety-three years. His aged wife (Jerusha Smith) survived him till October 19, 1844, aged 102 years. His sons, AMZI DOOLITTLE and ORIGIN DOOLITTLE came with him to Winchester, and together purchased a farm of 300 acres. ORIGIN DOOLITTLE sold his share and went went, where he died, aged eighty-three years. AMZI DOOLITTLE JR., remained here till the end of his long life, and died January 20, 1863, aged ninety-five years. He married Esther Barber of Townsend. He took an active interest in the political affairs of his town, and was justice of the peace, selectman, deputy sheriff, and representative, holding these positions a long term of years. He had no children, but adopted a nephew, HIRAM, who took the name of Doolittle, and settled on the homestead of his adopted father, where his widow, his son George, and his daughter, Mrs. Marion L. Shepard now live. He married Lucy, daughter of Dr. John Hazelton, and they were the parents of eleven children, only four of whom are now living, viz: George H. Doolittle and Marion L. Shepard, on the old homestead. John H. resides in Springfield, Mass., and Joseph S. resides at Weare NH. HIRAM DOOLITTLE died April 23, 1877, aged seventy-seven years. His widow still survives him, aged eighty-two years. Her grandmother resided with her, and died at the age of 102 years and ten months. ELIPHALET DOOLITTLE, son of OTIS DOOLITTLE, was born in Hinsdale in 1808, married Phebe E. Bolton of this town in 1832, and located here in 1838. Ellen E., one of their eight children, is the wife of Thomas W. Kendrick. They have one son, Warren. ABEL EATON was born in Sudbury, Mass, March 8 1766. He married Elizabeth Thompson, March 22, 1792, and after living in Chesterfield and in Winchester several years, died at Woodstock Vt. June 10, 1842. He was a shoemaker by trade. LOREN EATON, son of Abel was born in Chesterfield, February 22, 1804, married Melona, daughter of Amos Chamberlain of Winchester, and located in that town, where he was engaged in manufacturing for twenty-five years. He then moved to East Greenwich, N.Y. where he carried on ths same business. His wife died June 27, 1840. While on a visit to his son, O.S. Eaton of Swanzey he died December 30, 1867. AMES C. EATON, son of LORING [or LOREN?] EATON was born in Winchester in 1823, married Eugenia Howard in 1847, and had born to him seven sons and five daughters viz: Ellen E., Edgar A., Prescott W., Emiliy J., Frank E., Warren H. Mariett L., Charles O., Lloyd S., living at home, Myrta B., a school teacher, Rose Estelle and Leon R. Mr. Ames Eaton died April 23, 1885. DANIEL I. EMERSON, was born in Townsend, Mass, May 3, 1801. When an infant he was brought on horseback in his mother's arms to Rindge NH, where the family lived ten years, then removed to Keene, and when Daniel was about sixteen, they came to Winchester, where he has resided ever since. He married, January 1, 1824, Polly S. Oldham, and settled as a farmer about one-half mile from the village of Ashuelot which farm he still owns. Although often solicited to accept positions of trust in the way of offices, he has uniformly refused, and has spent his long life in the discharge of his business, pleased to be a thrifty and successful farmer. His wife died August 14, 1880, aged seventy-nine years. In 1874 they celebrated their golden wedding at the old homestead. Mr. Emerson, now an octogenarian (aged eighty-four) is a decidedly well preserved man. His children were George F., died October 1, 1839; Daniel J. Jr., died August 20, 1878; Mary E. (Mrs. Alvan W. Ball) resides at Ashuelot; and Jane M. (Mrs. George U. Utley) resides in Weare, Mass. ZENAS FAIRBANKS came to Winchester about 100 years ago and settled where his grandson, Cornelius W. Fairbanks now lives, and where he continued to reside until his death. His son, ZENAS succeeded him on the homestead, and continued their until his son SAMUEL FAIRBANKS bought the place, when he went to live with his son IRA R. FAIRBANKS, in the village of Winchester, but finally made ahome with his daughter, LOIS R. (Mrs. Wright Stratton) in Northfield, Mass, where he died, over eighty years of age. He was the father of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity, viz: Samuel, who owned a portion of the homestead, deceased; CORNELIUS now living on the old homestead; Elizabeth, in Agawan, Mass; Ira R., a gardener in Springfield, Mass; Lois (Mrs. Stratton) in Northfield, Mass; Silas P., a farmer in the northern part of the town; and Emeline (Mrs. Warren Pierce) residing in the village of Claremont NH. REV. JOHN FELCH, was born March 17, 1780, probably in Reading, Mass., and came to Royalston, where he resided for a number of years, and in August 1827, removed to Winchester NH where he purchased with his son William and Sam Pickering of Winchester, 300 acres of wild land on Broad brook, where he built two saw-mills. He was a local Methodist minister, laboring week-days and preaching Sundays. He died in Winchester February 4, 1841. WILLIAM FELCH, son of John, was born August 5, 1805 in Reading, Mass, removed to Royalston, Mass and then to Winchester in 1827, where he was engaged in the lumber business until within a few years of his death which occurred September 26, 1871. He married Mary R. Gould, by whom he had six children, viz: Wm.[William] LaRoy, born January 1, 1836; Theresa M., born July 6, 1837, married Ansel Dickinson; Helen R., born August 1, 1839, married J.T. Colony of Keene; Emeroy A. born February 13, 1844 married Andrew H. Woodbury; J. Eugene born September 29, 1849, and Julian P., born November 22, 1854. REUBEN FIELD, born in Oakham, Mass in 1782, came to Winchester as near as can be ascertained about 1800, and settled in the southwestern part of the town. In 1803 he married Experience Burt. Seven of their children are now living, viz, Lenacy (Mrs. Hutchins) a widow, aged eighty years, living in the northern part of the town; Luvy (Mrs. Cutting) a widow resides in Coleraine, Mass; Pliny B. Field, resides in the northeastern part of Winchester, is a farmer; Sarah (Mrs. Davis) resides also in the northern part of the town. REUBEN FIELD served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Fort Independence near Boston. He died in town, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. CHARLES B. FIELD, son of FREDERICK H FIELD, born here in 1854, married Mary McHugh of Northfield, and has two sons, Arthur C., and Frederick W. JOHN FOLLETT, one of the early settlers of Winchester, located as a farmer where Silas P. Fairbanks now lives. His farm included also the farm where his grandson, RUSSELL FOLLETT resides. Here he lived until his death, at "a good old age." His son, LUTHER FOLLETT, born on the homestead in 1780, married Polly Schemerhorn of Ostego county NY and first settled in the town of Maryland of that county, where he lived about twenty years; but in his father's declining years he returned to the homestead in Winchester, where he remained till after the former's death, but eventually returned to Ostego county, where he died at the advanced ge of eighty-seven years. He was the father of twelve children--eleven sons and one daughter, none of whom settled in this town except Russell, who owns a portion of the old homestead. He married Algena B. French of Glover Vt., and have had born to them five children, three now living, viz: Leyton W., of Hinsdale; William H. who resides with his aged father; and Addie A. also with her parents. JOEL FOSGATE, son of ROBERT, was born in Berlin, Mass, and came to Winchester as near as can be ascertained about 1815, and located on the place where his son JAMES FOSGATE was born, and now resides on road 24. He married Abigail Wheelock, who attained the great age of eighty-six years. He died at the age of fifty-six years, both dying on the homestead where they first settled. Mr. Fosgate had born to him three sons, viz: James, a farmer, who resides on the home farm, John, deceased, and Gilbert, who resides in Keene. James Fosgate married twice, first Charlotte Bolles, and second, Martha L. Holman, and has two children, Eugenia Fosgate and Edward H. Fosgate. The former is the wife of James R. Ware, and Edward H. married Nellie Kingman and resides in the little hamlet of Scotland. PHILIP GOSS, from Lancaster, Mass., came to Winchester at a very early date and made a "pitch" on the farm where Bliss Allerton now lives. He experience the hardships of an early pioneer, and on some occasions was obliged to go to Northfield for a day's work, for which he would recieve a bushel of corn, get it ground at the mill in that place, and bring it to his home on his back after his day's work. He raised a large family, but only one of his sons settled in the town, SAMUEL GOSS, who located on a farm in his father's neighborhood. He died here aged eighty-three years. His children were Mary, who married Gardner Wheeler and died in St. Johnsbury, Vt.; Edward married Fanny Randall, was a farmer, and died in Winchester; Leonard, the youngest, died in St. Johnsbury; and Willard, who married Mary White. The latter's children were Mary, Antoinette, Samuel E., and Lorenzo W. Willard is the last in Winchester of the Goss family. He married Roxana Bardwell, for his second wife, by whom he has had no issue. CYRUS GREENWOOD, born in Nelson, June 4, 1792, married Anna Wright, born July 9, 1797, on November 12, 1816, and removed to Winchester in 1818. He was one of the earliest manufacturers in the place, making a cloth called satinette. His wife, Anna Wright, died February 9, 1826, leaving five children. He then married, November 9, 1826, Olive Kingman, born July 26, 1790. They resided in Winchester until 1840, when they removed to Nashua NH. He died June 23, 1864, and she survived him until march 6, 1867. They had one daughter, Sylvia Hawkins Greenwood, born April 16, 1829, and who died August 18, 1871. SETH HAMMOND, son of DAVID HAMMOND, born here in 1777 married Nancy Bent in 1802, and reared six sons and three daughters. Of these Elisha H. resides on the Page place. His twin brother Elisha H., married Mary L. Evans in 1851, has had five sons and four daughters born to him, and resides on road 54. REV. ELIJAH HARMON's great-grandfather was in the battle of Bennington, Vt., and also held the position of deacon in the Congregational church, and in his old age, wrote a collection of sacred hymns, which is still extant. One of his sons, ELIJAH HARMON settled in Hawley, Mass., whose son GAIUS HARMON succeeded him on the homestead, where his son, REV. ELIJAH HARMON was born, March 22, 1835. He was graduated from Amherst in 1861, and at Hartford Theological Seminary in 1867; was a member of the 52d Mass Vols. nine months, as sergeant, and was present at the reduction of Fort Hudson; taught 1863-65, was tutor at Amherst College the last six months of that time; entered the ministry of the Congregational church in 1867, and immediately became the pastor of the church in Winchester, where he has acceptably officiated nearly eighteen years. He married first, Lucy Maria Smith, daughter of Rev. Edwin Locke, a native of Fitzwilliam NH, one of the early missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, where she was born. At the death of her parents, she was adopted by Rev. A.B. Smith, also a missionary in the same field. He married for his second wife, March 5, 1872, Eunice M., daughter of Rev. J. C. Smith of Jaffna mission, India, and third, October 14, 1874, Miss M. Alcesta Homans of Plymouth NH, who is the mother of his two children, Lucy M. and May F. STEPHEN HAWKINS, of English descent, was one of the pioneers of Winchester. He was a farmer and an extensive owner of lands along the Ashuelot river, in the vicinity of the village of the same name. His son, STEPHEN O. HAWKINS succeeded him on the homestead, which is located near the banks of the river, about midway between the villages of Winchester and Ashuelot, where he lived a number of years, keeping a tavern and a country store, and managing his extensive farm. He was the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters, only one of whom, STEPHEN O. HAWKINS JR. settled in this town. He was born December 23, 1793, in the village of Ashuelot, where he carried on the business of blacksmith and farmer. Later he lived a few years on the old homestead, and continued his trade and farming, but finally returned to Ashuelot, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-two years. He married Cynthia Miles of this town, and they were the parents of nine children, viz: Charles P., Gardner, Caroline E., William B., Stephen O., Nathan M., Emeline, Abial and Abby Jane [Hawkins]. Charles P. deceased. William B. and Abial went to the city of New York, and engaged in the manufacture of ale. Gardner resides in Fitchburg, where he carries on an extensive business in blacksmithing, now retired on account of ill health. Stephen O., who bears the name of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he is the only descendant of this family in Winchester, resides on the place where his father died. He married Abby A. Roberts, of Gill, Mass., and was a blacksmith, farmer, and for twenty-three years, until about two years ago, a hotel keeper. His children are Hattie I. (Mrs. George Alderman) of Framingham, Mass; Nellie G. (Mrs. J.P. Grover) of Worcester, Mass; Frank S., deceased; Florence A., deceased; and Marion A., who resides with her parents. NEHEMIAH HEALY, from Newton, Mass came to Winchester about 1780, and located in the central part of the town upon the place now owned by J.L. Coxeter. He had born to him one son and two daughters. The son, Nehemiah Healy Jr., born in 1785, married Mary, daughter of Jonah French in 1808 and had born to him one son and three daughters-- Delilah, Mary G., Nathaniel F. and Mary G 2d. NATHANIEL F. HEALY, born in 1814 married Letitia Kelly, daughter of David and Hannah (Healy) Kelly, in 1841 and located on the homestead. He has had born to him one son and four daughters, viz--Mary G. (Mrs. S.A. Stearns) of Orange, Mass; Ellen L. born in 1846, died in 1856; Abbie I., born in 1849, died in 1850; Hermon N., born in 1852, resides with his father; and Addie E., born in 1856, taught school several years, was a prominent member of the Franklin Literary and Musical Union and died August 31, 1884. Mr. Healy still resides on the old homestead, on road 48. CHARLES HOLTON, son of Theodore and Mary (Smith) HOLTON was born in 1823. He resided at Northfield, Mass, until twenty years of age, and learned the carpenter's trade. For his first wife he married Hepzibah Flint, August 11, 1847, who died in 1852. The following year he married Caroline M. Guilford, of Lanesboro, Mass, who bore him one son and three daughters, viz: Alice L. (Mrs. L. Huntley) of New Haven, Conn., Carrie H. (Mrs. L.H. Johnson) also of New Haven; George W., who resides with his father; and Lida G., who died at the age of two years. Mr. Holton has resided in this town, on road 48 since 1879. ELIAB HOWARD and Miss Dolly Stowell were married November 30, 1801, and settled in Winchester on the farm now owned by their grandson, Jonathan O. Hill. He died on this place, May 24, 1838, aged sixty-six years. He was the father of a daughter and two sons, of whom Polly Howard married Caleb Hill, settled in Winchester and had nine children, only one of whom resides in this town, Jonathan O. Hill, residing on the old homestead. A son, Gardner C. Howard, is a practicing physician of Keene. Jonathan Howard, a physician, practiced in his native town about twenty years, and removed to Wyoming County, NY in 1848 where he now resides. Elijah Howard was a farmer and located on a part of the homestead, where he resided until old age, and he sold out and moved to a smaller place near the village, and later went to Swanzey, where he died. THOMAS JEWELL was probably born in England, not far from the year 1600. Various circumstancaes tend toward the probability that he was from the same original stock as Bishop John Jewell who was born in the northern part of Devonshire in 1522, and died in 1571. The first authentic accounts of Thomas we have dates in the early part of 1639, but little more than eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and shows he then had a wife and one child, probably a daughter. The Boston record is as follows: "The 24th day, 2d month, 1639, also there is granted to Thomas Jewell, of the Mount Miller, for three heads, twelve acres, upon the covenant of three shillings per acre." This mount was Mount Woolaston, first settled in 1625, and named for Capt. Woolaston. It was incorporated as Braintree in 1640; Quincy was set off in 1792, and Randolph in 1793; the tract was laid to Boston by the general court or legislature in 1634, and December 11, of that year, the inhabitants, after a lecture, chose seven men who should divide these lands to those who might improve them at the rate of four acres to each person in the family, gratuitously to citizens of Boston, and for three shillings per acre to others. Thus we find, "24th day, twelfth month, 1640, granted to Henry Adams.. for ten heads, forty-three shillings per acre." The following is a copy of his will, as witnessed by William Scant and Hannah H. Harbor... "The will of Thomas Jewell, of Brantray. My soule I commit into the hands of Almighty God in ye meditation of Jesus Christ, and my body to the dust. All ye estate which God has given me, I doe give to my wife for to be hers as long as she is a widow, and so remainds; but if she shall marry, then to divide it into three parts; and two parts to be divided among my children and the third to be hers. I do by this will give power to these two friends herein mentioned, namely William Neadam and Tho. ffoster, to take the care and oversight of all this my estate, for my wife and children's good, according to your best wisdom to be ordered, dated the 10, second month, 1654." The probate records show that administration was granted to Grisell, the widow of Thomas Jewell, July 21, 1654. In 1860, Messrs. Pliny Jewell, of Hartford Ct. (born and reared in Winchester NH) and Rev. Joel Jewell, of French's Mill, PA, compiled a register of the descendants of Thomas Jewell, which contains the names only of those born of the males of this line, and so far as can be ascertained, they then numbered 1,878. ASAHEL JEWELL, born August 2, 1744, died at Winchester, April 30, 1790, son of ARCHIBAL JEWELL, born April 8, 1716 at Plumfield CT, who was the son of JOSEPH JEWELL, born in June 1673, who was the son of JOSEPH JEWELL, born in Massachusetts in 1642, who was the son of THOMAS JEWELL, born in England, not far from the year 1600, as before stated. ASAHEL JEWELL came to Winchester, as near as can be ascertained, in 1765, and built a house on the east side of the highway, a few rods from the school-house in school district No. 13. He was the first tanner in the town, and his tannery was on the brook, about twenty rods northerly from his dwelling. His first pits or vats were troughs dug out of the trunks of trees, and the bark was prepared by pulverizing it with a hammer. Later he enlarged his tannery, and crushed the bark with a huge stone, something like a mill-stone, which was placed upon the edge, pierced with a hole in its center and placed upon an axle-tree and a sweep to which a horse was attached and made to revolve on this axle around on a floor on which the bark was placed, and thus crushed by the weight of the stone. Still later he put in an iron mill and such machinery as the increasing business demanded. In 1767, November 5th, he married Hannah Wright, who bore him five sons, and five daughters. Three of the sons settled in Winchester and remained during their lives, viz: ASAHEL JEWELL JR., born May 16, 1776, married Hepzibah, daughter of Moses Chamberlain, who came from Duxbury, Mass, on horseback, his wife riding behind him, on a pillion and carrying her infant daughter, who became Mrs. Asahel Jewell, in her lap. ASAHEL JEWELL JR. learned the tanners trade of his father, and succeeded him in the business, where he continued until 1803, when he purchased the place where his son Asahel L. now lives (the Jewell place) and built a tannery which was considered large for those times, which he successfully managed with his farm included in this purchase, and also a large tract of land surrounding the old homestead, originally purchased by his father. Here he lived until his death, August 29, 1834. He was one of the prominent men of the town, and was often called to offices of trust by his appreciating townsmen. Early in life he was captain of a company of cavalry, composed of the influential men of this and several of the adjoining towns, was selectman several years, and collector of taxes, and was a member, as were all his brothers and sisters, of the Congregational church, of which his father was a deacon. The children of Asahel Jr. were Pliny, born September 27, 1797, who married Emily Alexander, and was also a tanner. At the age of twenty one years he formed a partnership with his father, who gave his attention mainly to his farming interests after that time. In 1848 or 1849, Pliny sold his interest here and removed to Hartford, CT where he instituted the manufacture of leather belting and gradually increased the business, until finally he organized the mammoth belt company of P. Jewell & Sons, which is still doing a business, the largest of the kind in the United States. His sons were Harvey Jewell, born May 26, 1820 in Winchester, a lawyer of Boston, a graduate of Dartmouth college, and many years a member of the common council of Boston, and in the legislature of Massachusetts several years, and speaker of the house four years. He died in Boston, December 8, 1881. The second son of Pliny, Pliny Jewell Jr., born in Winchester, September 1, 1823, also a tanner, worked at his trade in Boston a short time, when he went to Newbury, NY and taught music for a few years, but later became a member of the belt manufacturing company of P. Jewell & Sons, and is now an active member of that firm. MARSHALL JEWELL, third son of Pliny, born in Winchester, October 20, 1825, has a national reputation. He recieved his early education in the common school of his native town. Much of his public life is well known to the people of the United States. He too was a tanner, and later on one of the firm of P. Jewell & Sons. This very remarkable, self-made man had a mind of great ability as a business manager, as well as talents of the highest order in the execution of the numerous positions of public trusts which he ably and honorably filled. Suffice it to say he was Governor of COnnecticut two terms, minister to Russia, and postmaster general of the United States. While in Russia he learned the process of making the celebrated Russia leather, and conferred a lasting benefit on our country by introducing its manufacture here. He was an extensive traveler, having visited all of Europe and Palestine, Egypt, and Turkey in Asia. He died in Hartford, February 10, 1883. LYMAN B. JEWELL, fourth son of Pliny, was born August 29, 1827 in Winchester. He lcoated as a whole commission merchant in Boston, with a branch store in New York, was burned out by the great fire of 1872, when he removed to Hartford and joined the firm of P. Jewell & Sons, where he now is. CHARLES A. JEWELL, fifth son of Pliny, born March 29, 1841, entered the firm of P. Jewell & Sons at the age of twenty-one, and is now one of its active members. ASAHEL JEWELL, son of Asahel Jr., was born November 16, 1810, on the "Jewell place," which he now owns and where he has always lived. He is a highly respected farmer, and have given his attention to his farm, which he has constantly improved. About thirty-five years ago he made a successful experiment by sowing the seeds of the white pine on a field of two and a quarter acres, which is now worth many times its original value. This experiment has elicited much interest in other localities, and has received the notice of the commissioner of agriculture at Washington. Mr. Jewell married Mary Atherton, February 10, 1836, and they were parents of six children, only two now living, viz: Harvey who resides with his father on the homestead, and Martha (MRs. Albert D. Crombie) who resides in Maple Wood, near Boston, Mass. Asahel L. Jewell and his son Harvey are the only male representatives of this very distinguished family residing in Winchester. DAVID KELLY, from Upton, Mass, married Hannah Healy and located in the southern part of the town, upon the farm now occupied by Daniel Smith, and reared a family of eight children. David died in 1828, aged fifty-five years, and Hannah died in 1852, aged seventy-two years. The only member of the family now living is their daughter Letitia, the wife of Nathaniel F. Healy. ASA C. LEWIS, born in Postdam NY came to Winchester in 1843, married Matilda J. Holmes and reared three sons and three daughters, viz: Eugene F., Addie M., Stella M., Fred, Arthur, and Clara E. Willie H., an adopted son, resides on road 52. JOSHUA LYMAN, a Revolutionary soldier, married Catharine Hammond, and came to Winchester about 1785. He was a deacon of the Congregational church, and reared four sons and three daughters, viz: ASHEL LYMAN born in 1790, married Lucy Bartlett in 1819 and reared four sons and three daughters; ELIAS LYMAN, born in 1819, resides at Northfield, Mass; ClARK LYMAN, born in 1821, died in 1844; LEONARD LYMAN born in 1824, died in 1878; HENRY LYMAN born in 1826; JULIETTE LYMAN born in 1828, married Amasa B. Davis, and died in 1852; ANGENETTE LYMAN born in 1830, married Simeon T. Hamilton, and died in 1862; CLARISSA LYMAN, born in 1833, married C.S. Stearns. Henry married Susanna S. Cobleigh, in 1851 who bore him three children: Frank L., JUliette and Lucy C., a school teacher. For his second wife, he married Theresa A. Fuller in 1867, who has also borne him three children, Emma T., May F. and Henry S. Mr. Lyman was amember of the state legislature in 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1882 and is an extensive dealer in stock and country produce, and owns the old homestead of 450 acres on road 54. JOHN MANNING, son of JOSEPH MANNING, born in 1796, married Gratia Haywood in 1823, and had three sons and two daughters born to him, of whom Martha H. became the wife of O.L. Howard, Joseph H., born on the homestead, where he now resides, married Mary J. Thomson in 1826, and has one daughter, Clara J. CHARLES MANSFIELD was the son of CAPT. JOSEPH MANSFIELD, a Revolutionary soldier. He entered the service with his father, as a musician, and drew a pension. He came to Winchester about 1784, locating near the outlet of Forest lake (Humphrey's pond) married twice, first Molly Howard of Winchester in 1792, and had born to him one son and three daughters, viz: Hannah P. Mansfield who married Christopher Bullock; Betsey Mansfield who married Ira Benedict; Riley, and Polly Mansfield, born in 1800 who married Henry Snow of Michigan. Mrs. Mansfield died in 1800, and he married for his second wife, Elizabeth Howard, a sister of his first wife, in 1802, and his children were as follows: Martin, Mary and Charles. The latter, born February 12, 1809, married Lucy B. Burbank in 1839, and had born to him three sons and two daughters. Of these, Josephine L. Mansfield married Andrew T. Sprague of Greenwich, N.Y.; Henry M. Mansfield lives in Boston,; and Charles B. Mansfield born in 1857, married Hattie L. Franklin in 1882. Charles Mansfield died November 24, 1884, aged seventy-five years. WILLIAM A. MOREY, son of James A., was born in Holyoke, Mass in 1845, and married Ella A. Plummer in 1865. He has had born to him three children, two of whom, Hattie E. and Arthur W. are living. Mr. Morey was a soldier in the war for the Union, and resides on the R. Combs homestead. JOHN G. MORSE born in Winchester in 1799, married Eliza Mariam, who bore him one daughter, Mrs. J.A. Lasure. For his second wife he married Sybil Kingman in 1824, who has borne him three sons, Virgil K., Sidney M. and Lucian G. Morse. Mr. Morse and his wife now reside with their son Sidney, on road 51, aged respectively eighty-six and eighty-eight years. DANIEL LOCKE PICKET, an Englishman, was a soldier in the British army during the Revolution, but deserted and joined the American forces, where he did good service and drew a pension. He located in Winchester about 1782, near the site of Swan's saw-mill, was a farmer and veterinary surgeon, and died in 1823. His son, HOSEA PICKET, born in town in 1792, married Sarah Whipple, and reared twelve children. HOSEA G. PICKET was born her ein 1823, married ELizabeth Barney and has born to him six sons and four daughters of whom W.M., Hosea E. and Gertie reside at home. Mr. Picket is proprietor of a stave-mill on Picket brook. JOHN A. POWERS was born in Gardner, Mass May 12, 1818. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, and in 1843, he came to Winchester, and was employed in a chair and furniture establishment, and a portion of this time had an interest in the concern. In 1845 he opened a jewelry and watch repair shop, and has continued this business up to the present. He now has a good stock in this line, and, in addition drugs, medicines, and fancy and holiday goods. He has taken an active interest in the affairs of this town, was postmaster in President Pierce's administration, and again in Buchanan's; represented the town in 1871 and 1873, and served his town as selectman one year, and he declined re-election. In 1845 he married Phianda Cole, who died in 1863, the mother of three children. In 1864 or 1865 he married again, Miss Emily M. Cole, sister of his former wife. Mr. Powers has lived to see many changes in the business interests of his town, and he is now the only dealer who was in business at the time he first engaged here. He built his store without blinds or shutters, an unheard of event at that time, and against the advice of all his business neighbors. AMOS PUTNAM came to WInchester from Massachusetts about 1815, and settled in the southern part of the town, where his grandson, James P. Putnam now lives, and where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a carpenter and farmer. He was the father of three daughters and one son, who attained an adult life, viz: AMOS, LYDIA, POLLY AND SUSAN [Putnam]. Polly married a Mr. Reed, removed from town, but finally returned and remained till her death. Susan married a Mr. Gates, located in New York, deceased. Lydia married George Tufts of Ashuelot, and settled where he son, Amos P. now lives. Amos married Rebecca WHeeler, of Ashby, Mass, and settled as a farmer on the old homestead, where he lived till his death in 1855, aged seventy-two years. His children were Mary, married Nathan Hammond, both deceased, no issue; Eri married Lucy Holton, is a farmer now living in this town, has three sons living; Susan married twice, first Lemuel Burt, second Isaac Smith, is now a widow lives in this town, has one son, Willie Smith of Hinsdale; ALbert married Emeline Smith, is a farmer, resides in Winchester, has two children, Elva E., resides with her parents and Charles E. Putnam in Winchester; Amos A., now the representative of this town and a farmer married Nancy Robbins, has five children; Harriet married Smyrna Bancroft, both deceased, had two children; and James P., a farmer, now selectman of this town, married Jane Whipple, resides on the old homestead, and has six children. Amos A. Putnam has also held many other offices of trust in this town. Beginning about 1850 in the military, as an adjutant, he has been selectman nine years from 1869 up to 1881, has held the office of justice of the peace since 1870, was superivsor in 1882, and also represented his town in 1878, 1879 and 1880. His children are Jennie M. (Mrs. Charles E. Slate), N. Maria (Mrs. Snow) a teacher of the intermediate grade of the public schools in Winchester; Addie C. (Mrs. C.A. Williams) resides on Flower Hill, Warwick, Mass; J. Reno resides with his parents; and George Henry, also with his parents. JONAS P. PUTNAM, youngest son of AMOS PUTNAM, was born on the old homestead in 1830. He married Jane Whipple in 1855, who has borne him six children as follows: Amos O., Alice A., Alice J., James A., and Emma S., twins, and Grace R. Mr. Putnam is first selectman and a prosperous farmer. ABRAM RANDALL, one of the pioneer settlers of Richmond, came from Rhode Island, and settled in the northern part of the town, in the vicinity of Sandy Pond, at an early date. He was the father of ten children. His son, STEPHEN RANDALL married Esther Hammond, of Swanzey, and settled as a cloth-dresser on Roaring brook, in Winchester, which business and the management of his large farm he continued till he died in 1830, aged sixty-four years. He was twice married, and was the father of twelve children, of whom the only one living in Winchester is Stephen P., a farmer, residing on Elm street, and who married first, Laura Ward, who was the mother of four children, only one of whom, Adelaide, residing with her father is now living; second, Martha A. Smith, now living, no children. DAVID READ [REED]came to this town from Uxbridge, Mass, about 1781, and had born to him two sons and three daughters. RUFUS READ, born in 1774, married Kerziah Ware, and reared six sons and three daughters, one of whom, HENRY P. READ is living. The latter, born November 19, 1821; married Sarah B. Briggs in 1855, and has had born to him two sons and two daughters, viz: Henry W., Albert J., Lizzie M., and Lelia K. who is a school teacher. Mrs. Read died in 1870. Mr. Read was a soldier in the late war, serving three years in Co. E 6th NH Vols. Albert J. Read married Maggie Magner June 15, 1883, has one son, and resides with his father, David. WILLIAM, HENRY and SIMON RIXFORD, of England descent, whose father was probably born in England, came to Winchester from Grafton, Mass about 1782. Simon never permanently settled here. William married Lucy Wilson, of Northboro, Mass, and brought his wife, one child and his aged mother with him. He settled on the farm where A.A. Putnam now lives, and built his log house on the opposite side of the road from the present dwelling. The first season he cleared about ten acres of land, built the log cabin, and the next spring came with but one horse, which brought on its back father, mother and oldest son, Luther, then an infant. His children were Luther, Lucy, Ephraim, William, Sally, Artemas, Harriet, Solomon and Finis. In time he built the present residence, which has been remodeled, and is now in good condition. When he first settled there were no laid out roads, only paths on which he could ride on horse-back, and the early settlers were permitted to make a "pitch" and build a cabin wherever they might choose a location. Added to the hardships and deprivations attending their pioneer life, was the depredations on their flocks of sheep by the bears and wolves. Many times he was obliged to leave his bed at night, seize a fire brand, and thus armed drive the wolves from his door. The nearest grist-mill at the time of his settlement was at Northfield, Mass. Hither he and his neighbors wended their way with a bag of corn or rye, the more fortunate carrying it on horseback, the less fortunate, on their shoulders. This cabin was furnished with a Dutch fire-place of amble dimensions to take logs full eight feet long, and so large as to require them to be drawn to the hearth, going in at one door and out at another opposite. Their oldest son, LUTHER RIXFORD, married Sally Capron. He first settled in the village of Ashuelot, and was of the firm of Rixford, Fairbanks & Allen, in the manufacture of cotton yarn, which was then woven in hand-looms by the wives of farmers. He was also an extensive manufacturer of scythes. Later he removed to Highgate, Vt. and continued the scythe business, about forty years ago. There he died, in 1869 or 1870, and the business is continued by his youngest son, Oscar A. Rixford, being one of the largest concerns of its kind. LUTHER was the father of ten children, only one of whom, Minerva (Mrs. Abel H. Cook) now resides in Winchester. Lucy married Jeremiah Pratt, a farmer, and settled in town, where she lived until her death. She was the mother of nine children, none of whom now live in the town. Her youngest son, Robert W. Pratt, residing in Keene, owns the old homestead, and his daughter and her husband, Horace N. Conant, occupy the place. EPHRAIM RIXFORD died in South Carolina. Capt. William Rixford married Betsey Willard, daughter of Lieut. Amos Willard, and settled on the old homestead, and in the log house where he was born. He assisted his father in building the second residence, his father then taking the new house. William, in 1812, built the house where his son WIllard now lives, and removed to it, where he continued about twenty-five years, and then returned to the old homestead, but still owned the place which he left in care of WIllard. Here he continued the remainder of his life, dying at the age of sixty-nine years, an honored and reliable citizen and neighbor. He was the father of three sons and three daughters, [Rixford] viz: Eliza (Mrs. Clark Dodge) a widow resides in Keene; Emily, twice married, first, Willard Farrington, and second, Ebenezer Clark of Keene, died in Keene; and William Rixford Jr., and Willard Rixford, twins reside in town. William Rixford married Sarah J. Cook in 1845, settled on the original homestead, in company with his younger brother, Lucius, which partnership continued until the death of Lucius, December 1, 1882. Their business interests, therefore, were identical, and they lived as one family. Lucius married Adaline J. Cook, in 1842, sister of Mrs. William Rixford. THey remained on the homestead about twenty years, when, soon after the death of JohN Cook, they removed to his farm, where they lived the ensuing eighteen years. About a year after the death of Lucius, the family moved to their present find and commodious dwelling, on a beautiful and moderately elevated plateau, overlooking the pleasant village of Winchester. These brothers carried on an extensive business in buying, fattening, and marketing cattle, in connection with their large faming interests. Since the death of Lucius. WIlliam sold the Cook farm, but still owns six or seven hundred acres. William Rixford has no living children. Those of Lucius are Sarah E., residing at home, and Webster L., an active and enterprising merchant in his native town. Willard, twin brother of William, married Rhoda Combs, and resides in the house built by his father. Of his five children only two are living, Mary (Mrs. Melvin Stebbins) in Keene, and Henry W., half owner of the farm, resides with his father. Harriet, daughter of Capt. William, married Job Buffum, of Richmond, now of Boston, and had one daughter. Mrs. Buffum died in Keene. Sally, daughter of William 1st, married Nathaniel Lawrence, died at the old home, was the mother of ten children, none now living in Winchester. Artemas, son of WIlliam Rixford 1st, married Rachel Prime of Swanzey, was a farmer, settled finally where his son Bradley now lives, resided there thirty or forty years, and died at the age of eighty-two years. His children were five sons and two daughters. His son Bradley Rixford resides on the homestead, and his two sons Artemas and Charles. The other child of Artemus residing in town is Emeline (Mrs. Charles Foster). Solomon, son of William 1st, married Olive Evedon, located at Pond village (now Forest Lake) and engaged in lumbering and rafting on the Connecticut, went to Barre, Mass, and eventually died at the home of his daugther, Harriet (Mrs. A.J. Stearns) in Brattleboro where his aged wife still lives. They were the parents of four children. Finis, daughter of William 1st, married Robert Pratt, settled in town on a portion of the Jeremiah Pratt homestead, and at least removed to Albany NY where she died, leaving no children. Harriet, daughter of William 1st, married Benjamin Flint, settled first in this town, lived some years in Ohio, but died at the home of her daughter Lucy (Mrs. True Rice) in Royalston, Mass. She was the mother of eight children. ARTEMUS RIXFORD, son of William, married Rachel Prime in 1816, and settled where William J. Hunt now resides. He lived nearly all his life in Winchester, though he died in Swanzey. He was the father of seven children, Ephraim, Harvey, Marshall, Sophia, Emeline and Bradley, the youngest dying in infancy. Bradley owns and occupies the farm known as the Nathaniel Lawrence place. He married Angeline U. Howard, and has two sons, Artie W., and Charles G. DANIEL T. SABIN, born in this town in 1819, married Sophronia Shaw Kingman in 1845, and has one daughter, Flora S. (Mrs. Twitchell). Mr. Sabin is an extensive manufacturer and dealer in staves and lumber, and resides in the eastern part of the town. CHARLES E. SLATE, son of OBED SLATE, born in Massachusetts, in 1847, married Mary J. Putnam in 1868 and has one son, Fred C., who was born in 1871. Mr. Slate is leader of Slate's orchestra band, of nine pieces, and is manager of the Monadrive Mountain House during the summer season. He resides on his farm at Forest Lake. ELISHA SMITH came to this town as one of the early settlers locating in the southwestern part of the town, on the place where Homer M. Smith now lives. He had born to him four sons and two daughters namely: [SMITH]: Leonard, Preserved, Elijah, John C., Elizabeth (Mrs. Park Wright), and Sophia. JohN C. Smith married Chloe Day in 1833. Of his three children, Maria Smith married Henry Pierce of Conn., and Homer M. Smith married Caroline S. Holton in 1867. Homer Smith has three children: George A., Pearl A., and Harrison P. Mr. Smith resides on the home farm of his grandfather, which place has always been in the Smith family. JEDEDIAH SMITH came to Hinsdale from Sturbridge Ct about 100 years ago and settled in the northern part of the town. He came with his wife and three children on horseback, by a line of marked trees, and forded and swam the rivers. He built his cabin and cleared a farm where he continued to reside until his death. He was the father of three sons, and four daughters. His son, JEDEDIAH SMITH settled on the homestead, and remained there until his death. His children were Daniel and Pardon Smith, now of Winchester; John, deceased; Samuel Smith a lawyer, died in St. Louis; and Orson Smith died in Hinsdale. GEORGE C. SNOW, son of SAMUEL was born here in 1829, married Agenette Griswold of Dover Vt., and has one son, STILLIA L. SNOW. Mr. Snow owns the Silas Lewis farm about a mile south of the village. CLARK STEARNS, son of EBENEZER STEARNS, was born in Warwick, Mass in 1813 and came to Winchester in 1881. He married Mary Adams in 1839, who bore him two sons, Samuel A. of Orange, Mass, and David C. of this town. The latter [David C. Stearns] who resides on road 63 married Sophia D. Taft of Warwick, Mass who bore him three sons, Warren H., Fred R. and George E. Mrs. Stearns died in 1854 and for his second wife, Clark married widow CHannell, who died in 1881. HENRY B. SWAN, son of ROBERT and Elizabeth Swan, was born in Richmond, September 19, 1819. He married ELiza A.J. Howard of Townshend, Vt. December 12, 1849, and settled in Winchester. He is an extensive manufacturer and dealer in palm-leaf hats, also a farmer. He has the confidence and respect of his townsmen, and has been placed by their suffrages in many offices of trust. He has held the position of selectman five or six years, and represented his town in the state legislature three terms. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Swan now living are Frederick H., who married Abby M. Doolittle in 1879, and resides in Winchester; Dora E., Jennie T., and Myrta H., all teachers and Willie H., residing with their parents. AMBROSE W. SWAN, born in RIchmond in 1836, came to Winchester with his father in 1839, locating on Pudding Hill. He married Lizzie Cole, and has three children, Nellie, Alma I., and Katie L. Alma I. married E.L. PIckett. SILAS TAFT, born in Uxbridge, Mass, settled in Richmond at a very early day. His son EPHRAIM TAFT settled in Winchester as early as 1760, on the place now owned by Daniel Vary, and raised a family of five children, dying at the age of eighty-four years. RUFUS TAFT, son of Ephraim, inherited the homestead where he died at the age of fifty-six. He married Catherine Newell, of Richmond, who bore him twelve children, two now living in this town. SEWELL TAFT, born in 1809, married Diana Goodell, of Orange, Mass., had seven children, viz.: Sophia (Mrs. David Stearns); Zina G., married Ella H. Gay of Swanzey; Edson S., married Hattie Bullock; Mary J., deceased; Lester H., now in the far west; George R. resides with his parents, and Emma L., also with her parents. The daughter of Rufus Taft living in town is Mrs. Mary Cass, a widow. CHARLES W. THOMPSON, son of JohN C. and Susan (Fosgate) Thompson, was born February 20, 1841, at Sandwich NH, and married Julia E. Barrett of Marlow NH, February 9, 1863. He has four sons and three daughters, namely: Daniel M., Frances J., Pearley C., George W., Ray M., Gladys M., and Agnes M. Mr. Thompson is a farmer and resides on road 12. DANIEL H. THOMPSON, son of JohN C., was born in Sandwich NH in 1843, came to this town in 1859, and located on the farm formerly owned by Stephen Baker. He married Jennie N. Barrett, in 1867, and has had born to him nine sons, namely: Eddie C., JohN C., Melvin A., Olie R., Winfield A., Archie L., Samuel V., Guy M., and Grover Cleveland. Mr. Thompson is proprietor of a saw-mill, is a farmer and a milk dealer, and resides at Lake Village. MOODY TOWNS, son of Ephraim and Hannah (Ray) Towns, was born in Keene in 1816, and married Sylvia Field, who bore him seven children, as follows: Frances M., George H., Amanda H., Nellie A., Emma J., Wllie M., and Flora S. Mr. Towns came to Winchester in 1866 and purchased the George Hutchins place, where he now lives. HENRY A TOWER, son of ASHEL TOWER, born February 5, 1821, married Valeria C.A. Burton of Boston, March 6, 1846, and has born to him four children--Charles H., William A., Burton L. and Eve V. Mr. Tower was a manufacturer of palm-leaf hats. THE TURNER FAMILY The first ancestor of James B. Turner to come to this country was William H. (1) who left England with his widowed mother, when he was a small boy, and settled in Glasenbury, Conn. He married Mercy, oldest daughter of Reuben Risley. From this union there were two girls who died single and seven boys--William H. (2) Jr., James B. (2), Chauncey Alanson (2), Robert (2), Sanford (2), and George (2). These boys all married and reared families of children and lived to an advanced age. JAMES B. TURNER (2) the subject of this sketch who was born February 16, 1791 passed his child in Glastenbury, Conn and attending the district school of that place, he obtained a fair education. Young turner early developed a fondness for the water, and his first business was that of a sailor on a coasting vessel that plied between Hartford and New York, chiefly, though he occasionally voyaged as far south as "the Carolinas" and elsewhere... While yet quite young, he had saved a considerable sum of money. Alanson (2) a younger brother of James B., was early apprenticed to learn the trade of clothier, and, mastered all the details of the business. About the year 1817, these brothers (the one with considerable money and the other with a practical knowledge of the business) formed a copartnership for the manufacture of woolen cloth, and coming to Ashuelot NH, bought a water privilege, in which the cloth business had been carried on in a small way, and enlarging the buildings to meet their requirements, went to work. They soon established themselves firmly in the business and carried it on successfully for nearly forty years, adding improved machinery, and, from time to time, enlarging their mill... Mr. Turner was prominent in the civil affairs of the town, and filled nearly all of the various town offices and also represented the town in the General Court. In politics, Mr. Turner was a Whig, and at the time of the organization of the Republic party he joined it. He was a member of the Methodist Churhc. May 10, 1815 he married Milly, daughter of James and Jemima Galpin, and she bore him eight children-- Martha J. (3) born July 5, 1816; William G. (3) born June 4, 1818, died August 1846; Chauncey A. (3) born June 13, 1820, died August 1821; Eunice H. (3) born November 30, 1822; Theresa A. (3) born Feb 1, 1826, died Sep 1832; Aurelius B. (3) born June 23, 1828; James E (3) born November 9, 1830, died August 1833; Arletta A. (3) born February 28, 1834, died December 1847. AURELIUS B. TURNER (3) who furnished an engraving of his father for this document] learned the business of cloth manufacture in the mills of his father and uncle and finally succeeded them and became the proprietor of large manufacturing interests in the vicinity of the old mill. His educational advantages were such as were at that time found in the district schools. His first business was that of a manufacturer of satinets, in 1858, under the firm name of Turner & Raymond. In 1862 Mr. Raymond died, and the reorganized firm was Buell, Pratt & Turner, and they made union beavers, cotton-warp, woold and shoddy filling. The enterrpsie has been carried on under various firm changes up to the present time. The firm is now Thayer & Turner. Messrs. Thayer, Pratt, and Turner, Captain Ansel Dickinson and D.L.C. Ball bought the property of the Ashuelot Company, and, after running it five years, formed a stock company of it, and carry it on as such at the present time. February 9, 1864 he married Matilda M., daughter of Miles and Martha D. Mitchell, and lives in a beautiful home on a bluff overlooking the mills, in the village of Ashuelot. JAMES B. TURNER was born in Glastonbury Ct February 16, 1792. He was educated in the schools of his town, and May 10, 1815, he married Milly Galpin, and, soon after, came to West Winchester, now the village of Ashuelot, where he bought, in company with his brother, Alanson Turner, a carding and cloth-dressing mill. This they run with some success, and gradually worked into the manufacture of woolen and satinet goods, being the pioneer manufacturers in goods of their line in the town of Winchester. In the prosecution of their increasing business they erected the main buildings now owned and occupied as a woolen mill by Messrs. Thayer & Turner. Mr. Turner, notwithstanding his large business as a manufacturer, took an active interest in the affairs of the town, and was twice elected to represent his town in the state legislature. His marriage was blessed with eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, viz: Martha J. Turner (Mrs. D.H. Ripley) whose husband was a manufacturer, both deceased; William G. Turner, a merchant, deceased, settled in Oswego, NY; Eunice H. Turner (Mrs. E.W. Hunt) resides in Boston, a widow; and Aurelius B. Turner, resides in Ashuelot, one of the firm of Thayer & Turner. He (James B.) died July 9, 1867, and she died July 30, 1867. JACOB WARE came to this town early in the present century. Of his four sons and one daughter, Ziba, Phineas and Joseph are living. Ziba Ware, born in 1817, married Eliza Olcott in 1839, and had born to him three sons, and three daughters. Of these, Maria, Sarah M., and Arthur Z were buried January 5, 1863 in one grave. James R. Ware married Eugenia C. Fosgate, of this town. He lives with his father on road 26. Lucina Ware became Mrs. M.W. Hale. THOMAS WHEELOCK came to Winchester in 1795 and settled where his granddaughter, Mrs. Harriet (Wheelock) Fassett now lives. He married Mary Watts of Alstead, was a farmer, but opened his home as a tavern, which was kept as such for many years. He was the father of ten children, four of whom died young. Of those who grew to maturity, Abigail married Joel Fosgate, Phineas married Mrs. Wilton, THomas married a Miss Scott, John died at the age of twenty-one, one went west, and William married Harriet Porter of Connecticut, and was the father of Mrs. Albert A. Fassett, now residing on the old place, the house being over 100 years old. ELIJAH WILLARD, son of Paul and Sarah (Butler) Willard, born here in 1816, married Hellen Mead, of Chesterfield in 1844, who bore him five children, of whom Charlotte married William Phillips of Keene; Augustus G. married Celia Murdock and resides in Winchester; Mabel married Charles W. Walker of Lawrence, Mass; Jennie F. died in 1860, aged nine years; and Sarah H. died in 1859, aged three years. Mrs. Willard died in 1859, and for his second wife, Mr. Willard married Laura M. Jones, January 1, 1861, who has borne him two children, Cora H. and Frank J. TIMOTHY WILLIS was born in Bridgeport, Mass in 1761, married Lavina Pratt of Middleborough, Mass. Soon after his marriage he came to Winchester, and located as a farmer on the hill in the north part of the town, and built the large two-story house where B.O. Hale now lives. He had a large family, many of whom died in childhood. Three sons and one daughter arrived at adult age. At the time of his conversion in 1807, there were but few Methodists in all these regions, and these were hated by all the world; but Mr. Willis opened his doors to receive them, and gave their ministers a home and place to preach in. His good neighbors became greatly concerned about his property. Some said, "The Methodists will eat him out of house and home." But he was not only able to support his family and keep the preachers when they came along, but from time to time spare a little to help those very kind and axious neighbors. After he was eighty years old he read his Bible through by course twice each year, and during the last six months of his life, he rad this "good old book" through three times. He died July 20, 1848 in the eighty-seventh year of his age. TIMOTHY WILLIS, his oldest son, married Hannah Snow of this town, and settled on the old homestead with his father, where he remained until approaching old age, when he sold the farm and removed to the village, where he now lives, at the ripe age of eighty-five years. He was the father of seven children, but one now lives in this town, FAYETTE WILLIS, a merchant. AFRED WILLIS, a son of Timothy Sr., was twice married, first to Mary Latham, who was the mother of five children, and settled as a farmer and manufacturer of lumber near the home of his father. In 1844 he removed to the village of Ashuelot, and became a more extensive dealer in lumber, giving his whole time to the enterprise. In 1847, two years after the death of Mr. Willis, he married Miss Charlotte A. Alexander, of Winchester, who became the mother of a daughter, who died aged seven years. In 1856 he removed to the village of Winchester, where he continued his business as lumberman and dealer in timber lands, until the year before his death, which occurred in March 1871. He was highly respected and honored by his townsmen, and held the position of selectman several years and also represented his town in the state legislature two terms. ISAAC P. WILLIS, son of Timothy Sr., was a physician, commenced the practice of medicine in Richmond, NH where he tarried but a short time, but eventually went to Royalston, MA where he continued in his profession 28 years. Dr. Willis was a faithful laborer and studious physician, and although devoted to his profession, he was not indifferent to the interests of the community in which he lived, to the prosperity of the commonwealth, or the honor and integrity of the republic. He died at his home June 28, 1863. SAMUEL WRIGHT and his wife Mary were among the first of the pioneer families of Winchester. They located on what is now known as the Tucker place, and owned most of Rabbit Hollow. They reared nine children. Their daughter Mary was the first female born in town, on the next day after the birth of the first male. She was also the first milliner. She was twice married, her second husband being John Everdon. Her daughter Eunice (Mrs. A.H. Fassett) now eighty-two years old, is the only surviving child. She resides in the village of Winchester with her daughter, Mrs. Maria E. Russell. (end)