USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Swanzey > The history of Swanzey, New Hampshire, from 1734 to 1890 > Part 1
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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MAP OF SWANZEY.
-1890
NORTH
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all A Heart
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J C. Eames Mains
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SFRAGUE'S BOX SHOPS!
M' Huggins;
WB Hills
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TW Partinson
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CH Rockwood
00.5 Ecture
U. LIBRARY
Mr H chamberlain
Mrs B Fomnye
A. Furre
Mrs LWEploroot
·J.mison
RICHMOND
SWANZEY YF VILLA
F.H. Boyce"
Mrs DK Marstal
GWEItIs
. B Nadow
HON, BENJAMIN READ,
THE
HISTORY OF SWANZEY,
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
FROM 17 34 TO 1890.
BY BENJAMIN READ.
Our fathers' God! from out thy hands The centuries drop like grains of sand. -WHITTIER.
SALEM, MASS .:
THE SALEM PRESS PUBLISHING AND PRINTING CO.
Che Salem Press.
1892.
PREFACE. 1136751
THE desire to know the history of one's ancestors, to perpetuate the heroism and noble deeds of his forefathers, is well nigh universal. This feeling is not limited to civilized society, it is not peculiar to people who have a written language. The wild Indian of the forest, knowing nothing of letters, in his own peculiar way recounts to his children the exploits of his fathers, and tradition does for him in part what the historian does for an enlightened people.
It has long been the feeling of many of the citizens of Swanzey, of those who love their home and revere the memory of those who have gone before them, of those whose interests are identified with the welfare of the town, that some measures should be taken to arrange, preserve, and put in a readable form the record of those events in our early history which could be obtained, and which were worthy of preservation. 4
In 1856, Joseph Hammond, jr., was employed to copy some of the ancient town records, many of which were almost obliterated and un- intelligible.
In the warrant for the annual meeting in 1880 an article was in- serted to see if the town would take measures to publish its early history and raise money for the same. At this meeting A. A. Ware, Benjamin Read, G. I. Cutler and H. H. Saunderson were chosen a committee to investigate in regard to cost, etc., and report at the next annual meeting. A similar article was inserted in 1881 and a verbal report made at the meeting by the committee. The town, on the plea of the existing indebtedness, voted to dismiss the article. In 1882 an attempt was again made but failed as before. In 1884 the town " voted to raise five hundred dollars to be expended by the selectmen towards writing and publishing the history of Swanzey."
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iv
PREFACE.
During the season Benjamin Read was employed to commence the work and $226.52 was paid him for labor in collecting data for the genealogical part of the history.
In March, 1885, it was "voted to raise five hundred dollars for the completion of the town history in addition to what was raised last year for this purpose.
"Voted that Joseph Hammond, Alonzo A. Ware and George I. Cut- ler be the committee for the completion of the same."
As Mr. Read had commenced the work it was thought best to employ him to complete it, which they did, contracting as follows : -
" Said Read agrees to write said history containing about seven hundred pages and four hundred words to a page, dating from the earliest settlement of the township to the present time-to furnishi all diagrams and plans-exclusive of engravings-necessary to illustrate the same, and to complete the whole in a workmanlike manner to the satisfaction of the committee and ready for the press by April 1, 1886. Said committee in behalf of said town agree to pay said Read for doing said work the sum of seven hundred dollars including the amount he has already received for the same from the town, to be paid in proportional instalments as the work progresses and is examined and approved by said committee. All material prepared by said Read for which he. has or shall have received pay shall be the property of the town subject to the disposal of the committee."
This contract was dated March 30, 1885.
In consequence of Mr. Read's finding the work of greater magni- tude than he supposed, and of other employments which claimed his attention, its completion has been delayed and the history brought down to the present date.
The township map has been prepared expressly for the book and gives the names of the resident population in 1890.
Swanzey, N. H., August, 1892.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
PREFACE
iii
CONTENTS
V
LIST OF PORTRAITS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
ix
CORRIGENDA
xi
INTRODUCTORY
xiii
CHAPTER I. TOPOGRAPHY-Situation, Water-courses, Min- erals, Soil, Forest Trees, Fruits, Animals
1
CHAPTER II. THE INDIANS OF THE CONNECTICUT AND ASHUE- LOT VALLEYS
11
CHAPTER III. GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY - Township granted, Names of Grantees, Proprietors' Records, Di- visions of Land, Settlement of Province Boundary Line, New Hampshire Charter, Land annexed from Richmond, Disannexed to other towns, Committee of Safety, Beef Tax, Vermont Controversy, Warning out of town, Paper- money, Names of Settlers, Employment of the People, Food, Dress, Farming and Household Implements, Wages. CHAPTER IV. MILITARY AFFAIRS. - Early military move- ments during the Revolutionary War, Soldiers at Bunker Hill, Cambridge, Canada, Ticonderoga, etc., Col. Ham- mond's Ride, Beef for the Army, Bounties and Payments to soldiers, War of 1812, Action of the Town in the War of the Rebellion, Enlistment Drafts, Bounties Paid, Sol- diers' Individual Record, Military Laws, Trainings and Musters, Swanzey's Military Companies, Cavalry, Artil- lery, Rifle Company, Officers of each.
CHAPTER V. ECCLESIASTICAL - Congregational Church, Formation, Early History, Members, Ministers, Officers, Parsonage, Congregational Society, Names of Members, Officers, Ladies' Society, Sunday School, Church Choir, Society Funds, Meeting-Houses, Baptist Church, Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Universalist Society. · 154
35
102
(v)
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI. EDUCATIONAL-Early Votes pertaining to Schools, School Districts, School Houses, Apparatus, Su- pervision, Superintending School Committee, Board of Education, Appropriations, Division of School Money, High School, Teachers, Text books, Spelling Schools, School Associations, Swanzey Academy, Libraries, Chau- tauqua L. & S. Circle
CHAPTER VII. HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES -Boston Roads, Early layouts, Specimen Record, Sundry Roads, when built, Old Turnpikes, Rates of Toll, "California" Road, "Willis" Road, Bridges, when built, Cost of Construction, High- way Surveyors, Prices of Labor
CHAPTER VIII. NOTES FOR STATE OFFICERS, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, ETC .- Lists of Town officers, etc. . . 207
CHAPTER IX. SWANZEY INDUSTRIES -Industries of West Swanzey, Factory Village, East Swanzey, Westport, Spragueville, Swanzey Centre, Graves' Place, Wilcox Shop, Lane Mill on Bridge Brook, Other Mills, Stores, Hotels, Brick-making, Tanneries, Palm-leaf Hats . 220
CHAPTER X. MISCELLANEOUS-Fatal Accidents, Murders, Small Pox, Swanzey Cemeteries, Revolutionary Pensioners in 1840, Epidemic at Westport, Professional Men, Mail Carrying and Postmasters, Town Debt, Town Paupers, Marking Sheep, A Rolling Stone, Rain and Snow Storms, Cold Year, Grasshopper Year, Temperance, Boating on the Ashuelot River, Justices of the Peace, Supervisors of the Check List, Great Snow Storm, Secret Societies, Bear and Wolf Stories.
249
GENEALOGIES.
CHAPTER XI. GENEALOGICAL RECORDS. 271
Abbott, Adams, 271; Alexander, 272; Albee, Aldrich, 273; An- derson, 277 ; Angier, Applin, 278; Austin, Atkinson, Avery, 281.
Babbit, Bailey, 281 ; Balch, Ball, 282 ; Baldwin, Ballou, 283 ; Banks, 286 ; Barden, Bartlett, Barrett, Battles, Bates, Baxter, 287 ; Beal, Belding, 288 ; Bennett, 290 ; Beverstock, Bidwell, Bishop, 293 ; Black, Blake, 294 ; Bliss, Blodgett, Bolles, 295 ; Bourn, 296 ; Bouvier, Bower . Bowles, Boyce, 297; Bragg, Breed, Brewer, Bridge, 298 ; Bryant, Britton, 299 ; Brooks, Brown, 300 ; Bucklin, 301 ; Buckman, Buffum, Bullard, 302; Bullock, Bump, 303 ; Burke, Burnham, Byam, 304.
184
201
vii
CONTENTS.
Calkins, 304 ; Capron, 305 ; Carlton, 306; Carpenter, 307 ; Carr, 309 : Carter, Cass, 310 ; Chamberlain, Clark, 311 ; Coburn, 312 ; Col- lier, Conboy, Converse, Combs, Cook, 313; Cooper, Corlis, Corey, Cram. 315 ; Cresson, Cross, 316 ; Crossett, Crouch, 319 ; Cummings, 320 ; Curtis, 322; Cutler, 323.
Danforth, Daniels, Davidson, Darling, 323 ; Day, Dickerman, 324; Derby, Dickinson, 325; Dodge, Dolby, Downing, 328 ; Draper, Drewry, Dunham, Dunton. Durant, Duston, Dwinnel, 329.
Eames, 330 ; Eastman, Eaton, 332 ; Ellis, 333; Ellor, Emerson, 334 ; Emery, Evans, Eveleth, 335.
Fairbanks, Faulkner, Farnsworth, Farr, 336 ; Farris, Fassett, Fes- senden, Field, 337 ; Fifield, Fish, 338; Fitzgerald, Flint, 339 ; Fol- let, Forbush, Forrestall, Foster, 340 ; Fowler, Fox, 341; Franklin, Frary, Freeman, French, Frink, 342 ; Frost, Fuller, 343.
Gary, Gates, Gay, 344 ; Gilmore, Goddard, 345; Goodell, Good- hue. Goodnow, Graves, 346 ; Granger, Greene, 348 ; Greenleaf, 349 ; Griffith, Grimes, 350; Grogan, Guild, 351; Gunn, 352.
Hale, 353; Hall, Hamblet, 354 ; Hammond, 355; Handy, Hanra- han, 361 ; Hardy, Hare, Harris, 362 ; Harvey, 363 ; Haskell, Hast- ings, 364 ; Hazen, Hayes, Healey, Heaton, 365 ; Heffron, Henry, 366 ; Hewes, 367 ; Higgins, Hill, 368; Hills, 371; Holbrook, 373 ; Hol- man, Hosley, Holden. Houghton, Hovey, 380 ; Howard, 381 ; Howe, 382; Howes, 383; Hunt, 384 ; Huntly, 385.
Inman, Iredale, 385.
Jackson, 386 ; Jerome, Johnson, 387.
Kendall, Kiblin, Kidder, Kimball, 387 ; King, Kingsbury, Kinney, 388; Knight, 389.
Lamson, Lane, 389 ; Lawrence, Leach, 394 ; Lebourveau, Leon- ard, 395 ; Lewis, Lincoln, Locke, Lombard, 396; Lonergan, Long, 397; Lord, Loveland, 398 ; Lovering, Lyman, 399.
Mack, Mann, McFarland, Mansfield, 399 ; Marble, Marcy, Marsh, 400 ; Marshall, Martin, Marvin, Mason, 401; Matthews, 403 ; Mead, Mellen, Merriam, 404 ; Metcalf, Moore, 405 ; Morse, 406 ; Munsell, Murdock, Murdough. Murphy, 407.
Nadow, Nason, Naylon, Nelson, Newell, Newton, 408 ; Nichols, Nicholson, Nittrowr, Norwood, 409.
Oakman, 409 ; Ockington, Olcott, 410 ; Oliver, Osborn, Osgood, 411.
Page, 412 ; Paliner, Parker, 414 ; Parkinson, Parsons, 415 ; Patch, Partridge, Peasley, 417 ; Perham, Peck, Pelkey, Perry, 418 ; Peters, 419 ; Pluff, Plummer, Pierce, Pomroy, 421 ; Porter, Potter, Prentice, 422 ; Prime, 423 ; Prouty, Puffer, 424.
viii
CONTENTS.
Quinn, 424.
Ramsey, Ramsdell, Raymond, 424; Randall, 426; Read, 427; Reed, 432 ; Rice, Rich, Richardson, 433; Rider, Ripley, Rixford, Robbins, 437; Robley, Rogers, Robinson, Rockwood, 438; Rugg, 439; Russell, 440.
Sargent, Sawyer, 440; Scott, Seaver, 442 ; Sebastian, Sebastin, 444 ; Sherman, Simonds, Slate, 445 ; Smalley, Smead, 446 ; Smith, Snell, Snow, 447; Southworth, Sparhawk, Spofford, 449; Sprague, Spring, Stanley, 450 ; Stanton, Starkey, 451 ; Stearns, 455 ; Steven- son, Stephenson, 457 ; Stoddard, Stone, 459 ; Stowell, Stratton, 461 ; Streeter, 463; Sumner, 464.
Taft, 465; Taggard, Talbot, 468; Taylor, Temple, Thatcher, 469 ; Thayer, Thompson, 470 ; Thorning, Towne, Trask, 475 ; Trowbridge, 476; Tucker, Twitchel, 477.
Underwood, 478.
Verry, 478.
Ward, 479 ; Ware, 480 ; Warner, Warren, Watson, 481 ; Weeks, Wetherbee, Wheeler, 482; Wheelock, Whitcomb, 483 ; Whittaker, White, 494 ; Wilcox, Wilder, Willard, 495 ; Willis, Williams, 496 ; Wilson, 497 ; Winch, Withington, Wood, Woodcock, 499 ; Woodward, 501; Worcester, 502; Wright, 503.
Young, 504.
CHAPTER XII. BIOGRAPHICAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY-Indi- .
vidual biographies, alphabetically arranged · 505 APPENDIX. Thomas Cresson's Will, Additional Records, etc. 575 INDEX 581
-
ILLUSTRATIONS.
HON. BENJAMIN READ.
. Frontispiece
OPP. PA GE
VIEWS. 8
VIEW OF WEST SWANZEY, from Marcy Hill, looking west · BOULDER BY C. H. HOLBROOK'S HOUSE, near West Swanzey 16
48
MAIN STREET, WEST SWANZEY, looking west .
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE, SWANZEY CENTRE, with Mt. Cæsar in background facing east 154
169
VIEW OF BAPTIST AND UNIVERSALIST MEETING HOUSES, WEST SWANZEY, looking westerly 176
SCHOOL HOUSE, WEST SWANZEY, facing east . 185
SCHOOL HOUSE, NO. 8, on Maple Hill . 192
200
SCHOOL HOUSE, EAST SWANZEY, facing east
206
WINCHESTER STREET, WEST SWANZEY, looking south
520
STEPHEN FAULKNER,
543
ALBERT B. READ.
516
SIMEON COOK
518
G. I. CUTLER, M.D.
331
HENRY EAMES
524
GEORGE W. GAY, M.D.
359
JOSEPH HAMMOND
528
CHARLES HOLBROOK
373
MELLEN R. HOLBROOK
381
ENOCH HOWES
216
HON. ASA S. KENDALL
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TOWN HOUSE AND MT. CAESAR UNION LIBRARY, SWANZEY CENTRE, facing west .
viii
CONTENTS.
Quinn, 424.
Ramsey, Ramsdell, Raymond, 424; Randall, 426; Read, 427; Reed, 432 ; Rice, Rich, Richardson, 433; Rider, Ripley, Rixford, Robbins, 437; Robley, Rogers, Robinson, Rockwood, 438; Rugg, 439; Russell, 440.
Sargent, Sawyer, 440; Scott, Seaver, 442; Sebastian, Sebastin, 444; Sherman, Simonds, Slate, 445 ; Smalley, Smead, 446 ; Smith, Snell, Snow, 447; Southworth, Sparhawk, Spofford, 449; Sprague, Spring, Stanley, 450 ; Stanton, Starkey, 451 ; Stearns, 455 ; Steven- son, Stephenson, 457 ; Stoddard, Stone, 459 ; Stowell, Stratton, 461; Streeter, 463 ; Sumner, 464.
Taft, 465 ; Taggard, Talbot, 468; Taylor, Temple, Thatcher, 469 ; Thayer, Thompson, 470 ; Thorning, Towne, Trask, 475 ; Trowbridge, 476; Tucker, Twitchel, 477.
Underwood, 478.
Verry, 478.
Ward, 479 ; Ware, 480 ; Warner, Warren, Watson, 481 ; Weeks, Wetherbee, Wheeler, 482; Wheelock, Whitcomb, 483; Whittaker, White, 494 ; Wilcox, Wilder, Willard, 495; Willis, Williams, 496 ; Wilson, 497 ; Winch, Withington, Wood, Woodcock, 499 ; Woodward, 501; Worcester, 502; Wright, 503.
Young, 504.
T .. .:
ILLUSTRATIONS.
HON. BENJAMIN READ. , Frontispiece
VIEWS. OPP. PA GE
VIEW OF WEST SWANZEY, from Marcy Hill, looking west ·
8
BOULDER BY C. H. HOLBROOK'S HOUSE, near West Swanzey 16
MAIN STREET, WEST SWANZEY, looking west 48
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE, SWANZEY CENTRE, with
Mt. Cæsar in background facing east 154
TOWN HOUSE AND MT. CAESAR UNION LIBRARY, SWANZEY
CENTRE, facing west 169
VIEW OF BAPTIST AND UNIVERSALIST MEETING HOUSES, WEST SWANZEY, looking westerly 176
SCHOOL HOUSE, WEST SWANZEY, facing east . 185
SCHOOL HOUSE, NO. 8, on Maple Hill 192
SCHOOL HOUSE, EAST SWANZEY, facing east 200
WINCHESTER STREET, WEST SWANZEY, looking south 206
MAPS.
MAP OF SWANZEY . facing frontispiece
PLOT OF SWANZEY, 1747
46
PLAN OF SWANZEY, 1762
59
WEST SWANZEY, SWANZEY FACTORY VILLAGE, WESTPORT,
EAST SWANZEY,
72
PORTRAITS.
SIMEON COOK 516
G. I. CUTLER, M.D.
518
HENRY EAMES
331
GEORGE W. GAY, M.D.
524
JOSEPH HAMMOND 359
CHARLES HOLBROOK
528
MELLEN R. HOLBROOK
373
ENOCH HOWES 381
HON. ASA S. KENDALL
216
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x
ILLUSTRATIONS.
BENJAMIN F. LOMBARD
533
DAVID PARSONS .
104
JOSIAH PARSONS
540
EDWIN F. READ
429
EDWIN M. READ
430
N. HENRY RICHARDSON
544
REV. ELISHA ROCKWOOD, D D.
160
C. L. RUSSELL
88
O. SPRAGUE
241
ARBA STEARNS
549
EDMUND STONE
245
EMERY W. STRATTON
128
GEORGE W. STRATTON
556 224 461
DENMAN THOMPSON
562
RUFUS THOMPSON
471 564 144
H. R. WHITCOMB
301
GEORGE E. WHITCOMB
112
IRVINE A. WHITCOMB
ROSWELL WHITCOMB
567 484
HUBBARD WILLIAMS
348
JULIUS E. WILSON
498
S
ISAAC STRATTON
JOHN STRATTON .
ALONZO A. WARE
THOMAS J. WETHERBEE
CORRIGENDA.
Page 64, line 12 from top, for Pelitia Kazey read Peletial Razey. Page 108, last line, for Nicols, read Nichols.
Pages 128, 140 and 152 for Aaron, Aaron B., and Aaron A. read Aaron H Sumner.
Page 130, line 9 from top, for George Jackson read George H. Jack- son.
Page 131, line 21 from top, for George Willis read George G. Willis. Page 191, line 31 from top, for taught read introduced.
Pages 202, 203, 247, for Zina Taft read Zina G. Taft.
Page 241, line 3 from top, for Luman Seaver read Luman B. Sea- ver.
Page 246, line 5 from top, for Jolin Fitzgerald read Thomas Han- rahan.
Page 247, line 20 from top, for Henry Morse 2d, read Henry R. Morse.
Page 346, line 3 from bottom, for Elijah read Elisha.
Page 353, line 13 from top, for 1872 read 1873 ; for March 9 read May 9.
Page 361, line 24 from top, for Clara read Flora.
Page 387, line 22 from top, for Roy read Ray ; line 23 from top, for Martin E. read Mertie E. m. Charles R. Weeks.
Page 389, line 26 from top, for Baker read Brown.
Page 403, line 3 from top, for Rush read Rutlı.
Page 413, line 3 from top, for Lyman read Rufus.
Page 415, line 2 from top, for Ann read Anna.
Page 419, line 29 from top, for Vt. read Mass.
Page 463, line 9 from top, for July 26, read Jan. 26, and for 1854 read 1857.
Page 465, line 25 from top, for Aug. 30 read June, and line 26 from top after May 30 read 1832.
Page 482, line 7 from top, after Ellen S. read daughter of Augus- tus Gee ; line 22 from top, for 1881 read 1841.
Page 483, line 2 from top, for Benjamin read Abel.
Page 499, line 13 from top, after d. read lives in Westmoreland.
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INTRODUCTION.
IN commencing to write the history of Swanzey, the compiler but partially realized the amount of labor to be performed or the difficul- ties to be surmounted in its execution.
More than one hundred and fifty years had elapsed since the town was first settled. During that time no attempt had been made by any one, to the writer's knowledge, to arrange and put in a connected form the events of the past.
The principal sources relied upon for data have been the public records of the proprietors and those of the town. Both of these are somewhat defective-a part of each being lost. The missing volume of the latter, and the most important, includes the years from 1794 to 1815. During this period the second meeting (town) house was built, and the war with Great Britain occurred. Information drawn from other sources partially fills these gaps. The records of the Congregational and Baptist churches have been very well kept and preserved-the former dating back to 1741, and the latter to the be- ginning of the year 1792. . Valuable statistics have been obtained from both. Old family Bibles, the original owners of which have long since passed away, give the dates of births, marriages and deaths of many of former generations. The gravestones in our cemeteries likewise tell the story of the past. All these and many other relics have been consulted, together with state, county and army records. Histories of towns in this immediate vicinity, and also some of those whence the first settlers came, have been called into requisition. By careful inquiry, traditional information has been obtained and embod- ied in the work that might otherwise soon have passed into oblivion. Much credit is due the late Isaac W. Hammond (a native of this county and whose ancestors lived in this town), state historian and
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xiv
INTRODUCTION.
compiler of historical sketches, for the interest he has manifested in the success of this enterprise, and his readiness in furnishing data from the archives at Concord. It may be proper to add that the com- mittee chosen by the town to supervise the writing and publication of this history, have generally acquiesced in the plan and general feat- ures of the work as outlined by the compiler, but in a few instances they have chosen to differ from him and take the responsibility of the changes they have caused to be made.
Although entire accuracy in statement has been aimed at, it is probable that many errors, especially in the genealogical part of the work, will be discovered. These, if properly noted and corrected, will enable the historian in after years to give a more reliable history to our children.
Swanzey, 1892.
BENJAMIN READ.
CHAPTER I.
Topography.
SITUATION -WATER-COURSES- MINERALS - SOIL - FOREST TREES - FRUITS -WILD ANIMALS-BIRDS-FISH-SNAKES.
T THE town of Swanzey lies some five miles to the south of Keene nearly in the central part of Cheshire county and in the valley of the Ashuelot upon what was once the bottom of a lake.
The following extract from Professor Hitchcock's Report of the Ge- ological Survey of the State is illustrative of the character of this val- ley about Swanzey :
"The principal valley of Cheshire county has its widest development in Keene and Swanzey. When the ice melted here, this basin con- tained for a short time a body of water somewhat larger and probably deeper than Sunapee lake, which soon became filled by the alluvium of floods which the retreating ice-sheet sent down by every tributary from north, east and south. The Ashuelot river flows through this basin, lying near its east side above Keene, but crosses to its west side in the north part of Swanzey. Its west portion in Keene is drained by the last four miles of Ash Swamp brook. Three miles south from Keene the Ashuelot river finds an avenue westward, along which it is also bordered by low modified drift for several miles. The straight valley, however, continues to the south through Swanzey, being oc- cupied by the South branch and Pond brook, with an alluvial area which decreases from one mile to one-third of a mile in width. We, thus here find a valley ten miles long from north to south, filled with nearly level deposits which are but slightly higher than the streams and bordered by steep and nearly continuous ranges of hills which rise from 400 to 600 feet upon each side. This alluvium consists, almost everywhere, of sand or fine gravel, perhaps extensively underlain by -
(1)
2
HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
clay which is worked for brick-making near the south edge of the city of Keenc. Its height is from 10 to 40 feet near the river, and the whole plain was originally of the same height with the highest pro- portions, which still occupy the greatest part of the alluvial arca. These are generally separated from the lower interval by steep escarp- ments, which show that the difference in height is due to excavation by the river. In the south part of Swanzey we find occasional ter- races, which are sometimes of coarse gravel, from sixty to seventy feet above South Branch, showing that much material at first depos- ited here was afterwards channelled out by this stream and carried northward to the broad, low plains."
Thus, it will be seen, that three general divisions characterize the surface of Swanzey. The first includes that which is elevated above the plains, the second the plains, the third the intervals and mead- ows.
The hills and mountains are of granitic formation, generally un- even, and some of them quite rough. Several of the highest eleva- tions are designated mountains and are several hundred feet higher. than the adjacent plains.
The mountains are Mount Huggins, which is in the northeast corner of the town ; Mount Cresson, west of the Ashuelot river, about a mile from the Keene line ; Mount Cæsar near the central part of the town ; Peaked mountain in the southwest corner and Franklin mountain at the northern base of which is " Westport;" "Pine Hill" in the north- western part of the town, at the north spur of which "stood the home" of Joseph Cross, and "Cobble Hill," near the home of the late John Grimes. All are interesting places to visit.
Everywhere upon uplands, hills and mountains are to be seen the effects of the glacial period. In many places there are extensive drift formations, of which a most noticeable one is at East Swanzey. On many of the hills and mountains the loose rocks have been swept away, leaving the underlying rocks smoothed off by the moving gla- cier. Boulders are profusely distributed, large ones often lying upon the drift, having been rounded and smoothed. Many large ones are to be seen high up on the hills and mountains. A large one lies on the top of Mount Cæsar. The most conspicuous boulder is near Charles Holbrook's house. It is of immense size and lies upon a solid granite surface, only a small central part touching the rock beneath, giving it a prominent appearance. It has sheltered many flocks of sheep from the summer's heat and winter's storm.
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