USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
136. Site of the old William Burnham house. This was on the fourth lot of the fifteenth range. It was drawn, like so many Stoddard lots, by Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford, Mass., and sold by Levi Wilder, administrator of his estate, Dec. 12, 1788, to Archelaus Putnam of Wilton. Mr. Putnam never lived here. During his ownership, the tenant of the place was a man named WILLIAM BURNHAM, whose wife's name was Huldah. They had a child born here, May 26, 1786, which they named Roxana. They lived here five or six years and dis- appeared from the tax list in 1791. No recorded deed shows that William Burnham bought the place of Putnam. Putnam's deed from the administrator of the Stoddard estate is deposited in the Cheshire Registry on file, but was never recorded on the books. Burnham is the only person known to have lived here. In 1791, Stephen Burnham of Greenfield, N. H., appears on the tax lists as the non-resident owner of this land. He had evidently bought it in the last part of 1790, or the first part of 1791. He kept it four years. He sold it, Feb. 17, 1795, to two men, the western portion to Samuel Seward, and the east- ern portion to Ebenezer Kendall. Their successors may be seen in paragraphs 135 and 145.
137. Site of the house in which Ezra Osgood, Elijah Carter, and Ichabod Keith lived. See the next paragraph, 138.
705
FAMILY HISTORIES.
138. The Keith place, where E. A. Blood lived several years, until 1908. EZRA OSGOOD of Lancaster, Mass., purchased this lot of land of Levi Wilder and Sarah, his wife, of the same town of Lancaster, Apr. 24, 1784, for thirty pounds. Mrs. Wilder was the daughter and heiress of Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford, Mass., who had drawn the lot when the Masonian Proprietors granted the Stoddard lots, of which this was originally one. Mr. Osgood lived at 137 three years. He afterwards lived at 58, 108, and 167. On Sept. 28, 1787, the day after the incorporation of Sullivan, he sold the lot to ELIJAH CARTER, who also came from " old Lancaster," as they used to call it. Mr. Carter was one of the first deacons of the church in Sullivan. He had an interesting family and his descendants are numerous and many of them distinguished persons. One of his sons entered Yale College, but died of consumption early in the course. See page 606. The first house on the site of 137 was probably a log house. Later there was a very good framed house here. It is not certain whether Osgood or Carter built it, but probably Carter. ICHABOD KEITH of Uxbridge, Mass., bought this place of Mr. Carter, Oct. 17, 1793. He was the collector of taxes for the town of Uxbridge that year and the record of some of his business late in that year at Uxbridge makes it probable that he did not go to Sullivan until the first part of 1794. That he came to town as early as that is ascertained by the fact that his daughter Mary is known to have been born in Sullivan, June 18, 1794. It was the day that a barn was raised on the farm of Ebenezer Kendall, at 145, and Mr. Keith was suddenly summoned to leave the "raising " and return to his home. Mr. Keith had a long service of nearly seven years in the Revo- lution. He was an honest, intelligent, industrious man. He was a lineal descendant of the Rev. James Keith, the first minister of Bridgewater, Mass., and a graduate of Aberdeen University in Scotland. In 1806, Mr. Keith built the house which still stands at 138. While hewing the timbers for this house in the early part of the year, his wife gave birth to an infant which lived but a few days. While Mrs. Keith was ill, a little son of two years of age wandered out to see his father hew the timber and caught a severe cold and died of pneumonia a few weeks after the death of the infant. Mr. Keith lived at 138 until his death, Nov. 7, 1839. On Apr. 23, 1811, his elder son, HAMMOND KEITH, bought the place of his father, giving the customary bond for the maintenance of his parents. He built the northern wing of the house. It was really another house placed against the former, although there. was a passage from one to the other. Ham- mond's house is now simply a shed. Hammond Keith was a good farmer, a capable man, and an independent thinker. He married a daughter of Capt. Samuel Seward. Their younger daughter, Celestine, afterwards wife of S. Newell Fifield, was, in many ways, one of the most energetic and brilliant, and probably the best known woman who ever left the place. See pages 606-7. On account of the declining health of Mrs. Keith, Hammond moved to Keene for a short time, and lived two or three years in the old Ralston house on Main St. Here Mrs. Keith died, in the spring of 1839. In the mean time James Matthews, a native, and for the most of his life, a resident of Hancock, moved here to care for the aged Ichabod Keith, whose daughter he had married. Hammond Keith, after his wife's death, returned to the farm and lived here until his own death, July 14, 1843. His daughters continued to live upon the farm. Lyman P. Petts
706
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
was a tenant here and managed the farm for three or four years. His wife was a niece of Mrs. Hammond Keith. CALEB WINCHI, who married the elder daughter of Hammond Keith, purchased the place of the heirs, June 14, 1847. He had been married in the preceding spring and came here to live. He did not remain a year. He sold the place to Daniel Seward of Sullivan, Nov. 22, 1847. On Mar, 15, 1848, BEZALEEL KEITH, another son of Ichabod, leased the farm of Daniel Seward, and purchased it of Mr. Seward, Apr. 2, 1851. He continued to live upon this place until his death, Oct. 9, 1866. He was a hard-working, capable, and strictly honest man. His wife was a woman of a good mind, with a decided taste for literature, and well educated for a woman of her day. Their five chil- dren were all born before they moved to this place, which was the farm on which Mr. Keith was born. The eldest daughter, Mrs. Bixby, still living in Leomin- ster, Mass., is a bright, intellectual person, well versed in good literature, and from whose pen contributions often find their way to local journals. The second daughter, Mrs. H. K. Rugg, was a talented woman, who taught many terms of school with marked success, and was always eagerly sought for reengagements. Her health, in early life, was damaged by a stroke of lightning which greatly impaired her physical powers. After her marriage, she suffered from another shock by lightning, which burned the dwelling in which she was living. These calamities resulted in loss of locomotion and the power of movement, and, at last, even the ability to swallow, resulting shortly in death. The elder son, George W., became a physician, but he, too, has long been a victim of ill health. He had a large brain and was a natural scholar, but his life plans have been seriously retarded by the impairment of his physical powers. See pages 601-2. The younger son, Henry H., died in his young manhood. The young- est daughter, like her elder sister, was for years a successful schoolteacher. She is the best writer of verse that Sullivan has produced. See pages 585 to 587. The heirs of Mr. Keith sold this farm, March 17, 1871, to REV. GEORGE WAUGH of Stoughton, Mass., who had been a Methodist Episcopal, but later Second Advent, preacher. He was a good citizen, but an inexperienced farmer. See page 595. Mr. Waugh sold the place to his daughter, Mrs. Josephine B., wife of Isaac S. Merriam, of Worcester, Mass., Dec. 28, 1874. The latter sold it to Hiram M. Blackmer, of Worcester, Mass., Feb. 16, 1876. The latter sold it, a month later, Mar. 14, 1876, to Mary E. F., wife of James A. Bucknam of Easton, Mass. The Bucknams moved here and lived a year. They sold the farm, Aug. 14, 1877, to IRA E. CHASE of Keene, who had married Agusta O., daugh- ter of Justus Dunn, of the same neighborhood. The Chases lived here for a short time and owned the place three and a half years. On May 16, 1881, Fred- erick A. Wilson, who owned the farm next south, bought the place, and his son-in-law, EDWIN ALBERT BLOOD moved here. At his death, July 24, 1897, Mr. Wilson willed this farm to his daughter, the wife of Mr. Blood. Mr. Blood and all his family attended the church at East Sullivan. Mr. Blood was one of the deacons and nearly all of his family united with this church. He lived twenty-seven years upon the place and moved, in 1908, to a farm which he purchased in Templeton, Mass. On Jan. 18, 1908, Mrs. Blood sold this farm to Walter S. Barker, the highly esteemed owner of the farm at 135. Mr. Barker is certain to put the place in order and, under his management, the farm will doubtless be well preserved and kept in good shape.
707
FAMILY HISTORIES.
139. The home of Dea. Josiah Seward, Josiah Seward, Jr., David Seward, and others, and the present residence of H. R. and F. L. Fifield. It was the birthplace of the writer of this volume, who was born in the south-east room upon the lower floor. The place was purchased by JOSIAH SEWARD, the writer's great-grandfather. He purchased the sixth lot of the sixteenth range of Margaret Stoddard, widow of Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford, Mass., Apr. 7, 1781. He purchased the south half of the sixth lot of the fifteenth range, Sept. 6, 1783, of Oliver Carter of Lancaster, Mass., who had purchased the whole lot of Levi Wilder and Sarah, his wife (daughter of Samson Stoddard), on the twenty- first of January in the same year. These lots were drawn by Samson Stoddard, as one of the grantees of the town named for him, by the Masonian Proprietors. Dea. Seward, like his brother, Capt. Samuel, became a great land owner. Be- sides his home farm, he owned, at one time or another, the farms which were later owned by William Hastings of Sullivan, and by George Graves, Marcus Davis, Asa Chandler, and others in Stoddard. Mr. Seward's first house, a log house, was built at 140, in 1781. He lived here seven years. His first four children, including the writer's grandfather, were born in that house. In 1788, Mr. Seward built a good framed house at 139, partly covering the site of the present house, but extending further to the east. The well was in the line of the front yard fence which was later built. Here were born his other children, and here the youngest, a little daughter, died. In 1797, Mr. Seward built a mansion at 139, which was of a pattern very common in those days. It was exactly like the house built by his brother, Capt. Samuel Seward, in 1799, the original form of which is still well preserved. It is the house owned by Mr. Baiker at 135. The house built by Dea. Josiah Seward at 139 still stands, but it has undergone so many changes that it hardly resembles the original structure. The front rooms of these houses were prettily and even elaborately finished, as may be seen by looking at the house of Mr. Barker, which preserves the original finish in those rooms. The fiamed house which preceded the mansion was moved away. The ell was purchased by Nahum Haven and moved to 59. Haven lived in it. After Mr. Hathorn bought this place at 59, he built the front of the present house at that place, and this old house became the ell. The main portion of the first framed house at 139 was moved to the rear and used as a shed for many years. Finally it was moved to a position between the two barns where it remains, in some shape, today. Dea. Seward and Capt. Seward were soldiers of the Revolution, and were both at Bunker Hill, both marching with Prescott from Pepperell, Mass. Mr. Seward was chosen a deacon of the First Congregational Church in 1798 and held the office until his death, July 10, 1828. He held all the important town offices and was a representative to the General Court. He was present, by invitation, as a survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, at the laying of the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument by Lafayette, and, with the other veterans, was presented to this honored visitor. In those days, such a journey was an event of the town. See an account of it in the letter of Dauphin W. Comstock on page 40. The deacon was an invalid for several of the last years of his life. He went to Saratoga Springs, for a season, to take the waters, and stopped at the first Congress Hall Hotel. The treatment was not efficacious and he died at 72 years of age. His son, JOSIAH SEWARD,
708
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
JR., the writer's grandfather, purchased a half interest in the homestead, March 31, 1824. He survived his father a little more than three years, and died, Sept. 14, 1831, of malignant typhus fever, which was a very fatal epidemic, that year, in the town. His eldest son, JOSIAH SEWARD, 3D, had succumbed to the same disease, on the eighth of August preceding. See pages 361, 362, and 609. MRS. POLLY SEWARD, widow of Josiah Seward, Jr., bought the remaining half interest of the heirs of Dea. Seward, May 1, 1832. She was a strong woman intellectually, a very capable manager, trained to every form of duty required of a housekeeper of that time, including spinning, carding, weaving, and the manifold industries connected therewith. She superintended the farm remarkably well during the minority of her sons. DAVID SEWARD, her third and youngest son, the father of the writer, bought the interest of all other heirs in the estate, March 13, 1839. He was commissioned as a justice of the peace and did much business in former years. He tried such petty causes as come before a justice, although he endeav- ored, if possible, to settle the little troubles before they came to trial, and usually succeeded. He settled several estates, executed deeds, and married several couples. For his family, see pages 594 and 622. He moved to Keene, Nov. I, 1862. After living a short time in the house of Col. Robert Wilson, his kins- man, he purchased the house on the north-east corner of Wilson and Emerald Streets, which was his home until his death, Nov. 3, 1886. On leaving the house at 139, Jedidiah R. Holt moved into it and remained a year. The family of Roswell C. Nurse came next for a short time, in 1863. Then the house was empty a few months. Jacob Spaulding, after selling the place at 119, moved here and remained until he purchased the house at 45, in 1868. In the mean time, David Seward had sold an interest in a large part of .the farm, Mar. 26, 1866, to Sylvester Spaulding and L. P. Dean, both of Keene. The three owners sold the portion west of the highway and lane, June 5, 1869, to Theodore Burrill, then of Keene. He sold it, Sept. 6, 1869, to Charles L. Wait of Boston. The latter sold to William R. Proctor of Lunenburg, Mass., July 25, 1870. The last three owners never lived here, but the Proctors stopped here for short intervals in sum- mer. GEORGE W. CHRISTIE of St. Albans, Me., bought the place, Dec. 9, 1871, and moved here, but he could not pay for it, and Wm. R. Proctor, to whom he mortgaged it, " peaceably entered " and took possession, Dec. 17, 1873. From him it passed successively to a series of non-resident owners,-to Henry Pearson of Somerville, Mass., Dec. 26, 1877; then to Lydia P. Emerson of Bedford, Mass., on the same day (Dec. 26, 1877) ; then to Henry Pearson again, Jan. 18, 1878; then to William H. Clark of North Reading, Mass., Feb. 16, 1878; then to Joseph H. Wyeth of Chelsea, Mass., Aug. 31, 1878; next to Mrs. Sarah Ann Proctor, wife of William R., Nov. 22, 1878. In the mean time, Eli N. Cotton came here from Stoneham, Mass., and remained as a tenant through 1876-77, and Ben. Woodbury was a tenant in 1878. CYRUS GORMAN of Leominster, Mass., bought the farm of Mrs. Proctor, June 27, 1879, who moved here and made some repairs upon the buildings and lived here two years. Finally, July 23, 1881, Mrs. Rua A. Fifield, wife of HORACE R. FIFIELD, bought the place of the Gormans and that family moved here. The latter's son, FRANK L. FIFIELD, bought an undived half interest in the farm, Jan. 13, 1898. The Fifields have lived here twenty-seven years (to 1908) and have been industrious, prudent, and prosperous.
709
FAMILY HISTORIES.
They are good citizens and share the respect and confidence of the community. Mr. H. R. Fifield served several years on the board of selectmen and as one of the library trustees. The family are members of the Grange, and Mrs. Rua Fifield has been the secretary. H. R. Fifield was second master of the Grange, and F. L. Fifield was master in 1907. Mrs. H. R. Fifield is a valuable nurse, whose services have been much sought. The writer has purchased from the heirs and still owns a part of the farm, including Bowlder Hill, which has been in the Seward family since 1783, 125 years. No other piece of real estate in the town has remained so long in one family, with no change in the surname of the owner.
140. Site of the first house erected by Deacon Josiah Seward. See 139.
14I. House in which lived Abijah Hastings, William Hastings, C. A. Howard, and Chas. L. Tuttle. This is the original Hastings farm. It originally consisted ot lots 6 and 7 in the fifteenth range. They were drawn by the prominent grantee, Samson Stoddard. In the division of his estate, these lots went to his daughter, Sarah, wife of Levi Wilder. The Wilders sold the seventh lot to OLIVER CARTER of Lancaster, Mass., Jan. 21, 1783, and the sixth lot, on the fourteenth of August in the same year. A few days later, Sept. 6, 1783, Carter sold the south half of the sixth lot to Josiah Seward, in whose farm it remained. Oliver Carter was hardly a resident of Sullivan, although he signed the petition for incorporation. He was a merchant in Lancaster, Mass., where his family lived. His brother, Elijah Carter, lived on this farm a short time before he purchased the place at 137. The Carters built the house which stood at 142, about 1785 or 1786. The old frame has been moved to a position south- west of 141 and is used as a shed. It is a little more than 120 years old at present. After Elijah Carter moved to 137, the house and farm at 142 were rented to Enos Bailey (or Bayley, as sometimes spelled), who also came from Lancaster, Mass, and had married Patience Kendall, a sister of Jonathan, Jr., and Ebenezer. BENJAMIN HASTINGS of Bolton, Mass., a soldier of the Revolu- tion, bought the farm of the Carters, May 8, 1806. He moved that year into the house at 142. He lived here until his son, Abijah, built the new house at 141, in 1843, and lived with him there. He died, however, at the house of his son, William, at 147. He acquired a good farm and owned several whole lots which were used as back pastures. He sold the farm to his sons, ABIJAH and WILLIAM HASTINGS, Mar. 16, 1829, reserving his maintenance out of it. ABIJAH HAST- INGS bought the half interest of William in this homestead, March 23, 1840, shortly before the former's second marriage. Abijah lived all his life upon this farm and died at 141, Oct. 24, 1856. He had been an honest, hard-working man. He had no sons to take the old homestead, much to his regret. His second wife lived in Marlow after his death and died there. Lucius and D. A. Nims, bought the farm at auction. Their deeds from the different heirs are dated, Apr. 28, and Apr. 30, in the year, 1857. On May 6, 1857, they deeded the place to WILLIAM HASTINGS, brother of Abijah, who returned to the old homestead for the rest of his life. He left two sons, and it was his fond hope that they would spend their days upon the old farm and always keep it in the family, but fate is decidedly averse to such a continuance of estates in one family, as a rule, in these restless, unstable, modern days. It is exceedingly sad to those of us who have considerable sentiment to see the old homesteads go to ruin. William
81
710
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
Hastings died upon this place, Jan. 4, 1866. He was a strongly-built, hard- working man, prudent and industrious. His wife was an excellent helpmate. She could perform almost any household service, was an excellent cook, and, for years, one of the most competent and reliable nurses. Mr. Hastings left the farm to his two sons, THOMAS A. and WILLIAM B. HASTINGS, allowing for the widow's maintenance. They remained a few years upon the farm, but eventually preferred to engage in other business. The widow sold her rights in the place to the sons, Dec. 9, 1889, and, on the same day, the latter sold the farm to CHARLES A. HOWARD, who came here from Marlborough, and, after remaining nearly eigh- teen years, returned to Marlborough. He was a thrifty farmer and a good neighbor. He was a descendant of the Stoddard Taylors. His family were well liked in town. He was a soldier of the Civil War. His son is an electri- cian. He sold the place, Nov. 20, 1906, to C. W. Hubbard and L. H. Goodnow, Esy., who wanted it for the timber upon it. They sold it, Mar. 30, 1907, to Charles L. Tuttle, who came from Alstead, and now (1908) lives here.
142. Site of the old house built by the Carters, and in which Benjamin and Abijah Hastings lived, until Abijah built the new house at 141 in 1843. This new house was built from the material of the old Amasa Brown mansion which stood at 258. The Browns moved to Keene in 1842. For owners of the Hastings farm, see 141.
143. Site of the first house, a log house, occupied by Jonathan Kendall, Jr. See 144.
I44. Site of the house occupied by the Kendalls, Solomon Esty, and D. L. Richardson. The man who originally drew this lot paid no attention to it. It was sold by the Stoddard tax collectors for the non-payment of taxes, in four different instalments. E. Adams and another collector sold two pieces, on Apr. 24, 1783, and Apr. 28, 1784. Nathaniel Evans, as collector, sold another piece, Aug. 3, 1786 ; J. N. Mather sold the fourth piece, Mar. 20, 1787. The purchaser, in every case, was Samuel Seward, who thus acquired the whole lot. He sold it, Apr. II, 1788, to JONATHAN KENDALL, JR., who came here from Lancaster, Mass., the original home of so many Sullivan settlers. This was not a particu- larly good farm. The land was not of a character to be very productive, but several large families have gained a living upon it. Mr. Kendall was a brother of Ebenezer Kendall, who lived at 145. His father, Jonathan Kendall, St., spent his last years here, where he died, Sept. 18, 1809. SPARHAWK KENDALL, son of Jonathan, Jr., bought an undivided half of this farm, Aug. 22, 1818. An ell was then constructed upon the south end of the building for his accomodation, which became the future kitchen of occupants of the house. Sparhawk also purchased land of Hammond Keith, to enlarge his farm. Sparhawk died, Apr. 4, 1827, and his body was the first in Sullivan to be carried to the cemetery in the first hearse of the town, which was built by William Brown. The remains of this hearse are still preserved in the hearse-house near the meetinghouse. At this funeral also liquors were served for the last time at any Sullivan funeral. Black gloves were also given to those who attended the service, a custom not afterwards observed in town. JONATHAN KENDALL, JR., purchased of the heirs of his son, Sparhawk, all of their rights in the farm, May 24, 1828. ALPHEUS KENDALL, another son of Jonathan, Jr., then purchased the farm of his father,
711
FAMILY HISTORIES.
July 30, 1828, but, after living here nearly five years, sold it back to his father, Apr. 23, 1833. Alpheus was a fine musician and played the violin remarkably well for one who had received no more instruction. He was one of the musicians in the old military company, and Sparhawk had been the captain of that com- pany. Alpheus Kendall moved to Charlestown, N. H. Jonathan Kendall, Jr., in a year after he had purchased the farm, sold it and lived, partly with his daughter, and partly with other persons, for several years, and died, May 18, 1845, at the house of John Dunn, at 151. He had sold the farm, Apr. 1, 1834, to SOLOMON ESTY, a native of Keene, who had been living in Stoddard, on the Petts Hill, just above Chandler's mill. Mr. Esty had twelve children who grew to maturity, of whom the youngest five were born here. Alpheus Kendall was still living in part of the house when the Estys moved in. He shortly after- wards moved to Charlestown. Mr. Esty owned this farm more than thirty years. For his family, see the genealogies. His son, Charles D., was a successful business man in New York. See page 613. Another son, Lyman E., was in the army. Mr. Estey moved to Keene in 1856 and rented the farm to Seneca Wilson, formerly of Chester, Vt., who lived here in 1856-57. John Foster and George F. Russell, who married a daughter of Mr. Foster, rented the farm, 1857-59. Mr. Russell enlisted in the First N. H. Vols., at the beginning of the Civil War. The Fosters and Russells moved from this place to Keene and finally to Fitch- burg, Mass. The Estys returned to the farm for a short time, 1859-60. At a later date, Mr. Esty made an arrangement with his son, Solon Esty, with regard to his maintenance, and Solon took a deed of this place from his father, May 4, 1864. Solon sold it, June 18, 1866, to DAVID L. RICHARDSON, who still owns it. The buildings have disappeared. The house stood until within three or four years, but had not been habitable since about 1890. The pattern of the house was the same as that of the Comstock house where George W. Holt lived many years, at 112. Mr. Richardson moved to 114 in 1884, where he has since resided. See 114. He was the last occupant of the old house on this spot, which was already partly demolished before he left it. He has cultivated the land to some extent since he left it, but it is mostly pastured.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.