Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 43

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 43

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).

Reuben Parker came to Richmond, from Massachusetts, in 1758, and in 1765 located on road 38, upon what has since been called Parker hill.

Jedediah Buffum came here at a very early day, and died herein 1784. His son Robert was born in the town, and Daniel, son of Robert, a pensioner of the war of 1812, is now the oldest resident.

James Brown came to this town, from Rhode Island, about 1765, and set- tled upon the farm owned by Preston L. Freeman. His daughter Hannah married Rufus Keton, of Warwick, Mass., who came to live on the same place, and their daughter married Lewis Freeman, who became the owner of the old homestead, by buying out the interest of the other heirs, and located there in 1836. It is now owned by his son, Preston L.

Nathan Aldrich came here about 1765, from Smithfield, R. I., cleared a farm in the northeastern part of the town, and reared a large family of chil- dren, one of whom, Nathan, Jr., is said to have been the strongest man in town. He died here in 1832, at the age of eighty-two years. His son Levin was born in 1777, had ten children, was a farmer, and died in 1856. All of his children lived to maturity, and six are now living, of whom David B., re- sides in town, on road 22, and Hosea B., resides in Jaffrey.

Jeremiah Thayer came to this town, from Massachusetts, in 1762, and set- tled in the northwestern part of the town, on road 14. He had three chil- dren, none now living. His son Ellis was born here in 1788, and resided here till his death, in 1870, at the age of nearly eighty-two years. He was twice mar- ried, and had seven children, four of whom are now living. His son Nelson, who is a resident of the town, began, in 1848, the manufacture of edge tools, which he carried on until 1880, and, in connection with this, he carried on the business of carding wool, for about twenty years. He was obliged to dis- continue business, however, on account of ill health, being confined to his home by rheumatism.

Obadiah Sprague came here from Rhode Island, at an early day, and lo- cated on road 31. He was a farmer, and also run a saw and grist-mill. He was twice married, and reared a family of seven children, none of whom are

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TOWN OF RICHMOND.

living. His son Enoch was born here, and reared a family of six children, four of whom are living. Another son, Samuel, was born here in 1797, and lived in town until 1861, when he moved to Winchester, where he died, in September, 1882. He reared a family of five children, all but one of whom, Henry S., who died in the army, are living. Of the other children, Leander lives in Fitchburg, Mass., Mrs. D. S. Swan in Winchester, Mrs. Julia Whip- ple in Keene, and Obadiah, the well-known manager of the Stratton Mills, (now West Swanzey Manufacturing Co.) resides in Swanzey.

Daniel Cass, one of the early settlers of Richmond, located upon a farm on road 29, which his son Jonathan afterwards occupied. Jonathan, Jr., who died in 1878, resided upon the same place, which is now occupied by his widow.

Jeremiah Bullock came from Royalston, Mass., at an early day, settled in the southern part of the town, and died in Winchester. His son, Cass Bul- ock, also resided in town, and in the same locality. He had three children, one of whom, Asa, always lived here, and died here in 1874. Asa H., and Henry, sons of Asa, now reside in town. Nathan, son of Jeremiah, was born in town, married Sarah, daughter of Paul Jillson, and located in the western part of the town. He reared a family of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living.

John Martin, of Smithfield, R. I., settled here at an early day, and his son Wikchmess, was either the first or second child born in the town. The latter resided most of his life on the farm now owned by his son Danvers. He reared a family of twelve children, only two of whom are now living, Stephen, in Pennsylvania, and Danvers upon the old farm, on road 44.

Peregrine Wheeler, of Berlin, Mass., came here about 1800 and located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Jonas R. He was a farmer and had only one son, Levi, born in 1802, who lived to maturity. Levi had a family of eight children who lived to maturity, and he resided here until his death, in 1858. One son, Jonas R., resides on the old homestead, and his children are the fourth generation who have lived upon the same farm.

Uberto Bowen, son of James, was born in Richmond in 1813, and carried on the mercantile business here for over twenty years. He was also engaged in the manufacture of pails and is now occupied in farming.

William Wright, an early settler of Swanzey, was killed by the fall of a great beam in a barn, in 1810. His son Luther was born there and moved to Middlebury, Vt., where he lived for a time, but afterwards returned to Swan- zey and died in Winchester, in 1838. He married Rhoda, sister of the Hon. Elijah Belding, and reared a family of twelve children, two of whom are now living. One son, William, resides on road 17, in this town, is one of the selectmen, and has held the office of justice of the peace since 1850. He was town representative in 1849 and 1850, and has been largely engaged in settling estates, &c.

Lewis Freeman, born May 8, 1798, married Nancy, daughter of Rufus

360

TOWN OF RICHMOND.

Kelton, July 4, 1825, and removed, in 1836, from Sharon, Mass., to the farm first occupied by John Dandley. He died June 23, 1878. He had born to him eight children, namely, N. Augusta, Preston L., Rufus, James B., Ellen, Thomas, Francis W. and Loren A. Preston L., born March 28, 1828, married Lucy J. Wright, June 29, 1867, and lives on the home farm. Rufus, born July 6, 1832, married Melissa, daughter of Jonas Twitchell, lives in , Keene, and is in the employ of the Cheshire railroad company.

Dr. Samuel P. French, born in Gilmanton, N. H., March 17, 1818, gradu- ated at Dartmouth college in 1841. He studied medicine with Dr. Nahum Wright, of Gilmanton, commenced practice at Merrimac, in 1845; and in Richmond in 1846. He removed to Winchester in 1864, then to Warwick in 1868, and from thence returned to Richmond in 1881. He married Nancy H. M., daughter of Abner Barden, and had born to him three children, viz .: Helen M., born June 26, 1851 ; Arthur P., born March 5, 1854, and Caro- line J., born July 19, 1859. Dr. French died February 7, 1882, while on a visit to one of his patients.

Lemuel Scott, the second male child born in Richmond, was born Febru- ary 24, 1763, and married Abigail Cook, who was born May 10, 1766. He reared a family of six children, as follows: Rachel, Lurana, Lemuel, Jr., John, Abigail and Alvin.

Amos Garnsey, a native of Rehoboth, Mass., came to Richmond about 1762, and settled in the western part of the town. He reared a family of five children, as follows : Cyril, Amos, Lucy, Moses and Cyrus. Cyril was born in Richmond April 30, 1764, married Saloma Garfield, an aunt of the late President Garfield, December 24, 1784, who bore him twelve children, as fol- lows : John, Ist., born December 11, 1786, left home at an early day and moved to Canada, where he died. Merriam, born May 2, 1788, married Solo- mon Gage, and moved to the state of New York. John 2d, was born July 28, 1790. Aaron was born October 11, 1793. Dr. Darius, born August 28, 1795, married Abigail, daughter of Lemuel Scott, and moved to Whitefield, N. H., where he practiced medicine. Of his three children, Norris G. Ist, was born August 7, 1818, and died in 1825; Sanford, born June 23, 1820, lives in Chesterfield Factory ; and Norris G. 2d, born March 18, 1826, lives in Keene, N. H. Dr. Darius Garnsey, died February 12, 1831. His wife died April 22, 1877, at Chesterfield Factory, where she was residing with her son Sanford. Mary, daughter of Cyril, was born November 7, 1797, married John Scott and lived in Richmond until her death. Amos, son of Cyril, was born February 3, 1802. Naoma was born April 3, 1804, and married Thomas Eastman, of Whitefield. Phebe was born February 9, 1808. Aaron, 2d, was born September 14, 1812, and Ruth was born January 23, 1815. Cyril Garnsey moved to Whitefield, N. H., in 1824, where he died, March 24, 1840. His widow, Saloma, died May 13, 1842.

Paul G. Gillson came to this town from Rhode Island, at an early day and was engaged in manufacturing linen-wheels. He reared a family of seven

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

children, none now living. There are none of the family in town at the pres- ent day, but many are scattered over different parts of the country.

The Baptist church of Richmond .- In 1768 there was a Baptist church or- ganized here, which was among the first established in New Hampshire. El- der Maturin Ballou, who moved to the town during that year was installed as its first pastor, September 27, 1770. Their first church building was erected in 1780. The society, however, early met with trials and dissentions, and from 1791 gradually diminished until it became practically extinct. The present society was organized March 24, 1835, Elder Edward Hale being installed as its first pastor. The church building, a substantial brick structure, was erected in 1836-'37, and is now valued at $2,000.00. The present pastor of the so- ciety is Rev. E. P. Merrifield.

The Universalist society was formed in April, 1837. The church build- ing, located at the middle of the town, was built soon after at a cost of $2,- 485.36.

The Methodist church was organized in 1840, and Rev. Alexander H. Ful- lerton was the first pastor, installed in 1842. In June, 1870, a second church was formed, which held meetings regularly up to 1877. Rev. G. F. Shove is the present pastor.

R INDGE lies in the southeastern corner of the county, in lat. 42° 45', and long. 5° I'. It is thomboidal in outline, its boundaries inclining about 2° east of north, and twelve degrees north of west, bounded north, 1,898 rods by Jaffrey, and 513 rods by Sharon ; east, 1,694 rods, by New Ipswich ; south by Ashburnham and Winchendon, Mass .; and west, 1,730 rods, by Fitzwilliam. The township was originally granted by Massa- chusetts, about 1730, to a part of the soldiers, or their heirs, who went out in an expedition to Canada in 1690, the grantees being sixty in number. It was surveyed by Nathan Haywood, in 1738, and was bounded so as to con- tain a tract of land equivalent to six miles square, laid out in the following form :- (See next page.)

It included a part of Jaffrey and Sharon on the north, which was a broken line, and did not extend on the south to the State line, as subsequently es- tablished. In this survey an allowance of 10,000 acres was made for "ten large ponds," and for "a large shrub swamp," which at present is familiarly known as "Tophet swamp." This low ground was included in Rowley Can- ada as bounded by this survey, but now constitutes a part of Sharon. The name was given for the reason that a number of the soldiers who went to Canada were from Rowley, hence Rowley Canada. A few settlers located here under this charter, and the township was laid out and allotted. The establishment of the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in 1741, however, threw the whole of the territory within the bounds of New Hamp-

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

shire, and hence gave the Masonian grantees undisputed possession of the land. Accordingly, a tract nearly identical with that of Rowley Canada was granted by them, February 14, 1849,* to Solomon Stewart and forty-two

PLAN OF ROWLEY CANADA-1738.

other grantees, fifteen of whom were residents of Lunenburg, Mass. This grant was given the name of Southern Monadnock, or Monadnock No. I. This township was surveyed, allotted, and the lots drawn in 1750. This change of charters, and consequent clashing of land titles, proved exceed- ingly detrimental to the settlement of the territory. Finally, however, Feb- ruary II, 1768, a confirmatory charter was received from Massachusetts, under which the town was legally incorporated, with the name of Rindge, given in honor of Daniel Rindge, who was then an active member of the Provincial council. In this charter the township is bounded as follows :-

" Beginning at the southwest corner of New Ipswich then running on the Province line west 10º north seven miles, to the southeast corner of No. 4, [Fitzwilliam]; thence running north by the needle by No. 4 aforesaid five miles ; thence east 10° south seven miles to New Ipswich ; and thence south by the needle by New Ipswich, to the bounds began at."

*This date should really be 1750, for until 1752, the civil year began on the 25th of March, while the historic year began on the Ist of January.

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

According to the bounds thus defined, the town would contain an area of 22,060 acres. If each corner had been a right-angle, the area would have been thirty-five square miles, or 22,400 acres. As it is, however, the area is very near 24,000, or, as Merrill's Gazetteer of 1817 gives it, 23,838 acres, about one-sixth of which is covered with water.

The surface of the town is hilly, though its elevations are scattering and mound-like in appearance, with no prominent elevations. These hills, with no abrupt or broken outlines, are nearly all fertile to their very summits. The peculiarity of this formation renders the town remarkable as having its wild land and forests in the valleys and its cultivated farms upon the hills. The town is well watered, indeed remarkably so. The water-shed between the Connecticut and the Merrimac divides the town into nearly equal parts, the ridge being so clearly defined that the water from the eaves from several of the dwellings in the town, flows from the one side into the Connecticut, and from the other into the Merrimac. Miller's and Contoocock rivers both have their source here. The northern slope is drained by Long pond, the head of the Contoocook. The southern slope is mostly drained by Mono- monock lake, the head of Miller's river. The town also has, inclusive of reser- voirs, thirteen ponds. The largest of these, Monomonock lake, lies in the southern part, partly in Winchendon, and has an area of about 2,600 acres. Emerson pond, in the northern part, is another fine sheet, closed in the em- brace of surrounding hills. The principal of the others are, Smith, Tortoise, Pearley. Mud, Pecker, Long, Pool, Grassy, Bullet, Hubbard and Little Hubbard ponds, though there are several other artificial reservoirs. Fish abound in nearly all of them. The prevailing rock is granite, though abound- ing more in the form of bowlders than ledges. Fine specimens of quartz crystals are found. The Monadnock railroad passes through the western part of the town, with a station at West Rindge.

In 1880 Rindge had a population of 936 souls. In 1884 the town had ten school districts and ten public schools, one of which was graded. Its ten school-houses, including sites, furniture etc., was valued at $10,100.00. There were 163 pupils attending school, fifty of whom were studying the higher branches, taught by two male and eleven female teachers, the former at an average monthly salary of $45.00, and the latter $24.65. The entire amout of revenue for the year was $1,850.00, while the entire expenditure was $1,585.00, with Jason S. Perry, superintendent.

RINDGE is a handsome post village, located in the central part of the town. Its fine, healthful location, the beautiful scenery which surrounds it, and good fishing afforded, have rendered it exceedingly popular with city people and summer tourists. It has one church (Congregational), a fine hotel, school- house, two stores, three blacksmith shops, and about thirty dwellings.

WEST RINDGE (p. o.) a hamlet located in the western part of the town, on the Monadnock railroad, has one church (Methodist Episcopal), four wooden- ware manufactories, one store, and about twenty dwellings.

364

TOWN OF RINDGE.

EAST RINDGE (p. o.) is a hamlet in the eastern part of the town. It has a public library containing a thousand volumes, two box factories, saw-mill, etc., and about twenty-five dwellings.

Rindge Hotel, located at Rindge village, A. G. Sherman, proprietor, is a fine hotel in every respect, and is well patronized by the traveling public and sum- mer boarders from Boston and other cities. It is distant only two miles from the railway station at West Rindge, and is sixty miles from Boston.

The Union Box and Lumber Co., located at East Rindge, was organized in 1870. This style is still retained, though Joel Wellington has been sole pro- prietor for the past five years. He cuts 2,000 cords of logs per year, and manufactures all kinds of boxes. In connection with the works are a black- smith shop, ten tenement houses, and a general store.

W. F. Sawtell & Son's wooden-ware manufactory, at West Rindge, was built by S. Metcalf, about 1840. They manufacture about $5,000.00 worth of goods per year.

Abram M. White's wooden-ware works, at West Rindge, were built by a Mr. Whitney, in 1874. He has facilities for manufacturing $12,000.00 worth of goods per annum.

O. D. Converse's grist and saw-mill, located on road 35, was built by Z. & O. D. Converse, in 1862. He manufactures staves for pails and wooden-ware, with capacity for turning out 300,000 feet per year,and does custom grinding.

J. C. Towne & Son's saw-mill, located in the northern part of the town, was built in 1828. They employ six men and saw 100,000 feet per annum. They are also extensively engaged in the lumber and wood trade,

Charles O. Sawtell's wooden-ware shop is at West Rindge. He manu- factures knife-trays, bowls, mortars, etc.

Aaron S. Sawtell's wooden-ware shop, at West Rindge, was built by Enos Blake, in 1818.

John A. White's saw-mill, on road 23, turns out about 75,000 feet of lum- ber per year.

Lorenzo G. Metcalf's saw-mill, on road 23, was built by Levi and Dennis Howe, about fifty years ago. It has the capacity for turning out 1,000,000 feet of lumber per year.

The Eagle Box Co.'s business at East Rindge, was established by Henry Russell, about forty years ago, and was continued through various changes until July, 1884, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. M. W. & M. E. Woods then purchased the property and erected the present buildings in Sep- tember. They employ sixteen hands, and manufacture 200 cords of lumber per annum into fig, nest, berry, and grease boxes, etc.

The Medium's Camp Meeting of the Two Worlds, of Rindge, N. H., was in- corporated under the laws of the state of New Hampshire in 1884. The objects of this company are the development of mediumship and the promulgation of the doctrines and facts of modern spiritualism, and to provide summer homes for spiritualists. The grounds are located on the Rindge and Jaffrey road and

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

were formerly known as the Gardner farm, upon the banks of lake Sunshine, formerly known as Long pond. The first meeting opened June 21, 1885, and continued for four weeks. The best talent upon the spiritual platform has been engaged, a fine speaker's stand and auditorium with seats for 1,000 per- sons erected. The new but wide spread organization known as the Na- tional Developing Circle of the United States of North America have erected a fine temple upon the ground and quite a large number of cottages have been and are being erected by members of the company. The avenues upon the ground run due east and west and north and south. Lots 35 x 70 feet have been staked out and about 100 have been sold to persons from Boston. The officers of the company are as follows: Dr. James A. Bliss, president ; Mrs. James A. Bliss, vice-president ; Dr. W. H. Gordon, clerk ; F. B. Robbins, treasurer ; Mrs. G. Davenport Stevens, corresponding secretary ; all of Bos- ton, Mass.

The first attempt towards the settlement of the town was made by Abel Platts, as early as 1742. Ezekiel Jewett was here at an early date, and built a house here previous to 1753. It is probable that a few other families had temporary settlements here under the first charter ; but the subsequent land title troubles and fear of the Indians drove them all off. Abel Platts resided alternately in Rowley Canada and Lunenburg until 1751 or '52, after which he was a permanent settler here. He first settled upon the farm now owned by Martin L. Goddard. This farm, with many acres adjoining, he gave to his son Joseph previous to 1752, and commenced another clearing, and built a house a short distance north of Pool pond. His son Abel, born in 1738, remained with him until his death, and received, by bequest, the farm on which he last resided. Joseph Platts married in 1752, and then became a permanent settler, though he had probably been at work on his farm for several preceding years. Ezekiel Jewett settled, about 1752, upon the farm now owned by Dr. C. E. Ware, where he resided until his death. Joel Russell, from Littleton, came with his wife and five children in 1752, locating in the northwestern part of the town. After several changes he finally settled upon the farm for many years owned by Benjamin Hastings. His son Silas was married previous to 1767. Among the other earlier settlers were Stephen and Jonathan Jewett, Jonathan Stanley, John, Eleazer and Henry Coffeen, brothers, from Lunenburg, William Carlton, and John Lilly, all of whom were here pre- vious to 1759. During the latter year the first road was laid out, and the first preaching enjoyed, and during the summer of the following year, 1760, the first saw-mill was built, by the proprietors. In 1764 the first meeting- house was raised, and in the meantime settlers kept coming in slowly. Three years later, in 1767, a census of the town was taken, giving the following result :-

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

*Married men from 16 to 60 years of age. 54

Married women.

Unmarried men from 16 to 60 years of age 54

Boys of 16 years and under.

Female slaves I

Widows I

Total. 298

On the IIth of February, 1768, the town was incorporated, as previously stated, and on the 17th of the following March the first town meeting was held, at the meeting-house, when the following officers were elected : Enoch Hale, moderator ; Nathaniel Russell, town clerk ; Nathaniel Russell, William Carlton and Henry Goddin, selectmen ; Nathaniel Hale, constable ; Henry Coffeen, treasurer ; Aaron Taylor and John Coffeen, tythingmen ; Samuel Sherwin and Page Norcross, fence viewers ; Joseph Worster and Abel Stone, haywards and field drivers ; Jacob Gould, Benjamin Davis, Joseph Worster and Jonathan Parker, Jr., surveyors of highways; and Enoch Hale, pound keeper. By these proceedings the administration of the proprietors ended. No other business was transacted.

The first saw-mill, as previously mentioned, was built by the proprietors in 1760, Abijah Smith doing the work. It stood near the outlet of Grassy pond. The first grist-mill was built by John Hopkinson, in 1762, upon the site now occupied by the mill of O. D. Converse. The first tannery was built by Benjamin Bancroft, who came from Groton, Mass., in 1773. This was lo- cated a short distance east of the present residence of Colonel Stearns. Dr. David Morse, who came here in 1768, was the first physician. The first store was kept by Col. Nathan Hale, in 1772. The postoffice was established at Rindge April 26, 1815, and Capt. Moses Todd was the first postmaster. The first justice of the peace was Enoch Hale, who received his commission in 1768.

In the Revolutionary struggle Rindge was unusually active, sending out a company of fifty-four men at the first sound of battle in 1775. During the war she sent out several hundred men (including re-enlistments), and spent, for those times, a large amount of money in the cause. The part she took was far too extensive to admit of rehearsal here, though an exhaustive account of the same may be found by those interested in Stearns's " His- tory of Rindge." In the late great war also, the town faithfully responded, and her quota under all calls was promptly filled. She furnished, aside from her several hundred soldiers, $30,000.00 in bounties, and $1,000.00, disbursed by the war committee, not assumed by the state.

Joshua Chadwick, a soldier of the Revolution, came here from Andover,

*Mr. Stearns claims there is a slight error in this table relative to the number of married people here-(see "History of Rindge," page 78).

Females unmarried (all ages)

Men 60 years and above .. 84

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TOWN OF RINDGE.

Mass., about 1750, and was the first settler upon a farm on road 5. His son, Joshua, remained here upon the same farm until his death. Isaac, son of Joshua, Jr., married Betsey Foster and returned to the old homestead, thus making the third generation which had resided thereon. His son Abner F. married twice ; first, Eliza Bertholf, and second, Harriet E. Ward, and now resides on road 35. Charles I., son of Abner F., married Harriet M., daughter of Ira and Susan Converse. He was a soldier of the Rebellion, enlisting September 9, 1861, in Co. I, 26th Mass. Vols., and was transferred to the regular army, as a special messenger under Generals Hancock, Sickles and Canby. He was honorably discharged and now resides in this town, on road 35.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 43

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034