Cheshire County Townships and Locations from Merrill's 1817 Gazetteer of New Hampshire Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by T.C. Parziale Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ From The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late Phinehas Merrill, Esq., Printed by C. Norris & Co., Exeter, NH, ©1817, Part Two of Gazetteer: CHESHIRE COUNTY- lies on the easterly bank of Connecticut river, and is bounded by the state of Massachusetts the S., Grafton county on the N., and Hillsborough county on the E. It contains in land and water, 763,860 acres. Its number of townships is thirty-six, and its inhabitants amount to 41, 042 of whom 7,478 are legal voters. It has 52 houses for public worship, 2 academies, 109 grain mills, 155 saw-mills, 46 mills for dressing cloth, 9 oil-mills, 7 cotton and 5 woolen factories, 23 carding machines, 2 paper mills, 69 trading stores and 15 distilleries. In 1813, this county contained 28 stud horses, 5, 771 horses of 5 years old, 498 of 4 years old, 5,169 oxen of full growth, 2,930 of 4 years old, 14,317 cows, 9,632 cattle of 3 years old, and 1,891 acres of orchard land. The chief towns in Cheshire county are Charleston and Keene. The superior court and the courts of common pleas sit in these towns alternately, and the probate court holds three sessions in each of these towns every year. This county sends 35 representatives to the state legislature, and there is a gaol in each of the shire towns. ALSTEAD - a township of Cheshire county, incorporated in 1763, with a population at present of 1644 souls, is bounded N. by Acworth and Langdon, E. by Marlow, and S. by Walpole and Langdon, containing 24,756 acres, of which 300 are water. Here are 2 meeting - houses for Congregationalists and 1 for Baptists; 15 school-houses, 5 saw and 3 grain-mills, 1 paper and 1 oil mill, a mill for dressing cloth and a carding machine. The soil is strong and succulent, producing flax, wheat, and etc. in exuberance. Fruit trees thrive well here. Cheshire turnpike intersects the S.W. part and the road from Hale’s Bridge passes through the center of the town. The largest body of water here is Warren’s pond, 230 rods in length and 150 in width, Cold river traverses the N.E. angle of Alstead, where it receives the waters of Warren’s pond. Several branches of Ashuelot river have their sources in this town. Rev. Jacob Mann was ordained here over the congregational church in 1782; dismissed in 1789. Rev. Samuel Mead settled in the same parish 1791;--dismissed 1797, since which time this parish has had no ordained minister. Rev. Levi Lankton still continues in the East parish where he was settled in 1792. Elder Jeremiah Higbee has the pastoral care of the Baptist church in this town. J.M.B. The average number of deaths in Alstead from 1807 to 1811, was 21 per annum. J.M.&J.M.B CHESTERFIELD - a township in Cheshire county. It was incorporated in 1752, and in 1810, its population amounted to 1830. It is situated on Connecticut river opposite to Dummerston in Vermont. It is bounded N. by Westmoreland, S.E. by Swansey and a part of Keene, S. by Winchester and Hinsdale, and W. by Connecticut river. This town contains a pond of 526 acres, called Spafford’s pond, and in the S.W. part of the town is a part of West river mountain. The soil of this town is of various qualities, and its surface is rough. It produces different kinds of grain, and is well suited to grass, pasturing, etc. The Rev. Abraham Wood, a congregational minister, was ordained in this town Dec. 31st, 1772, and is still settled there. This town contains a Baptist society, which however is destitute of a public house of worship. The village here is small, but it contains an academy, which is supported by its tuition money, subscriptions, and yearly donations. Its average number of students is 40. There is also a cotton factory in this town, which was incorporated in 1809, and has in operation 844 spindles. Besides this, there are 2 distilleries, 4 grist mills, 7 saw mills, 2 mills for dressing cloth, 2 carding machines, 5 shops, and 10 school houses. West river mountain, which is partly in this town, is of some note. In the year 1730, the garrison at fort Dummer was frequently alarmed by explosions heard form this mountain, attended by the emission of columns of smoke. Similar phenomena have been noticed at various subsequent periods. There are two places about this mountain where the rocks bear evident traces of having been heated and calcined. (See Belnap, Vol.III) DUBLIN - a township in Cheshire, incorporated in 1761, and now containing 1,184 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Nelson and Hancock, S. by Jaffrey, E. by Peterborough, and W. by Marlborough and a part of Roxbury, and contains 26,560 acres, 600 of which are water. centre pond, a few rods S.W. of the meeting house is 300 rods in length and 160 in width. North pond is about 400 rods long and 140 wide. There are also several smaller ponds in this place. A branch of the Ashuelot river and two branches of the Contoocook have their rise in Dublin. The former falls into the Connecticut, and the latter into the Merrimack. In the southerly part of this town is situated the grand Monadnock mountain. Dublin has 6 corn mills, 8 sawmills, 1 mill for dressing cloth, 1 carding machine, a distillery, and 11 school houses. The first minister here was the Rev. Joseph Farrar, a Congregationalist, who was ordained on the 10th of June, 1772, and dismissed in June, 1716. Rev. Edward Sprague, the present minister, was settled over the same church in 1777. There is also a Baptist church here, over which Elder Elijah Willard was ordained in 1794. Each of these societies has a meeting house. Dublin is composed of two small villages beside many scattered houses. FITZWILLIAM - a township in Cheshire county, situated on the southerly line of the state, which separates it form Royalston and Winchendon in Massachusetts. It is bounded by Richmond on the W. Marlborough on the N., and Jaffrey and Rindge on the E., and contains 26,900 acres, 400 of which are water. In this town lies south pond, which is 320 rods long and 90 wide in its narrowest part; and also Dip’s pond, 200 rods long and 100 wide. Fitzwilliam was incorporated in 1773, and its population is now 1,310. it is situated on the height of land south of the Monadnock mountain and its surface is hilly. the soil is rocky but well adapted to grass and to the cultivation of various kinds of grain. The low lands are covered with pine, hemlock and spruce. There are also some valuable and productive meadows. Near the centre of the town is a large hill remarkable for the beautifully romantic prospect which it affords; and in the northwest part of the town is Gap mountain, which at a distance appears to be part of the Monadnock, and on which are found the common substances called whet stones. About half a mile north of the centre of the town four turnpike roads meet, viz. one from Keene one from Winchester, one to Templeton, and one to Ashby, (Mass.); the two last lead to Boston. There is a village here comprising about 20 houses, a meeting house, 3 stores, and several mechanics’ shops. At the south end of South pond an enterprising citizen opened a canal through the bank of the pond at some distance from its natural outlet, and erected upon it a grist mill, which promises to be productive and useful. At the north extremity of the town there is a village of about 15 houses, besides a grain-mill, a fulling mill and a carding machine. Several looms and machines for spinning wool have been in operation here during the past summer. The first church in this town was formed on the 27th of March, 1771, on congregational principles, over which the rev. Benj. Brigham was ordained pastor. This gentleman died on the 11th of June, 1799, in the 58th year of his age and the 29th of his ministry. His successor was the Rev. Stephen Williams, who was dismissed in November, 1802. The Rev. John Sabin, the present minister of the place, was ordained on the 6th of march, 1805. Brig. Gen. James Reed, a revolutionary officer, was a citizen of this town, and reflected honor upon it by his courage as a soldier and his excellencies as a man. The average annual number of deaths in this town for the last seven years has been about 14. In the year 1812, 16 persons died here of the throat distemper. GILSUM - a township in Cheshire county, incorporated in 1763, and now containing 513 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Alstead and Marlow, E. by Sullivan and Stoddard, S. by Keene, and W. by Surry. the eastern branch of Ashuelot river passes through this town. Gilsum has 1 meeting house 2 grain mills, and 2 sawmills. Elisha Fish who died in 1807, was its first ordained minister. The annual average number of deaths in this town is not more than 6. In 1813, 10 died here of the spotted fever. HINSDALE - lies in the S.W. extremity of Cheshire county, and is bounded S. by Connecticut river which separates it from Vernon (VT) N. and E. by Chesterfield. Its southern line extends to Massachusetts and adjoins Northfield. Its area is 14,000 acres. Hinsdale was incorporated in 1753 and in 1810, it contained 740 inhabitants. Ashuelot river forms its junction here with Connecticut. The 6th N.H. turnpike passes through this place to Brattleborough (VT) West river mountain rises from the bank of the river, near the borders of Chesterfield. This town was formerly called Fort Dummer, and its situation is pleasant. There is here a Baptist and a congregational meeting house several mills, and a few stores. Fort Dummer was built in 1740, at the expense of Massachusetts, and there was also another fort here, called Hindsdale and Bridgeman fort. On the 26th of June, 1746 a party of Indian’s attacked Bridgeman fort, killed one person and captured several others. The inhabitants dared not go to mill without a guard, and several of them under the command of captain Willard discovered a party of the enemy in ambush near the mill, whom they put to flight with the loss of their packs. On the 8th of December, 1747, Hinsdale fort was bravely defended by four families, a fort was burnt and several persons were killed and others taken prisoners. In July, 1775 Mr. How and Mr. Grout of this town were attacked from an ambush, and How was killed. The Indians proceeded to the fort, where the families of these men resided. The people within, hearing their approach and being anxious to learn the cause of the firing they had just heard, impatiently opened their doors upon the savages, whom in the dusk of the evening they mistook for their friends. The families consisting of 14 persons were made, prisoners, among whom was the wife of How. (See Belknap, Vol. III.) KEENE - one of the principal townships in the county of Cheshire, was incorporated in 1752, and in 1810, contained 1,646 inhabitants; bounded N. by Gilsum, Surry, and Westmoreland, E. by Surry and Roxbury, S. by Swansey and W. by Chesterfiled and Westmoreland, and contains 23,843 acres. Ashuelot river passes through this town and receives here the eastern branch of Beaver brook. The 3d N.H. turnpike has its course through here, and meets the branch and Chester turnpikes and several other principal roads. Keene contains a very handsome village of about 60 dwelling houses, a meeting house, bank, court house, gaol, and several stores, etc. About a mile from the village, a canal is cut from Ashuelot river, on which is a woolen factory, an oil mill and several other mills. The Rev. Jacob Bacon was settled here in 1738, and has been succeeded by the Rev. Messrs. Carpenter, Sumner, and Hall, the latter of whom died in 1814. This town was formerly called Upper Ashuelot. In 1746, the Indians commenced their depredations here, and in the course of the next year they formed a plan to surprise the fort in this place. In the evening they concealed themselves in a swamp, where hey intended to lie till the people should go out to their work the next morning, when they were to rush in and surprise the fort. Ephraim Dounan who happened to go out very early discovered the ambush and gave the alarm. He bravely defended himself against 2 Indians, from one of whom he took a gun and a blanket, which he carried to the fort. The Indians succeeded in burning several houses and barns, and from the bones found among the ashes, it was ascertained that several of the enemy were destroyed in the flames. John Bullard and Nathan Blake were taken captive and carried to Canada where Blake remained 2 years. He died in Keene 1811, at the age of 99. He was one of the first settlers of this place, to which he removed in 1736, from Wrentham, (Mass.) He married a second wife at the age of 94. Two of his brothers lived to the age of 90, and a sister to 100. JAFFREY - a township in Cheshire county, incorporated in 1773, and containing in 1810 a population of 1,336; bounded N. by Dublin, E. by Cheshire county line, which separates it from Sharon and Peterborough, S. by Rindge and Fitzwilliam, and W. by a part of Fitzwilliam and Marlborough, comprising an area of 25, 600 acres, of which 987 are water. The north boundary of the town crosses the Grand Monadnock mountain, which is more than 2,000 feet in height. Long pond in the north part of the town is 400 rods long and 140 wide. Gilmore pond is 300 long and 180 wide. The 3d N.H. turnpike passes through this town, and near it is a mineral spring about one mile S.E. of the Grand Monadnock. A company has been incorporated for the management of its waters. Red ochre has been found near the spring, and in its vicinity have been discovered black lead, copperas, alum sulfur, and an ore yielding from the action of a common forge, a copper colored metal. On the N.W. side of the mountain a cave has been discovered, difficult of access, although it has an area 80 feet square. Here is found also that rare and valuable tree, the mountain ash. A company was incorporated in this town in 1813, for the manufactory of cotton and woolen goods, their factory is situated on the turnpike. It is the uppermost factory on Contoocook river, and is intended to employ 1,000 cotton spindles. There are several mills in its vicinity. Another company has been incorporated in this town for manufacturing the various kinds of crockery and earthen ware. Belonging to this company is an extensive mine of white clay in the town of Monkton (VT) whence it is transported to Jaffrey. This clay has been analyzed and compared by skillful chemists with that from which the European white ware is made and no difference in quality has been discovered. The practicability of the above plan has been fully ascertained by the progress already made in the manufacture. Rev. Laban Ainsworth was ordained here in 1782, and is still in office. There are here a Baptist and a congregational society, for each of which there is a meeting house. MARLBOROUGH - a township in Cheshire county, incorporated in 1776, and now containing 1,142 inhabitants; bounded N. by Roxbury, E. by Dublin and Jaffrey, S. by Fitzwilliam and W. by Swansey and a part of Keene. Its area is 20,749 acres. The 3d N.H. and the Fitzwilliam turnpikes pass through this town. There are here several ponds, which form the source of some of the branches of Ashuelot river. The soil is rocky, suitable for grain and flax and particularly for grass. Rev. Joseph Cummings, the first minister in this town, was ordained in 1778, and dismissed in 1780. His successor, Rev. H. Fish, was ordained in 1793, and is still in office. Marlborough contains 1 congregational meeting house, a manufactory of sithes and hoes, and another of earthen ware, several mills, and 1 carding machine. The annual average number of deaths in this town for 20 years past has been about 13. Capt. Andrew Calhoun, an officer killed in the revolutionary war, was of this town. MARLOW - a township situated nearly in the centre of Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1761, and now contains 566 inhabitants; it is bounded N. by Acworth and Lempster, E. by Washington and Stoddard, S. by a part of Gilsum, and W. by Alstead, comprising an area of 15,737 acres. Several branches of Ashuelot river rise in the small ponds of this town, and its western part is watered by a branch of cold river. There is here a meeting house in which Elder Caleb Blood was ordained in 1777. He has been succeeded by Elders Becket, Dustin and Bates, the latter of whom is now in office and belongs to the order of Methodists. Here are several grist and saw mills and 1 trading shop. NELSON - in Cheshire county, was formerly called Packersfield and received its present name in 1814, by an act of the legislature. It is bounded N. by Stoddard, E. by Hancock and Antrim, S. by Dublin, and W. by Roxbury, containing 22,875 acres and 1076 inhabitants. There are several ponds in this town, such as Spoonwood pond, which communicates with Long pond by a strait about forty rods long. Long pond runs circuitously into Hancock and then returns to Nelson; its length is 1,300 rods. There are also fish, Pleasant, and Roaring brook ponds, Centre pond and Berkshire near Dublin, comprising in all about 1,879 acres of water. In the S. part of this town a branch of the Ashuelot river rises, and in its N. part a branch of the Contoocook. The surface of Nelson is mountainous like that of the adjacent country. Rev. J. Foster was ordained here in 1781. Rev. G. Newhall is the present minister. There is in this town a meeting house, a cotton and woolen factory, 4 grain mills, 3 sawmills and 1 clothing mill. RICHMOND - a township in the S. part of Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1752, and in 1810, contained 1,290 inhabitants; bounded N. by Swansey, E. by Fitzwilliam, S. by Massachusetts, and W. by Winchester, comprising 23, 725 acres. Here are several ponds, the water of which fall into Ashuelot, and one of them is the source of miller’s river. Ashuelot turnpike passes thro’ this town. There are here two societies of Baptists and one of Friends and two meeting houses in a small village near the centre of the town. There are also in Richmond 5 grain mills, 5 sawmills, 1 clothing mill and 1 carding machine. Elders Bellew and Aldrich were first settled here, Elder Billings is the present pastor. ROXBURY, in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1812, and is bounded N. by Sullivan, E. by Nelson and Dublin, S. by Marlborough, and W. by Keene, comprising about 6,000 acres. This town was incorporated subsequent to the last census and of course its population has not been estimated. There is here a meeting house, a grain mill, a sawmill, and a clothing mill. SURRY - a township in Cheshire county, incorporated in 1769, and now containing 564 inhabitants; bounded N. by Alstead, E. by Gilsum, S. by Keene, and W. by Westmoreland and Walpole, comprising 7,917 acres. Ashuelot river flows through this town, and is here between 80 and 100 feet wide. There is one pond in this town, which is near the summit of a mountain. Through Surry the turnpike passes from Chester to Keene. Rev. B. Dalling, the first minister in this place, was settled in 1788. Rev. P. Howe is the present minister. There is here one religious society and a meeting house, 2 grain mills, 2 sawmills, 1 clothing mill, 1 carding machine, 1 distillery, and 2 trading stores. SULLIVAN - a township in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1787, and contains 516 inhabitants; bounded N. by Gilsum and Stoddard, E. by Stoddard and Nelson S. by Roxbury and Keene, and W. by Keene and Gilsum, comprising 12,212 acres. This town is watered by Ashuelot river, and has 2 religious societies, 1 meeting house and a settled minister. There are here 2 sawmills and 1 grain mill. RINDGE - in the N.E. part of Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1760, and in 1810, contained 1,226 inhabitants; bounded N. by Jaffrey and Sharon, E. by New Ipswich, S. by Massachusetts, and W. by Fitzwilliam, comprising 23,838 acres, of which 660 are water. There are in this town 12 ponds, the largest of which (Menomonock pond) has about 200 acres. Of the others some contain 100 acres and others are smaller. The waters from some of them unite with the Menomonock, others empty into Miller’s river and others into the Contoocook river. Red and yellow ochre, crystals, crystalline spars, and vitriol are found here. Rindge has a pleasant village lying on the turnpike, containing a congregational meeting house, several mills, etc. Rev. Seth Dean was ordained here in 1765, and Rev. Seth Payson succeeded him in 1782, and is the present minister. In 1775, this town contained only 542 inhabitants. STODDARD - in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1774, and contains 1,139 inhabitants. It was formerly called Limerick, and is bounded N. by Washington, E. by Windsor and Antrim, S. by Nelson and Sullivan, and W. by Sullivan, Gilsum and Marlow. It contains 35,925 acres, 1,100 of which are water. There are here 17 ponds, all of which discharge their waters into Ashuelot and Contoocook rivers. A ridge of mountains extends more than half through this town. There are here 2 religious societies, 1 meeting house, 4 grain mills, 3 sawmills and 1 clothing mill. SWANZEY - a township in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1753, and now contains 1,400 inhabitants; bounded N. by Keene, E. by Marlborough and Fitzwilliam, S. by Richmond, and W. by Winchester and Chesterfield: its area is 28,057 acres 200 of which are water, Swanzey pond is 1 mile long and 100 rods wide. Ashuelot river in its passage through this town has a breadth of 6 or 8 rods. The branch turnpike crosses the northeast extremity of the town. There are here 3 religious societies, 2 meeting houses, 2 small villages, a cotton factory, distillery, carding machine, 4 grain mills, 12 saw mills, and 3 clothing mills. Rev. T. Harrington was the first minister of this town. He has been succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Carpenter and Goddard. Elder Cutler is the only minister here at present. WALPOLE - a township in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1752, and now contains 1894 inhabitants; bounded N. by Langdon, E. by Alstead and Surry, S. by Westmoreland, and W. by the western bank of Connecticut river. Its area is 24,301 acres. In the northwest part of the town is Fall mountain, extending from Charleston about 550 rods to Bellows’ falls, and about 250 rods beyond. There is a bridge in this town at Bellows falls and another about 375 rods above Bellows’ ferry. A turnpike from Charleston to Keene, and another from Walpole upper bridge to Keene, pass through this town. Cold river falls into the Connecticut a little below Fall mountain. There is in this town only 1 religious society and 1 meeting house. The first settled minister here was the Rev. ------- Leavitt, and the present pastor is the Rev. P. Dickerson. There are here 4 grist mills, 6 sawmills, 2 fulling mills, 1 cotton factory, and 2 carding machines. WESTMORELAND - lies on Connecticut river in the north part of Cheshire county. It was incorporated in 1752, and contains 1,937 inhabitants; bounded N. by Walpole, E. by Surry and Keene, S. by Chesterfield, and W. by Connecticut river, which separates it from Putney in Vermont. Its area is 22,446 acres. There are here 5 religious societies and 3 meeting houses, 2 of them for Baptists and the other for Congregationalists. The Rev. W. Goddard was the first minister of the place. Elders Bailey and Pratt have been his successors, both of whom still officiate. There is in this town a pleasant village, 5 grain mills, 6 sawmills, 2 clothing mills, an oil mill, 2 distilleries, and 4 trading stores. WINCHESTER - lies in the S.W. part of Cheshire county: it was incorporated in 1753, and contains 1,478 inhabitants; bounded N. by Chesterfield and Swanzey, E. by Swanzey and Richmond, S. by Warwick, (Mass.) and W. by Hinsdale, comprising 33,534 acres, 600 of which are water. In Winchester is Humphrey’s pond, 200 rods long and 80 wide. Ashuelot river, in its passage through this town, receives roaring brook and several other streams. The 6th N.H. and the Ashuelot turnpikes pass through Winchester. There are in this place 3 religious societies and 2 meeting houses. Rev. M. Lawrence was settled here in 1764, and Rev. E. Conant in 1788. There are here 4 grain mills, 9 sawmills, 3 clothing mills, 1 carding machine, 1 cotton factory, 2 distilleries, and 2 stores. ************************************************************************ MONADNOCK MOUNTAIN - is in Cheshire county, on the line between Jaffrey and Dublin, 10 miles N. from Massachusetts, 20 E. from Connecticut river. Its base is 1,395 feet and its summit 3,254 above the level of the sea. The diameter of its base is 5 miles from N. to S., 3 from E. to W. and its summit consists of a bald rock.