HISTORY OF WALPOLE, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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TAKEN FROM TWO SOURCES:
1. History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire 
Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1886, 1073 pgs.
2. Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 by Hamilton Child,
Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, 1885, 882 pgs.

PLEASE NOTE: The text on this page is from the original documents
noted above.  Some of the "wording" of these texts are not always
complimentary to persons and places, but are included verbatim, and
are not the opinion of the transcriber.

pages 
HISTORY OF WALPOLE NH
[EXCERPTS ONLY]

WALPOLE lies in the northwestern corner of the county, in lat. 43
degrees 5' and long. 4 degrees 42', bounded north by the county line,
east by Alstead and Surry, south by Surry and Westmoreland, and west
by the western bank of Connecticut river.  It has an area of about
24,331 acres, which was originally granted by the Crown as follows:
In 1735 Governor Belcher, of Massachusetts, obtained leave of the
assembly, for services rendered by his brother Andrew, in the Canada
expedition of 1690, to survey and lay out in two pieces, 1,000
acres of the unappropriated lands of the province. Accordingly the
"two plots" of land on COnnecticut river were laid out by "Thomas
Hinsdale and chairman on oath." One of these "plots" was laid out
on the east side of the Connecticut, in the vicinity of Cold
River, and thus included a portion at least of the present Walpole.
It is said, also, that a plan of the town, granted to Willard,
Bellows and others in 1736, is on file at the state house in
Massachusetts.  In that year, also, several towns were laid out on
the Connecticut, among which the territory of Walpole received the
title of No. 2, the present town of Westminster, Vt. being No. 1.
These numbers were changed a few years later, however, and made to
correspond with the numbers of the several forts, Walpole being No. 3.
But in 1752, Captain Bellows, Theodore Atkinson, Col. Josiah
Blanchard and sixty-seven other grantees purchased township No. 3
and obtained a charter from New Hampshire, signed by Governor
Wentworth on the 13th of February of that year.  The territory,
together with that on the opposite side of the river, had for a long
time borne the name of Bellowstown, but it now received its new name
of Walpole.  The conditions entailed in this charter the proprietors
owing to Indian troubles, etc., failed to comply with; but nine years
later, March 12, 1761, their charter was confirmed to them, and upon
it is based the legality of the town's land-titles of today.

The surface of the town is beautifully diversified by hills and vales,
while in fertility it is equal to any in the county. But perhaps the
town's greatest source of scenic beautify is Bellows falls, in the
Connecticut. Above the falls the river varies from sixteen to twenty
rods in width, and at their verge a large rock divides the stream,
so that at low water the river flows only through the western 
channel, which is contracted to a width of sixteen feet.  But at times
of high water the appearance of the falls is sublime.  Through its
rocky bed the stream rushes with irresistable force, masses of
water being broken up by opposing ledges of rock and dashed many 
feet into the air, until the whole volume is thrown to the lower
level, a distance of forty-two feet.  Kilburn mountain rises abruptly
from the river about 800 feet, forming the eastern wall of the great
gorge spoken of.  In examining the river passage, geologists have
concluded that it has been worn out by the passage of the stream,
and that the valley above must have formed a lake 800 feet in depth,
its surface being 722 feet above the present level of Bellows falls.
An account of the boating, etc. at this point has been given on
pages 53-55. Cold river flows across the northern part of the town,
dropping into the Connecticut about a mile below the falls. Several
minor streams drop into the COnnecticut here, but none of them are of
much importance.

DESCRIPTION OF TOWN IN 1880
In 1880 Walpole had a population of 2,017 souls. In 1884 it had
fourteen school districts and seventeen different public schools,
one of which was a graded school and another a high school. Its
fifteen school-houses were valued, including sites, furniture, etc.
at $14,400.  There were 380 pupils attending these schools, taught
by five male and twenty-two female teachers, the former at an
average monthly salary of $46, the latter $23,67.  The entire amount
of revenue for school purposes during the year was $5,314.16,
while the entire expenditure was $5,276.70, with George Aldrich,
superintendent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN  in 1885
The town of Walpole is situated in the northeast corner of Cheshire
County NH and is about nine miles long and four broad, with an area 
of 24,331 square acres of land, about 80% of which is under
improvements, and more than one-half of the improved land is arable
and of the best quality. Its population in 1880 was 2018 inhabitants,
and would have been many less in number had it not been for the rapid
influx of people of Irish descent, within a few years, into North
Walpole, where now is a hamlet of more than five hundred people.
The pursuits of the people are principally agricultural, there being
but little water power in town... the town has fourteen school
districts, fifteen school-houses and eighteen schools, one of which
is a High School... the number of scholars is 461, and the average
length of schools is 29 weeks. There are five churches to wit:
Orthodox, Unitarian, Episcopal, CHristian and Roman Catholic, all of
which have men of ability for pastors. 
  The traveling public can find lodging at four public-houses,
buy goods at five stores and get their mail at two post-offices.
There are two fine lawyers, five doctors, one brewery, doing a large
business, and two summer boarding-houses, which are well filled during
the hot season. There are several shops of minor importance that are
very convenient for the people, which are found in every country 
town. Two livery-stables furnish fine teams for the fine drives about
town, and for other purposes at reasonable rates. 
  The soils of the town on the river and tablelands east are
fluviatile, while back on the hills they are more tenacious, being a
heavy loam, with sometimes an admixture of clay; most of the soils are
arable and well suited to all kinds of farm crops in this region.
Fruit-trees of all kinds produce well but the peach, which does not do
well here now, but apple and pear-trees yeild an abundant harvest.
  Much of the town is superimposed upon micaceous and argillaceous
slate. The rocks composing Fall Mountain are gneiss, seinite and
mica slate, merging, in some laces, into fibrolite, a very hard
formation, which is almost indestructible. A vein of serpentine has
been found in the south part of the town and a bed of graphite also,
but the per cent of iron is so great in it that it is unfit for
commercial purposes.  Peroxide of iron is found in the north part of
the town in considerable quantities. Attempts were made at one time 
to utilize it, but proved futile. There is a fountain of chalybeate
waters about two and one half miles north of the village, called the
"Abarakee Springs," the name being derived from an Indian tribe that
once, in bygone days, used to bathe in its waters for cutaneous
diseases. There are a few angular and water-worn boulders scattered
about town, but only one of magnitude. The town can boast of a free
library of well-selected books, numbering three thousand volumes,
which annually received additions and is well patronized. It also has
a savings bank, a temperance lodge, which is doing much good, and a
lodge of Free-Masons, which was established June 13, 1827, called
"Columbian Lodge, No 53." The charter members were Christopher Lincoln,
Wm. G. Field and Jesseniah Kittredge. The charter was surrendered to
the Grand Lodge during the Morgan troubles and held by it until 1861,
when it was applied for and obtained by Dr. Jesseniah Kittredge,
Wm. Mitchell, Jacob B. Burnham, Dr. Hiram Wotkyns and sixteen others.
Dr. Kittredge was elected Master of the new lodge and re-elected 
several times.  The second Master was George Rust [more officers in
original document not included here]. 
  A Thief-Detecting Society was established here in 1816, and is in
a flourishing condition now. The village has an efficient Fire
Department, and the young men of the town have formed a brass band.
George B. Williams has a fine stock farm, with a large herd of
Jersey cattle, which it will richly pay the curious to visit.

**DESCRIPTION OF VILLAGES**
WALPOLE is a beautiful post village located about four miles south of
Bellows falls, on a plain, high above the river.  It has three
churches (Congregational, Christian and Roman Catholic), a savings
bank, hotel, two boarding houses, three stores, two blacksmith
shops, harness shop, three meat markets, boot and shoe store, a 
town-hall, etc.  The main street runs north and south, and is broad
and beautifully shaded with grand old elms and maples.  Bordering
on either side are the houses, stores, shops and churhces.  Many of
the residences are elegant and costly, and ornamented with spacious
and beautiful lawns, carpeted with green grass, and made fragrant by
blooming flowers; while other dwellings have a rich, antique
appearance, which are suggestive of the days of the past.  There is a
handsome common, neatly laid out and ornamented with beautiful shade
trees. This common furnishes a delightful promenade for the quiet
villages, or their visitors, on the pleasant summer evenings, just as
the sun settles below the horizon and reflects its golden beams on the
western sky, or upon the crest of the towering mountains beyond the
Connecticut, the whole presenting a picture far beyond the most 
splendid drapery of human imagination. The general neatness and quiet 
which prevails, together with the beautiful scenery of the 
surrounding community, render this one of the most beautiful and
attractive villages in New Hampshire. Many summer tourists spend
their vacation in this village, and it has thus become quite a 
summer resort.

DREWSVILLE is another pleasant post village, located in the
northeastern corner of the town. It has one church (Episcopal),
one hotel, one store, two blacksmith shops, a pill-box manufactory,
sash and door factory, and about twenty-five dwellings.

NORTH WALPOLE is located in the northwestern part of the town, just
opposite the falls. It has one church, one store, one hotel, a steam
saw-mill and two chair-splint manufactories.

**BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IN WALPOLE NH**

WALPOLE SAVINGS BANK--In JULY 1849 a savings bank was established here,
which did business until November 1864. In November, of that year, it
was burglarized to the extent of $52,000 in money, and securities of
various kinds. [One source notes, "it was robbed of $52,000 cash and
a large amount of securities by one Mark Shinborn.. and a Westmoreland
boy named George M. White.] Soon after this it closed its business. The 
present bank was chartered in June 1875, and went into operation the 
following October. The first president was Benjamin F. Aldrich, and 
Josiah G. Bellows secretary and treasurer.  The present officers are 
Alfred W. Burt, president; and Josiah G. Bellows, secretary and 
treasurer.

JOSEPH FISHER'S SASH, DOOR AND BLIND FACTORY--located at Drewsville,
on road 6, was built by A. Faulkner in 1834. In 1838 David and Joseph
Fisher bought the factory and continued the business seven years under
the name of D. & J. Fisher, when Joseph purchased his father's
business and has since conducted the enterprise.

H.H. HALL'S GRIST-MILL, on orad 43, was built by L. Lane. In 1881 the
present proprietor purchased the property of L.A. Ross and in 1884
added steam-power, in order to run the mill at all times of the year.
The mill has two runs of stones, and the capacity for grinding
500 bushels of grain per day.

J.H. HEALD'S ASH-SPLINT FACTORY, located at North Walpole, was built
in 1800 for manufacturing ash-splints for chair seats and backs.
Mr. Heald makes about 60,000 of these per annum.

NATHANIEL MONROE'S ASH-SPLINT FACTORY, at Walpole village, was built
in 1868. He makes about 28,000 chair bottoms per year.

A.F. NIM'S STEAM SAW-MILL was built in 1880. He manufactures about
2,000,000 feet of lumber and $2,000 worth of pails per annum.

THE CHARLES B. HALL SAW-MILL, on road 43, has the capacity for
sawing 6,000 feet of lumber per day.

THE WALPOLE FARMER'S CLUB was organized November 30, 1878, for the
purpose--as recited in the constitution--"of promoting the interests
of agriculture, by the intelligent discussion of topics connected
therewith, and by bringing the farmers of Walpole into more intimate
social relations with each other." The club meets fortnightly during
the winter weason, the questions for discussion at each meeting
being prepared by the executive committee, and published in printed
programmes. One or more free public lectures upon agricultural
subjects, by distinguished practical farmers and scientists, are
given under its auspices every season. Its discussions have been
published in the county papers, and have attracted considerable
attention. The club's first board of officers was as follows:
president, John W. Howard; vice-president, Alfred W. Burt; secretary,
William W. Guild; treasurer, Thomas B. Buffum; executive committee,
George B. Williams, Curtis R. Crowell, Albert C. Dickey. The officers
for 1884 were president, John P. Holmes; vice president, Charles H.
Barnes; secretary, Alvin Dwinnell; treasurer, William W. Guild;
executive committee, Oliver J. Hubbard, John L. Hubbard, Hiram
Watkins. Membership, January 1, 1884, ninety-three.

**FIRST SETTLEMENT**
  It is not postively known whether the Aborigines [Native Americans]
ever occupied permanently the territory now embraned by the lines
forming the town of walpole or not; but one thing is certain, that
annually, in the months of May and June, very large numbers collected
in the vicinity of the Great Falls (now Bellows Falls) for the purpose
of catching shad and salmon, it being the best fishing-ground to be
found in all New England. The blossoming of the shad-three
(Amelanchier Canadensis) was the signal for all the Indians for many
miles around,  and even from Canada, to gather about the falls for
the purpose of catching shad and salmon. Multitudes of these fish
would ascend the Connecticut every spring, to deposit their spawn at
its head, and at the source of its tributaries. After a long-weary
journey from the ocean the shad were barred further progress by the
rapid flow of the water. In the basin below the rapids the shad would
gather in myriad numbers, and make futile attempts to ascend, but
make a failure every time. The Indians, perched on the rocks below,
with their scoop-nets, found no difficulty in appeasing their
hunger during the shad season. In time the shad became discouraged
in their attempts to ascend the main stream, when they would descend
the river till a suitable tributary was found, which they would
ascend and fulfill nature's laws, and return to the salt water in
August--shad poor. The salmon, more agile than the shad, bound on the
same mission, would ascend the most rapid portion of the falls with
apparent ease; so rapid is the stream that an iron bar suspended over
the current will not sink, but float on the water. It is said that
salmon have been seen darting up this cascade with the speed of a 
locomotive, with two or three lamprey eels in tow, that had fastened
themselves upon the sides of the salmon at the dawn of day by suction.
There is sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that there were
large numbers of Indians who lived a part, if not all the year, near
the railroad station at Cold River. In the immediately vicinity and 
also a half-mile below, the plough-share of civilization has unearthed
Indian skeletons, spear-heads, arrow-heads, heaps of clam shells 
and numerous other Indian relics, which together, with the rude 
carvings on the rocks below the Falls, are indubitable evidences of
there having been a famous lodgement for Indians about this vicinity
long before the pale-faces eyes rested on this natural landscape of
beauty. One-half mile south of Cold River is a spring of chalybeate
waters, thought by the Indians to possess remarkable medicinal
qualities.  There was a tribe of Indians who frequented this spring,
called the Abanakees or Abanarquis (meaning the pines) from whom
the spring derives its name. The Indians drank freely of the water and
washed themselves all over with it, claiming it would cure
cuteaneous diseases. It might have been potent in its effects on the
red-skins; but no one ever knew of any sanitary effects it had on
white people. It is very offensive to most people, both in taste and
smell; one glass of it being sufficient for a life-time with
ordinary people, unless driven to the very verge of death from thirst.

During the construction of the Cheshire Railroad several human 
skeletons were exhumed, supposed to be Indians, and among them was
one, buried under a flat stone, answering, by its huge proportions,
the description formerly given to Philip [one of the known local
Indians, reportedly involved in the attack on Kilburn]. These bones
were procured and wired together by one Dr. RObbins, of Bellows
Falls, and are now in the possession of his family.

One hundred and thirty-six years ago (in May or June) if a person
with a good field glass had been perched on the highest point of
Fall Mountain (now called Kilburn Mountain), a birds-eye view would 
have revealed to him where Cold River station now is, several scores
of wigwams [more in original document not included here]. The highest
elevation in the town is Derry Hill, the altitude of which is more
than thirteen hundred feet above the level of the sea.

The first settlement in the town was begun by JOHN KILBURN in 1749.
His family then consisted of his wife, Ruth, and two children,
Mehitable and John. The spot where he settled is situated about
one-third of a mile south of the "Cold River Bridge," upon the
highway. His log cabin stood on land now owned by Mrs. Joseph Wells,
on the east side of the present highway, near where a young apple
tree is now growing. 

COL. BENJAMIN BELLOWS located here in 1753, having built his house in
1752. His family then consisted of his wife and five children, the
latter being as follows: Abigail, born December 21, 1736; Peter,
born January 6, 1739; Benjamin born October 6, 1740; John, born
November 3, 1743; and Joseph, born June 6, 1774. His dwelling was
built near the spot where now stands Thomas Bellow's horse-barn,
a little north of his dwelling. It was built sufficiently strong for
a fort, and was shaped like the letter L, being about one hundred
feet in the arms and twenty feet broad, strongly built of logs and
earth, and surrounded by a palisade. 

In 1759 there were six families in the town, viz: John Kilburn's,
Benjamin Bellow's Asa Baldwin's John Hasting's Fairbanks Moore's
and Timothy Messer's.  In 1763 there were about fifteen families,
and in 1767 there were 308 inhabitants, divided as follows:
Twenty-four married men between the ages of sixteen and sixty;
fifty-two unmarried, between sixteen and sixty; 104 boys under
sixteen; one man over sixty; seventy-two unmarried females;
fifty-two married females, and three widows.

Kilburn's gallant defense of his home, August 17, 1755, against a
large band of savages, forms an episode of Indian warfare familiar to
every school boy.  The story has been recorded by many pens, with
varying degrees of accuracy.  From the most reliable sources, it 
appears that Kilburn was attacked by vastly superior numbers--197
were counted as they crossed a foot-path in sight of the cabin, and
there is no doubt that there were four or five hundred in all; for
General Shirley had notified the settlers, some two or three months
before, that 500 Indians were collecting in Canada, whose purpose it
was to wipe out by wholesale slaughter the entire advance settlements
on the Connecticut.  The fight lasted from about noon until nearly
sundown, according to some accounts, but the family tradition says
"it lasted nearly all day." There were in the cabin besides Kilburn,
his wife, son and daughter, a man by the name of Peck, and his son.
These four men kept up a well-directed fire, which kept at bay the
overwhelming numbers of the savages, who riddled the roof with
bullets.  The women aided by loading the guns, and when the
ammunition began to fail, suspended blankets to catch the bullets
which came through the roof.  These they immeidately ran into new
bullets, and sent them back to the enemy.  Near sundown the
Indians withdrew, leaving Kilburn the victor in a hard-fought battle
against overwhelming numbers.  Peak was wounded in the shoulder, and
died eight days afterward.  The ball was extracted with a butcher
knife.  This battle proved an effectual check to the expedition 
against the settlements in the Connecticut Valley, and doubtless
saved them from destruction. During the succeeding eight or ten
years, the period of the French and Indian War, Walpole was not
visited by the Indians, and in fact, they never appeared in town
after this battle.

The records of the first three town meetings appear to have been 
made at the same time and one sitting, and probably were, from the
fact that seven years later each settlers was assessed one shilling,
to purchase a "town book to be kept for the use of the town."
When obtained, most likely the records were transcribed into the new
book from some loose memoranda.  The record is as follows:
  "At a meeting held in Walpole, In the Province of Newhampshire
agreeable to Charter on the third Wednesday of March, A.D. 1752,
Benjamin Bellows being appointed Moderator--first voted and chose
Theodore Atkinson Esq., Joseph Blanchard Esq. and Benjamin Bellows
Selectman for sd year Insuing, Secondly chose Benja. Bellows, Town
Clark, then dismissed said meeting.  Attest Benjamin Bellows, Town
Clark."
  The record of the meeting in 1753 is precisely like the first.
In 1754 the first part of the record is the same, except "Sam Johnson"
is chosen moderator. "Secondly chose Benjamin Bellows, Sam Johnson
and Robert Bowker selectmen. Third chose Colonel Willard, town clark."
The name of Colonel Bellows seems to have been scratched out, and
Colonel Willard's name subsituted.  "Fourthly chose Enoch Cook,
constable, chose Cook Servayer of hie Ways."

"FIRSTS" IN WALPOLE
The first road extending from Charlestown line to Westmoreland line
was laid out in 1762.  In 1768 the town voted to have three schools,
and voted 15 pounds to support them in winter, and the next year
voted 24 pounds for school purposes, and form three districts.
Thomas Sparhawk was the first representative, in 1775.  The first
after the adoption of the state constitution was THomas Bellows, in
1792.  

The first physician in Walpole was Dr. Chase, and the second
DR. FRANCIS KITTREDGE. He was called here from Massachusetts,
reduced a fracture of the leg of a Mr. Bellows. He remained till the
fracture was healed. This visit so favorably impressed him with the town that he concluded to settle here. [One history states that he was
induced by Colonel Bellows to remove here, and that he was termed a
natural bone-setter]. He had sixteen children, and ten of his
descendants became doctors. Accordingly, he bought land and established 
himself upon what is still known as the Kittredge farm, now the 
property of Charles E. Watkins.    
  His son,Jesseniah Kittredge, succeeded him as a physician, living on 
the same place. This Jesseniah became famous by compounding an
unguent for old sores. 
 Jesseniah was in turn succeeded by his son, Jesseniah Kittredge Jr., 
[or 2d] who resided in the village and practiced here for more than 
one-half a century. Jesseniah 2d was well versed in Free-Masonry,
and had a commanding influence with the craft, it is said.
   Thus, for over one hundred years, father, son,and grandson sustained 
in Walpole the name of Doctor Kittredge. 

The third physician to locate here was DOCTOR ABRAM HOLLAND, who came
over one hundred years ago and practiced here during a long life.
The fourth doctor was DOCTOR SPARHAWK, fifth DOCTOR JOHNSON, and
sixth DOCTOR E. MORESE, who was followed by doctors Bond, Emerson,
Gilbert, Gallup, Crain and Smith.  The present physicians are
doctors Porter, Blake, Richardson, Watkins, Ingham, and Knight.

**NEWSPAPERS**
  THE NEW HAMPSHIRE JOURNAL AND FARMERS' MUSEUM, a newspaper, was
issued beginning 11 April 1795 from the press of Thomas & Carlisle, 
which was in the old building now standing at the corner of High and 
Main Streets, and occupied as a meat-market and tenement-house. The
size of the sheet was eighteen by eleven inches, the paper was coarse
and dingy, and the type inferior and old-fashioned. Snatches of news,
a few deaths and marriages, a few lottery and other advertisements,
some political effusions, an essay or so.. and some racy anecdoates
made it up.. A few years later, however, the last page was 
surmounted with an engraving of a huge flowerpot, and underneath
was printed in large capitals "The Desert." In 1796 Joseph Dennie
became the conductor, and he gathered around him a corps of brilliant
writers, such as Royal Tyler, David Everett, Thomas Green Fessenden,
Isaac Story, and others... The aboved-named persons wrote for this
paper..Dennie confined his contributions, principally to articles
called the "Lay Preacher." They were essays on morality... The
publishers failed, Dennie left town, and the paper went into decline.
Various fortunes attended it until 1827, when NAHUM STONE, a
shoemaker, revived it, and continued it in Walpole until November 14,
1828, when it was removed to Keene, and now is published under the
title of "The Cheshire Rebpulican."
  That old printing establishment [THE NEW HAMPSHIRE JOURNAL AND 
FARMERS' MUSEUM] did a large business for those days in the way of
printing books. The first American novel ever noticed by the English
press was printed in this town. The printing establishment here
gave employment to a large number of typos... Joseph T. Buckingham
worked in this office at one time six months. ..
  About 1803 a new newspaper was started, advocating the measures of
Thomas Jefferson's administration. It was called the POLITICAL
OBSERvATORY, and printed by David Newhall, with Stanley Griswold for
editor. The proprietors were Thomas C. Drew, Elijah Burroughs,
Amasa Allen, Alexander Watkins and Jonathan Royce, who were the
first persons in town to cast a Democratic vote.
  In 1826 another newspaper was started, called the CHESHIRE GAZETTE,
edited and managed by one FRANCIS PARTON, which in size and general
appearance would compare favorably with similiar papers todya. It
lived but one year.

There was no POST OFFICE in town until April 1, 1795, and SAMUEL GRANT
was appointed postmaster. Before this time letters were taken from
some central point and carried by a man called a "post-rider" to the
persons directed on the letter. 

MERINO SHEEP
About the year 1800 WILLIAM JARVIS of Vermont, was consul in Spain
from the United States. He imported some merino bucks from that
place, of which Joseph Bellows, grandson of Col. B. Bellows, purchased
one and paid fifteen hundred dollars for him. Through this buck
the famers in town began immediately to improve the quality of their
wool, by infusing the blood of this buck with their Irish flocks,
till about 1825, when two brothers named SEARLES imported a flock of
Saxony sheep into Boston, a few of which found their way into this
town. In 1827 the same parties imported another lot into New
England in the care of one KREUTCHMAN, a German, one hundred of which
were leased to Major Samuel Grant and Major William Jennison, who had
formed a copartnership in sheep husbandry. By the terms of the lease
the company was to have one half the increase. Major Grant then
owned the farm in the southeast part of the town known as the
"Seven Barns," and Major Jennison owned the farm where William T.
Ramsay now lives, both of which were admirably adapted to sheep
husbandry. TO improve their stock Grant& Jennison purchased a buck of
the SEARLES and paid one hundred and ten dollars for him. He was 
known to the farmers by the euphonic name of "Old Haunch." A disease
among the sheep, known as the foot rot, was brought with those
Saxony sheep. The most assiduous care was necessary to protect those
sheep from the cold of winter and the cold storms of spring and
summer; especially was this the case in yeaning-time, when the lambs
had to be kept before a fire in the house. Walpole was in a perfect
sheep craze, when her pastures were dotted with 16,000 sheep.
Although the farmers got one dollar per pound for cleanly-washed
wool, they soon found that the average fleece was not more than two
and a half pounds, and, moreover, the carcass being small, it was
worth but little for mutton. The farmers soon learned that they,
under such conditions, were losing money, and there was as much of a
craze to free themselves from the dilemma as there was to get into
it, and measures were immediately taken which restored their old breed.

DISEASES IN TOWN
  In 1802 or 1803 when New England was visited with that destroying
scourge, the smallpox, Walpole was not exempt from it, and the
inhabitants were dying daily. Several town-meetings were called for
the purpose of taking the sense of the town on providing a 
pest-house, and giving license for vaccination; but ignorant
conservatism went strongly against both propositions, till at length
Thomas Jefferson and a few leading men at Washington, who had tried
vaccination in their own families, issued a circular to the people of
the United States, setting forth its harmless effect on the patient and
its potent effect in preventing the spread of the dread disease.
The physicians and some of the leading men of Keene issues a similiar
circular to neighboring towns...Walpole then at once dropped its
ignorant conservatism and permitted sanitary measures to be adopted,
when soon the dreadful scourge had nothing to feed upon.
  From 1810 to 1820--At the beginning of this decade the New England
States had witnessed the rise and progress of a singular disease
known as the spotted fever; but it was not considered contagious.
This town was not exempt from its ravages, and many homes were made
desolate. The first indication of an attack was, not infrequently,
a sudden pain in the extremeties, quickly spreading over the whole
system, and fatally terminating within twenty-four hours. In the
spring of 1812 several children died of it. The following March
seven adults died of it in as many days. The whole number of deaths
in town from this disease is not known, but many. This disease,
then known as spotted fever, is now considered the same as
cerebrospinal meningitis.

**AMERICAN REVOLUTION**
Walpole was not behind the other towns in the state in furnishing men
and means for the service and use of the Continental army; nor were
the families of soldiers neglected at home, for the town records
bear evidence of moneys being raised from time to time for the use
of such families, and committees were appointed to see that they were
made comfortable.  In 1778 the town "voted to raise 60 pounds to be
expended for soldier's families who have gone to the war." The pay
of the soldiers was 10 pounds for one year's service, or wheat at
five shillings per bushel.  In 1779 the town voted 1,000 pounds to
procure five soldiers for the continental army; but it took that year
2,393 pounds of the money so raised to purchase 104 in gold. The
exact number of men that went into the continental service cannot be
ascertained from any available source; but it is said most of the
able-bodied men in town served a longer or shorter period.  The names
so far as ascertained are as follows: Col. Benjamin Bellows,
Maj. John Bellows, Capt. Christopher Webber, Lieut. John Jennison,
Lieut. Levi Hooper, Ensign Ebenezer Swan, Lieut. Samuel Nichols,
Ensign Joseph Lawrence, Ensign Joseph Tracy, Surgeon Martin Ashley,
Moses Burt, Benjamin Floyd, Jonathan Fletcher, Jonathan Hall Jr.,
-- Crain, Joseph Fay, -- Fay, Daniel Marsh, -- De Bell, Ephraim
Stearns, Samuel Salter, John Merriam Jr., Timothy Messer, 
Roger Farnham, John Massey, Lieut. John Kilburn, Ebenezer Wellington,
John Martin, Joseph Mason Sr., John Howland Sr. Uzziah Wyman,
Jonas Hosmer, William Lathwood, James Campbell, Moses Mead,
Joseph Bellows and Theodore Bellows.
  At a town meeting held December 9, 1776 Col. Christopher Webber was
chosen to represent the town at Exeter, NH, at at the same meeting a
committe was chosen to draft instructions for him. 

**WAR OF 1812**
 In the engagements of the War of 1812 none of the Walpole men
participated; but a company under the command of Josiah Bellows 3d,
twenty-eight in number, went to the defense of Portsmouth in the fall
of 1814. Eleven men also went under the command of Captain Warner.
These companies were in service but a short time, and the
trophies brought home and the laurels won were very few. 

**CIVIL WAR**
During the late great war, also, Walpole was prompt and efficient in
her services. There were 185 men credited to the town in all,
volunteers and substitutes, as going into the service, of whom
seventy-five were actual residents.  Eight of her three month's men
re-enlisted; nine died of disease; four were killed outright;
eight wounded; six missing; while fifty-three of the substitutes
are known to have deserted, and five volunteers were discharged for
disablity. A large number of this town enrolled themselves in the
New Hampshire Fourteenth Regiment, September 22, 1862. 

**CHURCHES**

It appears by the old church records that a church was formed as early
as 1757, but it does not appear who the members were till after the
ordination of THOMAS FESSENDEN. Jonathan Leavitt was ordained pastor
June 10, 1761, and dismissed June 19, 1765. January 8, 1767
Thomas Fessenden was ordained and a church was formed the same day,
consisting of the following members, viz: Thomas Fessenden,
Benjamin Bellows John Graves, John Parmenter, William Smead,
Jonathan Hall, James Bundy, Joseph Barrett, David Dennison, John Marcy,
Samuel Holmes, Samuel Trott, John Kilburn Jr., Timothy Delano and
Nathaniel Hovey, and the wives of ten of the above-named, making the
number twenty-five. Eight years later the church numbered one
hundred. During the active pastorate of Mr. Fessender, of thirty-eight
years, the number admitted to the church, by letter and profession,
was three hundred and sixty-five, and in that time he solemnized
two hundred and ninety-nine marriages.  The Church was called the
"First Congregational Church of Walpole." [the history of this church
in once source is different than the history found in a 2nd source, 
shown below].

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY (ORTHODOX), located at 
Walpole, was organized in 1832 by Thomas Sparhawk, Thomas Seaver, 
William Jennison, and others, Rev. Edwin Jennison being the first 
pastor. The church building, erected in 1834, will seat 300 persons, 
and is valued, including grounds, at $8,000. The society now has 101 
members, with no regular pastor. [The church after 1832/33 was
remodeled and raised one story; Rev. Edwin Jennison the preacher
was a grandson of Capt. John Jennison one of the first settlers].
Following Rev. Edwin Jennison, preachers included Abraham Jackson,
Ezekiel H. Barstow, Afred Goldsmith, John M. Stowe, Rev. Gabriel H.
DeBevvice, Rev. William E. Dickinson, Thomas S. Robie,
Frederick Lyman Allen, and finally W.H. Teel (1885).

ST. PETER'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, located at Drewsville, was
organized by Thomas C. Drew and others, with seven members,
August 30, 1817. [Another history states this society was incorporated
in 1816 unde the name of the First Protestant Episcopal Society of
Walpole. The first record's name being Luman Foote] Rev. Truman Foote 
being the first rector. The church building, erected in 1836, is a stone structure capable of seating 180 persons [at the time of its
consecration the original name was changed to St. Peter's Church], and 
is valued at $2,500.  The society now has thirty-seven members, with Rev. Edward A. Renouf, rector. The society has a Sabbath-school with 
seventeen members, and three teachers.

THE UNITED CHRISTIAN SOCIETY, at Walpole, was organized in 1817,
by its pastor, Rev. Edward B. Rollins, with thirty-five members.
The church building, erected in 1826, will seat 225 persons and is
valued at about $1,500. The building was repaired in 1883 at an
expense of $450. The society now has forty-two members, with Rev.
H.M. Eaton pastor. The Sabbath-school has an average attendance of
thirty-five.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH at Walpole, was organized by its first
pastor, Rev. D. Murphy, with 200 members in 1870. The church
building erected the same year, will seat 100 persons and is valued
at $1,200. The society has about 200 members, with Rev. N. Cournoyer
of North Walpole, pastor.

ST. PETER'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH at North Walpole, was organized by
its first pastor, Rev. Murice Galvin [not a typo, this is what the
original document states] with 300 members in the autumn of 1877.
The church building, erected in 1878, will seat 300 persons cost
$5,000, and is now valued, including grounds at $8,000. The society
now has 500 members, with Rev. N. Cournoyer, pastor.

WALPOLE TOWN CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY [SIC UNITARIAN SOCIETY]--
After the disposition of the old town church in 1826, the Unitarians
hired one Thayer. In February 3, 1830 a full-fleged Unitarian
preacher, Orestes A. Broson was installed on May 23, 1833, but who
residned in March 1834. Horatio Wood was installed September 24,
1834 and resigned June 22, 1838.  William Silsbee was ordained
July 1, 1840 and resigned September 3, 1842.  In 1842 the present
Unitarian Church was abuilt, and Mr. Abiel Chandler presented the
tablets.  Following ministers included Martin W. Willis, William P.
Tilden, Mr. Lathrop, Charles Ritter, Mr. C.T. Canfield, Thomas Daws,
Nathaniel Seaver Jr., Russel N. Bellows, George Dexter, William
Brown, and finally Rev. John Williams who was installed Apr 1, 1884.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH--In the summer of 1842, Increase S. Guild
secured the appointment of John P. Prouty for Walpole station.
During the next few years several preachers came and went until 1845
when a chapel was built, now standing on Washington Square.
Services were held here until 1860. During this period the minister
that officiated, twelve in number, lived on starvation diet, for
the society was very poor, and depended largely on outside benevolence.
The society fell to pieces in 1860, and the worshippers divided; one
part joined the Orthodox, and the others trusted themselves to the
tender mercies of the Unitarians. 

BAPTISTS--In 1837 Samuel Nichols, a merchant of Drewsville, built a
small chapel at that place for use of a Baptist society formed there, 
but the society was short-lived, and now there are no Baptists in
town.

**BIOGRAPHieS AND GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT 
RESIDENTS**

GEN. AMASA ALLEN, from Pomfret, Conn., came here in 1776. He first
opened a store a little west of E.K. Seabury's but afterwards built
the "Britton" store. He was a merchant during his active life, and
though poor when he came here, left, at his death in 1821, an estate
of about $75,000. He was twice married, but had no children. He was
State senator in 1802-03, and had been representative several terms.
He was a popular man, a Republican of the old school. He was general
of the State militia. He gave the old church the organ, afterwards
used by the Unitarian Society, and was present at the casting of our
old town-bell (now intact) and droped in the silver composing a portion
of its metal. When he died his funeral was largely attended. He lived
in the house now owned by Mrs. Philip Peck, which he built.

AARON ALLEN was from Mansfield, Conn. and was an early settlers. He was
a farmer and owned a very large area of land in the south part of the
town. He represented the town at Exeter in 1788-89. He held numerous
town offices, his name occuring most frequently in the town records.
His oldest son LEVI ALLEN was also popular with the people, and was
so much engaged with town business, settling estates, etc., that he
neglected his more paying business and became poor, when his pride
forced him to move from town.

DAVID ARNOLD moved to Westmoreland from Massachusetts at an early day,
and carried on the tanner and currier business. His son 
WILLIAM ARNOLD, born in Westmoreland March 29, 1796, learned the 
machinist trade and worked at that business in his younger days. He
married Naomi Moore of Walpole, October 3, 1822. In 1837 he purchased
the Robinson tavern and kept a public house in which business he
continued until the building of the Cheshire railroad, when his
tavern keeping was relinquished.  He died August 27, 1876. He
reared a family of six children as follows: Elizabeth, born May 22,
1823, married twice, first Levi Winchester and second Gilbert T.
Stevens, and resides in town; Mary P., born September 17, 1824, 
married O.H.P. Watkins of this town; Sarah J. born August 29, 1829,
married Henry Bacon and lives in Beebe Plain, Vt.; Sophia born
July 19, 1834, married Nelson Johnson and lives in Westminster Vt.;
Frances N., born March 2, 1836, married George A. Sherman of Keene;
and William, born December 26, 1826, married Mary S. Stevens of
Warwick, Mass, in 1853, and has had three children, Major W., Cora J.
and Fred W. none now living  The latter was engaged in breeding
Spanish Merino sheep for several years and resides on the home farm
on road 57.

OTIS BARDWELL was born in Deerfield, Mass, October 17, 1792, and died
March 27, 1871. He began life as a stage-driver; being being a man
that took care of his earnings, he soon accumulated money to own a
team, when he formed a copartnership with George Huntington. The firm
soon owned all the mail-lines in the vicinity, at a time when their
bids were the only ones for carrying mails.  The firm soon became
well off. In 1849, when the Cheshire Railroad was completed, staging
came to a stand-still. He then purchased a plot of land in Rutland,
Vt. and built the well-known "Bardwell House." During the latter part
of his life, owing to his financial standing in town, he was honored
with financial trusts. When a stage-driver, in the month of January
1819, in coming over Carpenter's Hill, he plucked blossoms from an
apple-tree and gave them to the lady passengers.

COL. BENJAMIN BELLOWS, is generally called the founder of the town.
He was born May 26, 1712, and died July 10, 1777. He came to
Walpole from Lunenburg, Mass when he was forty years old.
When Colonel Benjamin Bellows came to this town to settle he brought
with him his wife (whose maiden name was Abigail Stearns) and five
children. Their names were Abigail, who died in Northampton, Mass
when young; Peter, Benjamin, John and Joseph, all born between 1736
and 1744. The colonel buried his first wife November 1757. She was the
first tenant of the old burying-ground. The next year, in April, he
married the Widow Mary Jennison, former wife of Jonathan Jennison,
of Lunenburg, Mass. She bore him five children, viz: Abigail, Theodore,
Mary, Thomas and Josiah, born between 1759 and 1767.  
The REV. HENRY W. BELLOWS, a great-grandson of the colonel says, in
his "Memorial Monograph," that, "The immediate cause of my
great-grandfather's leaving Lunenburg was that he had become embarrased
in pecuniary matters, by being bound for others, and, in the great
scarcity of money, was unable to meet the demands of his credits. That
he was pursued by the sheriff to the State line, and, once fairly
over it, stopped and held a parley with the sheriff, stating that he
had no disposition to avoid his obligations, but that a jail was a 
poor place to find means to pay debts; that he would soon return and
liquidate all his obligations."  It is most certain that he lived up to
his word, for he soon returned to Lunenburg to look after his
interests there. When the colonel married the Widow Jennison, she had
six children, all of whom came to Walpole with their mother, and
became the foster children of the colonel. The third and fifth of this
family were boys, whose names were JOHN JENNISON and JONATHAN JENNISON
respectively. These boys both settled in the town as farmers.
The habitation of Colonel Bellows was located on a slight elevation of
land, where the dwelling house and horse-barn of Thomas Bellows
now stands. COL. BENJAMIN BELLOWS (SR) died July 10, 1777. The
Colonel left to his nine children.. a very large landed estate in
Walpole and other towns in the vicinity... To children: PETER BELLOWS
he gave seven hundred acres in Walpole in the north part; to
BENJAMIN BELLOWS, four hundred acres in the south part of the town;
to JOHN BELLOWS, eight hundred acres in two lots; to JOSEPH BELLOWS,
seven hundred in Rindge, Mason and Fitzwilliam besides unenumerated
lands in Lunenburg, Mass; to ABIGAIL one hundred and thirty acres
with buildings; to MOLLY five hundred acres in Westminster Vt; to
JOSIAH, five hundred acres in Walpole, and thirty-three in Westminster
Vt. It is supposed that he made suitable provisions for THOMAS and
THEODORE before he died, for their names do not appear in his will.
He also gave seventy acres in Keene to MARY WILLARD; fifty acres in
town to JOHN JENNISON and one hundred acres for a grammar school, but
no one knows where it is located.  He also gave one-ninth part of his
remaining lands in Rockingham to each of his nine children, the number
of acres is now known. He also gave his children one thousand and fifty
pounds in money together with numerous cows, oxen, horses and also
household furnishings, taken together, amounting to a large sum.
In person, Colonel Blanchard was tall and stout, weighing, a short
time before his death, three hundred and thirty pounds; but still he
continued to ride about his farm on a strong sorrel horse, looking
after his interests. A large oaken table in the kitchen under the
house was always spread for his workmen; but he maintained a separate
table for his own family. He made four hundred barrels of cider
annually and put down twelve barrels of pork every winter. In 1777
General Bellows was the captain of the military company in this town.
[much more in this document regarding Colonel Blanchard in relation
to the town history and that of the surrounding area]
In 1752, Col. Bellows (Sr), Theodore Atkinson, Colonel Josiah Blanchard
and sixty seven others, grantees, purchased the township, called
No. 3. Col. Benjamin Bellows, had at least one son, Benjamin Bellows
Jr., who was chosen town clerk in 1759, when he was only nineteen
years of age, holding the office from that date until 1795, except
two years, 1778 and 1782 when Amos Babcock and N. Goddard supplanted
him--a period of thirty-four years. In 1755 Benjamin Bellows was
chosen town clerk, selectman and treasurer.
  BENJAMIN BELLOWS JR. was the second son of the founder. He was town
clerk thirty-two years and held various other town offices. He was
State senator from his district, and also Councillor; was chosen a
member of the Constitutional COnvention in 1781, but declined serving.
He was a member of the Convention that ratified the Federal 
Constitution of February 1788. He was president of the Electoral
College in NH in 1789, and again elected in 1797. In the State
militia he rose from corporal to the command of a brigade, and was
colonel of a regiment during the Revolutionary struggle. He is
described as being six feet in stature and of dark complexion,
courteous in manners but firm in purpose, persuasive in language and
ever kind to his neighbors. His education was mostly gained by
observation, as the Bellows family were never considered book worms.
The saying formerly current was that "IF you shut up a Bellows in a 
room with books, if there is no other way of escape, they will go
through the window." Seated in an easy chair in the chimney-corner of
his own house, neatly dressed in Continental garb, he rounded his
period with his brother John, in discussing the gossip of the day over
a clay pipe. He died June 4, 1802, aged sixty-two. 
  Benjamin Jr.'s brother JOHN BELLOWS had one son, JOSIAH (2d) who had
some influence in town. He is remembered by old citizens as being a
smooth, fluent talker, and story-teller. On this account he obtained
the sobriquet of "Slick Si." 
  THOMAS BELLOWS, familiarly known as the "Squire," to whom the old
colonel bequeathed his homestead, was an entirely different man in
character from either of his half-brothers, Benjamin or John, in that
he had little or no ambition, only to be considered an honest man,
which feeling in some instances he carried so far as to do injustice
to himself. He was born in 1762, the same year his father built his
new house, now standing and occupied by his son Thomas. His name
appears frequently in the town records as a town officer, and he was
the first man to represent the town in the General Court after the
adoption of the State Constitution in 1792.  Early in 1794 he was
appointed councillor for five years, and in 1799 sheriff for the
county of Cheshire, an office which he held more than thirty years, 
and during this period he was haunted with the morbid idea that he
might be called upon to hang somebody. He hand an ample fortune left
him, which he kept intact, but did not add much to it during life...
he was tall and gaunt, with a heavy face, and wore modest clothing,
which never could be made to fit. His memory was remarkable....
In religion he was a Unitarian.  He lived a long life of purity,
benevolence and charity, and was called to his fathers April 18, 1848.
  JOSIAH BELLOWS, the tenth and youngest of the old family, and a
staunch old Roman, was born in 1767 and died in 1846. In his
youthful days, it is said, he scattered some wild oats, but after he
married he toned down into an influential, reliable, good citizen.
His vocation was a farmer. He represented the town in the State
Legislature in 1809-10 and in 1819, and held many town officers. In
his intercourse with the world he was taciturn, and in conversation
monosyllabic almost to abruptness, which gave strangers a wrong
impression of the real man for he was a kind neighbor and 
public-spirited citizen.  His older son, known as:
  JOSIAH BELLOWS 3d, was cast in a different mould from his father,
and of more pliable metal. He was loquacious, urbane and yielding;
he never meddled with the business of other people, yet no man has
lived in town in later years that had a greater silent influence.
He was engaged in mercantile pursuits more than thirty years;
was chosen Representative in 1823, 1824, 1825; captain of the militia
in 1814; postmaster from 1826 till 1840, when all the mail matter
lodged in the town was contained in a box three by two feet, and when
the number of inhabitants was larger than at present time. He also
held many offices of honor and trust, both in town and county.
He died January 13, 1842. Only one son if now left to represent him,
Josiah G., who is now a practicing lawyer in town and esteemed
citizen.
  HENRY WHITNEY BELLOWS, a great grandson of the founder, through
Joseph and John, was born in Boston, Mass June 14, 1814. He graduated
at Harvard College in 1832 and completed his divinity studies in 1837.
On January 2, 1838 he was ordained pastor of "All Saint's Church,"
in New York City, and held the place till his death, which occurred in
January 1882. He was the only Bellows who ever gained a national
reputation, and this was accomplished through the United States
Sanitary Commission as president during the Rebellion [Civil War].
He was widely known as a preacher, lecturer and writer in his own
denomination (Unitarian) and by others. In 1868-69 he wrote and
published two octavo volumes of European travels, entitled "The Old
World in its New Face" ... 
  HENRY ADAMS BELLOWS was born October 25, 1803, and was the great-
grandson also of Colonel Benjamin--through two Josephs. He commenced
life poor. He, while a lad, attende an academy at WIndsor, Vt...After
remaining a few months he entered the law-office of William C. Bradley
in Westminster Vt and on completing his law studies was admitted to
the bar in Newfane Vt in 1826. The same year he was admitted to the
bar in New Hampshire and commenced practice in Walpole. In 1828 he
removed to Littleton, NH where he practiced his profession 22 years,
when he removed to Concord NH. He had now gained a high reputation
as a lawyer throughout the State, and on the resignation of Judge
Perley, September 23, 1859, he was appointed Associate Justice of
the Supreme Judicial Court, and held the position till October 1,
1869, at which time he received the appointment of Chief Justice.
His decisions and rulings in court were always sound, clear and
logical. He was no politician, but was elected representative to
the General Court three times--once from Littleton in 1839, and
twice from Concord in 1856-57. He died very suddently at his home in
Concord, with but little premonition, March 11, 1873, of disease of
the heart, just before his term of office would have expired by
limitation. ... For his honesty of purpose he was esteemed...

JONATHAN BLANCHARD came to this town, from Putney, Vt. April 3, 1815.
He brought with him his wife Polly (Pierce) and daughter Mary, and
located upon the place where his won, WILLARD L. BLANCHARD now resides
on road 9, His father and mother afterward came to this town, and
resided here until their death. JONATHAN BLANCHARD had born to him ten
children, five of whom are living as follows: Louise L., Willard T.,
John P. Rowell S., and Joseph M. He died in 1847, aged sixty-six
years, and his widow died in 1872, aged eighty-five years.

WILLIAM BOND, a soldier of the Revolution, moved soon after the close
of the war to Charlestown NH where he settled and reared a family of
five sons and two daughters. His son, WILLIAM BOND JR. came to
Walpole about 1816, and settled at Drewsville, where he followed
farming and other occupations. His son, WILLIAM A. BOnD is now a
merchant and manufacturer at Drewsville, and has two sons.

WILLIAM BUFFUM, fourth son of Joseph, who came to Westmoreland from
Rhode Island in 1784, was born July 25, 1793, and came to Walpole
in 1816. He spent his life as a merchant, and died in October 1841.
He married March 1, 1820, Mary Ann D., daughter of Thomas Gordon,
of Sterling, Conn., and step-daughter of Gen. Amasa Allen. His
venerable widow is still a resident of the town. His children were
William, born in 1822; Rufus E., born in 1824, graduated at Dartmouth
in 1844, and became a lawyer of Massachusetts; Joseph H. born in 
1826, married Laura S., daughter of Ashbel Wheeler of Chesterfield;
George Dixon born in 1828; Edward Wheaton, born in 1830; and Sarah Ann
H., born in 1832.
  DAVID BUFFUM was the seventh son of Joseph Buffum, of Walpole, and
was born April 15, 1803. He came to Walpole in 1820 and was a clerk
three years for his brother William, who was a merchant here, and
then formed a partnership with him in trade. From that time for about
fifty years he was in business.... He was elected to the State
Legislature in 1849 and 1850, and also, was a member of the convention
called to revise the State Constitution in 1876. He is now an
octogenarian...

MOSES BURT, one of the old Revolutionary patriots, was a son of
Aaron Burt, of Northfield, Mass, a wholesale merchant there, of whom
the first settlers of Walpole used to purchase goods before a store
was opened here. Moses was born in Northfield, February 14, 1756,
and came to Walpole in 1775, with Samuel Wiers, and purchased what was
then known as the Chandler meadows. He married Submit Ross in 1783,
and reared a family of ten children, as follows: Roxana, born April 8,
1784; Abiathar, born September 10, 1786; Ross, born 1788; Moses Jr.
born 1790; Luther, born August 8, 1792; Submit, born March 14, 1794;
Hannah, born June 24, 1797; Sophronia, born August 8, 1799;
Charlotte, born October 11, 1801; and Sophia, born 1804.  LUTHER BURT
was a famer by occupation and resided upon the home farm. He married
Irene, daughter of Hugh Dunshee, and reared a family of eight
children as follows: Levi, Mary J., Curtis D., Laura M., Amasa,
George, Henry and Andrew J.  Five of these are living, four of them
residing in this county.  LUTHER BURT died November 1, 1866 and his
wife died March 2, 1877.  LEVI BURT, born May 12, 1812, married
Mary, daughter of Benjamin Floyd, September 25, 1833, and lives on 
road 43.  He was  a traveling salesman for twelve years and then
became involved in the nursery business. He has an orchard of 1,000
trees and is now in the fruit business. He has had three children,
two of whom are living, Alonzo who lives at home, and Mary J.,
who married George Clark and lives in South Framingham, Mass.
THERON BURT, son of Levi, died November 6, 1863.

AARON BURT, was a wholesale and retail dealer in this town. This BUrt
was the great-grandson of HENRY and LEVI BURT of this town. A set of
Aaron Burt's account books, ledger and journal are now in the
possession of HENRY BURT, of this town, at this time more than one
hundred and thirty years old.

GEORGE CARLISLE was the son of John Carlisle, a shoemaker, and a 
great-grandson of David Carlisle, one of the early settlers. George
began life a poor boy, but by his honesty and industry he won the
esteem of Stone & Bellows, merchants here, who entrusted him with
a large invoice of goods of, then, the Far West, Cincinnati, where he
established himself in due course of time as a merchant. Exercising
good justment he purchased land from time to time with surplus
money in the environs of the Queen City, which soon rose in value
manifold, and made him at the time of his death, which occurred in
1863, a very rich man. He is represented to have been a highly
honorable business man, public-spirited and generous to his Walpole
kindred.

MATTHEW DICKEY, the twelfth child of Adam Dickey, son of John and
Margaret Reed Dickey, who emigrated from county Antrim, Ireland, and
settled in Londonderry NH in 1733, was born April 29, 1772. He came
to Walpole in 1794, and married Betsey March in 1795, and took up
land on Derry Hill where he spent a long life of industry, economy
and thrift. He had a family of eleven children, eight of whom
survived to adult age, and of whom LEWIS DICKEY, born November 1, 1820
occupies the old homestead.

MR. PLINY DICKINSON was sole pastor of the First Congregational Church 
of Walpole until 1826. He died August 27, 1834 of apoplexy, at the
commencement dinner-table in Amherst, Mass. He was born in Grandby
Mass in 1777 and consequently was twenty-eight years old when he
first settled in town. He went to board with Col. Caleb Bellows,
a grandson of the founder of the town. The colonel then had a
daughter, Mary Brown, who was five years old, born in 1800. Mr.
Bellows did not like Mr. Dickinson, but tolerated him in his
family. When Mary arrived at the age of womanhood, the colonel
discovered a closer intimacy between his daughter and the parson
than mere friendship, and he was wroth; but when, soon
after the discovery had made, he learned that their bans were to be
cried the following Sunday, he was made. His objections were:
first, her youth; second, he disparity of age; and third that he did
not like the man who was to be his son-in-law.  When the next Sunday
arrived, Mr. Bellows was at church in season, and, when the 
congregation was all seated and the parson in his pulpit, N. Townsly,
town clerk, cried the bans of Pliny Dickinson and Mary Brown Bellows.
As soon as the last word had dropped from the lips of the crier,
Mr. Bellows rose form his seat, as pale as a sheet, in an excited
manner, cried out, "I forbit the bans! I forbid the bans!"
If a thunderbolt had struck the church, no greater shock would have
been given to the congregation... Regardless of his words, the
nuptials were announced. [The document states, "When where and by
whom they were married no one living in town seems to know.].
She lived to be married to three husbands, and had children by two.
She outlived her husbands, and in 1884 or 1885, died in Minnesota.

THOMAS COLLINS DREW, an unlettered, penniless lad, born in Chester NH,
in 1762, came to this town with the Derry Hill settlers, and made
Walpole his life home. In boyhoold an inmate of the almshouse in
Portsmouth, adopted by one McNeal of Londonderry, he ran away and
joined the Continental forces, and after the war closed returned to
McNeal. Mr. McNeal had no use for him, and sold his indenture to
William T. Ramsey, a settler of this town, for a pair of old stags.
He came home with Ramsey, and at his majority or soon after married,
when his wife taught him to read and write. He now put on the harness
and made a bold push for livelihood, either by hook or by crook, and
as years rolled on he grew in popularity with his townsmen, and was
promoted colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of New Hampshire militia,
and soon was elected... to the State Legislature in 1802, and was
re-elected 1804, 1805, 1807, 1808 and 1809. He was then elected
State Councillor two years. He had a great influence in town-meetings,
being a fluent speaker. During those years he kept a public-house
at the place which perpetuates his name--Drewsville. By dint of 
perseverance, at the age of fifty, he had accumulated some property, 
and was about building a substantial brick dwelling in the town--the 
brick being already on the grounds-- but owing to a rupture with those 
to the "manor born," he changed his mind and purchased a square of land 
in the northwest part of the town, now known as Drewsville in 1810. He 
moved his brick thither and erected the hotel now owned by Thomas 
Taunt. In his old age he undertook to tend his bar on both sides at a
time, which greatly bewildered him at times. None of his posterity
are now living.

DR. MOSES EMERSON settled here on the Dea. Moses Fisher place between
1775 and 1780. He married COmfort Eastman and had born to him one son,
JONATHAN EMERSON, when he suddenly disappeared from town, and
nothing more is known of him.  JONATHAN, born in 1781, married
Lydia Crosby of Dummerston Vt and died March 26, 1861. She died
June 5 1875.  His children were Caroline F. who married Silas Angier;
Mary Jane, who married William B. Mason; John Crosby, who married
Urana C. Mason; George Eastman who died September 3, 1853, aged
twenty-eight years; Sarah Abigail who married William B. Mason; and
Harriet M., who married Charles Wyman.

AUGUSTUS FAULKNER, son of Paul was born in Lancaster, Mass in 1805,
and married twice, first, Harriet, daughter of Charles Stratton, who
bore him two children, Charles S. and Ann L. He came to this town 
about fifty years ago, lived in Drewsville about five years, and then
located in Walpole village, where he now resides. He has been engaged
in the machinist business. He married for his second wife, Mary
Maynard, who has bourne him one child, George M., who lives at home.
Charles S. Faulkner lives in New York city, and Ann L. lives at
home.

THOMAS FESSENDEN was born in Cambridge, Mass in 1739, graduated at
Harvard in 1758, settled as minister of the town in 1767, and died
May 9, 1913. His entire pastorate was forty-six years, eight of which
he had been a colleague. ..In 1804 he wrote a book entitled,
"The Science of Sanctity." 
  THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN, the oldest of the old parson's family, was
born April 21, 1771, graduated in Dartmouth in 1796, studied law in
the office of Stephen R. Bradley, in Westminster Vt. and died in
Boston, November 11, 1837. He early commenced a literary career, which
he pursued through life, writing books, and numerous pamphlets.
He wrote and published a book in England satirizing the medical
facility there. It had an immense sale in London, and was
subsequently published in this country in three editions. It was
entitled, "Dr. Caustic." The work is a strange compound of erudition,
doggerel verse and nonsense. In 1822 he commenced the publication of
the "New England Farmer," when he did not know enough about farming to
hoe a hill of potatoes, and continued it fifteen years.  For 
versatility of genius, ready wit, biting sarcasm, and as a popular
journalist, no native townsman has been his equal.

MOSES FISHER was born in Franklin, Mass October 13, 1763 and married
Mary Hixon, who was born in the same town, January 31, 1770. He came
to this town about 1800, and located upon the place now owned by his
son Moses. He was for several years deacon of Rev. Pliny Dickinson's
church, and at one time had a mill on the brook that ran past his
house, where cotton yard was manufactaured, and his son Daniel 
peddled it about the country. The mill was washed away by a freshet
in 1826. His children were as follows: David, born August 11, 1789;
Julia, born July 1, 1791; Nancy, born March 11, 1793; Isaac, born
May 22, 1796; Eunice, born June 18, 1799; Mary, born July 6, 1807,
and Moses, born May 16, 1815.  MOSES FISHER SR. died October 23,
1854 and his widow died May 7, 1861, aged ninety-one years. His
son MOSES FISHER married Adeline, daughter of Richard Starkweather,
December 22, 1842, and hs had three children, two of whom Emily C.
and Francis A. are living at home.  Mr. Fisher has been a farmer all
his life, and has always resided on the old homestead on road 21.

JONATHAN FLETCHER was born in Leominster, Mass, August 29, 1753. He
came to Walpole in 1780, when he was twenty-seven years of age, and
purchased fifty acres of land of Col. Benjamin Bellows, to which his
son afterwards made additional purchases.  He built himself a cabin
in the wilderness, and lived on the same place seventy-three years,
where he died, February 2, 1854, having attained the unusual age of
one hundred years, five months and four days.  He married Abigail
Goodenow, June 11, 1781, who died September 28, 1825, they having
lved together forty-four years.  They reared a family of eight children
as follows: Joanna, born February 15, 1782; Miriam, born February 1,
1784; Polly, born September 17, 1785; Levi, born October 10, 1788;
Alvan, born July 11, 1790; Israel, born May 26, 1792; Melinda, born
July 21, 1794; and Salome, born May 29, 1796.  His son, ISRAEL FLETCHER
married Abigail Fuller of Athens, Vt. April 4, 1826, who bore him two
children.  He was a farmer and remained upon the homestead. His wife
died June 9, 1859, and his death occurred July 23, 1859.  His son,
JONATHAN C. FLETCHER, born April 29, 1835, now living on the homestead,
on road 43, married Diantha Emery of Stockholm NY, February 10, 1860,
and has one child, Fannie A.  H.H. FLETCHER, son of Israel, married
Mary E. Barnes, of Jamaica VT in September 1854, and has two
children, William H. and Marcella M.  The latter married Charles
Mellish of this town.

BENJAMIN GATES, born in Acworth NH in 1806, came to this town about
1827. He married Adaline E., daughter of Francis Snow, and reared a
family of nine children, two of whom, Charles and Harriet, are
living. The latter married H.G. Wightman and lives in town. Mr.
Gates died in 1874. His widow now lives with her son and daughter,
on road 18.

SAMUEL GRANT, familiarly known as Major, was born at Watertown, Mass
in 1770 and came to this town soon after his majority by trade a
saddle-maker. He married the daughter of General Bellows, and at
Bellow's death, in 1802, came in possession of a large farm in the
southeast part of the town--her patrimony. This place was known as
the "Seven Barns." Here, for many years he extensively carried on
sheep husbandry, owning a times a thousand sheep. By his strong will
and conventional position in town, he secured a strong hold on his
townsmen, and was elected to the General Court four times, viz:
in 1797, 1799, 1817, and 1838, besides holding many offices of trust.
He is represented to have been punctilious, exacting and unyielding
in his intercourse with his neighbors. He died April 12, 1844.

AARON GRAVES and his wife, Phebe, from Saybrook, Conn, were in town
before 1750 and it is thought, brought a number of their children
with them.  It is said a brother by the name of Nathan came with 
him.  Of the latter very little is known, except that he had two
sons, AZEL GRAVES and JOEL GRAVES.  Joel settled just in the border
of Westmoreland, on a plot known as the Graves pasture, and now owned
by Henry Burt.  JOEL was a clock maker, and went by the sobriquet of
"Jinglefoot" Graves.  Where Aaron settled it is difficult to ascertain.
He died August 8, 1814, aged ninety-two years, and his wife died
March 20, 1813, aged eighty-five.  His children were as follows:
Tryphena; Recompense, born January 20, 1756; Jesse, born April 11,
1758; Aaron Jr. born February 11, 1760; Hannah, born November 8, 1761;
Samuel, born February 20, 1763; Abner, born February 5, 1766, and
Roxana, born December 4, 1772.  JOHN GRAVES was probably a brother of
Aaron, and his name first appears on the town records, as fence viewer
in 1762, and again in 1764, as one of the selectmen, and also in 1778,
when he is styled "Deacon."  He was one of the twenty-five members of
the old church under Thomas Fessenden in 1767.  When he came to town
he purchased a large tract of land, which is still held by the
Graves family, extending east from "Lane's Mills," to and including
the place now owned by William Graves.  It is said that his sons,
ELIAD and ELIPHAS came to town before his son JOHN JR. who
was familiarly known as "Squire" and "Lieutenant" John. He was the
Graves who represented the town in the Vermont assembly during the
"border troubles". The children of JOHN JR. who lived on the place now 
owned by Charles H. Graves were Samuel, John 3d, Lidia, Nancy, Rebecca, 
Margaret, Parnell, Darius, Amos, and Allen, the last two being twins.  
From these ancestors have sprung a long line of descendants now living 
in this country and other parts of the country.  GEORGE W. GRAVES born 
April 5, 1812, married Stella, daughter of Ruggles Watkins, and located 
upon  the home farm of his grandfather, ELIPHAS.  He has always been an
active farmer in town and has three children living at home.  They are
FRANCIS H., JOHN W. and RUSSEL G.  CHARLES H. GRAVES, son of STERLING,
was born September 13, 1824, married Lucinda M. Thatcher of Newport
NH, May 8, 1851, and located upon the homestead of his father on road
46.  He has been a farmer all his life, and has had three children,
Clara J., Fred D. and Joseph H.  The last two live at home.  Clara J.
married Charles W. Bacon of Buffalo NY and died August 22, 1883.
  JOSIAH GRISWOLD GRAVES was born July 13, 1811 in Walpole NH, grandson of JOHN GRAVES JR. through STERLING GRAVES, his father, who was a
well-to-do farmer, and his mother of superior mind and excellent
judgement. He studied medicine (beginning in 1829) and was a student
in medicine in the office of Dr. Adams and Twitchell of Keene,
and subsequently attended medical lectures at Pittsfield Mass and
graduated at the Medical Department of Williams College in 1834.
Afterwards he spent six months in the office of Drs. Huntington and
Graves in Lowell.  Dr. Josiah G. Graves removed to Nashua NH
September 15, 1834 where he commenced the practice of medicine there.
For more than forty years since, and there became widely known as a
skillful physician, and accumulated a handsome fortune. After many
years he took a degree at Jefferson College, Philadelphia. At the time
of the Rebellion [Civil War] the Governor and Council of NH appointed
him a member of the Medical Board of Examiners.  He retired from 
active practice in 1871. He was for many years a member of the NH
State Medical Association. In 1852 he delivered an address to that
group on "The Factory System and its Influence on the Health of the
Operatives." He was a director in the Nashua and Lowell Railroad,
and other roads. He was a director in the Fanueil Hall Insurance
Company and in the Metropolitan Steamship Line. He had a business
office in Boston and managed his large estate... He was a Democrat.
He received the thirty-second degree of Masonry, and is a Unitarian
in religion.  He married Mary Webster, daughter of Colonel William
Boardman of Nashua, in 1846. She was a most estimable and CHristian
lady. For many years she was a devoted member of the Unitarian Church
and an earnest worker in all good causes. Kind and sympathetic,
courteous to all, with a quiet dignity and purity of demeanor, she was
a cherished member of society and an exemplar of the highest type of
Christian womanhood. She died December 26, 1883.

WILLIAM GUILD from Franklin, Mass, came to Walpole in 1808, and
bought the Col. Webber farm, since owned by George Jennings.
In 1838 he moved into the village, where he lived until his death
October 16, 1858, aged eighty-three. He was twice married, first to
Waitstill Ware in 1798 who died July 1 1812, by whom he had two
children, Julia and Increase Sumner, and the following December he
married Lydia Field, by whom he had three children, William Jr.
born August 16, 1813; Mary Jane, born January 17, 1815, and
Ebenezer, born December 22, 1856.  INCREASE SUMNER GUILD, son of
William, married Esther Wolcott, February 8, 1824 and moved to
Bethel, Vt. By her he had seven children--Esther Aurora; William
Wolcott now of this town, born August 23, 1827, who married Eliza Jane
Alexander of Fitzwilliam, and has had seven children; Edwin Jennison,
born October 24, 1829, has been twice married and reared five
children; Julietta, born February 8, 1840 married Frederick J. Hubbard
of this town.

DAVID HODSKINS, son of Aaron, was born here on the place now owned by
A. and W. Kingsbury. He married Martha March, and reared a family of
ten children, four of whom are living. His son, JOHN N. HODSKINS
married Emily Hall, and lives on road 46. Of his five children,
three of them, George H., John N. and James O. are living.
  AARON HODSKINS JR. was born in town August 17, 1769. He was a farmer
by occupation, but intellectually a strong man. He was generally
known as "Squire," and for many years, when in active life, was a
potent factor in the civic affairs of the town. He was religiously
a Universalist, and was the head and front of that society in town.
His son, ASAHEL B. HODSKINS, also belonged to the same denomination,
was active in the cause, and also had some influence in local
politics.

DR. ABRAHAM HOLLAND, born in Barre, Mass, in 1751, graduated at
Dartmouth, studied medicine, located in Walpole, and commenced
practice here about 1780, being the third physician, it is said, who
settled in town.  His wife was Abigail Baldwin, of Shrewsbury, Mass.
For his second wife he married a widow Fisher.  He died in 1847 at the
great age of ninety-six years.  His children were POLLY, NATHANIEL
who was born in 1788 and married Keziah Richardson of Alstead in 1819.
He was a hotel keeper by profession, he died at forty-seven years of
age. [Three of his granddaughters through this Nathaniel, were
married to Harrison P. and Hudson E. Bridge, who were Walpole boys,
and who as men were citizens of St. Louis, MO, where they
accumulated very large fortunes]; EPHRAIM, born in 1790 married Nancy, 
daughter of Rev. Samuel Mead. He, too, was for many years a hotel 
keeper in Keene, and in Boston, Mass. He returned to Walpole and built 
the house where his widow still resides. He died April 30, 1859. His 
children were HENRY E., a physician and surgeon in the Union army, 
where he died; HARRIET, who married Thomas N. Hastings of Boston; 
EDWARD MORSE who died December 27, 1878, aged fifty-one; DANIEL DENNY 
who married ELiza Hardy, and went early to California; ORLANDO SARTWELL 
who  married Bertha Held and died in 1878, leaving one child;
FREDERICK HENDERSON who went to St. Louis; GEORGE B. born March 17,
1838; and WILLIAM WARD who went out as a sutler in the late civil
war, and died there November 12, 1863, aged twenty-three years.

LEVI HOOPER, the progenitor of the Hooper family in Walpole, was born
in Bridgewater, Mass in 1742. When quite young he went on a whaling
voyage to Hudson's Bay, and on his return enlisted as a soldier in
the last French war, when ended in 1763. He enlsited for nine months,
and when the time of enlistment had expired he was unable to get his
pay unless he would stay three months longer. At the expiration of
the next three months, finding himself no better off, he and two other
soldiers deserted and made for home guided by blazed trees, till they
arrived at Charlestown, No. 4, where they stopped for the night.
The next day they reached Walpole, and stopped in a log-hut that stood
on the site of the present cider-mill on the Hooper premises.  The soil
and the heavy growth of timber pleased him so much that he was
induced to return after visiting his friends, and locate in town.
He returned to Walpole in 1771, and soon after buried his wife,
whose maiden name was Susanna Leach, and the same year married
Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Hall, by whom he had six children. He
paid 160 pounds lawful money to Samuel Chase for his farm, in 1775,
and located on the southern part.  In 1781 he had built and moved into
the "mansion," so-called, now the residence of George D. Hooper,
where he lived until his death in 1806. His wife died February 9, 1823,
aged eighty-one years. He was second lieutenant in a company of
General Bellow's regiment in Revolutionary times, and afterwards
captain. He was a man of resolute character, held many town offices,
and accumulated a competency for old age. His children were as
follows: Susanna, born in 1772; Salmon, born August 7, 1774;
James Winslow, born in 1776; James, born in 1778; Elisha, born in
1781; and Sarah born in 1783.  JOHN HOOPER ESQ., son of Elisha, was
born June 22, 1818, and married twice, first, Abigail Ball, May 26,
1840 who bore him six children, five of whom are living as follows:
Warren E., Estella, Rowe, Marion and Ellen. For his second wife he
married Agnes L. Flanders in 1870. He was well known in the town, was
one of the commissioners who located the county-house at Westmoreland,
was selectman, and was town representative in 1866-67. He was a member
of the Christian church many years, and died September 5, 1883,
aged sixty-five years. His widow lives in this town.  WILLIAM HOOPER,
son of James, was born here Feburary 21, 1812, married Elvira
Pulsipher of Rockingham, Vt., January 18, 1843, and located upon the
old homestead, where his father and grandfather lived before him.
He has two children, Frank W., who is a professor of natural history
in Adelphia Academy at Brooklyn NY and George D., who lives on the
home farm with his father. The wife of William Hooper died June 16,
1881.
  FOSTER HOOPER, an orphan at an early age, was the son of
SALMON HOOPER, and the grandson of LEVI, one of the early settlers,
was born April 2, 1805. He studied medicine, and in 1826 went to 
Fall River, Mass, where for more than a generation he enjoyed an
extensive practice and was held in high estimation by all the
medical fraternity. There were no public enterprises on foot in that
city for more than forty years but Dr. Hooper had a controlling voice
in them. He was chosen often to fill the civic offices of that place.
His career, at his death, which occurred in 1870 from disease of the
heart, left a more favorable lasting impression than if he had been a
member of Congress, which position was almost within his grasp at one
time.

JONAS HOSMER was a staid old church deacon and farmer. He came to town
from Acton, Mass in 1783, and remained here during life. He had
eight children, seven of whom lived to maturity and all were highly
respectable people. Five of the number were boys, and never were there
five boys born in town in one family who could boast a cleaner record
from vice than those of Jonas Hosmer.  Two of them ELI HOSMER and
ELBRIDGE HOSMER, were widely known and esteemed school teachers.
EDWIN HOSMER followed farming, and ALFRED HOSMER and HIRAM HOSMER
became practicing physicians.  The latter became eminent in his
profession in Watertown, Mass., and in other walks of life was a
prominent citizen. He was the father of HARRIET GRANT HOSMER, the
world-reknowned sculptress, who was born in 1830. On her mother's
side she is the great-granddaughter of General Benjamin Bellows.

LYMAN HOUGHTON came to this town from Lunenburg, Mass, in 1837.
He married Phebe L., daughter of ELisha Hooper, and had born to him
six children as follows: Henry E., John L., Charles W., Mary E.,
Lucy M., and Edward F.  LUCY M. HOUGHTON married William H. Fuller;
EDWARD F. HOUGHTON lives in Claremont NH and the rest live in this
town. LYMAN HAMPTON [sic should read HOUGHTON] was an active
business man and was a member of the Christian church for several
years.

JOHN HOWLAND, who came over in the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620,
was Lieutenant in Miles Standish's troops, and married Elizabeth,
daughter of Governor John Carver, and died February 23, 1672.
James and Charles Howland, descendants of John, came to Walpole
between 1790 and 1800, and JAMES settled on a farm since owned by
William W. Guild.  CHARLES was a cabinet maker, and settled in the
valley, where he died November 28, 1826, aged sixty-two [Another
history states that this Charles was a mechanic who lived in the
"Valley" section of town"]
  AARON PRENTISS HOWLAND, son of Charles, was born in 1801. He
acquired a limited education at the common schools of the period,
and learned the carpenter's trade, and soon became a contractor,
and by his rare good judgement he acquired a competency. [he became a
master-builder].  He represented the town in the legislature, and was 
United States district assessor at the time of his death, July 9, 1867.
He was at first a Whig, then a Republican in sentiment, and lastly,
an unflinching partisan. His word was law to his henchman, and for 
years he figured as the champion of opposition to the Democracy over 
the check-list at March meeting times. He was United States distrcit
assistant assessor during and after the War of the Rebellion.] 
He married  Huldah Burke, of Westminster, Vt. His children were 
Elizabeth, Charles P., Fred I., Henry E., Afred C., and Katherine H.W. 
The first three died young. HENRY E. HOWLAND became a lawyer and 
located in New York. ALFRED C. HOWLAND became an artist--a landscape 
painter with headquarters in New York City.

GEORGE HUNTINGTON of whom mention has been made in connection with
Otis Bardwell, was born in 1801, and died in 1876. Early in life he
kept the tavern in the village..he had a seat in the State Legislature
in 1836, 1836 and 1837, and was soon after appointed sheriff of the
county. He held several town positions, was a railroad and bank
director for several years. In middle life he was one of the most
comely, well dressed and popular men in town, and was "reported" rich,
as he paid the highest individual tax in town. In his business
transactions, first impressions always served him; he never used
figures much; but later in life impressions did not serve him, and
his business went wrong, till at length a collapse came and he died
comparatively poor.

ISAAC JENNINGS, born at Holliston, Mass, March 15, 1777 married
Thankful Moore, and came to Walpole February 8, 1808. He located upon
the place now owned by Joseph Kidder, where he lived until 1839,
when he moved to the farm now owned by his son George. He died
October 18, 1851, and his wife died August 21, 1861.  About 1830,
Daniel Jennings, father of Isaac, came to the town and lived here
till his death, July 6, 1833.  GEORGE JENNINGS, son of Isaac was born
March 17, 1819, married Lydia S. Williams of Westminster Vt,
March 4, 1846, and has had born to him seven children, four of whom
are now living.  Of these, GEORGE A. JENNINGS lives in San Francisco
California, CLARa L. JENNINGS lives in town; IDA L. JENNINGS married
J.E. Littleton of Worcester, Mass, and MINNIE A JENNINGS lives at
home  ALONZO JENNINGS, son of Isaac, was born here August 2, 1813,
married twice, first Adeliza, daughter of Alexander Watkins Jr.;
second, Clarissa, daughter of Charles Watkins in 1850. He had born to
him four children, Charles A., William A., Amy W., and Alice W., and
died October 13, 1883. He was successful as a farmer and stood wel
as a citizen. His widow and children live in town.

ROBERT JENNISON came to this country at an early day and settled
at Watertown, Mass and from him have descended the numerous
Jennison families of this country.  JOHN JENNISON, fourth son of
Samuel, was born in Watertown, Mass, February 19, 1710. He married
Mary Hubbard, who, after his death, brought six children with her to
Walpole. She became the wife of Col. Benjamin Bellows.  John Jennison,
her second child, known as Capt John had a numerous family.

OLIVER T. JOSLYN came to this town in 1872 and in 1879 moved to the
place where he now lives on road 9. He is engaged in gardening,
having one of the finest gardens in the county. His father,
J.O. JOSLYN resides with him.

NEHEMIAH KIDDER came to the town from Tewksbury, Mass, in 1788. He
married Abigail, daughter of Dr. Frances Kittredge, who died at the
time of the birth of her tenth child, Amy, born December 18, 1789,
and was cared for by her uncle Dr. Jessneiah Kittredge. The other
children of Nehemiah were Hepsibeth, Abigail, Ducy, Polly, Joseph,
Nehemiah, Susanna, Zephaniah, and Abiah.  The latter, born September
14, 1786, came to this town with his parents when an infant. His
mother died when he was aout three years of age, and he was brought
up by Dr. Kittredge of this town. He married Achsah Winchester,
of Westmoreland, June 10, 1808. Of his eight children, five--three
boys and two girls--are now living. Of these, ABIAH KIDDER lives
in Belmont NH; Moses Kidder lives in Woodstock, Vt.; Mary Kidder
who married A. Ross lives in Colesville NY; Julia Kidder married
George Sabin and lives in town; Joseph Kidder married Susan Tuttle,
has two children, Edward H. and Benjamin F. and lives on road 20.

JOHN KILBURN, who was born in Glastonbury Conn in 1704; consequently
he was forty-five years old when he came to Walpole in 1749. He had
built himself a log cabin on the fertile intervale, about three-fourths
of a mile south of Cold River, and about the same distance from the
place where the Indians, in large numbers, sojourned in the summer
through the fishing season. His family consisted of himself, his
wife, his daughter Mehitable (Hetty) and his son John.  Thomas 
Kilburn was the first settlers of the name in this county, who came
to America from England in 1635, brining with him his wife and five
children. John Kilburn Sr. was the fourth removed from Thomas....
Kilburn had lived in town some three or four years before Colonel
Benjamin Bellows settled in town....[SEE ELSEWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT
FOR THE STORY OF THE INDIAN ATTACK]  It appears, from all the
information in the possession of this sketch, that John Kilburn had
a grant of the township of Walpole, procured from the government of
the State of New York. Reportedly there were disagreements between
Kilburn, and Colonel Bellows, who had received his grant from Gov.
Wentworth of New Hampshire. A letter reportedly in the possession of
the writer of this sketch, written by George Kilburn, the great-
grandson of old John, states that the quarrel had lasted for some
years between the families, Bellows so far yielded as to make an offer
to divide the township with his great-grandfather, which was refused
by Kilburn. After a while Kilburn became discouraged in trying to
accept this offer, and located his future home where Oliver J.
Hubbard now resides. He soon returned from Springfield, built himself
a house and settled once more. [At length, one of the Bellows
descendants of the fourth generation, and one of the Kilburns of the
sixth generation married; and the mingled blood of the first two
settlers courses the veins of their two children--a son and a 
daughter].  John Kilburn's grandson, ELIJAH KILBURN had a large
family--nine children, six of whom were boys. There is no one by the
name of Kilburn living in the town to-day, and but few descendants.
JOHN KILBURN, the first settlers, only held some few minor positions
in town. He lived long enough to see his great-grandchildren, and
when he died he was buried in the old cemetery north of the village,
where a plain substantial slab of granite marks the spot, with the
following inscription: "In memory of / John Kilburn, who departed /
this life for a better, April 8th, 1789 / in the 85th year of his age/
He was the first settlers of this town / in 1749."

DR. FRANCIS KITTREDGE -- SEE his biography under PHYSICIANS section.

RICHARD KNAPP, son of James, was born at Brattleboro in 1809, and
married Rhoda Dodge of Stoddard NH in 1837. He carried on the
tailoring business in Charlestown NH, and after living in that place
and in Springfield Vt he came to Walpole in 1870. He has since resided
here, carrying on the tailoring business. He has had four children,
three of whom are now living.  His son, GEORGE R. KNAPP, was in the
14th NH Vols, served three years, was honorably discharged, and went
to Savannah, GA, where he was assistant postmaster about two years.
He died soon after.  CHARLES H. KNAPP, son of Richard, was also in the
14th NH Vols, served until the close of the war and now resides at
home.  JAMES E. KNAPP, son of Richard, resides in Leominster, and
HENRY C. KNAPP, another son, lives in Boston, Mass. Mr. Knapp served
in the 1st NH Vols.

JACOB NEWMAN KNAPP, who died in this town July 27, 1868, in his
ninety-fifth year, exercised a silent influence in town for more than
fifty years, and more especially in the Unitarian Church.
  His son, FREDERICK NEWMAN KNAPP, rendered efficient service in the
Sanitary Commission during the Rebellion [Civil War].

HOPE LATHORP [?Lathrop] was born in Tolland, Conn, about 1798 and
learned the trade of planter. He came to Drewsville in 1819, where
he followed that business a few years. He was appointed deputy
sheriff soon after he came to Drewsville, and at the same time kept
a public-house there. He was one of the directors of the COnnecticut
River Rank [sic Bank] at Charlestown NH and was its president when
he died in 1878. For a number of years he was postmaster at
Drewsville and merchant at the same period... at the time of his
death his accumulationos were large for the country, which were left
to his two daughters. His wealth and shrewdness gave him some local
influence, but beyond his own town he was but little known.

JONATHAN LEAVITT settled in the town as minister. At a legal meeting
of the inhabitants, held at the fort in Walpole December 22, 1760,
the town voted to give Mr. Jonathan Leavitt a call to become their
minister. He was ordained on the 10th day of June 1762. In April 1764
the settlers called a town-meeting for the purpose of hearing the
minds of the inhabitants on some difficulties that had arisen between
the parson and the parionshers, however he had a binding contract which
made it difficult to remove him. Mr. Leavitt released the town from
all obligations to him on May 27, 1764. One source reports that 
"the parson was caught one day in leading home a runaway slave of his,
a woman, by a rope around her neck, which was attached to the pommel
of his saddle." Colonel Bellows hearing of the outrage, delcared,
"That such cruelty should not be tolerated;" that he "settled Parson
Leavitt and would unsettle him." What became of the parson is not
known. The town, after Leavitt's dismissal, hired one Jonathan Moore,
who preached for the people some time.

BOLIVAR LOVELL is the son of Aldis Lovell, who was a lawyer of some
local repute in town at one time.  Bolivar was born at Drewsville,
August 30, 1826, and obtained only a common-school education at that
place. At his majority he went forth into the world, and found
employment in Providence, R.I. as a clerk there for three years, when
he returned to his native home and commenced the study of of law in
his father's office, then at Alstead, about 1845. In 1847 he was
appointed deputy sheriff and while acting in that capacity he was
still pursuing his law studies in the office of Lovell Wait, of
Alstead. In 1855 he was appointed Sheriff for Cheshire County, which
office he held for ten years. In 1862 he was appointed United States
assessor of internal revenue for the Third New Hampshire District 
and held that office eight years. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar,
and has since practiced his profession, first in Alstead, and now in
this town. In 1873-74 he was elected a member of the Governor's
Council. He is considered a safe reliable business man, and an honest
lawyer. He is now (1885) still practicing his profession at
Drewsville, financially enjoying life's blessings.

CHRISTIAN B. LUCKE, son of Gustavus, was born in Richmond, VA,
February 9, 1822, and at the age of twelve years was sent to
Walpole to attend school, where he remained two years. He married
Harriet R., daughter of George Watkins, in 1843. He came to this
town to live in 1845, and in 1852 took charge of the Cold River
station, on the Chesterfield railroad. He remained there four years
when he was given charge of the Walpole depot, and was there
sixteen years. He has been tax collector eight years, town
representative in 1872-73, and is now one of the supervisors of the
town. He has had born to him two children, Virginia, who died in
infancy, and Gustavus, who is a successful merchant in Sherbrook, Conn.

JOSHUA MARCH, a native of Walpole, married Judith Hodkins, of that
place, reared two sons and two daughters, and died in 1841. His son,
JOHN S. MARCH married Sarepta, daughter of Philip E. and Abigail Bunda,
and has had born to him eight children, five of whom are living.
He still resides in Walpole at the age of eighty-two years. His
second son, WILLIAM MARCH married Frances S. Rickford of Walpole, and
now resides in Keene. JEORD RICKFORD was of Revolutionary fame and was
the first man to draw a pension at Woodstock Vt.

JOHN MAYNARD was born in Chestefield NH March 28, 1785, and being an
orphan at three years of age, he was brought up by one of the Blake
families in Keene. He learned the saddlers trade and came to Walpole
early in this century and worked for Maj. Grant until he began
business for himself. He subsequently owned a line of stages from this
town to Chester, Vt. He married Lydia Graves, April 28, 1811, by whom
he had ten children.  His son, A.K. Maynard of this town, born
December 19, 1814, was a manufacturer of boots and shoes here many
years until 1870. He was also postmaster from 1853 to 1861. He married
Maria Geer of Charlestown NH, June 13, 1844, and his children were
William A., Charles G., the present proprietor of the Dinsmore House,
who was born September 28, 1846, and married Mary G., daughter of
Thomas Dinsmore, of Alstead, Lizzie M. and Mary F.

NATHANIEL MONROE, son of Isaac, was born in Marlow in 1818, and
married Susan, daughter of Daniel Warren of Stoddard NH in 1842.
He moved to Bellows Falls in 1853, had charge of the toll bridge
for nine years,and then came north to Walpole, where he has since
lived. He became engaged in the nursery business and in gardening,
and is now interested in the water works and in gardening. He has one
child, Anna E. Monroe, who married J. H. Heald of this place.

DR. EBNEZER MORSE, was born in Dublin, NH in 1785, graduated at
Dartmouth in 1810, studied medicine and came to this town in 1813,
a fully-fledged physician, when he put out his shingle on the
northwest corner of the house now occupied by Frederick A. Wier. At
the beginning of his practice he had Drs. Johnson, Holland, Sparhawk
and the Kittredges to contend with. Slowly he worked his way along,
till, in the course of forty years, he had crossed the thresholds
of three-fourths of the habitations of the people in town
professionally, and formed their favorable acquaintance, which gave
his voice a listening ear in town affairs. He was too conservative to
be a leader, and too proud to follow. He hated innovation, and the
frivolities of fashion he despised. He clung to the past--the old
school-books and the old way of cooking were the best. He was a fine
prose-writer, and the town is indebted to his pen for much of its
early history... He was once elected to the General Court and three
times selectman, besides holding some other minor offices. An entire
change came over him in the last years of his professional practice,
which was this--instead of dosing with blue pills, jalap and using
the lancet, he thought bread pills, pure air, clean sheets and a good
nurse were more efficacious in restoring health than any other means.
He died December 30, 1863.

CALEB PLAISTRIDGE, who father Isaac, came to COnnecticut from England,
was born February 19, 1751, and was left an orphan at the age of four
years. He was brought up by a widow of the town, and at the age of
twenty-one went to Cornish NH, buying a lot of fifty acres, where he
made a small clearing.  He then returned to Connecticut, married
Hannah Manning, and in the spring he and his wife returned to the
clearing in the wilderness.  He served in the war of the Revolution.
His first wife bore him eleven children. He married for his second
wife, Susannah, daughter of Samuel Lucy, who bore him four
children, three of whom, Marion, Nancy P. and Joseph are living.
He died June 30, 1838 and his wife died March 30, 1867. Marion married
Jason Cole and lives in Danville Vt.  Nancy P. married William H.
Stone, and also lives in Danville, Vt.  Joseph, who came to the village
of Walpole in 1869, was born January 7, 1809, and married Harriet
Winchester, of Ashburnham, Mass.

VIM PORTER, the progenitor of the Porter families of this town, was
born at Crown Point, NY, September 22, 1801. He married Hannah Pike
of Morristown Vt. He came to this town and settled on what has since
been known as the Corey farm in 1834, until his death, September 24,
1843, leaving a widow and five boys.  The boys all acquired a good
English education and have become highly respectable citizens, two
of them, WINSLOW B. and WILLIAM H. have become physicians.

JONATHAN PUTNEY was one of the early settlers of this county, and
reared a family of six children, as follows: Amos, Ezra, Samuel,
Asa, Abigail, and Sally. AMOS PUTNEY married Nancy Daggett, and was
a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife died in 1854, and his death
occurred in 1865. His children were Eliza, Francis, Maria, Permelia,
Adaline, Jonathan H., WIllard D., Loren D., Harriet E., Lucy J.,
Bradley A., and Louisa M.  JONATHAN H. PUTNEY married Betsey M. Tole,
and resides in this town on road 2.  He has two children, Willie H.
and Minnie E. who lived at home.

THOMAS AND ISAAC REDDINGTON were respected and influential
merchant-citizens in town in the earlier part of this century (1800's).
They were in trade some twenty five years. Isaac represented the town
in the State Legislature in 1813-14 and 1816. They both had families
but none of the blood remains in town today.

JONATHAN ROYCE first came to Marlow but soon removed to Walpole,
from Connecticut, at the time of the exodus from that State into the
valley of the Connecticut between 1775 and 1780, brining his entire
worldly effects on a hand-sled in the winter. He settled in the
"Valley." The town records, for many years, disclose the fact, by the
frequent occurrence of his name therein, that he was a man of good
ability and that his services were much in demand. For many years he
was justice of the peace. He at one time, it is said, owned more
land than any other man in town.

JAMes RUSSELL and his wife Lucy came here from Wellington, Conn.,
at an early date, and were among the early members of Rev. Thomas
Fessenden's church, which they joined in 1770.  Mr. Russell was born
in 1710, and died October 8, 1784, his widow surviving him until
April 24, 1791.  He settled upon what is now known as the Ezra Hall
place, and which has been for so many years in the hands of his
descendants.  They were the parents of six children, three sons and
three daughters.  THOmAS RUSSELL, the eldest of the sons, was born
October 22, 1751, and died November 27, 1845. He married Eunice
Alexander and reared a family of children. The other children of
JAMeS were as follows: Hannah, who married Luke Fletcher, July 23,
1784; Priscilla, who married David Pulsipher; Lucy, who married
John Fletcher; Aquilla, who married Abigail Glazier; and Jeduthan, 
who married Hannah Glazier.  These children were the parents of
large families, whose descendants now reside in this county and
different parts of the country.

WILLIAM SELKIRK, a native of Scotland, moved to Canada, where he
married Janet Brown, a reared a family of eight children, seven of
whom are living. His sons JOHN SELKIRK and JAMES SELKIRK moved to
this town in 1861. The latter is a carpenter and lives on road 23.
His mother resides with him. JOHN SELKIRK is in the milling business.

EBENEZER SMITH SR. moved to Langdon from Spencer, Mass. and located
in the eastern part of the town. EBNEZER SMITH, one of his six sons,
married Susanna Durant, and reared a family of eight children, five
of whom are living.  His son ESDRAS SMITH was born in 1800 and married
for his first wife Laura A. Cooper who bore him three children. He
married for his second wife, Alice M. Jennison and has had born to
him five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Smith moved to this
town in 1862, and is now living on road 36-1/2.

DR. GEORGE SPARHAWK, born in 1757, graduated at Harvard in 1777,
studied medicine and came to Walpole between 1780 and 1790. He 
purchased a large tract of land where George B. Williams later lived,
and gave his attention to farming. He built the house latterly occupied 
by A.H. Bellows. He married Polly Allen, and died in 1847, aged ninety. 
 He became one of the largest land-owners in the town and was a man of 
superior natural and acquired abilities.
  
THOMAS SPARHAWK, born in Cambridge, Mass, March 24, 1737, graduated
at Harvard in 1755, and came to Walpole in 1769, thirty-two years old,
and a graduate of Harvard with the class of 1755. The present
Sparhawk homestead is a portion of his early purchase. He was
probably the first merchant in town. He was the first to present the
town in the New Hampshire assembly, at Exeter, in 1775, was also 
judge of probate and clerk of the courts for the county of Cheshire.
 He was always a leading man. He died October 31, 1803, and his widow 
died in May 1807.  His son, THoMAS SPARHAWK JR. born in June 1761, was 
a prominent man, and held a seat in the State Legislature in the year
1795, 1796, 1798 and 1803, and was also a member of the Constitutional
COnvention of 1783.  He died in 1843. THOMAS SR. had six other 
children, viz: Rebecca, Oliver, Stearns, Mary, John Stearns, Jonathan 
Hubbard and Samuel.

E.E. STOWELL, son of Jotham E., was born in Lyndon, Vt in 1811 and
came to this town in 1830, where he worked for Aaron Hodskins Jr.
for five years. He married, for his first wife, Almira, daughter of
Aaron Hodskins, in 1833, who bore him one child, Abbie, who died in
infnancy. In 1835 he located upon the place where he now lives, on
road 34. His wife died in 1875, and for his second wife he married
Mrs. Mary A. Powers of Keene, November 3, 1880.

THOMAS TOLE came to this country from Ireland about 1823 and located
in Drewsville where he lived for a short time. He then bought a place
in Langdon NH where he resided for a few years, and then returned to
this town, locating upon the farm now owned by J.H. Putney, on
road 2.  He lived here until his death. He reared a family of ten
children, all now living, seven of them residing in town.

JOHN TUTTLE, son of William, and a native of this county, married
Abigail Stowell, of Rockingham Vt. and reared a family of ten
children, four of whom are now living.  Of these, Abigail and
JOhn L. Tuttle live in Charlestown NH, Orline Tuttle lives here,
and Susan Tuttle married Joseph Kidder of this town.

ROGER VOSE, born at Milton, Mass, in 1763, graduated at Harvard in
1790, and located in Walpole soon after completing his law studies,
about 1793-94.  He practiced law here, was judge of the state court,
and also judge of probate, for many years, and the only member of
congress who hailed from this town. He married Rebecca, daughter of
Colonel John Bellows, and had five children. 
  Frederick Vose, the eldest son, was born in Walpole November 2, 1801, was a graduate of Harvard in 1822, was a lawyer, a prominent man in the 
county. In 1847-48 he was a member of the State Senate, and in 1833
was a member of the House. He also held many important offices of 
trust and honor in the town, county and State, being for many years
judge of Probate, bank commissioner, etc.  As a lawyer he had a 
general reputation, being considered one of the soundest and best-read
lawyers in the State. He was not a brilliant man, but he never
attempted to argue a cast of importance before a jury on account of
having a constitutional timidity, which he never could overcome. In
his habits he was peculiar, seldom appearing at social gatherings,
and when in mixed company was always taciturn, but with a friend
alone he was one of the most genial companions... He was public-
spirited and benevolent.   He died  suddenly of apoplexy, while in New 
York City, in November 1871, aged seventy years.
 
NATHAN WATKINS, of Ashford, Conn., became an early settler of the
town. He was a blacksmith by trade, and built his shop on the south
side of Kingsbury hill. He brought the apple-trees now standing on
the Kingsbury place, south of the residence, from Connecticut, a
century ago. His family were of Welch and Scotch descent. NATHAN was
born in 1732 and died October 6, 1805. His wife was Ester Lyons,
who bore him eight children.

ALEXANDER WATKINS came to this town from Pomfret, conn about 1777-78,
and settled as a tavern-keeper on the place now owned by Benjamin E.
Webster. He married Hannah Ruggles, who bore him eight children--seven 
sons and one daughter. He died June 27, 1839 and his wife died
January 6, 1866. His son, CHARLES WATKINS, born August 7, 1793,
married Amy Sherman, and located upon the place now owned by his
son CHARLES E. where he died. He reared a family of eight children,
six of whom are living. Of these, O.H.P., Charles E. and Alfred
reside in town, the first two on road 40.  Clarissa married A. 
Jennings, Sophia married D. Gilbert and Amy E. married H. Lawrence.
ALEXANDER WATKINS, son of Alexander, was born May 5, 1786, married
Mary Sherman and reared a family of eleven children, seven of whom
are living. He lived for a few years on the place where his son
George now resides, then lived in Ohio for several years, after which
he returned to this town and located upon the place where he died,
on road 24.  The children who are living are George, Mary Ann, William
C., who lives in Ohio, Ephraim, Frederick, Hiram and Francis C. who
lives in Springfield, Mass.  George who was born in the place where
he now lives, married Susan E. Jennings, and has six children as
follows: Carrie A., Leonard G., Frank C., Sumner S., Alonzo J., and
Louise O.  HIRAM WATKinS, son of Alexander SR. was born September 27,
1801, studied the medical profession with Dr. Daniel Gilbert of
this town, and completed his studies with his brother, Alfred, in
Troy NY, about 1828. He commenced practice in that city and continued
until about 1858, when he returned to Walpole, where he has since
lived. He, following his brother alfred's example, for some reason
changed the spelling of his name to WOTKYNS. He was at one time
quite interested in military affairs and was surgeon of the 155th
Regt. N.Y. S. Militia for seven years, from 1826 to 1833. He has
declined the nomination for mayor of the city of Troy NY four times.
He has been very successful as a physician, and has attended over
3,400 cases of child birth and never lost a case.  He has had
conferred upon him county, state and New York state medical licenses,
making him competent to practice in any place or county. He married
Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah Dauchy, of Troy NY and has had born to
him three children, Jane A., Thomas C. and Helen A.  The latter is
the only one living, and resides at home.  Dr. Wotkyns is in good
health and very active for a man of his age. A large majority of the
family of Alexander Watkins and their descendants have lived 
well-to-do people. 

COLONEL CHRISTOPHER WEBBER was one of the earliest settlers in
town, and during the Revolutionary struggle was one of its active,
leading men. He represented the town at Exeter in 1776 and 1777,
and for more than twenty years was one of the most efficient
townsmen. He was captain of a company that went to Saratoga, under
General Bellows. His descendants living in town, being of the fifth
generation, knew but very little of him.

TRUE WEBSTER SR. moved to Gilsum at an early day, was engaged in the
shoemaking business and also in farming. TRUE WEBSTER JR., one of his
large family of children, was born in Gilsum, married Nancy Ware,
and had three children--one son and two daughters. His son,
BENJAMIN E. WEBSTER, married for his first wife, Emily Nims, and after
living in Gilsum two years, moved to Boston, where he remained
eighteen years. He then came to Walpole, where he has since lived.
He married for his second wife, Abigail Nims, a sister of his first
wife. He has three children as follows: Daniel E. Webster who lives in
Springfield, Mass; Benjamin F. Webster of this town; and Lillie E.
Webster who lives at home.

FREDERICK A. WEIR, was a grandson of John Weir Sr. who came to this
town from Hampstead, Mass, and settled upon the place now owned by
John L. Houghton. FREDERICK was born April 12, 1812, married
Almira R., daughter of Asa and Rebecca (Graves) Titus, and has had
eight children, five of whom are living. They are Frederick A Jr.
who lives in Drewsville; Rowe and Mary K., both of whom live in town;
Frances R., who married P.D. Brown and lives in Peterboro NH; and
Alma, who married William Craig, and lives in New Haven, Conn. 
Mr. Weir, the man who introduced the Morgan breed of horses here,
published the origin of the first Morgan horse in the "Albany
Cultivator," in 1846, and it was re-published in the "Maine Horse
Breeders' Monthly," in July 1883.

THE WELLINGTON family were originally from Massachusetts, where
EBENEZER WELLINGTON, the father of the present family, was born in the
year 1765.  He came to Walpole while in middle life, where he
continued to reside until the date of his death, in 1851.  The maiden
name of his wife was Rebecca Levens.  They reared a large family of
children, twelve of whom lived to an advanced age, and at the 
present time, only two are living--William, the lsat son, having died
on January 1st of the present year, 1885.  The family history
extends back to Roger Wellington, who was born in England about the
year 1610, and was an early settlers in Watertown, Mass.  Roger
Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a
great-grandson of Roger Wellington, and received his name from him.
EBENZER WELLINGTON was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. 
William Wellington will be remembered as a man of great energy and
will power, also as one possessing good judgement, with an ambition to
excell.  The family has been noted for their powers of physican
endurance and marked characteristics.  So much so, that those qualifies
which were manifest in the oldest members of the family, of which we
have any record, are still the dominant qualities in the present
generation.
  WILLIAM WELLINGTON married Achsah Kidder, of Walpole, by whom he
had eight children, six of whom are now living, while only two,
Scott and Lucius Wellington, reside in Walpole, the others having
moved away.  The two named reside on the old homestead.  Irena
Wellington married Charlies H. Camp and resides in East Saginaw,
Mich.  Nannie, the youngest of the children, resides with her.
Diana married N.H. Fletcher and resides in Westmoreland.
Leonard resides in Keene.

NAHUM WILSON, son of Eleazer, was born in Westmoreland March 7, 1777,
and married Lovisa, daughter of Asahel Bundy, born March 17, 1780.
He was a farmer, and was located in the town of Langdon NH where his
wife died September 21, 1842. He died at the residence of his son,
NAHUM WILSON JR., in Drewsville, where he had lived since 1844.
He married Roxanna Colburn, of Langdon, NH and has worked at the
carpenter's trade most of his life.

MOSES WRIGHT, son of Elizur, was born in Surry NH in 1797. He married
for his first wife, Rebecca Foster, and for his second wife, Fidelia
Wilson of Keene in 1848. He moved to this town in 1850 and located
upon the place where he now lives, on road 29-1/2.


(end)