Nelson and Munsonville, New Hampshire

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Nelson, New Hampshire - One Place Study

This profile is part of the Nelson, New Hampshire One Place Study.

Recently, our town's newsletter suggested that an Article should be added to the others being voted on at Town Meeting. The suggestion was made in jest, but it spoke directly to the attitude and the uniqueness of Nelson, New Hampshire. It was written by Russ Thomas, who permitted it to be reprinted here.^[1]

The Brigadoon Article

NOTE: Russ wrote this "article" as a work of fiction and The Brigadoon Article was never submitted for inclusion on a Town Warrant.

To see if the town will vote to proclaim the Town of Nelson a voluntary and positive anachronism, and to authorize the Selectmen to petition the state and federal governments to acknowledge that this town wishes to be if it must, an island of calm and quiet in the very midst of what is called “inevitable growth”. By anachronism, it meant: a place of woods, fields, and wildlife; a non-commercial village with houses scattered through the hills in a random fashion; a place where time passes by; a town in which one may do as one wishes with one’s own property if it is not harmful to neighbors or posterity; a town which may not bustle but nonetheless will thrive; a place to come home to. The town may, in its wisdom through the years, enact pertinent legislation to strengthen this article.

Wikidata: Item Q601573, en:Wikipedia
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Geography

Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire Coordinates: 42°59′22″N 72°07′40″W

Continent: North America

Country: United States of America

State/Province: New Hampshire

County: Cheshire

GPS Coordinates: 42.989444, -72.127778

Elevation: 461.0 m or 1512.5 feet

Nelson became primarily an agricultural community, located on the height of land separating the watersheds of the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. The uneven surface proved good for grazing. But with streams rising from four ponds to provide water power, it also developed industry.

Name

Wikipedia. 2024. "Mount Monadnock." Wikimedia Foundation. From Wikipedia

Originally named "Monadnock No. 6",^[2] the town was granted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth (1696-1770). It was first settled in 1767 by Breed Batchelder.^[3] On February 22, 1774, the town was incorporated by Governor John Wentworth (1737-abt.1820) as "Packersfield", after a major proprietor, Thomas Packer, the sheriff at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The name was changed in 1814 to Nelson in honor of Viscount Horatio Nelson KB (1758-1805), British admiral and naval hero.^[4]

History

"The first meeting of the Proprietors of a tract of land then called Monadnock No. 6, later named Nelson, was held in Portsmouth in December of 1751. An early sense of the necessary elements to establish a successful community was reflected in the stated intent of the meeting; settlement should be encouraged by offering land in a way thought to be “most convenient for making good settlements, for the public good.”

"Three shares containing two lots each were to be set aside for public use. One was “reserved for the first settled minister, one for the ministry and one for public schools, forever.” Another condition of the grant was that a meetinghouse was to be constructed in a central location within ten years. Also, roads were to be laid out through the town where necessary. Although this simple design was set in place, the first settler did not arrive until fifteen years later."^[5]

Nelson and Munsonville Village, a timeline

1751 -- One of the original border towns, this territory was first granted in 1752 as Monadnock No. 6 -- Monadnock Economic Development Corp.

1767 -- Breed Batchelder, a Tory during the Revolutionary War, and Dr. Nathaniel Breed, commenced settling the town in 1767/1768 -- "History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire", page 381

1773 -- "Petition for an Incorporation of the Town" filed with Governor John Wentworth by Breed 'Bachellor', agent. -- "History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire", page 381

1774 -- The town was incorporated by the Governor and Council, and named Packersfield, February 22. -- "History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire", page 381

1777 -- Nathaniel Breed, on behalf of the townspeople, petitioned the New Hampshire Council and the House of Representatives that they be allowed to change the date of their annual meeting from August to March, and also to change the name of the town from Packersfield to Sullivan. -- "History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire", page 381 (the date for the annual meeting was changed, but the petition to change the name of the town failed.)

1790 -- The home of Samuel Griffin, Esq., was burned down. The family managed to escape along with some of their furniture and belongings. Fortunately, Mr. Griffin managed to save his papers and the records of the town. -- "The New-Hampshire Recorder, and the Weekly Advertiser", Thursday, Sep 16, 1790; Keene, NH; Vol: III; Issue: 23

1793 -- Mrs. Easterbrook, consort of John Easterbrook, died. Their daughter also died. -- Died in Packersfield -- COLUMBIAN INFORMER; OR CHESHIRE JOURNAL; Thursday, May 30, 1793; Keene, NH

1793 -- William Blake wishes someone to buy out his postal route, which covers Surry, Sullivan, Gilsum, Stoddard, Packersfield, Dublin, Jaffrey, Rindge, and Marlborough, as the route has become too populous for him having 150 subscribers at present -- Public Vendue (Auction) (This is a distance of some 140 miles!)

1793 -- A portion of the estate of James Field, namely a 50-acre field, is to be auctioned off. Auction is to be held at the inn of Thomas Breed on 17 October. -- Public Vendue

1794 -- Daniel Kimbal warns the town against his wife, Betsey. -- Public Notice

1794 -- Thomas Breed opens his Clothier's Business about a half-mile from the Meetinghouse. -- "Columbian Informer; Or, CHESHIRE JOURNAL". Tuesday, Sep 30, 1794. Keene, NH. Page: 3

1796 -- Roswell Hubbard is elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives. -- Legislative Acts/Legal Proceedings

1797 -- The towns that are contained within the confines of Cheshire County are as follows: Rindge, Goshe, Fitzwilliam, Langdon, Richmond, Marlborough, Winchester, Stoddard, Sullivan, Hinsdale, Washington, Chesterfield, Swanzey, Jaffrey, Dublin, Packersfield, Keene, Westmoreland, Walpole, Surry, Gilsum, Alstead, Marlow, Ackworth, Charlestown, Lempster, and Unity. -- Legislative Acts/Legal Proceedings

1800 -- Samuel Griffin is appointed the representative from the town of Packersfield to the New Hampshire Legislature. -- Legislative Acts/Legal Proceedings

1800 -- Caleb Goodenow died from injuries he sustained while helping at a house-raising. -- Mortuary Notice

Population

Historical population
Census Pop.      %±
1790      721      —
1800      977      35.5%
1810      1,076      10.1%
1820      907      −15.7%
1830      875      −3.5%
1840      835      −4.6%
1850      750      −10.2%
1860      699      −6.8%
1870      744      6.4%
1880      438      −41.1%
1890      332      −24.2%
1900      295      −11.1%
1910      231      −21.7%
1920      171      −26.0%
1930      162      −5.3%
1940      282      74.1%
1950      231      −18.1%
1960      222      −3.9%
1970      304      36.9%
1980      442      45.4%
1990      535      21.0%
2000      634      18.5%
2010      729      15.0%
2020      629      −13.7%
Decennial Census

Notables

"May Sarton" New York Public Library Digital Collections

• Ursula Newell Emerson, (September 27, 1806 – November 24, 1888), an American missionary in the Hawaiian Islands who co-founded the Waialua Protestant Church. She was the daughter of Gad Newell, a pastor in Nelson.
• Alfred B. Kittredge (1861–1911), US senator from South Dakota. He was the son of Russell H. Kittredge, a physician, and Laura Frances (Holmes) Kittredge.
• Ralph Page (1903–1985), contra dance caller and authority on American folk dance.
• May Sarton (1912–1995), poet, writer

Sticker Reference

Sources

1. ↑ Email from Russ Thomas, dated 06 July 2023: If you want to just print it as I wrote it, sure re-publish away.
2. ↑ Digitized Book: "History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire" (https://archive.org/details/historyofcheshir00hurd/page/n225/) by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton). Publication date 1886
3. ↑ Breed Batchellor - Nelson History
4. ↑ "Nelson, New Hampshire", Wikipedia article
5. ↑ Quoted from "A Look at Nelson’s Past", by Roberta Wingerson. The article was written in the early 2010s. (https://nelsonhistory.org/a-look-at-nelsons-past/)