Original Proprietors of Fort No. 4 - 1740
Charlestown, NH
Transcribed and contributed to Genealogy Trails by Janice Farnsworth - Farns10th@aol.com
|
NAME |
*Town of Origin |
NAME |
*Town of Origin |
|
|
Joseph Clesson |
Deerfield |
James Billings |
Hatfield |
|
|
Capt. Stevens |
Rutland |
Ebenezer Warner |
Hatfield |
|
|
Samuel Church |
Hadley |
Noah Wright |
Northfield |
|
|
James Severance |
Northfield |
Lieut. Wetherby |
. |
|
|
Benjamin Stebbins |
Northampton |
Ebenezer Barnard |
Deerfield |
|
|
Samuel Smith |
Northfield |
Orlando Bridgman |
Northfield |
|
|
Ebenezer Nims |
Deerfield |
Samuel Dickinson |
Deerfield |
|
|
Daniel Russell |
Sunderland |
Elisha Perkins |
Hadley |
|
|
Samuel Gillit |
Hatfield |
John Fitch |
Northampton |
|
|
Daniel Belden |
Deerfield |
Stephen Farnsworth |
Groton |
|
|
Benjamin Dickinson |
Deerfield |
John Field |
Hatfield |
|
|
Nathaniel Dickinson |
Northfield |
Eliphalet Allis |
. |
|
|
Jos'a Wright |
Northfield |
Nathaniel Coleman |
Hatfield |
|
|
John Smith |
Hatfield |
Zachariah Field |
. |
|
|
Benjamin Field |
Hatfield |
Samuel Field |
Deerfield |
|
|
Thomas Wells |
Deerfield |
Jesse Warner |
Deerfield |
|
|
Waitstill Hastings |
Hatfield |
Samuel Mitchel |
Deerfield |
|
|
Joshua Belden |
Hatfield |
David Hoit |
Deerfield |
|
|
Nathaniel Kellogg |
Hadley |
Nathaniel Coleman |
Hatfield |
|
|
Stephen Kellogg |
Hadley |
Joseph Eastman |
Hadley |
|
|
Daniel Warner |
Hatfield |
John Catlin |
Deerfield |
|
|
Nathan Dickinson |
Hatfield |
John Dickinson |
Hatfield |
|
|
Richard Billings |
Hatfield |
Thomas Wells |
Deerfield |
|
|
Jonathan Bridgman |
. |
. |
. |
|
|
Aaron Graves |
Hatfield |
. |
. |
|
|
John Wait |
Hatfield |
. |
. |
|
|
Jonathan Wells, Esq. |
Deerfield |
. |
. |
|
|
John Nims |
Deerfield |
. |
. |
*These towns are all in Massachusetts
The proprietors appear to have been among the substantial men
of Hampshire County and several of them had at the time, or obtained subsequently, no little distinction. Amond
whom we mention Capt. Israel Williams, Orlando Bridgman of Bridgman's Fort, Capt. Nathaniel Coleman Capt
Zachariah Field, Jonathan and Thomas Wells, John Catlin, Nathaniel Kellogg and Noah Wright all of whom acted well
their part in their time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only three of the original founders so far
as it has been ascertained became settlers of No. 4 (Charlestown)
These were Stephen Farnsworth, Lieut. Ephraim Wetherbe (written Witherby and sometimes Wetherbee) and Capt. Phineas
Stevens. Samuel Farnsworth was killed in an Indian attack at the fort and David Farnsworth returned
to Groton prior to becoming a permanent resident.
Lieut Obadiah Dickinson, Lieut Joseph Clesson and Lieut Joseph Billings retained their proprietors' rights for
a few years. It is possible that Mr. Billings might have settled in town for a short time, as his name occurs
among the proprietors under the New Hampshire Charter.