Grantham New

WELCOME TO OUR NEW TOWN HOST, Lea Frey
Actually Lea is far from being new, she has been reseaching inquiries on this site for sometime. Lea has been an important part of this web site. As the official Grantham Town Archivist, Lea Frey has provided information using Grantham Town Records. She will continue to be an even more valuable source of information, acting as your official Grantham Town Host.

Grantham was the second town to receive a charter in what is now Sullivan County, the first being Charlestown. The first chapter was granted in 1761; however, because the proprietors did not fulfill the conditions in it, a second one was re-granted under its present name, Grantham, in 1767. In 1788, upon petition, the name was changed to New Grantham-a name which it retained until 1818, when its original name was restored." (from the Town of Grantham New Hampshire history for the 1967 and 1976 Bicentennial Committees).

Early History Specifics, from The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire compiled by Eliphalet Merrill and Phinehas Merrill, Esq., 1817, pg 168 NEW GRANTHAM - in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1761, and now contains 864 inhabitants; bounded N. by Enfield, (in Grafton county,) E. by Springfield, S. by Croydon, and W. by Plainfield, comprising 24,900 acres, 300 of which are water. There is a pond in the northwest part of the town about 1 mile long and 160 rods wide. Croydon mountain extends through the west part of the town, and a turnpike passes over the north part of the mountain. This town in 1775, had only 74 inhabitants, and in 1810 its population was 864. Here are the sources of several of the branches of Sugar river, on which are a number of mills. Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00

Today when one travels up along the Connecticut River Valley to Compton and Hatley in Quebec province, it is a beautiful experience. Also it is easy to understand why our ancestors chose to live there! Many of our ancestors of the people buried in Grantham are buried in towns along the way, and also in Canada. Contrary to what some people believe, most were not Torries, but they were patriots. This makes sense, because why would a proponent of the British Empire remain in New England or go to live in Quebec, an area where they were surrounded by French subjects and Patriotic sympathizers, when they would have been afforded better protection in Ontario? .The very pretty green rolling hills and mountains in the background are nature at its finest.

Here is an interesting piece of history, referencing Grantham. Walter Backofen has written a paper on Gun Ownership and Armament Rates in Colonial New England. The paper is titled "Guns and Local Control"

Grantham Cemetery Burial Information compiled by Individual Cemetery. Access this data by clicking here. These were all assembled and gathered together by: Lea Frey The exception is the Brown Cemetery in North Grantham. This project was headed by your the host Arthur Cram, Contact him for Brown, ancestor burials.

Grantham Resources and Lookup Volunteers

If you have any reference material on Grantham and would like to volunteer to do lookup's, Contact me, Lea Frey. We also have just recently begun to compile a cross-reference list of residents of Grantham in the computer. My goal is to put all the Vital Statistics (from 1777) into this file. I would be willing to look up information in this town for families.

Grantham Links

If you know of a Grantham link that would be appropriate to add to this page, please Contact me, Lea Frey.

Updated 5/24/09

Grantham (Includes North Grantham)

Grantham Resources and Lookup Volunteers

Grantham Links

Grantham
(Includes North Grantham)