SPRINGFIELD NEW HAMPSHIRE GENEALOGY PROJECT

Welcome! Patsy Heath Caswell. she is the current president of the Springfield Historical Society. The Society provides information about town history, genealogy, as well as the sale of historical publications. (caswellheath@msn.com)

Patsy has agreed to HOST the Springfield web site. She has retired from teaching history in Newport, RI., but Springfield, NH is her native home, and she is also related to many of the old families! We are fortunate to have her!!!

yEARLY HISTORY OF SPRINGFIELD

The Settlement began in 1772 by Israel Clifford, Ebenezer Lovering, and Timothy Quimby. The town was not incorporated until 1794 when it was renamed Springfield. It is bounded on the north by Grafton, east by Wilmot and New London, south by Sunapee and New London, West by Croydon, Grantham, and Enfield. None of the original grantees settled in town.

The early settlers made their living farming and lumbering. Mills were constructed along the streams. There were mica mines in the area. The summers saw the arrival of people from Washington, DC, and points south.

Springfield has been claimed by three counties. When George III granted the 1769 charter to John Fisher Esq. and fifty-nine others, it was named Protectworth and in Grafton County. It later became part of Cheshire County, and then Sullivan County where it remains today.
SPRINGFIELD TODAY
Springfield is made up of many hills. There are several lakes and ponds. The lake closest to the center of town is Lake Kolelemook, once known as Station Pond. Both branches of the Sugar and Blackwater Rivers have their sources in Springfield. The former empties into the Connecticut River and the latter into the Merrimac River. The Fourth NH Turnpike, now known as 4A, goes through the eastern part of town. Route 114 goes from south to west through Springfield village, and Route 89 goes close to the western boundary of Springfield. Because of this, in 2005, most people work out of town because Route 89 makes it possible. Springfield has a growing population and new house construction is very brisk.

The Town Meeting House, built in 1797, has been restored and is still in use. No church services are currently being held. One of the few town kindergartens in the state is located in the Town Offices Building. The other students attend Kearsarge Regional Schools. At present there is no country store.

The Libbie A. Cass Library, attached to the Town Offices Building, is a source of pride. Their e-mail address is the following: spfldlibrary@cyberportal . The Town Offices address is PO Box 22, Springfield, NH, 03284. There is no e-mail communication available there.

The Springfield Historical Society
Information is available through the Springfield Historical Society founded in 1984. Meetings and programs are held quarterly, January, April, July, and October at the Libbie Cass Library or the Springfield Meeting House. A newsletter is also published quarterly preceding the meeting. The Springfield Historical Museum (former Center School) is open Saturdays during the summer from 2-4pm. Some of the research material is available in the New Hampshire Room at the Libbie Cass Library during the winter. Contact the library ahead of time. If you need assistance, please contact me. Patricia Caswell

Cemetery information: There is limited information available for those of you who are curious about your ancestors. Volunteers are gathering information as time permits. The PROJECT STATUS: Not yet started: New Pleasant View Cemetery, Collins (Dutchman Pond) Cemetery. Over half completed: Old Pleasant View Cemetery.

Completed: Star Lake, Fowlertown, Barden, Messer, and Davis Cemeteries. Survey data includes inscriptions, and pictures of stones, if available.

Current Genealogical Surname Information available through the Society for surnames : Colby, Collins, Cross, Hardy, Heath, McDaniels, Pillsbury, Putney, Sanborn, Severance, Waddell. There are smaller articles on other families. The Later Day Saints has made a microfilm of old town records of births, deaths, etc.