Tom Bonenfant | Beangroup | New Hampshire Real Estate

Milford, NH

Incorporated in 1794, the town was probably named for its location near a shallow water crossing on the Souhegan River by an early mill site known as the Mill Ford. It was separated from the town of Monson, which ended up on the Massachusetts side of the border. Milford is also known as the Granite Town, because of extensive high-quality granite quarries.

Greenville, NH

Once a part of Mason, Greenville is one of the state's newest and smallest towns, incorporated in 1872. The town is located at the High Falls on the Souhegan River, whose plentiful water power provided the town with the state's first industries, making cotton and woolen goods.

Temple, NH

Like Sharon, this town was originally known as Peterborough Slip when first granted in 1750. Temple was incorporated in 1768 in honor of John Temple, lieutenant governor under John Wentworth. Temple was son-in-law to James Bowdoin, for whom Bowdoin College is named. Temple was home to the Temple Glass Works, founded in 1780. The short life of the business makes Temple glass rare and sought after today.

New Ipswich, NH

Granted in 1735, this town was named by settlers from Ipswich, Massachusetts. New Hampshire's provincial government incorporated the town as Ipswich in 1762 and as New Ipswich in 1766. New Hampshire s first cotton mill was built here in 1804, ancestor to the cotton-producing centers of Waltham and Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Greenfield, NH

First settled in 1753 by the Lynde family, the town was known as Lyndeborough Addition. The Monadnock hills cut residents off from church and school, so in 1791 they petitioned for the right to form their own town. The name was chosen to indicate the town's location on a level, fertile ground between the hills. Greenfield is home to the Crotched Mountain Foundation, a rehabilitation center for handicapped children; the Crotched Mountain Ski Area; and Greenfield State Park, on Otter Lake.

Bennington, NH

Taken from portions of Hancock, Greenfield, Deering, and Francestown, the town was named in commemoration of the Battle of Bennington, fought on August 14-16, 1777, near Bennington, Vermont. Vermont's Bennington was named for Governor Benning Wentworth, who was responsible for naming many towns in New Hampshire and Vermont.

New Boston, NH

First granted by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts in 1736 to several Boston families. The town was to have been called Lanestown or Piscataquog Township. Not all the grantees took up their claims, and the land was regranted ten years later to colonizers from Londonderry, New Hampshire. In 1763, Governor Benning Wentworth formally adopted the long-used name of New Boston.

Francestown, NH

Named for Frances Deering Wentworth, wife of Governor John Wentworth. Situated on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, the sole route between Boston and Vermont, the town once collected a toll of one cent per mile from travelling coaches and wagons. Francestown was also the site of a high-quality soapstone quarry, which was mined until the 1890's.

Antrim, NH

This town was settled prior to the American Revolution, but did not get its incorporated name until 1777. It was named for County Antrim in Ireland, which was the native home of the land s owner, Philip Riley. The town was home to the now-defunct Nathaniel Hawthorne College.

Wilton, NH

Wilton started as Number 2, one of the towns on the state's border laid out in the 1730's, intended to provide protection against Indian attacks. The town was first granted in 1749, and was regranted in 1762 as Wilton. It was probably named for Sir Joseph Wilton, a famous English sculptor. Wilton's coach design for King George III's coronation was later used as a model for the Concord Coach.

Peterborough, NH

Although not known for certain, this town was probably named from Charles Mordaunt, third Earl of Peterborough. Other possibilities include it having been named Peter's Borough for Peter Prescott, clerk of the Masonian Proprietors, or for St. Petersburg in Russia. Peterborough was among the soldier's towns named during the term of Governor Jonathan Belcher when New Hampshire was still a province of Massachusetts. The town had the first free public library supported by taxation, and the first mill in the state that wove cloth mechanically. It is home to the MacDowell Colony, a retreat for writers, artists, and composers. Guests have included Edward Arlington Robinson, Leonard Bernstein, and Thornton Wilder, whose play Our Town was inspired by Peterborough.

Mont Vernon, NH

Named in honor of George Washington's Virginia estate, which got its name from Admiral Edward Vernon. George Washington's brother, Lawrence, the original owner of the estate, served under Admiral Vernon as an officer. Although probably not the reason for selecting this name, Admiral Vernon was also a close friend of Governor Wentworth.

Lyndeborough, NH

First known as Salem-Canada, this land was granted to soldiers from Salem, Massachusetts, who had fought in New England's first war with Canada about 1690. When the new provincial government in New Hampshire came into being in 1763, a portion of Salem-Canada was regranted to Benjamin Lynde. Mr. Lynde was a chief justice of Massachusetts and presided over the trial involving the Boston Massacre. In the latter part of the 1800's, Lyndeborough was known as a glass-making center.

Hancock, NH

Hancock started as an unidentified settlement on the Contoocook River, in lands known as Society land or Cumberland, which had been reserved for the proprietors of the lands which became New Hampshire. First settled in 1764, the town was named Hancock in 1779 in honor of John Hancock, first governor of Massachusetts, president of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Troy, NH

Troy was separated from Marlborough in 1815, and included parts of Fitzwilliam, Swanzey, and Richmond. A prominent citizen and friend of Governor John Taylor Gilman, Captain Benjamin Mann of Mason, suggested the name Troy. His daughter Betsy was married to Samuel Wilson, famous as Uncle Sam, and at that time a resident of Troy, New York. At least seven members to Wilson's family were living in the town at the time, thus securing the name.

Marlborough, NH

Marlborough was first granted in 1752 as Monadnock Number 5, one of the fort towns first known only by number. The town was at one time called Oxford, then New Marlborough, but was incorporated as Marlborough. Many of the settlers were from Marlborough, Massachusetts, which had been named for John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in the late 1600's.

Rindge, NH

Granted to soldiers from Rowley, Massachusetts, returning from the war in Canada, the town was known as Rowley-Canada. In 1749, the town was renamed Monadnock Number 1, or South Monadnock. It was incorporated as Rindge in 1768, in honor of Captain Daniel Rindge, one of the original grant holders. Rindge is the home of Franklin Pierce College, and the Cathedral of the Pines, a multi-denominational outdoor chapel.

Fitzwilliam, NH

Originally settled as Monadnock Number 4, one in a line of eight towns settled by Scottish colonists. The town was named for William, fourth Earl of Fitzwilliam and cousin to Governor Wentworth. An early grantee in Fitzwilliam was Matthew Thornton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Fitzwilliam claims one of the earliest granite quarries in New Hampshire, and is home to Rhododendron State Park.

Jaffrey, NH

First granted in 1736 to soldiers from Rowley, Massachusetts, returning from the war in Canada, the town was known as Rowley-Canada. In 1749 the town was re-chartered as Monadnock Number 2, sometimes called Middle Monadnock or Middletown. It was one of the first towns established under the New Hampshire proprietors' purchase of undivided lands under the Masonian claim. The town was regranted in 1767, and incorporated in 1773 as Jaffrey, in honor of George Jaffrey, member of a prominent Portsmouth family. George Jaffrey's son was a life trustee of Dartmouth College, and designer of the official college seal.

Dublin, NH

First granted in 1749 as Monadnock, and incorporated in 1771 as Dublin. The town was originally settled as North Monadnock, or Number 3, one of a group of eight towns in the region settled by Scots colonists. The name was taken from Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is home to Yankee Publishing, Inc., publishers of Yankee Magazine and the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Nelson, NH

One of the original border towns, Nelson was first known as Monadnock Number 6. In 1767, it was renamed Packersfield after Thomas Packer, one of the grantees, who was high sheriff of Portsmouth. It kept that name until 1814, when it was renamed in honor of Lord Horatio Nelson, who died on board the British ship Victory in the war against Napoleon. Nelson includes the village of Munsonville.

Harrisville, NH

First settled in 1760, the town was once part of Hancock, Dublin, Roxbury, Nelson, and Marlborough. It became a mill center when the Harris family built of one of the first woolen mills in New England. The town was known as Twitchellville, after Abel Twitchell, whose daughter had married into the Harris family. When the business name was changed to Cheshire Mills, the town incorporated as Harrisville.