Welcome to
Deerfield, New Hampshire
USGenWeb Project
A Brief History of Deerfield
The first minister was Reverend
Timothy Upham (Congregational), ordained in 1773, and died in 1811. A Freewill
Baptist church was formed in 1799. The first settlers were John Robinson,
Jacob Smith, Isaac Shepard and Benjamin Batchelder in 1756. The first parish
(town) meeting was held at the house of Samuel Leavitt, Wadleigh Cram, was
chosen moderator, Thomas Simpson clerk, Samuel Leavitt, John Robinson and
Eliphalot Griffin selectmen.Among the early settlers were Josiah Prescott,
John James, Nathaniel Weare, David Haines, Samuel Hilton, Jeremiah Eastman
and Thomas Jeaness. The town was a favorite resort for deer, and while a
petition for a charter was pending, a Mr. Bachelder and Josiah Prescott
killed a deer and presented it to Gov. Wentworth, and he granted the charter
under the name of Deerfield. During the French and Indian War, the inhabitants
lived in garrison, but no serious injury was ever experienced from the Indians.
Major John Simpson, of Deerfield, fired the first gun on the American side,
at the battle of Bunker Hill. Col. Stark instructed the men in his line
not to fire until the British had arrived at a certain point designated
by him, which was within 40 paces of the American works. But when the red
coats had advanced to within the distance the major (then a private), called
a good shot for a deer, he could not withstand such a good chance, and fired
and dropped his man. On this the fire commenced along the whole line. When
Simpson was reproved for disobeying orders, he replied, he could not help
firing when game, which he was after, came within gun shot. Major Simpson
died Oct. 28, 1825. The names of 18 persons from this town are preserved.
Libraries
Philbrick-James Library
4 Old Center Road, South
Deerfield, NH
03037-1410
Librarian: Evelyn Cronyn
Hours: Mon, Fri. 6:30-8:30
Tues: 9-5
Wed: 1-5, 6:30-8:30
Thurs: 1-5
Sat:9-3
To go to a map of Deerfield,
click here
Volunteers
If you have more resources and
would like to help others in their research for Deerfield ancestors, please email
me - include you full name, email address and resources available 
How to post Deerfield Queries
Please feel free to post a short
query for your surname in Deerfield,
If you don't see your query posted in a week or so, please come back
and try again.
PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A QUERY TO BE
POSTED FOR A FAMILY THAT IS NOT FROM DEERFIELD, I WILL NOT POST IT. IF YOU
ARE REQUESTING A FAMILY THAT WAS FROM ANOTHER TOWN , IT SHOULD BE POSTED
FOR THE APPROPRIATE AREA.
HOW TO POST A QUERY
1. On the SUBJECT line enter Deerfield, NH Query
2. On the first line of your message
enter the date, your e-mail address,
your full name
3. Enter your query as you want
it to appear.
I will try to post your query
as soon as possible. Enter your query here
To view the queries from 2000-2001,
click here
To view the queries from 1997-1999,
click here
To go to the 1790 Census for Deerfield,
NH, click here
To go to first 7 generations of the
Sargent Record, click here
To go to the Sargent family by Water
Clark, click here
To go to the Descendants of Isaac Willey,
click here
To go to the Descendants of Leonard
Weeks, click here
To go to the Philbrick Family , click
here
To go to my web page, with many New
England families, click here
Return to Rockingham Co., NH,
click here
Resources that may help you
in your quest
GENDEX -- WWW
Genealogical Index
Genealogist's
Index to the World Wide Web
World
Genealogy Web Project
This page was created and maintained by Elaine Merrell
PLEASE NOTE: I AM MERELY THE HOST OF
DEERFIELD, NH.
I DO NOT LIVE EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO
THE AREA. I CAN NOT DO LOOK UPS AND I HAVE PLACED EVERYTHING THAT I PRESENTLY
HAVE ON THESE PAGES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
If you know of any additions or corrections please let me know. Thanks.
Created August 22, 1997
Updated February 13, 2001
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