New Hampshire Town Histories, Part Three

 The first installment of this four-part series on New Hampshire town histories gave an overview of resources and repositories. The remainder provides detailed information on the published histories of each New Hampshire town. The previous installment included all town names that start with A to F. This article includes all towns that begin with G to M, and the series will conclude with the remainder of New Hampshire towns.

The following information on the histories for each town is included: town name; date of original printing/date of subsequent editions; title; genealogies (yes or no); index (primarily yes or no, although if the index is in the reprint and not in the original it is so noted, also if the index is specific [i.e. places, names, etc] rather than a general index the type is listed); author; available from (includes where the volume may be purchased and as much contact information as was possible to obtain — it is imperative that would-be buyers make contact to determine method of payment and any applicable shipping charges in advance of placing an order); cost (this represents the cost of the book and does not include any applicable shipping charges); NEHGS Loan (indicates whether the volume is available for loan to NEHGS members through the circulating library — yes or no); and NEHGS Research Library (indicates whether the volume is available at the NEHGS Research Library in Boston — yes or no).

Researching town histories in New Hampshire has provided an opportunity to talk to a multitude of town clerks and historians across the state. At a time when many of our towns are reeling from astronomical growth, it is clear that the history of our town is still a very important matter to New Hampshireites.

Each town handles the sales of their histories in their own way. The town clerk is always my first contact for information about histories of a specific town. In many cases, the clerk will have histories available for purchase, but if not, they can direct you to someone who does. As genealogists, we all know how important these folks are when searching for important birth, marriage, and death information. I have found the clerks I spoke with to be very helpful and courteous, although more than one expressed their displeasure about genealogists’ frequent propensity of sharing the entire history of their ancestors! It is a point well taken; they have their work to do. So let’s locate the town history that will help you find more valuable information on your family!

New Hampshire Town Histories Chart