Place:Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

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source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Westmoreland is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,706 at the 2020 census,^[1] down from 1,874 at the 2010 census. Westmoreland is historically an agricultural town, with much arable farmland.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Indigenous peoples

Prior to European colonization, present-day Westmoreland was inhabited by numerous indigenous tribes. The upper Connecticut River valley was a popular region for short-term Indigenous villages mostly used for hunting and fishing. Tribes such as the Pennacook Confederation and the Abenaki were frequent visitors to the area. In the 1670s, King Philip's War led to the migration of most indigenous tribes to Canada.^[2] Indigenous peoples did not understand the concept of individual land ownership, which resulted in numerous misunderstandings and conflict between them and English settlers.^[2] The English settlers purchase of land and construction of permanent settlements disrupted the hunting and fishing traditions of the indigenous tribes.

While Indigenous activity was common in Westmoreland, not many aboriginal sites have been found. A "Pow-wow Rock" can be located off Poocham Road in Westmoreland across from the Thompson place (1970).^[2] The name Poocham is an Abenaki word for "gathering place". The Pow-wow Rock is a large boulder that was deposited by glaciers and is measured at in height. At this location, records describe the hosting of Indigenous pow-wows and the exchanging of prisoners.^[3]

Colonial

Once known as "Great Meadow", the town was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as "Number 2", second in a line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When the border between Massachusetts and the Province of New Hampshire was fixed (with Number 2 on the New Hampshire side), the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as Westmoreland, named for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland.

The Park Hill Meetinghouse, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779 and renovated in 1826.

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