The charter for the town of Campton was granted to General Jabez Spencer, of East Haddam, CT in 1761. He died before the needful settlements could be effected, and the title became invalid.

The heirs of General Spencer, and others interested, secured a new charter in 1767.

The early inhabitants were mainly from two sources, the state of Connecticut, near the mouth of the river of that name, and from the state of Massachusetts, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Merrimack River. Settlers also came from the towns of the southern part of this state, along the Merrimack River.

The first settlers in Campton, Isaac Fox and Winthrop Fox, came from Connecticut, in the spring of 1762. At this time there was no settlement between this town and Stephenstown (Franklin), and they came on horseback, following the intervales along the rivers.

The two sons of General Spencer came soon after this, Hobart settled on the intervale of the Pemigewasset River, and Joseph on the Beebe River. Abel Willey, at the age of seventeen, came with the Spencers, and settled on land north of Hobart Spencer. His mother and sisters joined him two years later, making the fifth family in the town.

From the town of Hadlime, in Connecticut, came two of the foremost men of the early town, both of whom settled on Beebe's River. Samuel Holmes was here in 1772, and John Southmayd in 1773.

Moses Little came to Campton in 1771, built a gristmill and a sawmill, and opened a store. Col. Moses Baker, who came from Epping, arrived in 1778.

The first church was the Congregational Church, organized in 1774. The Baptist Church was organized in 1811 and the present building erected in 1826.

Early Settlers of Campton, date of their coming, and region from whence they came.

1769: Darius Willey : Moses Little - MA: Samuel Fuller Daniel Wyatt - MA: David Perkins - MA: Joseph Pulsifer MA: Gershom Burbank - MA:

1770 Asa Spencer - CT: Jesse Willey - CT: Ebenezer Taylor - CT: Joseph Palmer - MA: Samuel Cook - MA: Nathaniel Tupper - MA: James Harvel.

1771 Samuel Holmes - CT: Jonathan Cone:

1772 Israel Brainard - CT: Chiliah Brainard - CT:

1773 John Southmayd - CT:

1774 Selden Church - CT: Thomas Bartlett - MA:

1775 John Holmes - CT:

1776 Carr Chase - MA:

1777 Elias Cheney: William Baker: Dudley Palmer - MA:

1778 Moses Baker: Joseph Palmer - MA: Moody Cook - MA: Ebenezer Cheney: James Merrill - MA: Chauncey Holmes - CT:

1779 Joseph Homans:

1780 Benjamin Baker: Jonathan Burbank:

1781 Israel Blake

1782 William Page: Edmond Marsh: John Marsh:

1783 James Bump - MA: Jabez Church:

1784 Ezra Tupper

1785 David Bartlett: Ichabod Johnson: John Clark:

Please sign my guest book.

Go To Home Page

Click here to go to Campton 1790 Census page.