The Littles of South Road Village

The focus of this page is to explore the The Little Family of South Road Village, Salisbury New Hampshire. The Littles and descendants called this area home for about 160 years.

There is more information on the contribution of this family regarding telecommunications on our page:

https://www.salisburyhistoricalsociety.org/early-telecommunications/

 

South Road Village is the old name for the area around what is now referred to as the Crossroads area of Rte 127 and Rte 4.

In the earliest of times South Road Village was one of the first clusters of settlements along the South Range Road.

• The 3 Range roads extended westerly at an angle from the Merrimack River bringing the earlier travelers.
• Route 4 did not go straight through the intersection as it does today until the late fifties or early sixties.
• Mutton Road which crosses the South Range Road created an intersection making auction with a flag pole in the middle as is seen in the photo. Mutton Road brought travelers in from West Boscawen (Webster) and Hopkinton which were settled earlier.
• Rabbit Road brought travelers into the junction from Boscawen.
• Old College Road came up from Boscawen as well though it is unclear how. Speculation is that it was actually Bacon Lane which connected to Bog Road which in turn connected to the next Range Road.
• The original land lot configurations came off off the range road in a somewhat herringbone patterned and were narrow and deep. On the lots on the southern part of the South Range Road were 2 Little Farms that  extended to the Boscawen town line where the lots ended.
• On the opposite side of the road the lots extended originally to the Center Range way (now Center road).
• By 1800-1805 the Fourth NH Turnpike (Route 4) was built which increased traffic into the South Road Village and soon it was a bustling center of activity in which the enterprising Little family lived and prospered. It came thought on Old Coach Road where three Little homes were and took a turn onto the South range way then shortly a turn right to go north. Hence the name “The Crank” for South Road Village.
• For more information on the the South Road Village:  https://www.salisburyhistoricalsociety.org/south-road-village/

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Who were the Littles of South Road Village, Salisbury NH?

The earliest settler in this Little branch was William Coffin Little. There were many Little branches off these lines but the focus here is primarily on those that resided in this area. However, included also are several current out of town descendants who graciously helped with information and their family tree. All information is welcomed and all corrections as well.

Sources of information: History of Salisbury by John Dearborn, Historic Salisbury Houses by Dr. Paul Shaw, Salisbury Lost by Dr. Paul Shaw, Gravestone Inscriptions From all Cemeteries Within the Township of Salisbury 1784-1933 by Pricilla Hammond, Find a Grave website, and data from the Little descendants.

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SELECT BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:

GENERATION 1 OF SALSIBURY LITTLES:

1745, Nov 17 William Coffin Little is born in Newbury Mass. He becomes a silversmith by trade and marries Mary Rowell 1769 in Amesbury Mass. She was born in 1745 in Amesbury Mass. All of their children are born prior to moving to Salisbury.

It is unclear if he continued silversmithing or became a farmer.

The following are maker’s marks are attributed to William Coffin Little and/or his son William also a silversmith. In all likelihood they may have shared stamps.

 

 

 

 

 

1801 William Coffin Little and part of his family relocates to Salisbury.

Notes from “History of Salisbury”, collated by John J. Dearborn, 1890.“William Coffin, the fifth descendent from the ancestor [George], b. at Newbury, Mass.Nov 17, 1745.  He learned the trade of silversmith and removed to Amesbury, where he followed his trade for ten years.  About 1800 Mr. Little purchased the old Andrew Pettengill place of Johnathan Carlton Pettingill, who had in 1768 built the main house and made other extensive repairs.  In 1801 Mr. Little removed his family here and took up farming, which he continued until his death, Dec. 16, 1816, aged 71.” 

Upon his death the  ownership of his two houses passes to Thomas Rowell Little who accompanied his father mother and sister on the move to Salisbury.

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GENERATION 2 OF SALISBURY NH LITTLES:

Descendants of William Coffin Little & Mary Rowell Little:

1769, 29 Sep – Son Thomas Rowell Little is born.  He died Jul 8, 1785, at age 15.

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1771, 7 Apr — Son William Coffin Little is born in Newburyport Mass. and became a silversmith as well. Resided in Philadelphia Pa.  Died Aug 2, 1836.

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1773, Nov 13 — Son John Little is born and became a wagon maker in the area of his birth. Died Jul 9 1812, in Boston.

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1777, Aug 30- Daughter Abigail is born. She married Moses Chase and resided in Amesbury Mass. 

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1780, May 7- Son Francis Little is born. b.1780-d. 1860 He marries Polly Sargent.  For a time Francis Little was a carriage manufacture in Amesbury Mass. where he met and married Polly Sargent and removed to Salisbury where he followed farming and and getting out bows for the top of chasies-John Dearborn History of Salisbury 1890 p. 653. He resided for a time in one of the Little Houses.  He died in March 18, 1860 and is buried with Polly Sargent Little d. Oct 15,1834 ae 53 years and is buried in the South Road Graveyard. 

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1782, May 15 – Daughter Mary Little is born.  She died on Nov 18. 1827 in Salisbury.  She is buried in the South Road Cemetery

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1786, May 23- Son Thomas Rowell Little is born. (Yes, they reused his dead brother’s name.)  He married Nancy Webster Dec 27, 1816. He died in Jan 1, 1861

“Thomas Rowell remained on the homestead and followed farming as an occupation:but possessing the trade of a wheelwright, and in order to facilitate his business he moved the Thomas R. Greenleaf’s Hatters shop to its present location, in September 1834, and put in machinery, which he ran by horsepower, and did considerable business. He was one of our prominent and enterprising citizens”-John Dearborn History of Salisbury 1890 p. 653

1788- Nancy Webster was born Dec 25, 1788 and died in Sept 1, 1868 ae 80 yrs 8 months. Both are buried in the South Road Cemetery.

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1790- Feb 21- Son Valentine Little is born. In 1836 he resided in Salisbury.He died Jun 4, 1852.

“Valentine (Rev) A.B., received his preliminary education at Salisbury Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1811. He taught school at Plymouth and Haverhill, Mass., served on a mission at Bethel and Gideon, Me., two years, then taught school at the Bridgeton Academy two years: was afterwards a missionary in Maine for four years.  Was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Lovell, Me., Jan 22, 1826: dismissed Jan 23, 1834: removed to Salisbury 1836, residing on the farm now owned by Enoch T. Harvey,   where died June 4, 1852: m (1) Nov 9 1815, Mary, dau. of Johnathan Clark, of Bethel, Me: m. (2) Sept 15, 1831. Miranda C., dau. Of Rev Nathan Church, of Bridgeton, Me: she died Feb. 5, 1879.”-John Dearborn History of Salisbury 1890 p. 653. 

This Harvey house is actually the old  Kittridge House built in 1830 and located at 73 Old Coach Road.

It appears none of his children resided in Salisbury for any length of time nor are any members buried here.

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1827- Daughter Mary Little dies, unmarried. She is buried in the South Road Cemetery.

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GENERATION 3 OF SALISBURY NH LITTLES:

Children of Francis Little & Polly Sargent:

1815- Dau. Dorothy Little dies ae 7 years, Buried the South Road Cemetery

1818 Son of Francis & Polly Little? dies . Buried the South Road Cemetery

1822 Son Moses Little dies ae 20 ms 5 days. Buried the South Road Cemetery

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Children of Thomas Rowel Little (b.1786-d.1861) and Nancy Webster (d 1868) married 1814:

1834, Sept 9 Dau Ann Rebecca died @ ae 3 yrs 10 months 13 days is buried in the South Road Cemetery.

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1823, Aug 14-Son Thomas Dearborn Little was born. 

He m. (1) Susan Elizabeth Smith. She was born Oct2, 1828 Amesbury Mass and died Jan 31, 1875 ae 46. She was the mother of 6 children. She is buried in the South Road Cemetery.

He m.(2) Lucy L. Davis born 1844 and Died Jan 9, 1927 ae 82. She is mother of Edwin Little.  She is buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

He was an extraordinarily accomplished person but is best known perhaps for his invention of the patented Bull Rake.

Notes from the History of Salisbury p.655;

• He was a student at Salisbury Academy
• Became a Charter. Member and trustee also serving as librarian of both societies connected with the school.
• Studied Surveying with his uncle Rev. Valentine Little.
• Was employed by the Northern Railroad at the time of construction of their roads.
• The images show the surveying equipment that belonged to TD Little.  It was later used by his son John W. Little. In John Little’s obituary it says the survey equipment was used by TD 80 years earlier (about 1847).  And it was used when he was part of the surveying for the Northern Railroad-Courtesy of Jayne Rivers,  descendant of T.D. Little
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• Became the town surveyor
• In 1848 began the manufacture of drag rakes in a workshop next to his home.
• Established a good traded necessitating the need of machinery.
• In 1859 he took out the horsepower and put in steam and in 1882 he obliged to increase that.
• 1860—1869 was was a member of the firm of  C.D. Foote and Company when they did a considerable business in the old Greenough’s Store located near his home. 
• 1855 was appointed Justice of The Peace.
• 1860 Became a Deacon of the Congregational Church was a clerk of he church and a main supporter. 
• 1861 he was appointed postmaster and held the position for 8 years.  
• 1868 He obtained a patent for his Bull Hay Rake. There is one on display at the Salisbury Historical Society Museum. According to a descendant to TD Little as he understands it: “The major feature of the patent was the connection between the tines, which need to be flat to the ground, and the handle, which formed an arc and needed to be held at a height that was comfortable to the user. The angle of this connection could be adjusted on TD’s rakes, allowing them to be used by persons of varying heights.”
• Link to the Patent courtesy of Jayne Rivers:Patent T D Little rake 1868
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• 1870-1871 was appointed selectman 
• 1890 The History of Salisbury byJohn Dearborn is published with a valuable map drawn by T.D. Little showing businesses and homes in the South Road village.
• “He is a liberal contributor to needed charitable objects  is a careful and methodical business man and enjoys the respect of his townsmen. “-John Dearborn 1890.
• 1906- Nov 8 Thomas Dearborn Little dies and is buried in South Road Cemetery.
• 1818- Son John Webster Little, son  of Thomas Rowell Little & Nancy Webster and brother to Thomas Dearborn Little is born. He is a Concord Dentist who attended Church at the Congregational Church in Salisbury.(b. 1818-d. 1879). Presumably buried in Concord.
• 

  Room at the home of Thomas Dearborn Little, courtesy of Adele & Roger Sanborn and the Kenneys of Boscawen

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GENERATION 4 OF SALISBURY NH LITTLES:

Children of Thomas Dearborn Little & Susan Elizabeth Smith Little: 

1853 Son Thomas Rowell Little is born. He married Carrie Belle Hawkins who was born in 1856 and died in 1929 and is also buried in Maplewood Cemetery. Died 1937. Buried at Maplewood Cemetery.

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1855 Son Charles Webster Little is born. Died 1870 ae 14 yrs. Buried at South Road Cemetery.

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1861, Jan 21- Son John Webster Little is born. He married Hannah Moores who was born in 1866.

 

The old photos of South Road village are rather confusing. The roads are narrow they make strange configurations compared to todays roads. It is possible the driveway to the Church was moved as the Church itself was also slightly. In 1879 Henry C.W. Moores owned the house and from 1880-1928 it was owned by the wife of John Webster Little, Hannah Moores Little. John Webster Little was alive when Hannah Moores became listed as owner.

Hannah Moores died in 1942 and is also buried in Maplewood.  John Webster  died in 1927 ae 66 yrs. Buried at Maplewood Cemetery.

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1866 Dau. Alice Marie (Sawyer) is born. Died 1957 Buried in Dover NH

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1874 Son William D. is born. Died 1874 ae 10 mths. Buried at South Road Cemetery.

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Children of Thomas Dearborn Little & Lucy Davis Little:

1878 Son Edwin Little is born. Died 1970. Buried at Maplewood Cemetery.

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GENERATION 5 OF SALISBURY LITTLES:

Child of  John Webster Little & Hannah Moores:

1886, Jan 16-Son Ralph Dearborn Little ( grandfather of Jayne Rivers who submitted information for this page), m. Etta Mae Jenness of Danbury, he died Feb 2, 1973 in Westerly, Rhode Island

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Children of Thomas R. Little (B. 1851, d. 1937) & Carrie Belle Hawkins (1856-1929):

1879, 28 Nov – Daughter Carrie E. Little is born.  Married George Bertram Adams, Sep 21, 1904.  Died 11 Jan 1961. Both buried in Maplewood.

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1885, 2 May-  Son Lewis Thomas Little is born d, Mar 24, 1925 ae 39 years. Husband to Annie Beaton who died Mar 3, 1951. Buried at Maplewood Cemetery.

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Dau. Ann Little is born d.. 1948

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1889, 6 Sep — Son Arthur Stanley Little is born.  Information from the grandsons of Arthur Stanley Little; Dau. Carrie E. Little is born to Thomas R. Little (B. 1851, d. 1937) & Carrie Bell Hawkins (1856-1929):

• Arthur Stanley also went by the name Stanley which does appear on a deed in Salisbury as such.
• He moved to New London to handle business for the Salisbury-based Kearsarge Telephone Company, which had merged with the Potter Place & New London Telephone Company. 
• Charles E. Shepard was a part owner of the Potter Place & New London Telephone Company of the merger.  He ran a thriving livery service and operated a twice-daily stagecoach service between New London and the rail station at Potter Place.  He likely provided a base of operations for young Stan.
• As horse-drawn vehicles were replaced by steam and gas powered vehicles there was a job for a mechanic. Having his grandfather’s mechanical ability and entrepreneurial spirit, Stan began to do automotive repairs, renting garage space in one of Charles Shepard’s outbuildings.  Stan subsequently married the daughter of his landlord and then opened  A.S. Little & Son auto repair and gas station. The location was the TDS building across the street from the New London Fire Station.
• 1914, Oct 4, He marries Marion Shepard (1895-1991)
• He was active in the management of the Kearsarge Telephone Company.
• 1948 Dec 28 Arthur Stanley dies and is buried at Maplewood.
• 1991 May 14  Marion Shepard Little, wife of Arthur Stanley Little dies  ae 95. Buried at Maplewood.

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GENERATION 6 OF SALISBURY LITTLES:

Children of Carrie E. Little Adams & George Bertram Adams:

1908-1908-Son  Bertram Little is buried in Maplewood Cemetery

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1911, 2 May -Son Fred (Little) Adams is born. The book “They Said it In Salisbury” by Dr. Paul Shaw has an interview with Fred Adams that sheds some details of his life. He was very active in the Telephone Company.

He died in 1999 and is buried in Maplewood.

Married to Elizabeth Burnett b. 1914

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1916, 12 Mar -Dau. Margaret Belle (Little) Adams is born. Margaret Adams married Frank Henry Gerry (b. 1915) of Franklin NH in 1940. She died July 16, 1999 and he died in 1980 and both are buried in the Franklin Cemetery, NH.

Margaret (Little>Adams>Gerry) is listed as owner of the Little House on Old Coach Road in 1942 error?  and again from 1947-1956.  She is also listed as owner of the House #1 at the Crossroads north corner from 1908-1966 however she was not born until 1915 so this seems an error.  She was however the proprietor (owner?) of the Red Tea Room at South Road Village from 1934-1840.

 

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1916 Arthur Stanley Little Jr. , son of Arthur Stanley & Marion Shepard is born. Marries Beverly Evelyn Rowell 1919-2004.

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1919 Winifred Arlene Little is born, dau. of Arthur Stanley and Marion Shepard married Lt. Col. Otis Williams

Children of Arthur Stanley Little Jr. & Beverly Evelyn Rowell: (not in Salisbury)

Thomas Rowell, Patricia and David,

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Children of Ralph Dearborn Little & Etta Mae Jenness:

1921, June 6, -Dau. Hattie Moores Little is born in Tilton, m. Milton McGuire of Rhode Island. She died March 3,  1973, Resided in Deer Park NY.

1923, Feb 7,- Dau. Rhetta May Little is born in Tilton, m. William M. Purtell of Pawcatuck, Ct, resided in Pawcatuck, died March April 4, 2001.

 

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GENERATION 7 OF LITTLES:

Children of Fred Adams & Elizabeth Burnett:

Tom & Priscilla Adams

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Children of Winnifred Arlene (Little) & Lt. Col. Herbert Otis Williams:

Michael & Wendy

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Children of Hattie Moores (Little) McGuire:

 

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Children of Rhetta Mae (Little) Purtill:

Lawrence & Jayne