This is a transcription of the Fitzwilliam, NH description from A Gazetteer of New Hampshire Containing Descriptions of all the Counties, Towns and Districts in the State by John Hayward, John P. Jewett (publisher), Boston, 1849.
FITZWILLIAM
CHESHIRE CO. Camp and Priest Brooks, running in a southerly direction, are the principal streams in this town. South Pond, 230 rods long and of various width; Sip’s Pond, 200 rods long and 100 wide; Rockwood’s Pond, and Collin’s Pond, are the only natural collections of water.
The surface of this town is hilly; the soil is rocky. There is a considerable quantity of very productive and highly valuable meadow land. The soil is suitable for grazing and tillage.
Beef, pork, butter, and cheese, are the staples. The farmers have of late turned their attention to the raising of sheep.
Near the centre of the town is a large hill, remarkable for the beautifully romantic prospect it affords. Gap Mountain, which at a distance appears to be a part of the Monadnock, and on which are found various kinds of stones, suitable for whetstones, lies partly in Troy and partly in the northeast part of Fitzwilliam.
Brigadier-General James Reed, a revolutionary patriot, whose merits, as an officer and a man, will be long remembered, was a citizen of this town.
Boundaries. South by Royalston and Winchendon in Mass., west by Richmond, north by Troy, and east by Rindge.
First Settlers. James Reed, John Fassett, Benjamin Bigelow, and others, in 1760.
First Ministers. Rev. Benjamin Brigham, ordained in 1771; died in 1799. Rev. Stephen Williams, settled in 1800; dismissed in 1802.
Productions of the Soil. Indian corn, 3,945 bushels; potatoes, 37,793 bushels;
hay, 1,644 tons; wool, 1,631 lbs.; maple sugar, 1,497 pounds.
Distances. Thirteen miles south-east from Keene, and sixty south-west from Concord. The Cheshire Railroad passes through this town.