This contains a transcription of the Captain Nelson Richardson of Hinsdale, NH biography from Biographical Review Volume XXIII: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cheshire and Hillsboro Counties, New Hampshire, Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1897.
Pages 72-73
CAPTAIN NELSON RICHARDSON, who resides upon a productive farm in Hinsdale, not far from his birthplace, was born February 13, 1817, son of Jacob and Phoebe (Moore) Peacock Richardson. His grandfather, Timothy Richardson, who was a lifelong resident of Royalston, Mass., reared a large family. Jacob Richardson was born in Royalston, July 14, 1783. When a young man he took up his residence in Hinsdale and cultivated a farm on the Chesterfield road. He marred Mrs. Phoebe Moore Peacock, a widow, who was born in Hinsdale, January 17, 1777. Her father, Josiah Moore, kept a tavern on the Chesterfield road. She became the mother of five children, born as follows: Mary Ann, April 8, 1808; Timothy, September 13, 1810; Adeline, September 4, 1812; Nancy, January 15, 1815; and Nelson, the subject of this sketch, who is the only one living. Mary Ann became the wife of Allan A. Lamott, and died April 6, 1874. Timothy, who married Nancy Harkness, died June 21, 1859. Adeline successively married Allan Goodnow and Thomas T. Fisk, and died August 24, 1861. Her last husband died in the same year. Nancy married John Van Mater, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and died April 2, 1888. Mrs. Jacob Richardson spent her last days in Greenville, Ohio.
Nelson Richardson acquired a practical knowledge of the ordinary branches of study taught in the district schools, and was reared upon a farm. When sixteen years old, he became what was known along the river as a swift-water man, and was engaged for a time in running a ferry. He also worked upon farms at twelve and one-half cents a day, except in haying time, when he received seventy-five cents, and as a boy was able to do a man’s work. He finally began working as a bow hand upon the freight boats plying between Bellows Falls , Vt., and Hartford, Conn. Four years later he became captain, in which capacity he continued employed, commanding some of the largest boats upon the river until the close of navigation in 1847, when the railroad destroyed the river boatman’s occupation. During his life upon the river he had many trying experiences. It was a saying in those days that a man was not competent to manage a boat until he had sunk two or more; but Captain Richardson was unusually fortunate in that respect, for he never lost but one, and for that he was not to blame. He was known as one of the most expert navigators upon the Connecticut River in his day, and he is probably the only surviving captain who ran boats north of Brattleboro. After the withdrawal of the boats he worked for a time in the factory of Ripley Hale & Todd at Hinsdale. In 1856 he purchased the farm upon which he has since resided. Here he has been successfully engaged in farming. He has also cut a great deal of firewood, which he sold in Brattleboro and other places at a profit; and he carried on logging operations to some extent, and sold a great deal of timer in the stump. Originally a Whig, he has been a Rupublican since the formation of the party, and was a Free Soiler. In 1871 and 1872 and in some preceding year he was a member of the Board of Selectmen. He has been employed to settle many estates, and has acted as guardian for minors and others.
Captain Richardson married Lucinda H. Barrett, daughter of Rufus and Lucinda (Higgins) Barrett. Her father was born November 22, 1785, and her mother on March 2, 1786. They had eight children, of whom Lucinda H. was the fifth-born; and two are living. Rufus Barrett was a son of Philip Barrett, one of the early settlers of Hinsdale. Philip Barrett was three times married, and reared a family of ten children. Rufus and Lucinda spent their last days with their daughter, Mrs. Richardson. Mrs. Richardson has had no children. Captain Richardson is an interesting man and has a wonderful memory for incidents of the long ago. He takes a delight in chronological records, which he has kept for many years, including the births and deaths of his old friends; and he has most of the names of Hinsdale’s oldest residents. He reads without the aid of glasses. Connected with the Masonic fraternity for many years, being a charter member of Golden Rule Lodge, of Hinsdale, he has advanced to the Royal Arch degree.