From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire: Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 297:
PAPER MAKING IN ALSTEAD, N. H., IN 1793–EARLIEST IN THIS SECTION OF NEW ENGLAND
It has been frequently recorded in histories that the first paper mill in this vicinity was built in Alstead, N. H., in 1798 by Bill Blake. An examination of some of the newspapers published a few years earlier, of which but few copies are in existence, show a mill in that village several years earlier than that.
The Columbian Informer of Keene under date of November 6, 1793, has this advertisement:-
"PAPER MILL
"The subscribers inform the public they have established a Paper Mill in Alstead for the manufacture of printing and wrapping paper and pasteboard.
"Oct. 28, 1793.
EPHRAIM & ELISHA KINGSBERY"
The same paper under date of May 18, 1794, carries an advertisement of Elisha Kingsbery asking for appprentices to the paper making business, which is dated April 21, 1794.
The New Hampshire & Vermont Journal, printed at Walpole May 5, 1795, shows an advertisement of James and Elisha Kingsbery asking for cotton and linen rags at their paper mill in Alstead.
In the Rising Sun, printed in Keene June 28, 1796, Elisha Kingsbery advertises for sale a new saw and grist mill on Cold River in Alstead, "near the paper mill, " and on September 20, 1796, " press paper' , is advertised for sale at the paper mill in Alstead.
February 14, 1797, Mead & Kingsbery advertise in the Rising Sun that they have on the first instant agreed [298] to make and vend paper and linseed oil in partnership for one year, and on November 4, 1797, that paper addvertises the partnership of Mead & Kingsbery dissolved October 23, 1797, and the business is to be continued by Samuel Mead.
The Political Observatory of Walpole on August 25, 1804, states that the partnership of Elisha Kingsbery, Isaac Randall and Bill Blake at Alstead, N. H., was dissolved on August 20, 1804, and that the partnership between Elisha Kingsbery and Bill Blake at Alstead and Bellows Falls was dissolved on the same date. In both the above dissolutions all accounts were to be setttled by Bill Blake.
Record is also made in the Political Observatory, of Walpole, of a most unusual thunder storm and snow storm in October of 1804. The item is as follows, the date of the paper being the 13th:-
"EXTRAORDINARY SNOW STORMl
"On Tuesday last, 9th instant about the middle of the forenoon the weather suddenly changed from a temmperate rain to a storm of snow attended with thunder and violent wind on the high lands. The storm conntinued with some intermissions until Wednesday morning. It is judged that the mean depth of snow which fell was 15 to 18 inches. Contiguous to the river it melted rapidly yet repeatedly measured 4 to 5 inches and covered the ground for more than 30 hours. On the hills it was considerably drifted which in places covered the fences and blocked the roads. The eastern stage could not run and the mail was conveyed on horseback. Greater damage was done to fruit trees and timber than was ever known to have been sustained in one year since the settlement of this part of the country. Foliage formed a lodgment for the adhesive snow, many [299] branches being broken by its weight and the wind felled many a trunk to earth. The western mail had not arrived when this paper went to press nor have we received papers from the eastern part of the state. The day on which the storm occurred was appointed for a regimental muster at Keene. The soldiers on their way were overtaken by the storm and detained. Very few reached the place of rendezvous and the occasion was frustrated. To enliven the gloom of the scene sleighs ran briskly during the continuance of the snow in this village. It still lies in considerable quantities on the high lands. By verbal information we learn that the storm was severe at Boston, shipping suffering greatly and a steeple blown down."