Surname: SIMONDS Source: History of Charlestown, NH by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson p.548 Jehazel Simonds born Dec 28, 1752 at Woburn, MA removed first to Cavendish, VT and from that town to Charlestown, NH soon after the Revolution. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was for a time engaged in the war afterwards. He settled on what was called Brier Hill, near Acworth, NH, where he lived till the 3rd of July, 1835 when he died. He was among the first settlers in that part of the town which was still the haunt of wild beasts. He used to come with his ox-team to the village to bring such articles as he had to dispose of, but as the way was difficult, was usually accustomed to return before dark. But one time in winter because there was to be a moon, he delayed in the village longer than usual, so that he did not set out for home till night. Nothing happened of an uncommon nature the first part of the way, but when he had reached the wildest portion of the forest, within about a half or three quarters of a mile of home, several wolves suddenly rushed upon him and beset him in such a manner that he was obliged to take refuge between his oxen on the pole of his sled, where for the remaining dist- ance he ws under the necessity of keeping them at bay with a sled stake. They followed him ven to his very door when his stout wolf-dog came to his rescue and put them to flight. The impression made on his mind by this attack was so strong, that afterwards for several years when he went to the village he did not neglect to take his gun that he might be prepared for defense in case of a similar surprise. The children of Jehazel and Mary (Tidd) Simonds. 1. Josiah Simonds m. and settled at Whiting, VT (afterwards called Pittsford) 2. Henry Simonds b. May 2, 1791 m. Mary Jones of Claremont, N.H. and settled at Pittsford, VT in 1819. 3. John Simonds b. April 22, 1793 m. Nov. 20, 1820 Nancy Malinda Jones dau of Asa Jones of Claremont, NH and settled at Pittsford, VT. 4. Joseph Simonds m. Jemima Bragg of Springfield, VT; was a soldier in the war of 1812 and one of the selectmen of Charlestown, NH in 1828, 29 and 30. 1. Joseph Jr. 2. Emeline Joseph Simonds removed in 1831 to Pittsford, VT 5. Esther m. Mr. Beckwith and had: 1. Anna Beckwith; 2. Elvira Beckwith who m. and lived in Lowell, MA 6. Mary Simonds who married Ebenezer Corbin 7. Fanny Simonds. There were other children, Hannah and Caroline but they died young. p.549 Elijah Simonds m. (1) Mary Campbell of Rockingham, VT. Children: 1. Elijah Simonds, Jr. b. July 28, 1799 m. and removed to Penn Yan, N.Y. 2. Edward R. Simonds b. Sept 14, 1801 m. and lived last in Swanzey, NH 3. William Simonds m. Leafy Blood and settled in Walpole. Elijah Simonds m. (2) Mrs. Mitty Tufts. Mr. Simonds built the house later owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Bowker. He lived afterwards in different places in the town. He removed in 1847 to Penn Yan in the town of Milo, Yates Co., NH where he spent his last days in the family of his son. Elijah Simonds was a blacksmith by trade, and was one of the class of persons whose eccentric characters usually render them very well known in the community in which they reside. He was lively and witty and occasionally exercised his talent for rhyme in turning off brief poetical effusions some of which are remembered at the present day. It is related that he used to have frequent poetical encounters with Elisha Fling who, like himself was very eccentric and thought much of his ability to make a rhyme. Fling one day meeting Simonds in a crowd addressed him as follows: "Elijah thou art, but no prophet 'tis plain, For a thousand like you would n'er make it rain." This raised a laugh at Simonds' expense who immediately replied: "You are Elisha, but not the old Prophet. He's gone to heaven but you'll go to Tophet."! This of course turned the laugh back again. To understand the following it is necessary to premise, that Simonds was not very fond of work and his customers therefore were not always accustomed to find him at his shop. "Frederick A. Sumner, who was the Postmaster, was in the habit of doing pretty much as he pleased, sometimes with quite as much regard to his own convenience as to that of the citizens. He would therefore, if his business required it, lock his office at any time of the day and go off and be gone for hours. Simonds going to the postoffice one day for a letter found it locked and was told that Squire Sumner had gone down into the meadow to work. This information excited him and led him to express himself pretty violently. Just at this time Mrs. Sumner happening to come along, he turned to her and said, "Mrs. Sumner, we have been thinking that Squire Sumner's office would be an excellent place for setting a hen, for she would be less likely to be disturbed there than any place I know of." Her eyes flashed upon him for a moment and when she instantly replied, "I know of no other place, Mr. Simonds, in which she would be less likely to be disturbed, unless it might be upon your anvil." Other anecdotes might be told of him but these must suffice. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~