Absalom Haselton was born in Manchester, NH on April 13, 1828. Shortly before marrying his first wife, Hannah Jane Hall of Derry, Haselton purchased the farm of John-Noyes Brown located along Range Road during the summer of 1852. However, Haselton himself had little or no experience farming, as he was primarily a ship carpenter and wharf builder. He had spent time plying his trade in various parts of the country, including Pensacola, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. Eventually he returned to the North, finding work locally near the ports of Boston, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. While residing in Windham, his first wife died in December of 1860. In 1865, Haselton married his second wife, Eliza-Dean White of Methuen, Massachusetts. He had three children by his second wife, joining the four children he had by his first wife. The younger of the children were certainly living at home on the Range Road farm on May 6, 1882, when Absalom Haselton died. The previous night he had retired to bed, seemingly healthy, and awoke the next morning free of pain or any sign of illness. However, after briefly speaking to his wife, Absalom suddenly died of heart disease without any warning.
Following Absalom's death, the farm was purchased by Eliphalet Colburn in 1883. The property changed hands numerous times from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. According to "Rural Oasis", Wallace Cole and Charles Dow purchased the home in 1890 and sold it to Charles J. Miers in 1918. Miers sold it to Frank Miers just six years later. The latter Miers then sold the property to John Evans in 1933. In 1938, Evans sold the property to Cecil Bahan, who sold it nine years later to Bernice Hollett. Hollett, resold the property within a year to George Butterfield, Jr. In 1950, Butterfield sold the house to Rita Chadwick, for whom the house has been known in recent times as the "Chadwick House." Unfortunately, the Federal style home, built in 1830, was torn down in 2014. The cast iron hitching post topper shown below was used on the property during the late nineteenth century to tie off a horse. It was placed on the farm, likely near the home for the use of the family or visitors, either during the latter part of Haselton's ownership, or by Eliphalet Colburn shortly after he purchased the farm.
Following Absalom's death, the farm was purchased by Eliphalet Colburn in 1883. The property changed hands numerous times from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. According to "Rural Oasis", Wallace Cole and Charles Dow purchased the home in 1890 and sold it to Charles J. Miers in 1918. Miers sold it to Frank Miers just six years later. The latter Miers then sold the property to John Evans in 1933. In 1938, Evans sold the property to Cecil Bahan, who sold it nine years later to Bernice Hollett. Hollett, resold the property within a year to George Butterfield, Jr. In 1950, Butterfield sold the house to Rita Chadwick, for whom the house has been known in recent times as the "Chadwick House." Unfortunately, the Federal style home, built in 1830, was torn down in 2014. The cast iron hitching post topper shown below was used on the property during the late nineteenth century to tie off a horse. It was placed on the farm, likely near the home for the use of the family or visitors, either during the latter part of Haselton's ownership, or by Eliphalet Colburn shortly after he purchased the farm.
19th century hitching post topper from the Chadwick House on Range Road
The Chadwick House as seen from Range Road in 2007. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)