Gravesite of Dixville’s First Settlers

In 1805, Lt. Col. Timothy Dix of Amherst, New Hampshire was granted a parcel of land deep within the imposing mountains of the Great North Woods. The land came with just one stipulation: Dix had five years to have the land settled by at least thirty residents. Dix named the town Dixville (fittingly enough) but didn't have too much time to make good on his promise, as he would become involved in fighting the War of 1812, dying in 1813 in battle.

Granite State super-politician Daniel Webster, a friend and sponsor of Dix, took it upon himself to try and incorporate the area. But before he did, someone actually did live in Dixville before Dix's death. In fact, two people did: husband and wife duo Betsey and John Whittemore. The Whittemores would arrive in Dixville in 1812, but soon found themselves fighting against the elements. Due to the town's extreme terrain and remoteness, as well as the fact that the only road into town was not equipped for the brutal winters, the Whittemores would endure incredible hardships while trying to make a life for themselves in Dixville.

In 1815, Betsey died in the frigid month of December. Unable to bury his wife or even leave town, John was forced to keep her body frozen for the entire winter before any proper burial. Likely shaken by the horrifying ordeal, John would bury his wife in a makeshift graveyard then move to the nearby Colebrook the following spring. John would die in 1846, and Dixville would be properly settled in 1865, with new residents being buried alongside the Whittemores at the small cemetery for years in unmarked graves.

In modern times, little documentation remains as to who else lies alongside the Whittemores, but the gravesite has been preserved by New Hampshire State Parks, who keep the legacy of the Whittemores and their perils alive for curious visitors. While today Dixville may only boast a population that hovers around a little over ten, the lives of the town's first settlers continue to inspire and fascinate.