Bennington, Vermont proudly displays its role in the American Revolution as the site of the Battle of Bennington in 1777. [Actually, the fighting took place in Hoosic Falls, New York, just over the state line.] They have their Battle Monument, museum, and a Driving Tour.

What does Bennington, NH have on display about the Revolution? Nothing. The reason is, of course, because there was no Bennington, NH — in the 1770s, the town had not been settled yet. Are there no Bennington connections to the events of 250 years ago? Yes there are.

Bennington was founded on unincorporated land owned by investors far away. Once enough people moved here, between 1780 and 1835, they wanted to form a town of their own. Part of that process involved carving off parts of other already existing towns which bordered the nucleus around the Great Falls. Thus families that had lived in Francestown or Hancock or Greenfield now became residents of Bennington, without moving — the borders moved to include their farmsteads. Among the first families of Bennington were men who had served in the Revolutionary Army.

Captain Gideon Dodge was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, moved to New Boston, NH. From there he joined his local militia. After the war, he settled in Bennington, on the eponymous Dodge Hill.

Captain John Woodman is listed on the 1790 census as living in Bennington.

Lieutenant Joseph Huntington was born on 7 June 1753, in Amesbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony, son of Samuel and Abigail Maxfield Huntington. He married Mary Colby in 1775, in Weare, NH. They had at least 4 sons and 4 daughters. Huntington is also listed on the 1790 census as living in Bennington. He died on 25 October 1837, in Bennington. The 1853 map of Bennington shows his homestead was half-way up Gillis Hill Road.

The next installment of the Bennington NH Historical Society Blog will be posted in September, 2026. If you click the Subscribe button, all future posts will be sent straight to your inbox every month – for free.