Amherst Town Histories

The town of Amherst has a long and varied history, and unsurprisingly has a number of historical works written about by residents and non residents alike. If you are new to town, or would simply like to immerse yourself in town history, we suggest consulting any of the following books.

Amherst, New Hampshire : A sleeping town Awakens by The Historical Society of Amherst, New Hampshire (1983) 974.28 Am
An update to Daniel Secomb’s work, this general town history details happenings in Amherst for the next 100 years after the previous work, from a lull in the early part of the century to it’s rapid expansion in more recent times. Of note are appendices containing exhaustive record of Town Officials, School Offials, State Legislators, and Veterans from Amherst. Numerous copies are available in both the circulating and reference collections.

Colonial Amherst by Emma Boylston Locke (1916) 974.28 Lo
This work by a local resident is written in a more narrative style than the previous works. It also contains a short piece entitled Boyhood Rememberences of Amherst by Warren Upham, and a historical poem on town history by Edward Boylston, the author’s father entitled “The dead of a Hundred Years”, which was read at the town’s centennial celebration in 1860. This book does not have an index, and a supplemental index is available in the reference collection

This book has also been digitized and is available online from the Internet Archive here

Historical Sketch of Amherst (1837) by John Farmer 974.28 Fa
Authored by noted historian and genealogist, John Farmer, who resided in Amherst for a period of 16 years, this work is the earliest published town history of Amherst. A brief volume, it contains a chronology of events from the town’s initial granting, in 1728 to 1837. Of note are several appendices to containing biographical sketches, lists of pastors and deacons, representatives, town clerks, doctors, and lawyers.

The book has been digitized and is available online from the Internet Archive here

History of the Town of Amherst (1883) by Daniel Secomb 974.28 Se
The definitive town history, Secomb’s lengthy work is a valuable reference tool. It contains exhaustive genealogies of Amherst families and biographical sketches in addition to a more general town history from its inception to the late 19th century. Numerous copies are available in our reference and circulating collections. Please note that Secomb’s index is not comprehensive, and that a supplementary index is available in the reference collection.

The book has been digitized and is available online from the Internet Archive here