Editing Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire (section)

==History==
First granted as "Monadnock No. 4" in 1752 by [[British North America|colonial]] Governor [[Benning Wentworth]], this was one in a line of eight towns settled by [[Scotland|Scottish]] colonists. Incorporated in 1773 by Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]], the town was named for his cousin, [[William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam|William Fitzwilliam]], 4th [[Earl Fitzwilliam]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off.| author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n125 126]}}</ref> Two early grantees in Fitzwilliam were [[Matthew Thornton]], signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], and [[James Reed (soldier)|James Reed]], who would lead the [[3rd New Hampshire Regiment]] at [[Battle of Bunker Hill|Bunker Hill]].

The community claims one of the oldest [[granite]] quarries in New Hampshire. Other industries included wood-working and yarn-making. The [[railroad]] entered in 1848.<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book | last = Coolidge | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n533 493]–494| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859. }}</ref>

[[Fitzwilliam Common Historic District|Fitzwilliam's picturesque common]], together with twelve antique houses that surround it, are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>National Register of Historic Places 
{{NRHP url|id=97000399|title=Record Number - 425889, Item Number - 97000399 NRIS}}, retrieved February 19, 2013</ref>