Background on Thomas D. Twiss
Thomas Dimon Twiss (sometimes spelled Twist) was born in Beverly, Mass., on Dec. 23, 1801, one of nine children born to Dimon Cressy Twiss (1773-1861) and his first wife Sarah Ireson. As an infant, Twiss and his family relocated to southern Hillsborough County, N.H., where Sarah died in 1815. Thomas established himself in the town of Antrim, where he was listed as a farmer in the federal censuses of 1850 and 1870. At various times, he supplemented his livelihood by working for the town, including as a sexton and on bridges and roads, and by providing agricultural labor for other members of the community.
On Jan. 30, 1834, Twiss married Betsey Brackett of Antrim, with whom he had one son Alfred C. (ca.1837-1875) and two daughters, Sarah E. (Mrs. Charles J.) Davis (1840-1870) and Hannah A. (Mrs. Nathan D.) Curtis (1843-1911). He died of pneumonia on Mar. 21, 1876, and is buried at North Branch Cemetery, Antrim.
