Learn more about the history of
Hill Haven Farm
A Step Back in Time
A National Treasure and New England Commitment to Love and Country
Hill Haven Farm in Belmont, NH stands as a testament to generations of resilience and history.
Corporal Dudley Gilman
Dudley Gilman was born in 1756 in Exeter NH, British Colonial America. He was a descendent of Moses Gilman (1630 – 1702), one of NH’s first settlers. Dudley was one of six children by Bradstreet Gilman (1736 – 1815) and Comfort Wiggin (1727 – 1845) . At age 21, Dudley (then a member of Thomas Stickney’s Regiment (a.k.a. The 11th New Hampshire Militia) and General John Stark’s Brigade occupied the right wing at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.
Dudley married Mary, “Molly” (Sanborn) Gilman in 1784 and lived at the property until his death in 1820. His wife Mary died in 1850 at 88 years of age. She received a R.W. pension of $33.33 twice a year from Dudley’s service to his country. The couple had six children together at the Old Gilman House, today called Hill Haven Farm.
The farm’s legacy of military dedication continued with Dudley’s son, Josiah, who inherited the property after returning from fighting in the War of 1812. Artifacts from Josiah’s wartime service still remain on the property today, adding to the rich, authentic history that defines Hill Haven Farm.
Old Gilman House & the Sheep Boom
One of the earliest constructed homes in Belmont, then Upper Gilmanton, the two-and-a-half-story Georgian-style house was constructed by Dudley Gilman in ca. 1785.
Profits from the sale of merino wool needed for the War of 1812 and ensuing Sheep Boom in New England may have been lucrative for the Gilman family. Known as the Old Gilman House, the farmhouse was updated in the early 1820’s by son Josiah Gilman to include new Federal-style detailing at doors and paneling, a more fashionable fireplace surround in the parlor and the addition of an ell building to the north inclusive of a wood/carriage shed. In 1856, then Gilmanton, had more sheep in town than people.
Purchased in 1918
April 1918, the property was purchased from the Gilman family by Henry Leblanc, a resident and single man then living in Laconia, NH. The property has remained with the same family since. Several generations of stewardship have preserved the history and characteristics of the original homestead. The rare, old timber-framed house and barn are unique today in that they retain most of the original detailing and the interiors have not been significantly modified to meet the needs of a more modern, conventional lifestyle.
A Home Built on Love & Legacy
Read about how Hill Haven Farm has been a cherished starting point for love stories across generations — a place where new chapters unfold and love takes root.
Photo of Henry and Emilia on their wedding day at Hill Haven.
“When my great-grandfather Henry purchased the property in 1918, he did so with love in his heart and a vision for the future. Preparing for his marriage to his beloved bride-to-be, Emilia, Henry made this farm their first home, a place where their story would begin. Their wedding certificate still hangs in the living room, alongside cherished photos from their special day.
Over the generations, this farm has continued to welcome newlyweds into its embrace. Henry and Emilia’s daughter, Irene, was born here in 1920 and later inherited the farm when she married my grandfather, Matt, a World War II veteran. Together, they started their family in the same home where Irene was raised.
One hundred years later, this special place has continued to be a haven for newlyweds. Henry’s great grandson Christian and his new bride Emily spent their first year of married life here. It’s no coincidence that Hill Haven Farm has been a cherished starting point for so many love stories.
Today, the spirit of those heartfelt beginnings lives on as a reminder that this farm has always been more than just a property; it’s a place where love takes root and new chapters unfold.”
Sara Mirski, Current Property Owner
Photo of Emilia and Henry’s marriage certificate, beautifully framed and displayed on the farm.