Asa Raymond was born at Hampton, Windham County, Connecticut, on September 
8, 1794, the son of James and Olive (Parish) Raymond. He had a sister Abigail
born in 1790 and a brother James born in 1792. The father James died in 1807
and was buried with his first wife, Abigail Downing, in the South Cemetery at
Hampton. 
  In the summer of 1808, Olive and her surviving children, Abigail and Asa, 
arrived at Peterboro. Three days later Olive died and was buried in the 
"Baptist" Cemetery. James Sr.'s three maiden sisters-in-law had accompanied 
the Raymonds. Abigail and Asa were taken in by the Downing sisters, who died 
in The Epidemic of 1813. Abigail Raymond died two years later and was 
buried beside her mother. 
  Asa was educated in local schools, where his classmates included Henry A. 
Foster and Gerrit Smith. Later Asa attended Canandaigua Academy. During the 
War of 1812, he served in Bicknell's Corps of Riflemen. Attaining the rank of
Captain, he was known by that title throughout his life.
  Following the war, Asa became a merchant in Peterboro. At one time he 
operated a store on the east end of the present-day Pachin home, the first 
residence on the west end of Park Street. He was Smithfield Town Clerk in 
1820, a Justice of the Peace in 1831, and a Grand Juror in 1833.  It is 
believed that he wrote the town sketches that appear in the 1868-1869 Madison
County Directory. 
  The first wife of Asa Raymond was named Celinda D. They had several 
children who died young. There is a possibility that all of Asa's offspring 
were from his marriage to Celinda: 
 
   James b. about 1831, died inCanastota in 1866 
   Helen A. m. 1848 Dr. Milton B. Jarvis of Canastota 
   Anna Eliza m. 1851 William C. Tremain of Cincinnati, Ohio 
   Celinda D. d. 1859 in Covington, Kentucky (she was a teacher at  
     the Young Ladies Seminary, Harrodsburg, Kentucky.) 
   Mary m. Robert Smith, living in East Albany, N.Y., in 1878 
   Florence A. b. about 1843 
 
  Asa, Celinda, and Helen were members of Peterboro's Presbyterian Church. 
Celinda Raymond died on October 29, 1847, at the age of 48. Asa's second wife
was named Mercy L., who died on March 18, 1854, aged 50 years. Both women are
buried in the Peterboro Cemetery. 
  On December 11, 1855, Asa married for the third time. His wife was Rachel 
Loveland, the widow of Reuben Rich of Smithfield. With the exception of a few
years in Canastota, Morrisville, and Nelson (Erieville), Asa lived in 
Peterboro. He was the first merchant in Madison County to exclude the sale of
liquor and tobacco from his store. 
  At an early date, Asa Raymond had become an ardent abolitionist. We believe
he is the A. Raymond listed as one of the delegates to the New York State 
Anti-Slavery Convention in Utica on October 21, 1835. Surely, he was present 
when the convention reconvened the next day in Peterboro. In 1836, when the 
New York Anti-Slavery Society met again in Utica, Gerrit Smith and Asa 
Raymond were the only representatives from Madison County. Gerald Sorin also 
lists Asa as one of the top 100 abolitionists in New York State. 
  On Monday morning, November 4, 1872, Asa engaged in some strenuous  
exercise, later complaining of pain around his heart. He died that evening. 
One of his obituaries was written by Gerrit Smith and indicates that aside 
from his wife, he was survived by three daughters and numerous grandchildren.
Asa is probably buried at Peterboro next to his first two wives, although 
there is no stone to mark his grave.