-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 nfJ8I8HnhCNf3ZoYYvyOUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-056208.txt : 20101117
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-056208.hdr.sgml : 20101117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101117155612
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-056208
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NELSON JACK H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241368

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17859
		FILM NUMBER:		101199849

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCHARES INC
		STREET 2:		9 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			NEWPORT
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03773

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000846931
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				020430695
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		THE CARRAIG HOUSE
		CITY:			NEWPORT
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03257
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6038630886

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 37
		STREET 2:		THE CARRAIGE HOUSE
		CITY:			NEW LONDON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03257
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd291536.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000846931</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NHTB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241368</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NELSON JACK H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 MAIN ST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03773</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2419</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24327</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-11-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-06-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>STEPHEN R. THEROUX AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----