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Full text of "A gazetteer of New Hampshire, containing descriptions of all the counties, towns, and districts in the state; also of its principal mountains, rivers, waterfalls, harbors, islands, and fashionable resorts. To which are added, statistical accounts of its agriculture, commerce and manufactures .."

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GAZETTEER 

OF 

NEW    HAMPSHIRE, 

CONTAINING 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  ALL  THE 

COUNTIES,    TOWNS,   AND    DISTRICTS 

IN    THE    STATE; 

ALSO,   OF    ITS 

PRINCIPAi  MOUNTAINS.  RIVERS.  WATERFALLS.  HARBORS.  ISLANDS. 

AND 

FASHIONABLE    RESORTS. 

TO   'WHICH   ARE   ADDED, 

STATISTICAL  ACCOUNTS  OF  ITS 
AGRICULTURE,  COMMERCE  AND  MANUFACTURES; 

WITH  A  GREAT  VARIETY  OF  OTHER 

USEFUL    INFORMATION. 


BY    JOHN   HAYWARD, 
Author  of  "  The  New  England  G-azetteer,"  "Book  of  Religions,"  &c. 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED   BY   JOHN   P.  JEWETT, 

2  3     CORN HILL. 

1849. 


heeVred 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849,  by 

JOHN    IIAYWARD, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Couit  of  Massachusetts. 


3^/^/ 


NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBP.ARY 

Astor,  Lenc-.<  and  Tilden^ 

Foundations. 

1896 


A  X  D  0  V  E  R  : 
J.  D.  FLAGG  AND  AV.  H.  WARDWELL, 

BTEREOTYPERS  AND  PRINTERS. 


4  9  ?  S* 


PREFACE 


The  unparalleled  growth  of  New  England  in  all  its  paiis  and  in 
all  its  various  agricultural,  manufacturing  and  commercial  relations, 
together  with  its  rapid  progress  in  effecting  a  safe  and  speedy  in- 
ter-communication with  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  the  neigh- 
boring British  Provinces,  is  deemed  by  the  editor  a  sufficient  apol- 
ogy for  presenting  to  the  public  a  new  Gazetteer  of  any  section  of 
that  favored  land. 

Our  only  fear  is,  that  the  car  of  improvement  is  so  rapid  that 
the  most 'assiduous  industry  on  our  part  will  not  enable  us  to  keep 
pace  with  its  motion.  We  have,  however,  put  in  requisition  all  our 
resources,  and  having  done  all  we  could  to  render  our  work  worthy 
of  patronage,  we  shall  rely  with  confidence,  as  we  have  hitherto 
done,  on  the  candor  of  a  generous  pubHc. 

We  have  adopted  a  new  arrangement  in  our  work  which,  it  is 
thought,  will  be  found  more  convenient  for  reference  than  any  in 
our  former  pubUcations  of  the  kind.  After  a  brief  geographical 
description,  biographical  sketches,  etc.,  are  given  the  Boundaries  of 
the  towns  under  a  distinct  head  ; — the  First  Settlers  and  First  Mln 
isters  come  next,  and  are  seen  at  a  glance ;  then  are  given  the  Man- 
ufactures in  the  towns  when  practicable  ;  and  then  some  of  the  most 
important  Productions  of  the  Soil.  The  jyistances  come  last,  though 
not  the  least  important  item  to  the  traveller. 

We  have  generally  been  able  to  give  the  first  ministers  of  each 
town  down  to  eighteen  hundred.  A  more  extended  account  of  the 
clergy  could  not  well  be  given  in  this  volume.  The  accounts  of  the 
manufactures  are  necessarily  limited,  but  the  value  of  the  manufac- 
turing establishments  will  be  found  in  the  tables.  The  amount  of 
the  productions  of  the  soil,  as  given  under  most  of  the  towns,  was 
taken  from  an  account  published  a  few  years  since.  They  consist 
of  only  a  few  of  the  most  important  articles  of  production,  but  suffi- 


4  PREFACE.  , 

cient  to  indicate  the  quality  of  the  soil  and  state  of  agricultural  im- 
provements. 

Our  readers  will  find  the  Tables  of  population  and  cuuiity  and  town 
Tables  to  contain  a  grcnt  variety  of  statistical  information  of  con- 
siderable interest;  particularly  for  comparing  one  section  of  the 
State  with  another. 

To  our  numerous  friends  who  have  assisted  us  in  our  labors, 
especially  to  the  Hon.  Thomas  P.  Tread  well,  Secretary  of  State,  for 
important  documents ;  to  the  Rev.  William  Jenks,  D.  D.,  for  his 
learned  and  interesting  Litroduction  to  this  volume  ;  and  to  the  Rev. 
William  Cogswell,  D.  D.,  for  his  able  account  of  the  schools  in 
New  Hampshire,  we  tender  our  heartfelt  acknowledgments.  We 
are  much  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  G.  Parker  Lyon,  Esq.,  for  the 
use  of  his  valuable  register  of  the  State. 

From  the  works  of  the  lamented  John  Farmer,  Esq.,  and  of  Ja- 
cob B.  Moore,  Esq.,  we  have  drawn  much  treasure  ;  and  our  read- 
ers will  doubtless  regret  that  the  limits  of  our  work  would  not  permit 
more  copious  extracts  from  Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson's  invaluable  Re- 
port of  the  Geology  of  the  State. 


INDEX 


Page.  I 
Academies,   .         .         18,68,106,115 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,         20 
Agricultural  Products — See  De- 
scriptions of  Towns. 
Ancient  Customs,  Note  1. 

Records,      .         .         .         192 

School  Laws,      .         .     17, 18 

Superstitions,  Note  6. 

Area  of  State  in  square  miles,  154 

Avalanches,  or  Slides,         90,  127,  166 
Banks 


for  Savintrs, 


190 
190 
117 
179 

23 

77 

25 


188 


155 


16 

185 

19 

168 


Battle  Ship,  first  built  in  America, 

Bays  and  Harbors,  . 

Bear  Story,  Note  21. 

Belknap,  Jeremy,  Dr., 

Boar's  Head,    .... 

Bold  Defence,  Note  20.  . 

Boundaries  of  State, 

of  Towns — See  Towns 

Brave  Girl,  Note  6. 

Breach  of  Faith,  Note  6 

Canals, 

Canine  attachment,  Note  13. 

Cannon  heard  afar  off.  Note  10. 

Cattle,  number  of,    . 

Cherish  New  England,  Note  26. 

Child  killed  by  a  Bear,  Note  15. 

Clergy,  early,  eminent,     . 

Climate,  .... 

College,  Dartmouth, 

Commerce  and  Navigation, 

Compliment  to  N.  England,  Note  24. 

Congressional  Districts,  .         .         219 

Constitution  of  the  State,       199 — 218 

Jorn,  great  crop  of,  .         .         178 

Council  Districts,     .         .         .         218 

Counties  and  Towns,  Description 
of, 27,  &c. 

County  Tables,        .•       .  153,  &c. 

Courts — See  Counties. 

Curious  Caves,  and  other  Places, 
30,  32,  33,  39,  49,  51,  58,  60,  64, 
69,  70,  71,  72,  73,  74,  90,  105, 

110,  120,  124,  125,  128 
1# 


Curious  Rocks,  .         .        55, 

Defence  of  N.  Hampshire,  Note  27. 

Defence  of  the  North,  Note  23. 

Description    cff    Counties    and 
Towns,         .         .         .         .27, 

Distances  from  Boston,   . 

Distances  of  Towns  from  the  capi- 
tal of  the  State,  and  from  their 
shire  Towns  —  See  Descriptions. 

Dixville  Notch, 

Dun  Fish,         .... 

Early  Traits  of  :N.  England  Char- 
acter, Note  18. 

Education,  early, 

Elevated  Pond, 

Factories,  &c..  Value  of,  . 

Finances  of  the  State, 

First  Ministers — See  Descriptions. 

First  Settlers  of  the  State, 

Floating  Islands,      . 

Flood,  Great,  . 

Flumes,   .... 

Friendship  between  States, 

Good  shot,  a,  . 

Government,    .... 

Grants  of  Land  in  Coos  County 

Harbors  and  Bays,  . 

Heights  of  Mountains,     . 

Historical  Society,  . 

Horses,  number  of,  . 

Incorporation  of  Counties, 

of  Towns, 


31 


71, 


Indian   Captives,    107,    125,   128, 
143,  Note  4,  Note 
Indian  Depredations,  28,  36,  46, 
53,  54,  61,  64,  78,  86.  98,  103, 
106,    121.    125,    128,    135,    143, 
145,  Note 
Indian  leap  and  curse,     . 

Relics,  33,  50,  83,  85,  87, 

101,115,  126, 
Indian  Sorcerer,  Note  6. 

Tradition,    . 

Wit  and  Kindness,  Note  3. 


128 


&c. 
154 


59 
108 


15 
134 
155 

26 

25 

,36 

55 

166 

13 

57 

25 

183 

179 

168 

20 

155 

147 

153 

11. 


16. 
112 


135 
162 


Indians  in  N.  Hampshire,  earliest 
known,  Note  6. 


INDEX. 


Insolence  of  a  royal  minion,  Note  14. 
Insurance  Companies,     .         .         189 
Insurrection  in  N.  Hampshire,  Note  7. 
Introduction,   . 
Inventory  of  State  Property, 
of  Town  Property, 


Islands, 

Island  Farm,   .... 

Judiciary,         .... 

Iving  Philip,  death  of,  Note  6. 

Lakes  and  Ponds,    .         .  176 

Land,  .500  acres  for  a  wheel-bar- 
row, Note  9. 

Large  Family, 

Latitude  of  County  Towns,     . 

Lead  Mine,      .... 

Leghorn  Bonnets,  first  made. 

Light  Houses, 

Longevity, 

Lovewell,  John, 

Maid's  Tree,  Note  17. 

Militia,     .... 

Manufactories,  &c.,  value  of, 

Manufactures — See  Towns. 

Maple  sugar,  making  of. 

Medical  School, 

Society, 

Mills.  &c.,  value  of. 

Minerals,  32,  33,  35,  37,  47 
50,  65,  67,  74,  79,  80,  110, 


7 
156 
156 
179 
178 
26 

&c. 


121 
154 
128 
28 
192 
36,  138 
138 

188 
155 

42 
19 
20 

155,  &c. 

49, 


128 


Population,  Classification  of   .         153 
Post  ViUages,  ...         182 

Productions  of  the  Soil — See  De- 

scrijAioiis  of  Towns. 
Proportion  of  Taxes,       .         .         155 
Public  Buildings,     .         .         .         190 

Institutions,  .         .         191 

Railroads,         .         .         .         .         187 
Rebellion  in  N.  Hampshire,  Note  7. 
Religious  Denominations,        .  21 

Remarkable  Preservation,  Note  2. 


Mineral  Springs,   30,   55,  58,  72, 

76,  85,  89,  91,  101,  146 
Modest  Office  Seeker,  .  .  132 
Mountains  and  Hills,        .  161,  &c. 

Mountain  Scenery,  Note  22. 
Navy  Yard,      .         .         .         .         117 
Northern  Laborers,  Note  23. 
Notch  of  the  White  Mountains,       166 

Notes, 223 

Number  of  Towns  in  the  State,       154 
Observance  of  the  Sabbath,  Note  5. 
Old  Man  of  the  Mountain,       .  70 

Names  of  Towns,      .         .         1 84 

Ordination,  first,  at  Concord,  Note  3. 
Outlines  of  New  Hampshire,    .         1 85 
Peat  Land,  value  of,         .         .  41 ' 

Poetry  on  New  England,  Note  25. 
Polls,' number  of,     .         .  155,156 

Population  Tables, .        .        .        147 1 


Rivers,     .... 
Rogers'  Rangers,  Note  19. 
Rumford,  Count,  Note  8. 
Sagacity  of  a  Dog, 
Salaries  of  State  Officers, 
Scarcity  of  Food,     . 
Scenery  in  New  Hampshire, 
Scenery,  Mountain,  Note  22. 
Schools,  .... 
Senatorial  Districts, 
Shaker  Farming,     . 
Villages, 


Sheep,  number  of,   . 
Singular  Disease  of  Cattle, 
Stream, 


169,  &c. 


87 

26 

103 

181 

17,  &c. 

218 

41 

61,66 

155 

27 

105 


40 


Spring  of  Water,  new  formed.  Note  1 2. 
Stark,  General,         .         .  90,  123,  130 
State  Tax,  Proportion  of,        .        155 
Statistical  Tables,    ...        147 
Succession  of  Governors,        .  25 

Superstitious  Notions,  Note  6. 
Tax,  Proportion  of,  .         .         156 

Temperature,  ....  66 

Theological  Institutions,  20,  106 

Tornadoes,       .         .         .         107,  139 
To^^•ns  and  Counties,  Description  of,  27 

154 

106 

17 

156 

155,  156 

49 

220 

179 

71 

98 

22 

167 


number  of, 
Township  of  Land  for  an  Ox, 
Town  School  Laws,  early, 
Tables,  . 


Value  of  Lands, 

Volcanic  Eruption, 

Votes  for  Governor, 

Watcrf\ills, 

Weather,  cold. 

Weighing  with  the  foot. 

White  Mountains,   . 

Willey  Family,  death  of. 

Wonderful  preservation,  Note  2 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

It  is  generally  conceded,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  New  England  States, 
as  a  body,  exhibit  some  peculiar  characteristics,  -when  compared  ynih.  those 
who  dwell  in  other  sections  of  our  widely  extended  and  diversified  Union. 
And  it  is  known  that  the  varied  faca  of  the  country,  and  hence  the  local  facili- 
ties for  different  occui)ations,  together  with  the  history  of  different  settlements, 
have  all  tended  to  produce  diversities  of  character,  habits,  and  employments. 

To  these  considerations  must  be  added  the  different  views  and  pursuits  of 
the  original  settlers,  the  object  of  settlement  being  by  no  means  the  same  in  aU 
the  Colonies. 

Now  it  is  not  pretended,  that  the  first  Europeans  who  colonized  within  the 
bounds  of  New  Hampshire  were,  like  those  at  Ph-mouth,  seeking  an  asylum 
from  persecution  for  their  religion.  We  know  that  expeditions  for  fishing 
along  the  coast,  and  the  trade  in  furs,  occupied  the  attention  of  the  earliest 
visitors ;  and  that  a  considerable  time  elapsed,  after  the  discovery  and  partial 
colonizing  of  the  shores,  before  a  regular  government  could  be  formed.  Whereas, 
at  the  settlement  of  Plymouth,  the  principles  on  Avhich  the  power  of  rule  was 
to  be  based,  and  even  those  who  were  to  exercise  that  power,  were  designated 
and  resolved  on  before  the  landing  of  the  company.* 


See  Hayivard^s  Massach.  Gazetteer. 


8  NEW   HAIVIPSHIRE. 

Very  different  was  the  condition  of  those  who  commenced  the  efforts  which 
resulted  in  establishing  the  State  of  Ncav  Hampsliire.  Their  an-angements, 
therefore,  consisted  more  in  the  regulations  of  a  mercantile  company,  than  in 
a  civil  legislation,  with  its  provisions  for  insuring  a  permanent,  dignified  admin- 
istration of  well  adapted  laws,  the  result  of  deliberate  consideration.  By  the 
necessity  of  the  case,  however,  this  became  their  condition,  in  process  of 
time. 

No  proof  is  found  of  actual  settlement  before  1623.  The  precise  date  of  the 
settlement,  it  has  been  candidly  acknowledged,  "  cannot  pi-obably  be  ascer- 
tained."* This  acknowledgment,  however,  relates  only  to  some  overt  act,  con- 
nected with  settling ;  since  both  the  year,  and  season  of  the  year,  are  ascer- 
tainable. 

But  the  settlements  were,  for  many  years,  greatly  troubled  by  the  conflicting 
claims  of  patentees.  These  claims  were  derived,  originally,  from  the  Council 
of  Plymouth,  in  the  mother  country.  And  of  them  it  is  remarked  by  Chal- 
mers, that,  "  during  the  fifteen  years  of  the  existence  of  that  company,  it 
adopted  the  policy  of  conferring  on  various  men  several  interfering  parcels  of 
New  England  ;  which  has  thro^vTi  the  greatest  obscurity  over  its  earliest  his- 
tory ;  which  long  occasioned  perplexing  embarrassments  to  the  different  claim- 
ants, to  the  different  colonies,  and  to  England."t  These  transactions  have, 
notwithstanding,  been  placed  in  as  clear  a  light  as  the  subject  admits,  by  Dr. 
Belknap,  the  accomplished  historian  of  New  Hampshire,  at  a  cost  of  much 
research.  And  we  learn,  that  Sir  Ferdinakdo  Gorges  and  Captain  John 
Mason,  as  joint  partners,  obtaining  a  title  to  a  territory  they  called  Laconia, 
extending  from  Merrimac  River  to  Sagadehock,  (or  the  Kennebec,)  and  far 
inland,  Mason  having  previously  acquired  the  grant  of  another,  reaching 
from  the  River  Naumkeag  to  that  of  Piscataqua,  and  back  to  their  sources, 
employed  men  to  settle  the  country.  Accordingly,  successive  establishments 
were  made  at  Little  Harbor  and  Dover,  to  which,  from  other  causes,  were 
added  those  of  Exeter  and  Hampton,}  forming  for  themselves  severally,  in  a 
few  years,  separate  jurisdictions. 

Without  entering  into  an  account  of  these  various  governments,  which  of 
themselves  were  only  of  short  duration,  it  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose  to  state 
in  this  place,  that,  by  the  year  1642,  they  were  all  absorbed  in  the  General 
Government  of  Massachusetts.  This  absorption  was  not,  however,  an  arbitrary 
or  violent  act  on  the  part  of  that  State.  In  each  instance  of  its  occurrence,  it 
was,  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  solicited  by  the  settlements.  Their  feeble 
condition,  exposed  as  they  were  to  the  attacks  of  the  savages  of  the  wilder- 
ness, who,  especially  about  the  year  1637,  appear  to  have  plotted  the  destruc- 
tion of  all  European  settlers  along  the  coast ;  the  want  of  some  superior 
authority,  to  act  as  an  umpire  in  the  disputes  and  difficulties  which  arose 
among  themselves ;  and,  added  to  this,  a  desire  to  hold  their  lands  not  as 
tenants,  but  in  simple  fee ;  these  were  sufficient  reasons  for  wishing  to  avail 

*  Farmer  and  Moore's  Coll.  Vol.  II.,  p.  32.        f  Polit.  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  ch.  xvii.,  p.  472. 
X  See  these  articles  in  the  following  Gazetteer. 


NEW    HAJrPSHIRE.  9 

tliemsclves  of  the  matn'-od  ^uiiiority,  experience,  and  prosperity  of  Massa- 
chu>erts. 

The  three  governments,  therefore,  of  Dover,  Exeter,  and  Piscataqua,  or 
Portsmouth,  after  struggling  for  years  with  difficulties  of  a  civil  and  ecclesias- 
tical nature,  were  imited  to  the  settlements  in  their  vicinity  to  the  south; 
Exeter  being  first  joined,  by  the  authority  of  the  court,  to  Essex  County ;  and, 
afterward,  with  the  others,  forming,  for  a  time,  the  county  of  Norfolk  :*  their 
history  being  blended,  for  the  next  forty  yeai-s,  with  that  of  their  neighbors. 
Hampton  had,  in  the  mean  time,  been  settled  from  Massachusetts,  and  was, 
therefore,  accounted  as  naturally  belonging  to  that  government,  although  within 
the  present  bounds  of  Nkav  HAMPSiiiRE.f 

This  latter  name  was  assumed  as  early  as  1629  ;  when,  after  Gorges  and 
ISlASOxhad  1)een  for  several  years  united  in  the  possession  of  a  patent  from  the 
Plymouth  Council,  embracing  "  all  the  lands  between  the  rivers  Merrimac  and 
Sagadchock,"  before  cited,  "  and  extending  back  to  the  great  lakes  and  river 
of  Canada,^  and  called  Laconia,''^  and  under  which  patent  their  settlements 
had  been  made,  as  Ave  have  seen,  Masox  obtained  for  himself  a  new  patent. 
The  extent-is  tlius  described  :  "  From  the  middle  of  Pascataqua  River,  and  up 
the  sam.c  to  the  furthest  head  thereof,  and  from  thence  north-westward,  until 
sixty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  were  finished  ;  also,  through  Merri- 
mac Kiver,  to  the  furthest  head  thereof,  and  so  forward  up  into  the  land  west- 
ward, until  sixty  miles  were  finished  ;  and  from  thence  to  cross  overland  to  the 
end  of  the  sixty  miles  accounted  from  Pascataqua  Eiver ;  together  with  all 
islands  within  five  miles  of  the  coast."  The  territoiy  included  within  these 
limits  received  the  name  which  the  State  at  present  bears. 

The  same  council  which  issued  the  patent  above  cited,  had  given  to  Gorges, 
in  1621,  "a  grant  of  all  the  land  from  the  river  of  Naumkeag,  now  Salem, 
round  Cape  Anne  to  the  river  Merrimac  ;  and  up  each  of  those  rivers  to  the 
furthest  head  thereof;  then  to  cross  over  from  the  head  of  the  one  to  the  head 
of  the  other ;  with  all  the  islands  lying  within  three  miles  of  the  coast."§  It 
had  also,  after  giving  several  other  discordant  grants,  sold  to  a  company  of 
gentlemen,  named  by  Hutchixson,!|  "  all  that  part  of  New  England  three 
miles  to  the  south  of  Charles  River,  and  three  miles  to  the  north  of  Merrimac 
lliver^  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  South  Sea."  The  date  of  the  last  patent  was 
March  19,  1627. 

It  could  hardly  be  expected,  that  grantees  of  property  so  indefinite,  or,  if 
defined,  so  inconsistently  done,  should  mutually  agree.     We  are  not,  therefore, 

*  Including  Salisbury,  Haverhill,  Hampton,  Exeter,  Portsmouth,  and  Dover 

t  See  Bclkiiap^s  History  of  N.  H.,  chaps,  i.  ii.  ill.  iv. 

X  Wood,  in  1634,  says :  "  The  place  whereon  the  English  have  built  their  Colonies  is 
judged,  by  those  who  have  the  best  skill  in  discovery,  either  to  be  an  iland,  surrounded 
on  the  north  side  with  the  spacious  River  Cannada,  and  on  the  south  with  Hudson's  River, 
or  else  a  Penuisula,  these  two  rivers  overlapping  one  another,  having  their  rise  from  the 
great  lakes,  which  are  not  f;ure  off  one  anotlier,  as  the  Indians  doe  certainly  informe  us." 
Such,  at  that  time,  was  their  geography  of  the  country.   "  N.  E.  Prospect,"  pp.  1,2. 

$  Belknap,  ul  supra.  ||  History  Massach.  Vol.  I.,  p.  16. 


10  NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

surprised  to  find,  that  the  people  of  Massachusetts.  xogQ.vrio,i  Gorges'  and 
Mason's  claims  with  jealousy,  and  considered  them  in  a  hostile  light ;  nor 
that  the  death  of  Masok,  who  had  been  for  some  time  using  all  his  influence 
to  procure  a  royal  order  for  a  general  governor  to  be  appointed  for  all  New 
England,  and  thus  to  supersede  those  of  Pl^-mouth  and  Massachusetts,  should 
be  recorded  by  Gov.  AVixthrop  as  a  "  mercy."*  The  conflicting  claims  we 
have  alluded  to  must,  almost  necessarily,  have  originated  hostile  feelings,  how- 
ever we  regret  and  disapprove  them. 

Gorges,  in  his  "Histoiy  of  New  England,"  declares,  "  that  he  could  hardly 
get  any,  for  money,  to  reside  "  in  the  countiy  he  claimed  ;  but  the  change  of 
times  and  interests  soon  made  it  a  place  of  reftige  for  persecuted  religionists, 
and  the  settlements  then  advanced  rapidly,  until,  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
royal  government,  "  it  was  especially  ordered,  by  the  king's  command,  that 
none  should  be  suflfered  to  go  without  license."  Yet,  thotigh  destitute  of  royal 
patronage,  the  settlements  nevertheless  "grew,"  as  Colonel  Barre,  in  the 
period  of  the  American  Revolution,  declared  of  them  before  the  British  Par- 
liament, '•  by  the  neglect  of  them,"  chargeable  on  their  mother  country — a 
neglect  which  rendered  their  own  most  strenuous  exertions  necessary,  and 
finally  successful. 

In  fact,  to  this  principle  we  must  refer  the  difference  between  the  success 
that  attended  on  the  settlers  of  the  Bay  State  and  that  of  the  people  employed 
by  Gorges  and  Masox.  This  is  sensibly  and  strikingly  described  by  the 
judicious  Belkxap.  "  The  difi'erence  between  a  man's  doing  business  by 
himself,  and  by  his  substitutes,"  observes  the  Doctor,  "  was  never  more  finely 
exemplified,  than  in  the  conduct  of  the  Massachusetts  planters,  compared  witli 
that  of  Sir  Eerdinando  Gorges  ;  what  the  one  had  been  laboring  for  above 
twenty  years,  without  any  success,  Avas  realized  by  the  others  in  two  or  three 
years  ;  in  five  they  were  so  far  advanced  as  to  be  able  to  send  out  a  colony 
from  themselves,  to  begin  another  at  Connecticut ;  and,  in  less  than  ten,  they 
founded  an  University,  which  has  ever  since  produced  an  uninterrujited  succes- 
sion of  serviceable  men  in  chitrch  and  State.f 

The  history  of  New  Hampshire  may,  with  convenience,  be  divided  into 
four  distinct  periods.  The  first  will  be  the  period  we  have  just  been  review- 
ing— that  from  the  earliest  settlements  by  the  English  to  the  union  Avith  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  time  of  that  union  will  form  another,  consisting  of  nearly 
forty  years.  The  third  embraces  the  royal  government  of  the  Province, 
and  down  to  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  fourth  what  has  transpired 
since. 

I.  Not  much  of  interest,  except  that  which  is  piu-ely  local,  attaches  to  the 
history  of  the  inconsiderable  communities  which  were  first  formed.  And  yet 
it  is  no  trifling  subject  for  the  contemplation  of  humanity.  Courage  and 
fortitude  were  needed,  to  face  and  endure  the  distresses  of  an  American  wil- 
derness, three  thousand  miles  from  home.     The  names,  therefore,  of  Hilton, 

*   TVmthrop's  J onrnal,  I.  187,  and  Dr.  Savaje^s  note  there. 
t  Life  of  Gorges,  in  Amer.  Biogr.  Vol.  I.,  p.  381. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  11 

Waldron,  Willia3is,  Neale,  "Wiggix,  Chadbourxe,  and  others,  their 
associates,  will  be  cherished  not  merely  by  their  posterity,  but  by  a  grateful 
community  of  free,  prosperous  men,  who  inherit  the  result  of  their  sacTifices 
and  labors.  Nor  less  in  the  church  of  Christ  will  the  recollections  of  piety 
and  faith  dwell  on  the  founders  of  the  sucred  institutions  under  the  gospel,  by 
whicli  light  was  communicated  to  the  ignorant,  and  consolation  to  the  afflicted, 
and  benefit  to  all.  This  will  perpetuate  the  names  of  Daltox,  Dudley, 
Leveridge,  Gibsox,  Parker,  and  even  Wheelwright,  not^nthstanding 
his  occasional  deviations  and  errors ;  nor,  in  the  lustre  of  a  succeeding  period, 
will  their  "  less  light  "  be  overlooked,  or  '•  shorn  of  its  beams." 

It  must  not  also  be  forgotten,  that  the  original  proprietors,  especially  Gorges 
and  Mason,  to  whom  others,  discouraged  by  the  multiplied  and  long-enduring 
difficulties  they  met,  sold  their  respective  shares,  were  themselves  great  losers 
by  the  enterprise.  Neither  of  them  lived  to  see  the  success  of  his  expendi- 
tures, large  and  liberal  as  they  were,  and  reckoned  at  twenty  thousand  pounds 
sterling  for  each  of  them ;  but  they  transmitted  to  disappointed  heirs  a  succes- 
sion of  lawsuits,  crushed  hopes,  and  mortifications.  Yet  they  seem  to  have 
cherished  to  the  last  an  approbation  of  their  unrewarded  efforts,  and  to  have 
encouraged  themselves  in  the  hope  that  posterity  would  still  reap  important 
benefits  from  them.  Let  their  names,  then,  be  had  in  honor,  and  their  exam- 
ple commend  to  their  successors  the  exercise  of  that  public  spirit,  which 
"  seeketh  not  its  o\\*n ;  "  but,  in  the  overruling  providence  of  GtOd,  secures, 
though  perhaps  undesignedly,  in  many  instances,  the  welfare  of  coming 
thousands. 

II.  A  new  scene  opens  in  the  next  period.  It  presents,  indeed,  not  a 
species  of  independent  sovereignty,  with  which,  apparently,  some  had  flattered 
themselves ;  but,  what  is  of  higher  moment  in  the  scale  of  human  enjoyment 
and  progress,  safety,  encouragement,  and  aid.  All  that  Massachusetts  had 
realized,  she  was  ready  to  share ;  and  perhaps  there  is  hardly  to  be  found  in 
history  an  instance,  wherein  political  power  was  exercised  in  a  more  paternal 
manner ;  nor,  a  few  instances  only  excepted,  its  exercise  met  with  more  of 
grateful  recognition  and  willing  subjection.  Often  did  it  occur,  say  the  faithful 
recorders  of  the  time,  that,  while  the  people  had  the  acknowledged  right  to 
elect  into  office  in  their  several  to-\\-ns  such  of  their  fellow-citizens,  or  rather 
fellow-subjects,  as  they  might  prefer,  they  yet  requested  the  court  to  nominate 
and  appoint  them  ;  a  course  of  conduct  which  very  few  of  the  sturdy  republi- 
cans of  succeeding  times  would  be  disposed  to  adopt. 

In  proof  of  the  exercise  of  the  disposition  now  alluded  to,  and  such  a  proof 
as  is  peculiarly  attractive,  when  the  important  and  cherished  seat  of  learning 
at  Cambridge  needed  a  substitute  for  its  old  and  humble  building  of  wood,  con- 
tributions for  re-edifying  the  structure  with  brick  were  liberally  bestowed. 
"  Portsmouth,  which  was  now  become  the  richest "  of  the  New  Hampshire  towns, 
charged  itself  with  '•  sixty  pounds  per  annum  for  seven  years ;  Dover  gave 
thirty- two,  and  Exeter  ten  pounds  for  the  same  laudable  purpose."*   At  a  sub- 

*  Belknap,  I.  p.  64 ;  F.  and  M's  ed.,  also  Hutchinson,  &c. 


12  NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

sequent  period,  wc  sliall  find  this  example  of  a  wise  liberality  to  the  cause  of 
good  learning  followed  by  the  government  of  the  Province,  in  a  highly  valua- 
ble donation  to  the  library  of  Harvard  College,  notv\'ithstanding  its  location  in 
a  neighboring  community. 

These  instances  it  is  delightful  to  record ;  for  they  tended  to  prepare  the 
way  for  that  wider  union  of  interests  which  was,  in  process  of  time,  to  be  de- 
veloped in  all  its  vast  and  important  bearings.  Indeed,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  period  we  are  noAV  reviewing,  a  measure  fraught  with  consequences  inap- 
preciable perhaps  by  those  who  engaged  in  it,  was  adopted  in  the  Confederacy 
of  Colonies  effected  in  1643.  New  Hampshire  shared  in  the  benefits  of  this 
judicious  and  necessary  an-angement,  being  included  in  ^Massachusetts.  The 
other  parties  were  Plymouth,  Connecticut  and  New  Haven.  And  it  cannot  es- 
cape the  notice  of  any  who  attentively  observe  '"  the  leadings  of  Divine  provi- 
dence," that,  in  this  manner,  while  the  present  perils  of  their  great  enterprise 
prompted  these  governments  to  counsels  of  fraternal  union,  they  were  prepar- 
ing gradually  the  way  for  the  final  independence  of  their  country.* 
Probably,  without  a  similar  course,  they  could  hardly  have  sustained  the  hor- 
rors of  the  Indian  war  of  1G75,  and  triumphed  over  Philip  and  his  widely  ex- 
tended confederates. 

It  deserves  mention  here,  that,  although  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts 
had  formed  for  themselves  what  may  be  termed  a  '"  Test  Act,"  and  admitted 
none  to  '  the  freedom  of  their  company,'  and  thus  to  the  bearing  of  office  among 
them,  but  such  as  had  been  received  into  some  one  of  the  churches — a  regula- 
tion made,  as  Hutchinson  informs  us,  by  the  freemen  themselves,  in  1631, 
and  "  continuing  in  force  until  the  dissolution  of  the  government,"  that  is,  while 
they  were  under  their  original  charter — yet,  on  the  admission  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire towns,  no  such  order  was  extended  to  them ;  and  they  elected  their  ofii- 
cers  without  the  restriction.  A  similar  course  was  held  subsequently  with  re- 
gard to  Maine.  Thus  the  way  was  preparing  for  a  wider  tolei'ation,  the  prin- 
ciples of  which  were  in  that  age  but  little  understood  or  felt.t  It  is  not  improb- 
able, also,  that  the  application  of  this  measure  to  the  New  Hampshire  towns 
was  of  influence  in  forming  their  temper  to  a  remoteness  from  the  strict  puri- 
tan features  which  characterized  the  Old  Colony  and  the  Bay  State  in  their 
earliest  times.  And,  indeed,  it  was  not  until  1671,  that  a  Congregational 
Church  was  gathered  in  Portsmouth,  their  capital :  there  having  previously 
been  only  an  Episcopal  Church  in  the  town,  which  Avas  formed  in  1638. 

III.  The  way  had  been  gradually  preparing  for  a  change  of  government. 
The  enemies  of  that  system  of  rule  which  prevailed  in  Massachusetts  had  been, 
from  the  very  first,  busy  in  their  complaints  to  the  crown,  and  had  been  often 
on  the  point  of  succeeding,  but  were  remarkably  prevented.  Thus  in  1635,  an 
effort  had  been  made  to  cause  the  surrender  of  their  much  cherished  charter. 

*  See  this  Confederacy  exhibited  in  an  Address  of  the  late  ex-president  J.  Q.  Adams. 
Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  III.,  Vol.  IX, 

t  In  1665,  Dr.  J.  Mather,  in  a  private  letter,  charges  on  the  Commissioners  of  the  New 
England  colonies  the  declaration,  "  that  they  would  have  liberty  given  to  all  sorts  and  secta 
of  men."— See  Hutchinson,  I.,  p.  208. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  13 

And  at  the  Restoration  of  the  monarchy  these  were  renewed,  after  a  compar- 
tive  quiet,  on  that  subject  at  least,  of  near  twenty  years.  But,  in  the  course  of 
a  short  period,  complaints  having  been  made  by  the  heirs  of  Gorges  and  !Ma- 
sox,  a  commission  was  given  by  Charles  II.  to  Col.  Nichols,  Sir  Robert 
Carr,  and  two  others,  to  investigate  the  state  of  the  colonies,  particularly  in 
regard  to  the  grievance  complained  of,  apply  all  proper  remedies  in  their  pow- 
er, and  make  report.  This  report,  although  it  failed  of  effecting  all  that  was 
intended  against  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  prepared  the  way  for  the 
mission  of  Randolph,  which  resulted  in  his  advice  to  separate  New  Hamp- 
shire from  that  government,  and  to  erect  it  into  a  Province  by  itself. 

Tins  arrangement  Avas  at  length  effected;  and  in  1680,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  John  Cutt,  esquire,  an  aged  and  worthy  citizen  of  Portsmouth, 
wa.s  appointed,  by  royal  authority,  president.  A  council  was  assigned  him, 
a  portion  of  the  members  being  specially  named,  with  permission  to  fill  up  the 
prescribed  number,  at  their  pleasure ;  to  Avhich  was  added  a  house  of  represen- 
tatives to  be  chosen  by  the  people ;  a  form  of  government  Avhich,  in  itself  con- 
sidered, Belknap  characterizes  as  being  "of  as  simple  a  kind  as  the  nature  of 
a  subordinate  government  and  the  libei'ty  of  the  subject  can  admit."*  The 
new  president  died,  however,  before  the  expiration  of  his  year  of  office,  and  was 
greatly  lamented,  as  a  gentleman  of  high  moral  worth  and  unblemished  repu- 
tation. He  was  succeeded  by  his  deputy,  major  Waldron,  who  had  long 
been  distinguished  by  his  public  spirit  and  many  services,  and  was  therefore 
greatly  esteemed. 

The  alteration  of  the  form  of  government  was  not,  however,  allowed  to  pass 
off,  without  another  trait  of  genuine  feeling  which  does  the  parties  great  honor. 
With  consent  of  his  council  and  of  the  General  Assembly,  president  Cutt 
communicated,  as  early  as  March  25th,  1680,  to  the  governor  and  council  of 
Massachusetts,  to  be  made  known  at  their  next  session  to  the  General  Court 
of  the  province,  a  very  grateful  letter ;  "  first  to  acknowledge,"  says  he,  "  your 
great  care  of  us,  and  kindness  towards  us,  while  we  dwelt  under  your  shadow ; 
owning  ourselves  deeply  obliged,  that  you  were  pleased,  upon  our  earnest  re- 
quest and  supplication,  to  take  us  under  your  government,  and  ruled  us  well, 
while  we  so  remained ;  so  that  we  cannot  give  the  least  countenance  to  those 
reflections  that  have  been  cast  upon  you,  as  if  you  had  dealt  injuriously  with 
us."  They  then  profess  as  follows : — "  no  dissatisfaction  with  your  govern- 
ment, but  merely  our  submission  to  Divine  Providence,  to  his  Majesty's  com- 
mands, to  whom  we  owe  our  allegiance,  without  any  seeking  of  our  own,  or 
desires  of  change,  was  the  only  cause  of  our  complying  with  that  present  sepa- 
ration from  you  that  we  are  now  under ;  but  should  have  heartily  rejoiced,  if 
it  had  seemed  good  to  the  Lord  and  his  Majesty  to  have  settled  us  in  the 
same  capacity  as  formerly."  They  add :  "  we  hold  ourselves  bound  to  signify, 
that  it  is  our  most  unfeigned  desire,  that  such  a  mutual  correspondence  be- 
twixt us  may  be  settled,  as  may  tend  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  honor  of  his 
Majesty,  whose  subjects  we  all  are,  and  the  promoting  of  the  common  interest, 

*  Hist,  of  N.  H.,  p.  89,  F.  and  M's  ed. 


14  NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

and  defence  against  tlie  common  enemy,  that  thei-eby  our  hands  may  be 
strengthened,  being  of  ourselves  weak,  and  few  in  nimiber ;  and  that,  if  there 
be  opportunity  to  be  any  ways  serviceable  unto  you,  we  may  sheAV  how  ready 
we  are  thankfully  to  embrace  the  same."  They  close  with  saying,  '•  we  sub- 
scribe, wishing  the  presence  of  God  to  be  with  you,  and  craving  the  benefit  of 
your  prayers  and  endeavors  for  a  blessing  upon  the  heads  and  hearts  of  us  who 
are  separated  from  our  brethren."* 

A  document  like  this  is  well  worthy  of  transmission  to  posterity.  But,  after 
the  year's  service  of  AValter  BAREroOTE,  who  was  one  of  RANDOLrn's 
friends  and  abettors,  the  next  administration,  that  of  Craxfield,  Avas  un- 
pleasant in  the  extreme.  His  self-seeking  spirit,  liis  contempt  for  the  inhabi- 
tants, Avhom  he  found  to  be  not  more  than  four  thousand  in  number,  his  ty- 
rannical exactions,  and  his  persecution  and  oppression  of  the  respected  minis- 
ter of  Portsmouth,  the  reverend  Joshua  Moody,  Avhose  name  will  ever  be 
held  in  aiFectionatc  respect,  alienated  from  him  the  minds  of  the  people,  and 
caused  them  to  rejoice  when,  chagrined  and  disappointed,  he  left  them  for  Bar- 
badoes. 

We  have  not  room,  in  this  department  of  the  present  work,  to  enter  into  par- 
ticulars of  the  history  of  so  many  changes  as  occurred  in  the  administration  of 
government,  further  than  to  say,  that  New  Hampshire  Avas  again  united  with 
Massachusetts  under  the  presidency  of  Joseph  Dudley  in  1686;  also  under 
that  of  Andros  in  1687,  and  of  Bradstreet  in  1689.  From  1692,  hoAvever, 
the  separate  government  obtained  again,  under  Usher,  Partridge  and  Al 
LENT  for  ten  years ;  Avhen  Dudley  Avas  once  more  appointed  goA'ernor,  haA'ing 
Massachusetts  also  under  his  charge.  The  two  governments  Avere  thus  again 
united,  and  so  continued  from  1702  to  1741,  sharing  in  each  other's  snnpa- 
thies,  and  in  weal  or  wo.  In  the  last  named  year,  Benning  Wentavorth,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  Avas  appointed  governor,  and  succeeded  in  that 
oflEice  by  his  nephew,  John  Wextavorth,  in  1767,  Avhose  term  of  service  closed 
but  with  the  Revolution. 

IV.  The  Revolution  produced,  of  course,  its  oAvn  heroes,  as  every  period  of 
such  excitement  must.  But  there  had  been  a  long  training  of  them,  unknow- 
ingly, as  throughout  our  country.  Ncav  Hampshire  furnished  her  full  quota 
of  these,  several  of  them  reared  in  the  hardships  of  Indian  warfare,  or  in  the 
laborious  occupations  of  husbandry ;  and  not  a  fcAV  Avere  experienced  in  those 
scenes  of  conflict  betAA-cen  Britain  and  France,  AA'hich  ended  in  the  reduction 
of  Canada.  A  few  years  only  after  that  CA'cnt,  the  discussion  of  stirring  ques- 
tions betAveen  the  colonies  and  the  mother-country  called  forth  the  best  talents. 
The  right  of  Parliament  to  tax,  AAnthout  the  privilege  of  representation  A'ested 
in  the  subject,  and  thence  Avithout  his  consent,  Avas  boldly  denied.  The  stamp 
act  excited  alarm,  and  Avas  resisted.  Feudal  institutions  AA^ere  revieAA-ed,  in  an 
essay  by  the  elder  Adams  in  1765,  and  the  canon  law  iuA-estigated ;  and,  in 
short,  the  doctrines  of  civil  freedom  began  to  engage  the  public  mind,  long  be- 
fore the  actual  ixdependekce  of  the  country  was  seriously  contemplated. 

*  See  the  Avhole  paper  in  Hutchinson.  I.  295,  6. 


NEW   HASIPSUIRE.  15 

The  country  too  had  gained  strength  and  wealth.  Of  hoth  these  New  Hamp- 
shire partook.  Ship  building,  from  the  facility  of  obtaining  every  kind  of  lum- 
ber, flourished  on  her  scanty  sea  board.  A^essels  of  war  had  been  for  many 
years  constructed  within  the  waters  of  Pascataqua,  which  form  almost  her  only 
harbors  from  the  sea ;  and  her  merchants  were  known  abroad,  and  their  con- 
nexions extensive  and  profitable  at  home. 

Besides  this,  the  increase  of  population  in  the  country  towns  became  observ- 
able. They  had  been  gradually  settling,  after  the  disputes  with  the  heirs  of 
Mason  were  in  good  degree  adjusted ;  and  more  especially  after  the  purchase 
made  of  their  claim  by  a  company  of  New  Hampshire  gentlemen  in  1746, 
which  had  introduced  an  increase  of  agricultui-al  products,  by  encouraging  a 
more  general  acquisition  of  farms,  the  cultivation  of  which  had  been  found  the 
true  source  of  wealth  and  general  prosperity. 

In  addition,  a  ncAv  interest  was  given  to  the  great  subject  of  Education. 
We  have  before  alluded  to  the  regard  shown  to  Harvard  College.  At  the  de- 
struction by  fire  of  its  library  in  1764,  under  the  government  of  Bexxixg 
Wextavortii,  a  generous  donation  was  made,  in  order  to  replace  it.*  But, 
under  the  succeeding  administration  of  his  nephew,  a  magistrate  distinguished 
for  learning,  good  judgment  and  public  spirit,  and  therefore  deservedly  popu- 
lar, the  foundation  was  effected  of  an  University  within  the  State  itself.  The 
application  for  public  aid  by  the  reverend  Dr.  AYheelock,  and  his  offer  of  lo- 
cating his  institution  where  the  greatest  encouragement  might  be  had,  elicited 
such  returns  abroad,  and  especially  such  grants  of  land  from  the  General  As- 
sembly, as  fixed  Dartmouth  College  at  Hanover,  in  the  county  of  Grafton,  by 
royal  charter  13th  ])ccember,  1769.  The  rank  of  this  institution  is  high,  among 
the  colleges  of  New  England,  and  the  best  literary  establishments  of  the  Union. 

To  recount  the  catalogue  of  worthies,  whose  names  impart  a  lustre  to  their 
native  State,  and  give  the  history  of  their  lives,  pleasing  although  it  would  be, 
cannot  within  the  limits  of  this  introductory  sketch  be  admitted.  The  memo- 
ries of  Stark,  and  Sullivan,  and  of  Pepperell  at  an  earlier  period,  who 
should  be  reckoned,  probably,  to  New  Hampshire,  though  locally  of  Maine,  of 
Dearborn,  and  other  military  men,  will  not  be  suffered  to  perish.  Those  of 
Mesiiecii  Weare,  the  first  president  of  the  State,  after  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  with  Great  Britain ;  and  the  governors,  Langdon,  Gilman,  Smith 
and  Plumer,  not  to  mention  others  of  merit  who  have  honorably  filled  the 
chair  of  State ;  of  Mason,  and  of  AVebster,  the  former  of  whom  has  recently 
been  lamented  as  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first  of  the  lawyers  of  New  England, 
and  the  latter  happily  living,  as  a  glory  of  his  birth  place,  the  able  and  success- 

*  "  The  Province  of  New  Hampshire  not  having  as  yet  any  College  of  its  own  to  divert 
its  interest  from  Harvard  College,  hitherto  the  Alma  Mater  of  her  educated  men  as  well  as 
those  of  Massachusetts,  the  General  Assembly  of  that  province,  by  the  recommendation  of 
Gov.  Benning  Wcntwoith,  who  had  been  applied  to  by  the  corporation  on  the  subject,  vo- 
ted £300  starling  for  the  purpose  of  purcha-ing  books  for  the  library.  A  catalogue  was  sent 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  East  Apthorp,  then  in  England  ;  and  by  his  care  books  to  the  number  of 
743  volumes,  enough  to  fill  three-quarters  of  an  alcove,  were  purchased  with  that  sum."— 
See  Peirce's  Hist,  of  Harvard  University,  edited  by  the  late  Hon.  J.  Pickering,  Esq. 


16  NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

ful  expounder  and  defender  of  the  constitution — ■v\dll  pass  do-mi  to  posterity 
"with  still  increasing  esteem,  and  do  honor  to  New  Hampshire.  They  will  ex- 
cite the  virtuous  emulation  of  her  aspiring  youth,  and  tend  to  guide  their  steps 
to  eminence. 

Nor  should  tJie  religious  interests  of  the  State  be  overlooked.  These  have 
been  superintended  by  a  ministry  consisting  of,  apparently,  as  sound  and  faith- 
ful men,  as  can  be  found  laboring  together  in  any  State  of  our  Union,  among 
an  equal  population.  A  recent  review  of  their  history  has  been  taken ;  and  its 
well  informed  author,  addressing  "  the  General  Association,"  a  body  which 
dates  its  origin  in  1747,  declares:  "  Of  686,  who  from  the  first  have  filled  the 
office  of  pastors  in  our  churches,  but  about  150  now  survive.  All  settled  pre- 
vious to  1780  are  stan-ed  on  the  register  of  their  names.  Of  those  settled  be- 
tween 1780  and  1800,  we  can  find  but  eight  among  the  living,  and  not  one  of 
them  in  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry.  But  though  dead  they  yet  speak. 
Some  of  them  experienced  great  trials  and  hardships  for  Christ's  sake, — en- 
during perils  in  the  wilderness  and  perils  among  savages.  But  they  were 
strong  in  faith,  constant  in  labors,  enduring  unto  the  end.  Never,  probably, 
has  there  existed,"  he  adds,  "  through  a  period  of  more  than  tM'o  centuries,  a 
succession  of  one  class  of  ministers,  more  imited  in  sentiment,  more  harmonious 
in  practice,  more  consistent  in  example,  more  free  from  ambition  and  envy, 
and  the  strife  of  controversy,  more  self-denying,  more  useful  as  citizens,  and 
more  respected  in  their  several  fields  of  labor,  than  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  ministers  of  New  Hampshire.  A  few,  indeed,  though  very  few, 
have  proved  themselves  unworthy  of  their  calling  and  office.  Some  have  re- 
nounced their  first  faith,  but  the  great  body  of  them  have  stood  firm  amid 
changes,  and  were  found  faithful  unto  death."* 

The  writer  then  notices  the  closing  scenes  of  the  lives  of  several  of  the  pas- 
tors, as  evidences  of  their  sincerity  and  faithfulness  ;  and  especially  commemo- 
rates Moody  of  Portsmouth,  McGregor  of  Londonderry,  Dr.  McClixtock 
of  Greenland,  Hidden  of  Tamworth,  Dr.  Harris  of  Dunbarton,  and  Dr. 
Church  of  Pelham,  among  those  Avho  have  given  their  d}-ing  testimonies  to 
"the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus."  Many  other  names  are  precious  to  the  churches 
and  to  surviving  friends ;  and  that  such  a  ministry,  still  more  and  more  enrich- 
ed with  Divine  grace,  may  be  perpetuated  through  the  coming  generations, 
every  Christian  patriot  must  desii-e  ;  since  it  is  only  through  the  prevalence  of 
the  religion  of  the  Gospel  that  any  community  can  tnily  prosper.  For  the 
Christian  ministry  is  the  institution  of  God  for  human  welfare.  And  its  use- 
fulness is  found  not  merely  in  reference  to  eternity  but  the  present  life  also. 
Says  the  Commissioner  of  Common  Schools,  in  his  last  Eeport  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  New  Hampshire :  "  the  clergymen  of  the  various  to"mis  that  I  havo 
visited  deserve  especial  notice,  for  the  lively  interest  they  cherish  in  this  move- 
ment [to  improve  the  schools],  for  the  valuable  assistance  they  rendered  me  in 
my  visits,  and  for  the  controlling  influence  which  they  exert  on  the  minds  of 
the  people,  in  favor  of  general  intelligence  and  sound  learning."! 

*  Rev.  Mr,  Bouton'd  Hist.  Hiscourse,  Aug.  22,  1848,  p.  24.      f  ^ee  Report  for  1848,  p.  4. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  17 

Although  allusion  has  thus  been  made  to  the  important  subject  of  training  the 
youth  of  the  State,  and  to  the  promotion  of  '"  sound  learning ;"  it  yet  seems 
proper  to  insert  in  this  place  a  general  view  of  it,  with  which  the  compiler  of 
this  work  has  been  very  obligingly  favored  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cogswell,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gilmanton.  It  is  inserted  entire,  under 
the  head  of 

"  Education  ix  Neav  IL\.mpshire.  The  common  school  system  of  educa- 
tion," observes  the  Doctor,  "  so  generally  prevalent  in  New  England,  was  very 
early  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire.  In  this  respect,  the  State 
was  probably  as  observant  of  duty  as  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

"  The  first  law  enacted  for  the  establishment  of  what  are  tcnned  '  town 
schools '  was  passed  in  1 647  by  the  Genei-al  Court  of  Massachusetts.  The 
preamble  and  law  are  as  follows :  '  It  being  one  chiefe  project  of  that  old  de- 
luder,  Sathan,  to  keep  men  from  the  knowledge  of  Scriptures,  as  in  former 
times,  keeping  them  in  an  unknowne  tongue,  so  in  these  latter  times,  by  per- 
suading them  from  the  use  of  tongues,  so  that  at  least,  the  true  sence  and 
meaning  of  the  original  might  be  clouded  with  false  glosses,  of  saint  seeming 
deceivers ;  and  that  learning  may  not  bee  buried  in  the  grave  of  our  forefathers 
in  church  and  commonwealth,  the  Lord  assisting  our  endeavors : 

"  '  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  Coiirte  and  authority  thereof,  That  every  town- 
shipp  within  this  jurisdiction,  after  that  the  Lord  hath  increased  them  to  the 
number  of  fifty  hows-holders,  shall  then  forthwith  appoint  one  within  theire 
towne,  to  teach  all  such  children  as  shall  resorte  to  hhn,  to  write  and  read ; 
whose  wages  shall  be  paid  either  by  the  parents  or  masters  of  such  children,  or 
by  the  inhabitants  in  generall,  by  way  of  supplye,  as  the  major  parte  of  those 
who  order  the  prudentials  of  the  towne  shall  appointe ;  provided  that  those 
who  send  theire  children,  bee  not  oppressed  by  paying  much  more  than  they 
can  have  them  taught  for  in  other  townes.' 

"  This  law  extended  to  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire,  as  the  union  be- 
tween this  State  and  Massachusetts  took  place  in  1641.  The  ultimate  object 
to  be  obtained  by  our  Puritan  ancestors  in  these  schools  was,  that  their  chil- 
dren might  be  enabled  to  read  and  understand  for  themselves.  They  were 
zealous  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Protestant  principle  of  private  judgment  in 
matters  of  religious  faith  and  practice. 

"  The  first  law  passed  by  New  Hampshire,  after  it  became  a  province,  was 
enacted  in  1693.  amid  the  terrors  and  distresses  of  the  sanguinary  war  with  the 
Indians  and  the  French,  and  shows  how  regardful  of  education  the  people  at 
that  time  were.  The  law  runs  thus  :  it  is  '  enacted  and  ordained,  that  for  the 
building  and  repairing  of  meeting-houses,  ministers'  houses,  school  houses,  and 
allowing  a  salary  to  a  school  master  in  each  town  within  this  province,  the  se- 
lectmen in  the  respective  towns  shall  raise  money  by  an  equal  rate  and  assess- 
ment upon  the  inhabitants,  and  every  town  Avithin  this  province  (Dover  only 
■'  excepted  during  the  war)  shall,  from  and  after  the  publication  hereof,  provide 
a  school  master  for  the  supply  of  the  tOAvn  on  penalty  of  ten  pounds  ;  and  for 

2* 


18  NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

neglect  thereof,  to  be  paid,  one  half  to  their  Majesties,  and  the  other  half  to  the 
poor  of  the  town.' 

"In  1719,  a  law  was  passed  which  ordained,  that  every  town  having  fifty 
householders  or  upwards,  shall  be  constantly  provided  Avith  a  school  master  to 
teach  children  and  youth  to  read  and  write. 

"In  1783,  the  voice  of  New  Hampshire  on  the  subject  of  education  was  ex- 
pressed in  language  worthy  of  a  free  and  sovereign  State,  and  contained  in  the 
constitution  of  government  then  voluntarily  adopted.  It  is  as  follows :  '  Know- 
ledge and  learning,  generally  diffused  through  a  community,  being  essential  to 
the  preservation  of  a  free  government,  and  spreading  the  opportunities  and  ad- 
vantages of  education,  through  the  various  parts  of  the  country,  being  highly 
conducive  to  promote  this  end ;  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  legislators  and  mag- 
istrates, in  all  future  periods  of  this  government,  to  cherish  the  interests  of  lit- 
erature and  the  sciences,  and  all  seminaries  and  public  schools,  to  encourage 
private  and  public  institutions,  rewards  and  immunities  for  the  promotion  of 
sciences  and  natural  history i' 

"  Since  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  the  acts  of  the  government  in  favor 
of  common  schools  have  been  liberal.  They  are  now  by  law  established 
throughout  the  State,  and  every  child  and  youth  may  enjoy  the  benefits  of 
education  proffered  by  them.  For  their  support,  by  a  law  of  the  State  about 
$100,000  is  annually  raised  by  a  tax  upon  the  people.*  The  litei-ary  fund 
amounting  to  $64,000  fonned  by  a  tax  of  one  half  per  cent,  on  the  capital  of 
the  banks,  has  been  distributed  to  the  diff'erent  to'^Tis.  The  proceeds  of  this 
fund,  and  also  an  annual  income  of  about  §10,000  derived  from  a  tax  on  banks, 
are  appropriated  to  aid  in  support  of  schools,  besides  what  is  raised  by  the  seve- 
ral districts  themselves. 

"  There  are,  according  to  the  last  census  of  the  United  States,  2,127  common 
schools  and  83,632  scholars  attending  them,  being  1  in  every  3  40-100  of  the 
whole  population  of  the  State,  and  being  a  greater  number,  in  proportion  to 
the  inhabitants,  than  is  furnished  from  any  other  State  in  the  Union,  with  but 
one  exception.  There  are  only  942  individuals  in  the  State  over  20  years  of 
age  who  can  neither  read  nor  write,  being  only  1  to  307  of  the  population,  and 
being  a  less  number  than  in  any  other  State,  one  only  excepted. 

"  The  number  of  academies  and  high  schools  in  the  State  is  about  70,  being 
1  to  eveiy  4,000  inhabitants.  The  number  of  students  attending  them  is 
5,799,  being  on  an  average  more  than  80  to  an  institution,  and  1  to  about  every 
50  of  the  inhabitants.  This  intermediate  class  of  institutions  between  common 
schools  and  colleges  is  generally  in  a  floui-ishing  condition.  Most  of  them  are 
private  corporations  for  public  pui-poses,  and  need  more  funds  for  their  sup- 
port, that  they  may  accomplish  with  greater  energy  the  work  devolving  upon 
them. 

"  Phillips  Academy^  Exeter.  This  is  the  oldest  and  best  endowed  academy 
in  the  State.    It  was  founded  by  Hon.  John  Phillips,  LL.  D.,  and  was  in- 

*  Whole  amount  raised  in  1848,  $147,744,82.— See  Heport  cited  above,  p.  43. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  19 

coiijorated,  April  3,  1781.  It  has  $70,000  in  funds,  a  library  of  600  or  700  vol- 
umes, and  a  valuable  philosophical  apparatus.  More  students  probablv  have 
been  prepared  for  college  at  this  academy  than  at  any  other  in  the  United 
States.     About  2,.500  individuals  have  been  members  oT  it. 

'•  The  next  oldest  academies  are  the  following,  viz.  New  Ipswich,  incoi-porated 
in  1789;  Chesterfield,  incorporated  in  1790;  Atkinson,  incorporated  in  1791 ; 
Gilmanton  and  Haverhill,  incorporated  in  1794.  Kimball  Union  Academy, 
established  at  Plainfield  in  1813,  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  and  many 
of  its  students  are  fitting  for  college.  It  has  funds  to  tlie  amount  of  840,000, 
principally  the  donation  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Kimhall,  the  income  of  which 
is  devoted  to  the  assistance  of  i)ious,  indigent  young  men  preparing  for  the 
ministry.  Gilmanton  Academy  at  the  present  time  is  in  a  prosperous  state. 
Its  productive  funds  are  about  Si  1,000,  and  its  number  of  pupils  was  never 
greater  than  now.  The  Academy  located  at  New  Hampton,  and  incorporated 
in  1821,  has  a  large  number  of  students,  including  the  male  and  female  depart- 
ments. Pinkerton  Academy,  at  Deny,  incorporated  in  1814,  has  funds  to  a 
considerable  amount,  and  is  a  veiy  valuable  institution. 

^•Dartmouth  College .  named  after  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  an  early  benefactor, 
is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  United  States,  and  is  situated  in  the 
south-west  part  of  Hanover,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  Connecticut  Kiver,  on  a 
beautiful  and  extensive  plain,  where  there  is  a  handsome  -s-illage.  It  was 
founded  by  the  Kev.  Eleazar  Wheelock,  D.  D.,  and  chartered  by  royal 
grant,  in  1769.  The  funds,  Avliich  are  respectable,  were  obtained  by  donations 
from  individuals,  and  by  grants  from  the  legislatures  of  New  Hampshire  and 
VeiTTiont.  The  buildings  are  good,  and  six  in  number — all  of  them  of  brick, 
except  one,  and  most  of  them  bearing  nanaes  of  benefactors.  The  trustees 
of  the  institution  arc  twelve  in  number,  the  Governor  of  the  State  being  one, 
ea:  oficio.  The  executive  government  is  entrusted  to  a  president,  fourteen 
professors,  two  tutors,  and  one  teacher.  The  college  libraries  contain  about 
17,000  volumes.  The  Institution  has  a  good  pliilosophical,  mathematical, 
astronomical,  and  cliemical  apparatus,  a  A'ery  good  anatomical  museum,  an 
extensive  and  veiy  valuable  mineralogical  cabinet,  most  of  it  a  donation  from 
the  late  Frederic  Hall,  LL.  D..  and  some  valuable  paintings.  The  terms 
of  admission  and  course  of  instructioTi  are  the  same  as  at  the  best  colleges  in 
the  country-  The  number  of  alumni  of  the  college  is  more  than  3.000. 
The  number  of  under  graduates  is  about  300.  The  medical  school  connected 
with  the  college  was  established  in  1797,  and  has  ever  been  held  in  high 
repute.  It  has  now  five  professors,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The 
number  of  graduates  at  the  school  is  over  700 ;  a  larger  number  than  have 
graduated  at  any  other  medical  institution  in  New  England.  The  medical 
lectures  commence  early  in  the  autumn.  There  is  a  well  endowed  grammar 
school  connected  with  the  college.  Great  improvements  are  about  being  made 
to  the  library,  and  to  the  philosophical,  mathematical,  and  chemical  appara- 
tus. 


20  NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

"  Succession  of  Presidents, 

^ccessus.  ^f^- 

1769.  Rev.  Eleazar  Wheelock,  I).  D.,  founder,       .        .        .  1779. 

1779.  Hon.  John  Wheelock,  LL.  D.  .        .        .        .        •  1815. 

1815.  Rev.  Francis  Brown,  D.  D 1820. 

1820.  Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  D.  D 1821. 

1822.  Rev.  Bennet  Tyler,  D.  D 1828. 

1828.  Rev.  Nathan  Lord,  D.  D. 

"  Gilmanton  Theological  Seminary  is  located  in  the  centi-e  of  the  State,  and 
was  established  in  1835,  and  is  founded  upon  the  charter  of  Gilmanton  Acad- 
emy, as  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  Mass.,  is  upon  the  charter  of 
Phillips  Academy  in  that  place.  The  Academy  was  incoi-porated  in  1794' 
and  that  and  the  Seminary  are  under  the  same  board  of  trustees,  ten  in 
number.  The  terms  of  admission  and  course  of  study  at  the  Seminary  are 
like  those  of  the  other  theological  institutions  in  the  country.  The  anniver- 
sary is  on  the  second  Thursday  in  July.  The  library'  contains  more  than 
3.000  volumes,  among  which  are  many  rare  and  important  works.  It  has  also 
a  museum  of  considerable  magnitude.  The  regular  term  of  study  occupies 
three  years.  Nearly  ever  since  the  Seminary  was  established,  it  has  had  three 
professors.  It  now  has,  in  addition,  a  president.  Between  fifty  and  sixty 
young  gentlemen  have  already  completed  their  studies,  and  entered  the  univer- 
sity.    The  present  number  of  students  is  between  twenty  and  thirty.* 

='  The  Theological  Institution  at  New  Hampton  is  a  branch  of  the  Academy  in 
that  place,  both  together  bearing  the  incorporate  name  of  Academical  and 
Theological  Institution,  which  was  given  it  in  1826.  The  Academy  was  at 
first  incorporated  in  1821,  by  the  name  of  'Proprietors  of  New  Hampton 
Academy.'  The  Theological  Department,  as  a  distinct  branch,  did  not  go 
into  fuU  operation  until  1833,  at  which  time  there  were  seventeen  students ; 
the  number  since  has  increased  to  about  thirty.  The  libraiy  consists  of  about 
600  volimies.  This  institution  is,  by  charter,  Avholly  under  the  control  of  the 
Baptist  denomination. 

'•  The  New  Hampshire  Historical  Societt/  was  fonned  in  1823,  and  has  been 
the  third  most  efficient  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States.  It  has 
published  five  octavo  volumes  of  Historical  Collections.  Its  library  contains 
between  1.000  and  2,000  volumes,  besides  some  thousands  of  pamphlets.  Its 
location  is  in  Concord. 

"  The  Noi-thern  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  was  established  June  24,  1841, 
at  Hanover,  where  its  centre  of  operations  is.  It  has  published  two  annual 
reports,  and  has  in  contemplation  the  publication  of  a  quarterly  periodical. 
Its  library  already  amounts  to  about  1,400  volumes,  and  more  than  4,000 
pamphlets. 

"  The  New  Hampshire  Medical  Society  was  incorporated  Februaiy  11,  1791, 

*  This  was  four  years  ago.    Changes  have  occurred  since. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  21 

It  has  a  library  of  considerable  value,  which  is  divided,-  and  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  librarians  of  the  district  societies.  This  society  has  an  inti- 
mate connection  with  the  medical  school  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  has  had  a 
most  happy  influence  upon  the  gentlemen  of  the  Faculty  throughout  the 
State." 

Most  of  the  religious  denomiiiations,  which  are  found  in  the  country  at  large, 
appear  in  New  Hampshire,  as  might  be  anticipated  from  the  freedom  of  religious 
inquiry  and  profession.  In  numbers,  the  Baptist  denomination  ranks  next  to  the 
Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians.  But  the  Episcopal  branch  of  the  church  of 
Christ  Avas  early  found  in  the  Colony,  and  was  gi-eatly  encouraged  by  several 
of  the  royal  governors.  The  Methodists  are  numerous,  and  there  are  commu- 
nities of  Friends^  or  Quakers.  But  it  is  believed,  that  the  many  important 
interests  of  society,  in  which  good  citizens  may  unite  without  infringing  on  a 
good  conscience,  are  tending  to  soften  the  asperities  of  religious  controversy, 
and  to  bring  the  community  more  and  more  into  a  state  of  mutual  forbearance 
if  not  of  mutual  esteem.  Thus,  bible  societies,  and  societies  for  the  promotion 
of  temperance,  the  associations  which  spring  out  of  the  great  cause  of  educa- 
tion, and  those  which  relate  to  agriculture,  mechanic  arts,  general  science,  and 
mutual  improvement  in  knowledge,  especially  by  lectures  and  the  founding 
and  use  of  social  libraries,  all  tend  to  occupy  healthily  the  powers  of  the  mind, 
and  produce  or  promote  that  condition  of  civilization  which  becomes  a  free, 
vigorous,  moral,  and  Christian  State. 

That  such  advances  are  really  making  is  eiddent  to  the  observer.  They 
have,  indeed,  been  gradual,  but  actual.  The  early  colonists  were  often  almost 
disheartened  at  the  prospect  before  them,  and  complained  of  the  difficulty  of 
procuring  a  subsistence.  It  is  well  remarked  by  Dr.  Belknap,  that  they  too 
much  neglected  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  whose  productiveness  they  had  not 
properly  tested,  while  their  chief  attention  was  given  to  the  fishery,  the  limiber 
trade,  and  the  procui-ing  of  furs.  Many  temptations,  too,  were  thrown  in  their 
way,  as  occurred  to  other  settlers  in  New  England,  by  invitations  to  settle  else- 
where. Lord  Sate  and  Sele  urged  the  colonists  to  people  Barbadoes,  where 
he  possessed  an  interest.  Cromwell,  at  a  subsequent  period,  invited  the 
tried  and  faithful  Puritans  to  settle  in  Ireland,  where  the  province  of  Ulster 
had  long  been  dcA'astated,  and  stood  in  need  of  inhabitants ;  or  to  enter  on 
his  new  conquest  of  Jamaica,  and  become  West  India  planters.  Few,  com- 
paratively, however,  were  prevailed  on  to  go  :  and  those  who  staid  became 
more  and  more  accustomed  to  the  coimtry,  and  attached  to  it. 

And  now,  what  is  the  result  ?  A  healthy,  active,  intelligent,  and  indus- 
trious population  is  found,  even  among  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  "  The 
Granite  State,"  not  unaptly  characterized  as  the  Switzerland  of  America. 
They  subdue  the  soil,  and  it  yields  its  treasures  ;  and  if  not  in  so  great  abun- 
dance of  Cereal  grains,  at  least  in  valuable  pasture — the  grazing  interest  being 
very  considerable  throughout  the  State.  Yet  the  improvements  of  modem 
agriculture  are  noticed  and  adopted.  In  islands  of  the  beautiful  Winnipiseo- 
gee — a  favorable  location,  it  must  be  confessed — 136  bushels  of  Indian  com 


22  NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

have  been  raised  on  the  acre !  *  One  would  suppose  that  the  fertility  of  the 
western  prairie  could  offer  little  temptation  to  the  former  who  might  produce 
such  a  crop,  and  remain  among  his  own  paternal  iields  ;  especially  when  the 
contrast  is  made  between  the  healthiness  of  a  northern  climate,  in  a  high, 
hilly  region,  pui-e  water  flowing  plentifully,  all  facilities  for  happily  training  a 
femilv ;  and  a  country  where,  indeed,  labor  is  comparatively  light,  land  cheap, 
and  winters  lose  much  of  their  rigor  and  length ;  but  fever  and  ague  sap  the 
constitution,  and  send  back  the  adventurer  a  lean,  sallow  invalid  for  life,  or 
lay  him  prematurely  in  the  grave. 

Of  recent  vears.  the  legislature  has,  in  its  wisdom,  encouraged  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  mineral  treasures  of  New  Hampshire.  The  employment  of  Dr. 
C  T.  Jackson  for  this  purpose  has  resulted  in  the  discovery,  that  this  State  is 
richer  in  this  respect  than  any  of  its  sisters.  We  do  not  say  that^it  has  the 
gold  of  California-as,  happily  for  its  inhabitants,  it  has  not-nor  that  ot 
North  Carolina  or  Georgia;  but  the  variety  of  its  minerals  is  great,  and  the 
deposits  of  several  of  the  most  useful,  if  not  most  costly  ores,  are  not  infre- 
quent. Grant  that  it  abounds  in  granite  and  in  ice.  It  has  also  a  hardy  and 
sagacious  population,  which  can  make  that  ice  and  granite  articles  of  prohtable 

commerce.  .        ,  .  ^       .      . .      ,  ...   . 

The  increase  of  manufacturing  establishments,  m  which  scientific  skill  is 
talked  to  mould  the  raw  material  into  useful  fabrics  and  forms,  renders  the 
possession  of  water  power  a  great  desideratum.  In  few  spaces  of  equal  ex- 
tent it  is  believed,  does  there  exist  a  greater  water  power  than  in  this  State. 
And  human  ingenuity  will  not  be  backward  in  turning  this  encouraging  cir- 
cumstance to  profit.  Statistics  of  several  establishments  will  be  found  m 
the  following  work,  under  the  heads  of  their  respective  localities. 

Of  all  the  features  of  the  State,  the  White  Mountains  must  be  regarded  as 
not  only  the  most  prominent,  but  the  most  interesting.  Forming  the  highest 
land  in'Xorth  America,  east  of  the  rocky  mountains  and  the  Andes,  they  have 
become  a  fovorite  resort  of  the  tourist,  who  is  in  search  either  of  health  or 
pleasure  Dr.  Belknap  supposed  that  the  highest  peak  would  be  found  to 
be,  when  accurately  measured-which  in  his  day  it  had  not  been-over  10,000 
feet  hio-h  But  since  that  period  it  has  been  satisfactorily  ascertained,  that  it 
falls  iort  of  7,000.  The  ascent,  perilous  as  it  has  been  accounted,  is  often 
effected,  and  generallv  repavs  the  task.  But  the  remembrance  of  those  dread- 
ful avalanches,  which,  in  one  melancholy  instance  at  least,!  produced  havoc, 
and  ruin,  and  loss  of  life,  will  long  impress  the  imagination  seriously,  and  give 
solemnitv  to  the  Avild  solitudes  of  the  mountains.  ,  ,.    .     .    ^    ,  ,, 

The  eno-ineer  will  think  and  calculate  otherAvise.  And  his  is,  m  fact,  the 
prevailino-  view  now  taken  of  heights  of  land  and  bodies  of  water.  The 
latter,  which  abound  in  the  region  of  the  White  Mountains,  not  only  give  ani- 
mation to  a  landscape,  and  irrigate  for  the  agriculturist  or  cattle-breeder  the 
hinds  in  their  vicinage,  l)ut,  directed  by  the  hand  of  science,  and  duly  restramed 

*  See  Dr.  Jack.-<on^s  Agricultural  Report. 

t  The  destruction  of  Mr.  mileifs  abode  and  family. 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  23 

and  managed,  facilitate  human  labor,  and  lay  a  foundation  for  national  wealth. 
Tor  if,  as  one  of  this  profession*  argued,  "  rivers  were  made  to  feed  navigable 
canals,"  the  elevations  where  are  found  the  sources  of  the  Androscoggin.  Saco, 
Merrimac,  Connecticut,  and  many  other  streams,  on  whose  banks  and  by  Avhose 
waterfalls  villages  of  manufacturers  must  rise,  will  not  be  contemplated  by  the 
practical  improver  without  deep  interest. 

It  is  a  great  happiness,  as  well  as  honor,  for  the  State,  that  its  histor}^  has 
been  so  ably  and  respectably  MTitten,  and  at  so  early  a  period  in  the  develop- 
ment of  its  resources.  Dr.  Belkxap  was  eminently  calculated  to  accomplish 
the  work  he  undertook.  It  required  research  and  patient  labor ;  but  he  could 
labor  and  persevere,  though  under  great  embarrassment  and  ditficulty,  un- 
known, probably,  by  his  successors  in  the  ministr}^,  but  requiring  in  his  day  all 
fortitude  and  faith.  His  education  had,  providentially,  fitted  him  for  his  task. 
Brought  up  under  the  eye  of  the  New  England  historian,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prixce. 
whose  spirit  of  accurate  and  industrious  inquirv'  is  celebrated,  he  had  the 
advantage  of  consulting  his  collections,  and  imbibed  a  taste  for  the  employ- 
ment. Pkixce  followed  Mather,  and  [Mather  drew  from  Hubbard,  and 
he  from  WixTHROP  and  Wixslow.  Belknap  completes  the  chain  to  our 
ovm  times ;  and  his  history  is  quoted  with  that  respect  and  confidence  which 
honor  his  name,  still  further  honored  by  the  State  in  being  attached  to  a  lately 
constituted  county. 

Deficiencies  in  his  work  are,  indeed,  noticed,  particularly  in  articles  of 
natural  history  and  natural  philosophy.  But,  with  the  progress  in  science 
that  has  since  been  made,  and  the  facilities  for  observation  which  have  since 
been  secured,  the  supply  of  these  deficiencies  will  be  easy.  Nor  can  it  be  so 
difiicult  as  it  was  originally  to  secure  the  evanescent  tradition  of  events.  The 
late  and  lamented  John  Farmer,  Esq.,  and  his  living  associate,!  as  weU 
as  other  members  of  the  Historical  Society,  have  done  much  to  perpetuate 
New  Hampshire  history,  whether  of  the  State  or  of  smaller  communities,  or  of 
individual  men. 

The  State  is  restricted  on  the  sea-coa^t,  and  has  but  one  avenue  to  the  ocean. 
The  Piscataqua  presents  for  future  improvement  advantages,  that  a  perspica- 
cious and  thriving  people  will  not  be  long  in  ascertaining  and  employing.  The 
railroad  from  Portsmouth  to  Concord,  opening  an  easy  access  to  the  great 
North  and  West,  will  give  to  the  beautiful  harbor  of  Portsmouth  a  foreign  and 
domestic  commerce  hitherto  unknown. 

Though  restricted  on  the  sea  coast,  and  in  this  view  not  to  be  compared 
With  her  sister  States  of  New  England,  the  State  of  Ncav  Hampshire  is  yet 
second  among  them  in  extent  of  territory.  That  it  may  be  filled  with  a  pros- 
perous, happy,  exemplary  population,  who  shall  enjoy  and  improve  the  rich 
privileges  of  Christian  freemen,  which,  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  now 
form  their  favored  lot,  and  transmit  them  unimpaired  to  the  latest  posterity,  is 
the  writer's  fervent  wish  and  prayer. 

*  Brinley,  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater's  surveyor. 

t  J.  B.  Moore,  now  Librarian  of  the  N.  Y.  Hist.  Soc. 


BOUNDARIES,  GOVERNMENT,  JUDICIARY,  &c. 


Boundaries. — This  State  is  bounded  north  by  Eastern  Canada,  east  by 
Maine,  south-east  by  the  Atlantic  and  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  south  by 
Massachusetts,  and  west  and  noith-west  by  Vermont.  Situated  between  42° 
40'  and  45°  16'  north  latitude,  and  72°  27'  and  70°  3.5'  west  longitude.  Its 
length  is  168,  and  its  greatest  breadth  about  90  miles,  and  it  comprises  an  area 
of  about  7,987  square  miles. 

First  Settlers. — The  first  discovery  of  New  Hampshire  w^as  in  1614,  and 
the  first  settlements  made  by  Europeans  Avere  at  Dover  and  Portsmouth,  in 
1623;  only  three  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth. — See 
Introductiori. 

GovERXMENT. — The  executive  power  is  vested  in  a  Governor  and  five 
Counsellors,  chosen  annually  by  the  people.  The  legislature  consists  of  the 
Senate,  comprising  twelve  members,  chosen  in  twelve  districts,  and  the  House 
of  Representatives,  chosen  annually  in  the  month  of  March,  every  town  having 
150  rateable  polls  being  entitled  to  send  one,  and  an  additional  representative 
for  every  300  additional  polls.  The  legislature  assembles  annually  at  Con- 
cord, on  the  first  Wednesday  of  June. 

All  male  citizens,  of  twenty-one  years  and  upwards,  except  paupers  and  per- 
sons excused  from  taxes,  have  a  right  to  vote  for  State  officers — a  residence  of 
at  least  three  months  within  the  town  being  required  to  entitle  the  person  to 
vote. 

Succession  of  Governors. — Governors,  ^r.  under  the  Royal  Government. 
John  Cutt,  President,  1680;  Richard  Waldron,  do.  1681  ;  Edward  Cranfield, 
Lieut.  Gov.,  1682;  AYalter  Barefoot,  Dep.  Gov.,  1685;  Joseph  Dudley,  Pres., 
1686.  In  1686  under  the  government  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros.  In  1689  the 
union  wdth  Massachusetts  revived.  John  Usher,  Lieut.  Gov.,  1692  ;  William 
Partridge,  do.  1697  ;  Samuel  Allen,  Gov.,  1698.  In  1699  united  with  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  York.  In  1 702  united  with  Massachusetts.  Beuning  Went- 
worth,  Gov.,  1741  ;  John  Wentworth,  do.  1767. 

The  English  government  terminated  in  1775, 'and  in  1776  a  temporary  gov- 
ernment was  formed,  which  continued  during  the  war ;  Meshech  Weare  being 
annually  elected  President. 

Presidents  under  the  Constitution  of  1784.  Meshech  Weare,  elected  1784; 
John  Langdon,  1785  ;  John  Sullivan,  1786 ;  John  Langdon,  1788  ;  John  Sul- 
livan, 1789  :  Josiah  Bartlett,  1790. 

3 


26  NEAV   HAMPSHIRE. 

Governors  under  the  Constitution  of  1792.  Josiah  Bartlett,  elected  1792  ;  John 
Taylor  Oilman,  1794;  John  Langdon,  1805;  Jeremiah  Smith,  1809;  John 
Langdon,  1810  ;  William  Plumer,  1812  ;  John  Taylor  Oilman,  1813  ;  WilUam 
Plumer,  1816;  Samuel  BeU,  1819;  Le^d  Woodbury,  1823:  David  L.  Morril, 
1824;  Benjamin  Pierce,  1827;  John  Bell,  1828  ;  Benjamin  Pierce,  1829  ;  Mat- 
thew Harvev,  1830;  S.  Dinsmoor.  entered  upon  office  June,  1831  ;  William 
Badger,  1834;  Isaac  Hill,  1836;  John  Page,  1839  ;  Henry  Hubbard,  1842  ; 
John  H.  Steele,  1844;  Anthony  Colby,  1846:  Jared  W.  AViUiams,  1847. 

Judiciary.— The  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  consists  of  a  chief  justice 
and  two  associate  justices,  who  hold  one  tenn  annually  in  each  of  the  ten 
counties  of  the  State,  for  the  hearing  and  determining  of  questions  of  law,  and 
petitions  for  divorce.     This  court  is  also  vested  ^vith  chancery  powers. 

The  judges  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  are,  ex  officio,  judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  This  court,  before  whom  all  actions  for  the  recove- 
ry of  debts  and  the  enforcement  of  contracts,  and  all  jury  trials,  are  brought, 
consists  of  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Superior  Court,  or  one  of  the  justices  of 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  of  two  county  judges,  who  are  gene- 
raUy  appointed  from  among  the  yeomanry,  whose  principal  duty  it  is  to  attend 
to  the  ordinary  business  of  the  county,  its  roads,  expenses,  &c.  Terms  are  held 
semi-annually,  in  each  of  the  counties.— See  Descriptions  of  Counties. 

Education. — See  Introduction. 

Salaries  of  State  Officers.— Ooveraor,  $1,000;  Secretary-  of  State, 
$800 ;  Treasurer,  $600 ;  Adjutant  and  Quarter  Master  Oeneral,  S400 ;  Chief 
Justice,  $1,400;  Associate  Justices,  $1,200;  Circuit  Justices,  $1,200;  Attor- 
ney General,  $1,200. 

Finances  of  the  State.— This  State  was  without  debt  in  1848,  and  had, 
besides  a  considerable  amount  of  property  in  public  lands,  &c.,  a  balance  m 
the  treasury  of  $1,612,22.  The  annual  amount  of  expenditures  of  this  State 
is  generaUy  about  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars. 


DESCRIPTION 

OP 

COUNTIES    AND    TOWNS 

IN 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


AC^VORTH. 

Sullivan  Co.  This  town  is  chieiiy 
agricultural  in  its  pursuits.  The  soil 
is  generally  good.  Cold  River,  which 
rises  from  Cold  Pond  in  in  this  town, 
affords  some  good  mill-sites.  This 
town  was  formerly  noted  for  the  cul- 
ture of  flax,  which  was  manufactured 
by  some  of  the  inhabitants  into  the  | 
finest  linen,  equal  to  any  imported  from 
Ireland.  Beryls  of  an  extraordinary 
size  are  found  here. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Unity,  east  by 
Lempster,  south  by  INIarlow,  and  west 
by  Langdon  and  Charlestown. 

First  Settlers.  William  Kcyes,  Sam- 
uel Harper,  and  John  Rogers  removed 
to  this  place  in  1768. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Thomas  Ar- 
chibald, ordained  1789 ;  dismissed  1794. 
Rev.  John  Kimball,  ordained  1797; 
dismissed  1813. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,792  bushels ;  hay,  4,398  tons ;  pota- 
toes, 54,301  bushels  ;  wool,  18,474  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  29,724  pounds. 

The  manufactures  of  this  tOAvn  are 
considerable,  but  principally  confined 
to  families. 

Distances.  Thirteen  miles  soiith  from 
Newport,  and  forty-four  west  from  Con- 
cord. 

ALBANY. 

CAi^ROL  Co.  The  principal  river 
in  Albany,  is  S\\aft  River,  which  passes 


from  west  to  east  into  the  Saco,  at 
Conway.  There  are  several  small 
streams  in  different  parts  of  the  town, 
furnishing  convenient  mill  privileges. 
These  streams  were  once  the  residence 
of  numbers  of  the  beaver,  otter,  &c. 

There  are  several  lofty  hills  and 
mountains  in  this  town,  the  highest  of 
which  is  called  Chocorua,  and  is  visi- 
ble from  a  great  extent  of  country.  It 
received  its  name  from  Chocorua.  an 
Indian,  who  was  killed  on  the  summit 
by  a  party  of  hunters  in  time  of  peace, 
before  the  settlement  of  the  place.  The 
predominant  rock  of  these  hills  is  gran- 
ite— a  soft,  decomposing  variety,  in 
which  the  crystals  and  grains  of  feld- 
spar are  very  large.  The  soil  is  fertile, 
being  a  sandy  loam,  mixed  occasional- 
ly with  coarse  gravel.  There  are  some 
fertile  intervale  lands  on  the  borders 
of  Swift  River. 

The  gi-owth  of  this  town  has  been  re- 
tarded by  a  peculiar  disease  which  af- 
flicts neat  cattle.  Young  cattle  can- 
not be  reared,  nor  can  cows  or  oxen 
be  kept  here  for  a  series  of  years, 
without  being  attacked  by  a  singular 
and  fatal  distemper.  It  commences 
with  a  loss  of  appetite — the  animals 
refuse  hay,  grain  and  salt — become 
emaciated ;  an  obstinate  costiveness 
attends,  but  the  abdomen  becomes 
smaller  than  in  health,  and  is  diminish- 
ed to  one  third  its  ori"inal  bulk.     Af- 


28 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


ter  these  s}Tnptoms  ha^^e  continued  for 
an  indetinite  period,  a  brisk  scouring 
comes  on,  and  the  animals  fall  away 
and  die.  Thougli  superstition  may 
have  found  a  reason  in  the  dying  curse 
of  the  murdered  Chocorua,  philosophy 
has  not  yet  ascertained  a  satisfoclory 
cause  for  the  disease.  It  is  probably 
owing  to  the  properties  contained  in 
the  waters. 

This  tOTVTi  was  called  Burton  till 
1833. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Conway,  south- 
cast  by  Eaton,  south  by  Tamworth, 
north  and  west  by  ungranted  lands. 

First  Settlers.  'This  town  was  grant- 
ed Nov.  6,  17G6,  to  Clement  March, 
Joseph  Sentor  and  others. 

First  Minister.  No  minister  was 
settled  here  for  many  years. 

Productions  of  the  'Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,164  bushels  ;  potatoes,  9,C47  bushels  : 
Hay.  584  tons:  wool,  661  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  2,500  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty-four  miles  north  by 
east  from  Concord,  sixty-seven  north, 
north-west  from  Dover,  and  about 
twenty-two  miles  north-west  from  Os- 
sipee. 

AIjEXANDRIA. 

Grafton  Co.  A  small  part  of  New- 
found Lake  lies  in  this  town.  On  Fow- 
ler's and  Smith's  Eivers  and  several 
other  smaller  streams  are  about  2000 
acres  of  intervale  land,  which  produce 
flax,  potatoes  and  grass  in  abundance. 
Other  parts  of  the  town  are  favorable 
for  wheat  and  maize.  A  part  of  this 
town  was  set  off  to  New  Chester,  now 
Hill,  in  the  year  1820. 

Boundaries.     North  by  Orange  and 
Hebron,  east  by  Bristol,  south  by  Hill, 
and  Avest  by  Danbury. 
'  First  Settlers.  Jonathan  Corliss,  John 

M.  Corliss,  and  William  Corliss,  set- 
tled in  Dec.  1769. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Enocli  AVhip- 
ple  settled  in  1788;  dismissed  in  1794. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
9,651  bushels  ;' potatoes,  26.979  bush- 
els; hay,  2,676  tons;  wool,  5,367 
pounds ;  maple    sugar,   6.044    pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-four  miles  north- 
west from    Concord,   forty  south-east 


from   Haverhill,   and    about    fourteen 
miles  north-easterly  from  Plymouth. 

ALIiENSTOWN. 

Meerimac  Co.  This  town  is  wa- 
tered by  the  Suncook  River.  The  land 
generally  is  of  an  ordinaiy  quality, 
though  there  are  some  fine  fanns.  The 
town  is  principally  covered  Avith  a 
growth  of  oak  and  pine  timber :  and 
formerly  great  quantities  of  lumber 
were  annually  taken  doAvn  the  river. 
Allenstown  is  well  watered,  though  no 
large  stream  passes  through  it.  Great 
Bear  Brook  furnishes  the  principal  mill 
sites.  Catamount  Hill  is  the  highest 
land  in  the  to"svn. 

At  the  east  end  of  this  hill  is  a  pre- 
cipice of  seventy  feet  nearly  perpendi- 
cular, at  the  foot  of  which  is  a  cavern 
of  some  extent,  inclining  upwards. 

In  1748,  Avhile  at  Avork  on  the  Avest- 
embank  of  the  Merrimac  River,  oppo- 
site the  mouth  of  the  Suncook,  in  com- 
pany Avith  James  Carr,  Mr.  Buntin  and 
his  son,  ten  years  of  age,  Avere  sui-jiri- 
sed  by  a  party  of  Indians.  Can-  at- 
tempted to  escape,  and  Avas  shot  doAvn. 
Buntin  and  his  son,  making  no  resist- 
ance, Avere  not  harmed ;  but  taken 
through  the  Avilderness  to  Canada,  and 
sold  to  a  French  trader  at  Montreal ; 
Avith  Avhom  they  remained  about  eleven 
months,  escaped,  and  fortunately  reach- 
ed home  in  safety.  AndrcAv,  the  son, 
continued  on  his  father's  form  until  the 
commencement  of  the  revolution,  when, 
entering  the  service  of  his  country,  he 
died  in  her  defence  at  White  Plains, 
Oct.  28,  1776. 

Boundaries.  West  by  the  River  Sun- 
cook, north  by  Epsom,  east  by  Deer- 
field,  and  south  by  Hooksett. 

First  Settlers.  John  Wolcutt.  An- 
drcAv  Smith,  Daniel  Evans,  Robert 
Buntin  and  otliers. 

First  Minister.  The  first  settled  min- 
ister in  this  toAA^n  is  not  stated ;  there 
are  seA'eral  places  of  Avorship,  Avliich 
h:ive  generally  been  supplied  by  itine- 
rant i)reachers. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1 ,9 1 0  ])U.shels  ;  *  potatoes,  6,535  bushels ; 
hay.  464  tons ;  avooI,  626  pounds. 

Distances.    Eleven  miles  south-east 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


29 


from  Concord,   and  thirty-eight  west 
from  Portsmouth. 

AI.STEAD. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  toAvn  is  well 
watered  by  small  streams.  Cold  River 
passes  through  the  north-west  part; 
and  some  of  the  branches  of  Ashuelot 
River  have  their  sources  in  this  town. 
There  are  a  number  of  ponds,  the  prin- 
cipal of  which  is  Warren's  Pond; — 
length  250  rods,  breadth  150.  Perch 
and  pickerel  are  here  caught  in  great 
abundance.  The  soil  is  strong  and 
productive,  and  the  farms  generally 
well  cultivated.  Manufactm-es  flourish 
in  this  to"svn,  and  great  attention  is  paid 
to  education.  Alstead  was  originally 
called  Newton. 

General  Amos  Shepai-d,  who  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  General 
Court  of  this  State,  and  President  of 
the  Senate  from  1797  to  1804,  resided 
in  this  towm,  and  was  one  of  its  princi- 
pal inhabitants  from  1777  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  Jan.  1,1812.  By  his  per- 
severing Indus  tr}',  his  economy  and 
correctness  in  business,  and  at  the  same 
time,  by  a  rigid  adherence  to  upright- 
ness and  integrity  in  his  dealings  with 
his  fellow  men,  he  acquired  a  hand- 
some fortune,  and  was  in  many  things, 
a  pattern  worthy  of  imitation.  See  N.  2. 

Bonndaries.  East  by  Marlow,  south  by 
Gilsum,  west  by  Walpole  and  Langdon, 
and  nortli  by  Acworth  and  Langdon. 

First  SMers.  Samuel  Chase  with 
sixty-nine  others  settled  here  in  1763. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jacob  Mann, 
ordained  in  1782;  dismissed  in  1789. 
Rev.  Samuel  Mead,  ordained  in  1791 ; 
dismissed  in  1797.  Rev.  Levi  Lankton, 
ordained  in  1789;  dismissed  in  1828. 

Productions  of  the  Soli  Indian  corn, 
5,460  bushels ;"  potatoes,  58.843  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3.382  tons  ;  wool,  11,440  lbs  ; 
maple  sugar,  11.617  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  south-east 
from  Charlestown,  fourteen  north  from 
Keene,  and  fifty-six  west  by  soutli  from 
Concord. 

AL.TON. 

Belknap  Co.  This  town  is  rough 
and  uneven ;  the  soil  hard  and  rockv, 

3* 


but  productive  when  well  cultivated. 
The  growth  of  wood  is  chiefly  oak, 
beech,  maj)le  and  jnne.  The  principal 
elevations  are  Mount-Major  and  J^ros- 
pect  Hill.  Merrymeeting  Bay  extends 
south  alx)Ut  1800  rods  into  this  to^\^l, 
where  it  receives  the  waters  of  Meixy 
meeting  River.  Half-moon  Pond,  be- 
tween Alton  and  Barnstead,  is  300  I'ods 
long  and  150  wide.  This  to\vn  was 
originally  called  Neiv  Durham  Gore 
and  is  delightfully  situated  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Winnipiseogee  Lake. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Winnipiseo- 
gee Lake  and  Bay,  north-east  by  Wolf- 
borough,  east  by  New  Durham,  south 
by  Barnstead,  and  west  by  Gilmanton. 

First  Settlers.  Jacob  Chamberlain 
and  others  in  1770. 

First  Minister.  Elder  John  Adams, 
ordained  in  1811. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
11,205  bushels;  potatoes,  56,063  bush- 
els; hay,  3,316  tons;  wool,  5,563  lbs. 
maple  sugar,  1,856  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-two  miles  north- 
east from  Concord,  twenty-five  north- 
west from  Dover,  and  about  tAvelve 
miles  south-east  from  Gilfoi-d.  Alton 
is  about  twenty-five  miles  south-east 
from  Centre  Harbor,  by  Lake  Winni- 
piseogee. 

AMHERST. 

Hillsborough  Co.  An  important 
town,  and  the  seat  of  justice  in  Hills- 
borough county,  is  situated  on  Souhe- 
gan  River.  Souhegan  is  a  considerable 
and  very  important  stream,  and  in  its 
course  to  the  Merrimac  River  from 
this  towni.  affords  some  of  the  finest 
water  privileges  in  the  county.  Bab- 
boosuck.  Little  Babboosuck  and  Jo 
English  Ponds  are  the  largest  collec- 
tions of  water.  In  some  parts  of  this 
town,  and  particularly  on  Souhegan 
River,  the  soil  is  of  excellent  quality^ 
producing  abundant  crops.  In  other 
parts,  on  the  hills  elevated  above  the 
village,  the  soil  is  of  a  good  quality, 
and  several  valuable  farms  are  found 
under  good  cultivation. 

The  village  is  pleasant  and  contains 
many  handsome  buildings.  There  is 
a  spacious  common  between  the  two 


30 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


principal  rows  of  house?,  which  is  often 
used  for  public  purposes.  There  is 
what  is  termed  a  mineral  spring,  aljout 
one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  the  meet- 
ing-house. The  water  has  been  found 
useful  in  rheumatic  complaints,  and  in 
scrofulous  and  scorbutic  habits :  for 
poisons  by  ivy,  dogwood,  &c.  Excel- 
lent limestone  is  found  here. 

The  town  assumed  the  name  of  Am- 
herst, in  compliment  to  Lord  Jefltrey 
Amherst. 

Among  the  worthy  citizens  of  Am- 
herst who  deserve  a  remembrance,  may 
be  mentioned  Hon.  Moses  Nichols,  a 
native  of  Eeading,  Mass.,  v,ho  was  a 
colonel  under  Gen.  Stark  in  the  battle 
of  Bennington  :  Hon.  Samuel  Dana,  a 
native  of  Brighton,  Mass. ;  Hon.  Wm. 
Gordon,  eminent  in  the  profession  of  the 
law.  Hon.  Robert  Means,  who  died  Jan. 
24, 1823,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  was  for  a 
long  period  of  time  a  resident  in  Am- 
herst. He  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  In 
1764  he  came  to  this  country,  Avhere  by 
his  industry  and  application  to  busi- 
ness, he  acquired  a  large  property,  and 
great  respect. 

Amherst  did  its  dutymanfully during 
the  revolutionary  contest.  During  the 
first  four  yeai-s  of  that  war  about  one  in 
seventy  of  its  people  died  in  the  service. 
The  expenses  of  that  war  to  this  town, 
'•  in  addition  of  any  bounties,  travel,  or 
wages,  given  or  promised  by  the  State, 
or  the  United  States,  was  found  to  be  in 
specie,  X-3.511." 

Amherst  became  the  shire  town  of 
the  County  in  1771. — See  Note  1. 

Boundaries.  North  by  New  Boston 
and  Bedford,  east  by  Bedford  and  j\Ier- 
rimac,  south  by  HoUis.  and  west  by  Mil- 
ford  and  Mount  Vernon. 

First  Settlers.  Samuel  "Walton  and 
Samuel  Lampson,  in  July,  1734. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Daniel  Wilkins, 
ordained  in  1736  :  died  in  1784.  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Barnard,  ordained  as  col- 
league in  1780.  Rev.  Nathan  Lord, 
D.  D.,  ordained  as  colleague  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
9,039  bushels:  potatoes,  20.277  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,529  tons  :  wool,  2,145  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty-nine  miles  south 
from  Concord,  about  40  easterly  from 
Keene,  and  14  north-west  from  Nashua. 


ANUOVER. 

Mkrktmac  Co  The  Blackwater,  in 
the  south-west  part  of  the  town,  is  the 
principal  stream  .  but  numerous  rills 
I  and  brooks  find  their  way  down  the 
hills  into  the  ponds  or  Blackwater. 
There  are  six  ponds  in  Andover,  the 
largest  of  which  are  Chance  and  Loon 
Ponds,  both  picturesque,  and  their  wa- 
ters pure.  The  surface  of  this  town  is 
I  extremely  uneven,  and  in  some  parts 
rocky  and  ban-en.  The  Ragged  Moun- 
tains pass  along  the  north,  and  the 
Kearsarge  extends  its  base  along  the 
west.  The  soil  is  in  many  parts  of  good 
quality-,  and  pleasant  villages  are  formed 
in  different  parts  of  the  to^vn.  This 
town  vv-as  called  Ae/<;  Breton,  in  honor 
I  of  the  captors  of  Cape  Breton  in  1745  ; 
in  Avhich  expedition  several  of  the  gran- 
tees were  engaged.  It  retained  this 
name  until  its  incoq^oration. 

Among  the  deceased  citizens  who  are 
remembered  with  respect  by  the  inhab- 
itants, we  may  mention  Dr.  Silas  Bar- 
nard, the  first  physician  in  the  town,  a 
native  of  Bolton,  Mass.,  who  died  June 
25, 1795  :  Dr.  Jacob  B.  Moore,  a  native 
of  Georgetown.  Me-,  born  Sept.  5, 1 772 ; 
settled  in  Andover  in  1796  ;  died  Jan. 
10,  1818.  He  possessed  respectable 
poetical  talents,  Avas  a  AATiter  on  politi- 
cal subjects  in  the  public  papers,  and 
was  eminent  in  his  profession.  Jona- 
than Weare,  Esq.,  a  civil  magistrate, 
highly  res]>ccted  for  his  integrity,  died 
in  1816.  Mr.  Joseph  Noyes  was  much 
honored  for  his  charitable  disposition. 
Andover,  though  rough,  is  well 
adapted  for  grazing. 

Boundaries.  The  Pemigewasset  on 
the  cast  separates  this  town  from  San- 
bornton ;  south  by  Salisbury,  west  by 
Wilmot,  and  north  by  Hill. 

First  Settler.  Joseph  Fellows  moved 
into  this  place  in  1761. 

First  Xfinister.  Rev.  Josiah  Babcock, 
of  Milton,  ordained  in  1782;  dismissed 
in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,673  bushels  ;'  potatoes,  29.780  bush- 
els :  hay,  3014  tons;  wool,  9.395  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,747  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-one  miles  north- 
west from  Concord,  and  aI)out  eighteen 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


31 


east  by  north  from  NcAvport.  The  great 
Northern  Haih-oad,  from  Concord  to 
Connecticut  Ki\'er,  passes  through  this 
town. 

ANTRIM.  j 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  cast  part; 
of  Antrim  lies  on  Contoocook  River;' 
and,  though  somewliat  liilly,  is  a  tract 
of  joroductive  land,  a  considerable  pro- 1 
portion  of  which  is  arable.  On  the  ri- 1 
vcr  there  are  valuable  tracts  of  alluvial ! 
land.  The  North  Branch  River,  so  cull-  [ 
ed,  a  small  stream  originating  from  sev-  i 
eral  ponds  in  Stoddard,  furnishes  several 
valuable  mill  sites,  and  in  some  parts  of  '' 
its  course  it  is  bordered  by  tracts  of  in- 
tervale. The  west  })art  of  the  town  is  j 
mountainous,  but  suitable  for  grass,  and  I 
affords  an  extensive  range  of  good  pas-  j 
turage.  There  are  six  natural  ponds, ! 
well  stored  with  perch  and  pike.  j 

A  curiosity  has  been  discovered  in 
the  middle  branch  of  Contoocook  Ri-  j 
ver ;  a  rock  about  ten  feet  long  and  j 
eight  feet  wide,  covered  with  a  shallow  j 
coat  of  moss,  affording  sustenance  to  | 
twenty-one  different  kinds  of  plants  and } 
shrubs,  three  of  which  produce  edible  | 
fruit.  I 

Antrim  derived  its  name  from  a  town 
in  Ireland. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Windsor  and 
Hillsborough,  east  by  Contoocok  River, 
which  divides  it  from  Deerfickl,  south 
by  Hancock,  and  west  by  Stoddard. 

First  Settler.  Dea.  James  Aiken,  in 
1768. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Walter  Fuller- 
ton,  ordained  in  1 800  ;  dismissed  in 
1804. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,578  bushels  :  potatoes,  34,435  bush- 
els;  hay,  2,872  tons;  wool,  8,358  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  5.269  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-five  miles  north- 
west from  Amherst,  and  thirty  south- 
west from  Concord. 

ATKIIVSOIS. 

IloCKi:jfGHAM  Co.  The  surface  of 
Atkinson  is  uneven  :  the  soil  of  a  supe- 
rior quality,  and  well  cultivated.  The 
cultivation  of  the  apple  has  received 


much  attention  hei-e,  and  the  finest  fruit 
is  produced. 

This  town  was  named  in  honor  of 
Theodore  Atkinson,  a  member  of  the 
council,  and  a  large  landholder.  Seve- 
ral of  tiie  first  settlers  lived  to  a  great 
age.  The  academy  in  this  toAvn  is  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  respectable  in- 
stitutions in  the  State ;  it  was  incor- 
porated Feb.  17, 1791. 

'■  In  a  large  meadow  in  this  town, 
there  is  an  island,  containing  seven  or 
eight  acres,  which  Avas  formerly  loaded 
with  valualde  pine  timber,  and  other 
forest  wood.  AVhen  the  meadow  is 
overflowed,  by  means  of  an  artificial 
dam,  tliis  island  rises  in  the  same  de- 
gree as  the  water  rises,  which  is  some- 
times six  feet.  Near  the  middle  of  this 
island  is  a  small  pond,  which  has  been 
gradually  lessening  ever  since  it  was 
first  known,  and  is  now  almost  cover- 
ed with  verdure.  In  the  water  of  this 
pond  there  have  been  fish  in  plenty; 
which,  when  the  meadow  hath  been 
flowed,  have  api:)eared  there,  and  when 
the  water  hath  been  drawn  off,  have 
been  left  on  the  meadow;  at  which 
time  the  island  settles  to  its  usual 
place."  This  fact  is  stated  by  Dr. 
Belknap,  in  his  history  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Haverhill,  IVIs., 
west  by  Salem  and  Londonderry,  north 
by  Hampstead,  and  east  by  Plaistow. 

First  Settlers.  Benjamin  Richards, 
Jonathan  and  Edmund  Page,  and  John 
Dow. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Stephen  Pcabody, 
ordained  in  1772;  died  in  1819. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,251  bushels ;  potatoes,  9,865  bushels  ; 
hay,  1,075  tons;  wool,  545  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  south-west 
from  Portsmouth,  and  thirty-six  south- 
east from  Concord. 

AUBURN. 

Rockingham  Co.  Auburn  com- 
prises the  westerly  part  of  Chester,  and 
was  incorporated  as  a  to-\vnship  in  1845. 
This  town  lies  about  five  miles  east 
from  Manchester. 

Auburn  contains  some  fine  swells  of 
land  of  a  good  quality. — See  Chester. 


32 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAilPSHIRE. 


BARNSTEAD. 

Belknap  Co.  Barnstead  is  not 
mountainous,  but  has  large  swells  of 
land,  good  for  grazing.  The  soil  is 
easy  and  productive. 

There  are  several  ponds  in  this  tOA^-n 
— the  largest  are  the  two  Suncook 
Ponds,  Avhich  lie  near  each  other,  Brin- 
dle  Pond,  and  Half-moon  Pond,  on  Al- 
ton line.  These  waters  are  stocked 
with  fish,  and  are  discharged  into  the 
Suncook. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Alton, 
south  by  Sti-afford,  south-west  by  Pitts- 
field,  and  north-west  by  Gilmanton. 

First  Settlers.  Eev.  Joseph  Adams 
and  others. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Enos  George, 
ordained  in  1 804.  Elder  David  Knowl- 
ton,  ordained  in  1804:  died  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
9,497  bushels:  potatoes,  57,356  bush- 
els; hay,  3,628  tons:  wool,  6,720  lbs.: 
maple  sugar,  685  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-six  miles  west 
by  north  from  Dover,  thirty-six  north- 
west from  Portsmouth,  and  twenty 
north-east  from  Concord. 

HARRINGTON. 

Straffokd  Co.  The  surface  of 
Barrington  is  somewhat  broken  and 
rocky,  the  soil  being  principally  a  grav- 
elly loam. — The  iown  is  abundantly 
supplied  "nith  ponds,  of  which  there 
are  no  less  than  thirteen  of  consider- 
able magnitude,  from  whence  issue 
streams  aftbrding  excellent  mill  sites. 
At  one  of  these  mill  sites,  on  the  Isin- 
glass River  is  a  perpendicular  fall  of 
thirty  feet. 

There  is.  about  two  miles  from  the 
centre  of  the  town,  a  remarkable  cav- 
ern, or  fissure  in  a  rock,  commonly 
called  the  DeviVs  Den.  The  entrance  is 
on  the  side  of  a  hill,  and  is  sufficient- 
ly large  to  admit  a  person  in  a 
stooping  posture.  Having  entered  five 
feet  in  a  horizontal  direction,  there  is 
a  descent  of  four  or  five  feet,  on  an  an- 
gle of  45°,  large  enough  only  to  ad- 
mit the  body  of  a  middling  sized  man. 
After  squeezing  through  this  passage, 
you  enter  a  chamber  sixty  feet  in 
length,  from  ten  to  fifteen  in  height, 


and  from  three  to  eight  in  width. — 
Communicating  with  this,  are  several 
other  fissures  of  equal  height,  and  from 
ten  to  fifteen  feet  in  length. 

Beautiful  granite  and  good  iron  ore 
are  found  here  in  gi-eat  plenty. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Farming- 
ton  and  Rochester,  south-east  by  Mad- 
bury,  Lee  and  Dover,  south-west  by 
Nottingham  and  Northwood,  and  north- 
west by  Straftbrd. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Joseph  Prince, 
ordained  in  1755:  disnaissed  in  1768. 
Rev.  David  Tenney,  ordained  in  1771 ; 
dismissed  in  1778. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
10,965  bushels:  potatoes,  32,470  bush- 
els: hay,  2,097' tons;  wool,  2,867  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  north-west 
from  Portsmouth,  ten  west  from  Do- 
ver, and  thirty  east  from  Concord. 

BARTLiETT. 

Coos  Co.  This  toA^-n  lies  at  the 
foot  of  the  TTliite  Mountains,  on  the 
easteni  side.  Its  soil  is  various,  and, 
on  the  Saco,  in  some  parts,  good. 
This  river  meanders  through  the  cen- 
tre of  the  town. 

Bartlett  received  its  name  in  honor 
of  Gov.  Bartlett,  and  is  a  to-vvn  weD 
known  to  all  travellers  to  this  region. 

Boundaries.  It  has  Jackson  on  the 
north,  Chatham  on  the  east,  Conway 
and  the  public  lands  on  the  south  and 
west. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,924  bushels;  potatoes,  25,835  bush- 
els; hay,  1,548  tons;  wool,  2,516  lbs. 
maple  sugar,  7,035  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-five  miles  south- 
east from  Lancaster,  eighty-five  north, 
north-east  from  Concord. 

BATH. 

Grafton  Co.  Bath  is  pleasantly 
situated  in  the  vale  of  the  Connecticut, 
between  the  Green  Mountains  on  the 
west,  and  the  "VMiite  Mountains  on  the 
east,  bv  which  it  is  effectually  shielded 
from  high  winds  and  long  storms. 
The  Amonoosuck  River  waters  the 
south-east  part,  affording  many  fine 
mill  sites  and  water  privileges. 

The  Amonoosuck  has  a  very  con- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


33 


venient  fall  at  the  village,  calculated 
to  accommodate  machinen^  to  any  ex- 
tent. 

At  the  principal  village,  (which  is 
very  pleasant.)  there  is  a  considerable 
bridcre  over  the  Amonoosuck,  of  350 
feet  in  length,  built  in  1807.  The  soil 
on  the  liills  is  generally  a  reddish  loam, 
on  a  bed  of  marl,  or  hard  pan.  In  the 
valleys,  it  is  alluvial.  About  one-sixth 
part  of  the  wliole  town  is  intervale  land. 
Much  improvement  has  been  made  in  , 
the  agriculture  of  this  place.  On  Gard- 
ner's Mountain  a  variety  of  minerals  | 
have  been  discovered.  | 

Bath  pi-eseuts  a  great  vaiiet}'  of 
sccnen-,  much  of  which  is  verv  beauti- 
ful. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lvman,  east 
by  Landaff,  south  by  Haverhill,  and 
west  by  Ryegate.  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  John  Hcmman  in 
1765 ;  Moses  Pike  and  jVIr.  Sawyer  in 
1766  and  1767. 

First  Minister.  Eev.  Da\'id  Suther- 
land, installed  in  1805. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn. 
7,661  bushels;  potatoes,  70,492  bush- 
els; hay,  4,628  tons  ;  wool,  17,638  lbs.; 
maple  sngar,  3,355  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-two  miles  north 
of  Dartmouth  College,  eighty  north- 
west from  Concord,  and  nine  north 
from  Haverhill. 


BEDFORD. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Merrimac 
and  Piscataquoag  are  the  only  rivers 
in  this  town.  The  latter  passes  through 
its  north-east  corner,  where  there  is  the 
pleasant  and  flourishing  -village  of  Pis- 
cataquoag. This  town  has  considerable 
very  productive  inten'ale  land.  It  has 
been  noted  for  the  cultivation  of  hops 
and  for  its  fine  domestic  manufactures. 
On  the  west  line  of  Bedford,  are  a  re- 
markable guli"  and  precipice,  which  are 
objects  of  curiosity.  A  considerable 
brook  passes  over  the  precipice,  and 
falls  about  two  hundred  feet  within  tlie 
distance  of  100  yards.  Here  are  found 
several  excavations  in  solid  stone, 
which  arc  sufficiently  large  to  contain 
many  persons.  In  mineralogy,  this 
to^\^l  affords  a  great  variety  of  speci- 


mens. Iron  ore  is  found  in  different 
places,  and  in  several  varieties.  Sul- 
phuret  of  iron,  imbedded  in  common 
granite,  and  red  oxide  of  iron,  com- 
bined Avith  alumine,  are  common. 
Black  lead,  pyritous  copper,  schorl, 
hornblende,  epidote,  talc,  mica,  black, 
yellow  and  green  gneiss,  crystallized 
quartz,  &c.  are  found  here. 

The  first  child  born  in  toA\Ti  was  Silas 
BaiTon.  son  of  Capt.  Moses  Barron,  in 
1 741 .  Bedford  was  the  residence  of  ma- 
ny Indians  in  former  times.  Near  Goffe's 
Falls  is  a  spot  of  ground,  about  ten  rods 
long  and  four  wide,  which  is  supposed 
to  have  been  an  Indian  burial  place. 
The  surface  of  the  bank  is  about  forty 
feet  above  the  liver.  Human  bones  at 
various  times  have  been  washed  from 
the  bank.  In  the  summer  of  1831,  a 
part  of  three  skeletons  Avere  obtained 
from  this  place.  Some  of  the  bark  in 
which  they  had  been  deposited  remain- 
ed. One  of  them  appeared  to  have 
been  put  in  the  ground  in  a  sitting  pos- 
ture.— All  their  heads  lay  towards  the 
south. — The  hair  was  entire,  and  was 
done  up  in  a  bunch  on  the  back  part  of 
the  head  in  a  manner  as  practised  at 
the  present  day. 

Hon.  John  Orr,  Avho  died  in  Jan. 
1823,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  was  a 
distinguished  citizen  of  this  toA\Ti.  He 
Avas  in  the  battle  of  Bennington  under 
Gen.  Stark,  and  received  a  wound  in 
the  early  part  of  the  engagement. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Merrimac 
RiA^er,  AA-hich  divides  it  from  Manches- 
ter, south  by  the  tOAvmship  of  Merri- 
mac, AA'est  by  Amherst,  and  north  by 
GoffstoAvn. 

First  Settlers.  Robert  and  James 
Walker,  Col.  John  Goffe,  MatthcAV  Pat- 
ten. Esq.,  and  Capt.  Samuel  Patten  in 
1737  and  1738. 

First  Ministers.  Rca'.  John  Houston, 
ordained  in  1758;  died  in  1778.  Rev. 
DaA-id  M.  GregorA-,  settled  in  1 804. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
9,186  bushels;  potatoes,  24,281  bush- 
els: hay,  2,138  tons;  wool,  2,116  lbs. 
buckwheat,  61,081  bushels. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  north-east 
from  Amherst.  tAventy-one  south  by 
by  Concord.  The  LoAvell  and  Nashua 
Railroad  passes  thi'ough  this  town. 


34 


GAZETTEER    OP   NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


BELKNAP  COUNTY. 

Gilford  is  the  county  town.  This  county  was  incorporated  December  23, 
1840.  The  foUoAving  is  the  legislative  description  of  Belknap  county,  to  Avit: 
The  county  of  Belknap  shall  contain  all  the  land  and  waters  included  within 
the  following  towns  and  places,  which  now  constitute  a  part  of  the  county  of 
Strafford,  to  wit :  Alton,  Barnstead,  Centre  Harbor,  Gilford,  Gilmanton,  Mere- 
dith, New  Hampton,  and  Sanbomton. 

This  county  is  therefore  bounded  north  by  the  county  of  Carroll,  east  by  the 
counties  of  Strafford  and  Carroll,  south  by  the  county  of  Merrimac,  and  west 
by  the  county  of  Grafton. 

This  county  lies  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and  it  has  many 
other  beautiful  lakes  and  ponds  within  its  limits.  Some  of  the  lands  are  very 
high,  and  present  a  great  variety  of  picturesque  scenery.  The  surftice  of  the 
county,  though  rough  and  uneven,  and  in  some  parts  rocky,  presents  a  variety 
of  soils,  and  is  generally  very  productive. 

The  streams  in  this  county  are  very  numerous,  they  are  generally  rapid  and 
durable,  and  give  to  the  county  a  great  hydraulic  power.  The  county  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  late  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  D.  D.,  New  Hampshire's 
able  historian. — See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  BELKNAP  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court,  Fourth  District.  At  Ossipee,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  July, 
and  at  Gilford  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Fleas.  At  Gilford,  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  February,  and 
first  Tuesday  of  September. 

Probate  Courts.     At  Gilford,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  every  month. 


BENNINGTOX. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Taken  from 
Greenfield,  Fraucesto\ATi,  Deering,  and 
Hancock  in  the  vear  1842. 


BEKTOX. 

Graftox  Co.  This  town  is  water- 
ed by  branches  of  Oliverian  Brook  and 
Wild  Amonoosuck  Rivers.  In  the  south- 
east part  of  Benton  is  Moosehillock 
Mountain.  Owl-head  Mountain  lies  in 
the  west  part  of  this  town.  Benton 
presents  a  rough  and  mountainous  as- 
pect, and  the  soil  in  several  parts  is  not 


capable  of  cultivation.  Benton  was 
called  Coventry  until  1840. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Landaff,  east 
by  AVoodstock,  south  by  Warren,  and 
west  bv  Haverhill. 

First  Settlers.  Granted  in  1764,  to 
Theophilus  Fitch  and  others,  and  set- 
tled after  the  commencement  of  the 
revolutionary  Avar. 

Frodactions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
378  bushels;  potatoes,  16.688  bushels; 
hay,  1,103  tons;  avooI,  2,308  pounds, 
maple  sugar,  13,330  pounds. 

Distances.  Seventy  miles  north, 
north-Avest  from  Concord,  and  tAvclve 
east,  south-east  from  Haverhill. 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


35 


BERLIN. 

Coos  Co.  This  toA\Ti,  from  1771  to 
1829,  was  called  Maynesborough.  The 
Androscoggin  and  Amonoosuck  Ri- 
vers pass  through  it.  It  has  few  in- 
habitants. Distance  from  Concord  one 
hundred  and  forty  miles  north,  and 
about  tAventy  miles  east  from  Lancas- 
ter. The  toAATi  was  granted  Dec.  31, 
1771,  to  Sir  William  Mayne,  bart.,  Ro- 
bert, Thomas  and  Edward  Mayne  and 
others,  of  Barbadoes. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Paulsburgh, 
east  by  Success,  south  by  Shelbunie 
and  Durand,  and  west  by  Kilkenny. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
23  bushels  ;  potatoes,  3,950  bushels  ; 
hay,  284  tons ;  wool,  625  pounds ;  ma- 
ple sugar,  1,205  pounds. 

BETHLEHEM. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  is  water- 
ed by  Great  Amonoosuck  River,  which 
takes  its  rise  at  the  notch  of  the  White 
Mountains,  and  runs  in  a  west  and 
north-west  direction,  through  nearly  the 
centre  of  the  town.  A  branch  of  the 
Bame  river  runs  through  the  southerly 
part  into  Franconia.  Round  and  Peak- 
ed Mountains,  so  called,  are  in  this 
town. 

The  soil  produces  good  crops  of 
grass  and  grain.  There  is  plenty  of 
pine  timber  and  sugar  maple.  Iron 
ore,  both  of  the  mountain  and  bog 
kind,  has  been  occasionally  found.  Two 
mineral  springs  have  been  discovered. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Whitetield  and 
Dalton,  east  by  Bretton- Woods  and 
ungranted  land,  south  by  Franconia 
and  Concord,  and  west  by  Littleton. 

First  Settlers.  Jonas  Warren.  Ben- 
jamin Brown,  James  Turner,  Thomas 
and  John  Hatch.  Nathan  and  Amos 
Wheeler,  settled  in  1790. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  William  Hutch- 
inson, settled  1830. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
334  bushels ;  potatoes,  33,251  bushels ; 
hay,  2.052  tons;  wool,  2,743  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  6,329  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  miles  north- 
west from  Concord,  and  about  twenty 
miles  north-east  from  Haverhill. 


BOSCAWEN. 

Merrimac  Co.  Boscawen  is  sit- 
uated between  Concord  and  Salisbury, 
on  the  west  side  of  Merrimac  River. 
Besides  the  Memmac,  the  west  part 
of  this  town  is  watered  by  Blackwater 
River,  running  nearly  parallel  with  the 
foiTner,  through  the  Avhole  extent  of 
the  town,  and  about  five  miles  distant 
from  it.  It  is  not  a  large  stream,  but 
very  impoi-tant,  lx>th  on  account  of  the 
fertile  fields  of  cliampaign  on  its  bor- 
ders, and  the  numerous  Avater  privi- 
leges it  affords.  There  are  tAvo  ponds 
of  some  note.  Great  Pond,  near  the 
centi-e  of  the  tOAvn,  Long  Pond,  in  the 
Avest  part,  and  mill-sites  at  the  outlet 
of  each. 

Boscawen  is  of  a  deep,  productive 
soil,  affording  many  excellent  farms  de- 
lightfully situated.'  The  surface,  Avhen 
Adewed  from  its  highest  parts,  appears 
uncommonly  IcacI.  From  the  nume- 
rous streams  of  living  Avater,  and  from 
the  peculiar  direction  of  the  swells  of 
the  hills,  this  toA\'n  probably  derives 
that  pure  air  and  uniform  temperature 
AA'hich  are  so  conducive  to  health. 

The  principal  village  is  in  the  east 
section  of  the  toAvn.  It  is  situated  on 
a  spacious  street  nearly  two  miles  in 
length,  very  straight  and  level.  Here 
the  eye  of  the  traveller  is  attracted  and 
delighted  by  the  fertile  intervales  and 
Avindings  of  the  RiA-er  Men-imac. 
There  is  another  village  on  a  pleasant 
eminence  near  the  AA-est  meeting-house. 
Abigail  Danforth  Avas  the  first  child 
born  in  the  tOAAH.  The  Indians  made 
fi-equent  predatoiy  incursions  on  the 
inhabitants.  These  people  liA-ed  in  a 
fortified  gaiiison  more  than  tAA'enty-two 
years.     See  Duston's  Island. 

Among  the  deceased  citizens  of  this 
place  entitled  to  respectful  notice,  are, 
George  Jackman,  Esq.,  the  first  tOAvn 
clerk,  AA'ho  continued  in  ofiice  thirty-six 
years.  He  Avas  appointed  a  justice  of 
the  peace  under  George  II.  and  contin- 
ued in  that  office  during  aU  successiA-e 
changes  doAA-n  to  1818. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  D.  D.,  for  more 
than  half  a  century  the  minister  of 
BoscaAA-en,  Avas  distinguished  for  his 
learning  and  piety. 


36 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Hon.  Ezekiel  "Webster,  a  native  of 
Salisbury,  resided  here  many  years. 
He  was  an  eminent  ban-ister  at  law,  of 
extraoi'dinary  talents,  and  great  private 
worth.  He  died  in  tlie  court-house,  at 
Concord,  April  10,  1829,  aged  forty- 
nine,  beloved  and  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  his  character. 

This  toAvn  was  named  in  honor  of 
Edward  Boscawen.  an  English  admiral. 

Boundaries.  This  town  is  situated 
between  Concord  and  Salisbury,  on  the 
west  side  of  Mcrrimac  River. 

First  Settlers.  Nathaniel  Danforth, 
Andrew  Bohannon,  Moses  Burbank, 
Stephen  Gen-ish.  and  Edward  Emery, 
in  1734. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Phinehas  Ste- 
vens, ordained  in  1740:  died  in  1755. 
Rev.  Robie  Merrill,  ordained  in  1761 : 
dismissed  in  1766.  Nathaniel  Memll, 
ordained  in  1768;  dismissed  in  1774. 
Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  D.  D.,  ordained  in 
1781. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
12,078  bushels:  potatoes,  42,980  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,974'tons  :  wool,  19,418  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2.030  pounds. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  north-west 
from  Concord.  Tavo  railroads  from 
Concord  pass  through  this  town. 

BOW. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  very  uneven  and  hard,  but  pro- 
ductive when  well  managed. 

There  is  but  one  pond  in  the  town 
of  any  size,  called  Turee  Pond.  Tur- 
key River  empties  into  the  Merrimac 
at  Turkey  Falls,  near  the  nortli-cast 
part  of  Bow.  About  a  mile  below  are 
Garven's  Falls,  now  passable  by  locks 
on  Bow  side. 

Bow  Canal  is  situated  on  the  Mcr- 
rimac. three  miles  below  Concord: 
the  fall  it  overcomes  is  twenty-five  feet 
— ^length  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
This  canal  passes  through  a  ledge  of 
granite,  and  is  for  the  most  part  imper- 
ishable. Its  cost  was  S13,860:  and 
about  82,000  of  its  first  income  were 
appropi-iated  towards  clearing  channels 
through  Turkey  Falls,  &c. 

Samuel  Welch,  the  oldest  native  cit- 
izen of  New  Hampshire,  died  in  Bow 
on  the  5th  of  April,  1823,  at  the  age  of 


113  years.     He  was  bom  at  Kingston, 
j  Sept.  1.  1710.  where  he  spent  the  early 
j  part  of  his  life :  he  lived  subsequent- 
ly awhile  at  Pembroke ;   but  for  fifty 
I  years  preceding  his  death  he  resided  at 
■  Bow,  in  an  obscure  comer,  and  stead- 
'  ily  cultivated  his  little  farm,  till   the 
frosts  of  a  century  had  whitened  his 
locks,  and  the  chills  of  a  hundred  ■win- 
ters had  benumbed  his  frame.      His 
life  was  marked  by  no  extraordinary' 
vicissitude — he  was  never  in  battle,  or 
\  in  any  public  serAice ;  he  Avas  a  man 
of  industry  and  temperance. 
1      Boundaries.      North-east   hy   ]Meni- 
j  mac  River,  Avhich  diA-ides  it  from  Hook- 
sett,    south-Avest    by    Dunbarton,  and 
{ north-Avest  by  Concord  and  a  part  of 
j  Hopkinton. 

First  Settleis.  This  toA\Ti  Avas  grant- 
ed to  Jonathan  Wiggin  and  others, 
I  May  20,  1727. 

I  First  Ministers.  Rca*.  Benjamin  Sar- 
I  gent,  ordained  in  1797:  resigned  in 
1 1801.  Rev.  Thomas  Waterman,  or- 
dained in  1804;  left  in  1807. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com. 
7,574  bushels:  potatoes,  15,832  bush- 
els: hay,  1,721  tons;  aa'ooI,  2,153  lbs. 
Distances.  Seven  miles  south-east 
from  Concord.  The  LoAvell  and  Nas- 
hua Railroad  passes  through  this  tOAvn. 


BRADFORD. 

Merrimac  Co.  This  tOAvn  is  wa- 
tered by  small  sti-eams,  AA'hich  prin- 
cipally issue  from  ponds, — of  which  the 
largest  is  Todd"s  Pond,  Ipng  in  Brad- 
ford and  Newbury.  This  pond  is  sup- 
plied Avith  Avatcr  from  the  hills  and 
mountains  in  NeAvbni-y.  In  it  are  a 
number  of  floating  islands,  which  are 
deemed  objects  of  curiosity.  Its  out- 
let fomis  the  northern  branch  of  War- 
ner River.  Pleasant,  or  Bradford 
Pond,  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  toAATi. 
It  is  about  550  rods  long  and  1 50  Avide. 
It  communicates  AA-ith  Warner  River 
by  an  outlet  at  the  north  end  of  it. 

In  this  pond  arc  several  islands, 
Avhich,  Avith  the  mgged  decIiA-ities  on 
the  east  bank,  the  Avaters  beloAV.  and 
the  cottages  and  cultiA-ated  fields  on 
the  Avest  bank,  present  to  view,  in  the 
summer  season,  a  Avild  and  variegated 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


landscape.  Many  parts  of  Bradford 
are  hillv.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
town,  however,  lies  in  a  valley,  about 
three  miles  in  Avidth. 

Near  the  Sunapee  Mountains,  on  the 
north-west,  is  an  extensive  plain,  more 
than  a  mile  long  and  about  half  a  mile 
■wide.  The  soil  ditters  in  quality.  It 
is  light,  loamy,  or  rough.  In  the 
easterly  part  are  valuable  stone  quar- 
ries. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Washington, 
north  by  Newbury  and  Sutton,  east  by 
Warner,  and  south  by  Henniker  and 
Hillsborough. 

First  Settlers.  Dea.  William  Pres- 
bury  and  family,  in  1771. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Lemuel  Bliss, 
ordained  in  1805:  died  in  1814. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,417  bushels;  potatoes,  33,269  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,552  tons  ;  wool,  12,251  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,490  pounds. 

Distances.  About  thirty-one  miles 
north-west  from  Amherst,  and  twenty- 
eight  miles  westerly  from  Concord. 

BRENTWOOD. 

RocKiKGHAM  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  better  adapted  to  grass  than 
grain,  although  some  improvements 
have  been  made  in  its  qualities.  Ex- 
eter River  passes  nearly  through  the 
centre  of  the  town,  and  there  are  other 
streams  of  less  magnitude  connecting 
with  it.  Pigwacket  Falls,  on  Exeter 
River,  are  in  this  town,  and  afford  an 
excellent  water  power.  Quantities  of 
iron  ore  have  been  found,  and  it  was 
formerly  Avorked  with  success.  Vitri- 
ol, combined  in  masses  Avith  sulphur, 
has  also  been  found  here. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Exeter,  south 
by  Kingston,  west  by  Poplin,  and  north 
by  Epping. 

First  Jlinistcrs.  Hev.  Nathaniel 
Trask,  ordained  in  1752:  died  in  1789. 
Rev.  Samuel  Shepard,  ordained  in 
1775  ;  died  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil  Indian  com, 
7,595  bushels  :'  potatoes,  20.850  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,956   tons:  wool,  2.522  lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty-two  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  four 
miles  east  from  Exeter. 


BRIDGEWATER. 

Grafton  Co.  The  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  grazing,  and  fcAv  townships 
in  this  A'icinity  exceed  it  in  this  respect. 
The  MayhcAv  turnpike  passes  through 
the  west  part,  near  NcAvfound  Pond, 
and  the  main  road  from  Concord  to 
Ph-mouth  through  the  east  jiart  near 
PemigeAvassct  liivcr.  There  are  no 
i-ivers  or  ponds  in  the  toAA-n  deserving 
notice. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Plymouth 
and  Hebron,  east  by  the  Pemig'cAvasset 
dividing  it  from  Holderness  and  New 
Hampton,  south  by  Bri.stol,  and  west 
by  NcAA-found  Pond  which  separates  it 
from  Alexandria. 

Fir.st  Minister.  'Rex.  Charles  Bolles, 
settled  in  1826  :  dismissed  in  1832. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,491  bushels  5  potatoes,  20,855  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,040  tons  ;  wool,  2,982  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2.425  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  north-west 
from  Concord,  and  about  seA'en  miles 
south-east  from  Ph-mouth. 

BRISTOIi. 

Graftox  Co.  Bristol  is  a  hilly 
township,  but  has.  in  general,  a  good 
soil.  NcAvfound  Pond,  about  six  miles 
in  length  and  from  two  to  three  miles 
in  Avidth,  lies  in  this  tOAA-n  and  in  He- 
bron. Its  Avaters  are  discharged  through 
NeAA-found  River,  a  stream  about  two 
miles  long  and  100  feet  AAide,  into 
PemigCAvasset  RiA-er.  At  the  conflu- 
ence of  these  rivers  is  a  pleasant  vil- 
lage, a  good  water  poAver,  and  a  num- 
ber of  valuable  mill-sites.  Bristol  was 
taken  from  BridgcAA'ater  and  New- 
Chester,  and  is  connected  by  a  toll 
bridge  AAith  Ncav  Hampton. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Bridgewater, 
east  by  PemigeA\'asset  River,  which 
separates  it  from  Ncav  Hampton,  south 
by  Smith's  RiA'cr,  AA'hich  separates  it 
from  NcAv  Chester,  and  west  by  Alex- 
andria. 

First  Settlers.  Col.  Peter  Sleeper, 
Benjamin  Emmons  and  others,  settled 
in  1770. 

A  Methodist  Society  was  formed 
here  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.    Indian  com, 


38 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


3,376  bushels;  potatoes,  13,832  bush- j  hay,   327    tons;    avooI,    500  pounds; 
els;  hav,  1,348  tons;  wool,  2,963  lbs. ;  |  buckwheat,  743  bushels. 
maple  sugar,  2,485  pounds.  |      Distances.     Seven  miles  south-west 

Distances.     About  ten  miles  south  from  Amherst,  forty  south-west  from 
from  Plymouth,  and  thirty  north-west  Concord, 
from  Concord. 


BROOKPIEIiD. 

Carroll  Co.  Brookfield  was  orig- 
inally a  part  of  Middleton.  The  soil 
of  this  town  is  good.  Cook's  Pond  is 
the  source  of  the  west  branch  of  Sal- 
mon-Fall River.  There  is  also  an- 
other small  pond,  covering  about  fif- 
teen acres,  directly  on  the  top  of  Moose 
Mountain,  which  has  always  about  the 
same  quantity  of  water,  and  a  variety 
of  fish  in  it. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Wolfe- 
borough,  east  by  Wakefield,  south-east 
by  Middleton,  and  west  by  New  Dur- 
ham. 

First  Settlers.  Nicholas  Austin  and 
Richard  Hanson. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,726  bushels;  potatoes,  17,955  bush- 
els; hay,  1,199  tons;  wool,  1,735  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  4,155  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  twelve  south 
from  Ossipee. 

BROOKLINE. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Nisitissit  is 
the  only  river  in  Brookline.  It  rises 
in  the  north-east  part  of  Mason ;  passes 
through  the  south  part  of  Milford  into 
Brookline,  pursuing  a  south-east  course 
to  Potanipo  Pond.  From  the  pond  it 
runs  south-east  to  Hollis,  passing 
through  the  south-west  corner  of  that 
town  into  Pepperell,  where  it  empties 
into  Nasliua  River.  Potanipo,  or  Ta- 
napus  Pond,  is  situated  near  the  meet- 
ing-house. It  is  about  a  mile  long  and 
one  third  of  a  mile  wide.  Brookline 
formerly  belonged  to  Massachusetts. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Milford,  east 
by  Hollis,  south  by  Townsend  and 
Pepperell  in  Mass..  and  west  by  Mason. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Lemuel  Wards- 
worth,  ordained  in  1797  ;  died  in  1817. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,530  bushels ;  potatoes,  4,180  bushels ; 


CA]>IBIiII>GE. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  has  few  in- 
habitants, and  contains  23,160  acres. 
This  tract  has  an  uneven  surface,  but 
might  be  advantageously  cultivated. 
Several  streams  rise  here,  and  fall  in- 
to the  Androscoggin,  Avhich  passes 
through  the  north-west  part  of  the 
town. 

Boundaries.  The  township  of  Errol, 
and  Umbagog  Lake  are  on  the  north, 
the  State  of  Maine  on  the  east.  Success 
and  Paulsburg  on  the  south,  and  Dum- 
mer  on  the  v.est. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Potatoes, 
150  bushels;  hW,  10  tons;  wool,  15 
pounds  ;  rye,  50  bushels. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  forty- 
three  miles  north-east  from  Concord, 
and  about  thirty-five  miles  north-cast 
from  Lancaster. 

CAMPTON. 

Graftox  Co.  Tlie  surface  of  Camp- 
ton  is  broken  and  uneven,  abounding 
with  rocky  ledges,  and  having  several 
mountainous  tracts.  Besides  Pemige- 
wasset  river,  iimning  north  and  south, 
through  nearly  the  centre  of  the  town, 
it  is  watered  by  INIad  and  Beebe's  Riv- 
ers, which  ftill  into  the  Pemigewasset 
on  the  east,  and  by  West  Branch  River 
and  Bog  Brook  on  the  west.  The  land 
in  the  valleys  is  generally  good,  and 
there  is  some  good  intervale.  The 
high  land  is  good  for  grazing.  The 
forest  trees  are  mostly  deciduous.  No 
white  oak  or  pitcli  pine  is  found  north 
of  the  centre  of  the  town.  Iron  ore  of 
an  inferior  quality  is  found  in  some 
places. 

From  the  circumstance  of  the  first 
proprietors  building  a  camp  Avhen  they 
went  to  survey  Campton  and  Rumney, 
this  town  dei-ives  its  name.  In  the 
revolutionary  war,  this  toAvn,  though  in 
its  infancy,  furnished  nine  or  ten  sol- 
diers, five'  of  whom  died  in  the  service, 
and  three  were  living  in  1822. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


39 


Boundaries.  South  bv  Iloldcmcss 
and  Plymouth,  west  by  Kumney.  north 
by  Thornton,  and  east  by  Sandwich. 

First  Settlers.  Two  families  by  the 
names  of  Fox  and  Taylor,  in  176.5. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Seldcn  Church, 
ordained  in  1774;  dismissed  in  1792. 
Rev.  John  AVebber,  settled  in  1812: 
dismissed  in  1815. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
4,254  bushels:  potatoes,  35,247  bush- 
els; liay,  3,252  tons;  wool,  9,961  lbs.; 
nij^ple  sugar,  16,145  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  north-west 
from  Concord,  and  about  ten  miles 
north-cast  from  Plymouth. 

C  AX  A  AX. 

Graftox  Co.  The  only  stream  of 
consequence  in  this  town  is  the  Mas- 
comy,  which  rises  in  the  north-west 
part  of  Dorchester,  and  after  a  mean- 
dering course  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  falls 
into  Mascomy  Pond  in  Enfield.  In- 
dian Stream  River  rises  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  Dorchester,  and  running 
about  eight  miles,  mingles  "vWth  the 
waters  of  Mascomy,  near  the  centre  of 
the  town.  Heart  Pond,  so  calle  dfrom 
its  figure,  is  situated  in  the  centre  of 
the  to^\^l.  and  upon  a  swell  of  land  so 
elevated  that  at  a  distance  it  presents 
the  appearance  of  a  sheet  of  water  on 
a  hill.  It  is  about  500  rods  in  length  ; 
and  200  in  width,  and  the  only  natural ! 
curiosity  of  any  note,  is  the  mound  or 
1)ank  of  earth  which  nearly  surrounds  ' 
this  pond.  It  is  from  four  to  five  feet 
high,  and  from  its  unifonn  height  and  \ 
regular  construction  Avould  seem  to  be  ' 
tlie  work  of  art ;  but  from  frequent  an- 1 
nual  observation,  it  is  found  to  have 
been  produced  by  the  drifting  of  the ; 
ice  when  breaking  up  in  the  spring.       | 

Besides  this,  there  are  Goose,  Clark's,  I 
Mud  and  Bear  Ponds,  The  land  is  ! 
not  so  broken  as  in  some  of  the  ad'  [ 
joining  towns.  There  is  luit  little  not  j 
capable  of  cultivation.  The  soil  is  j 
tolerably  fertile.  It  derived  its  name  j 
from  Canaan  in  Conn.  i 

Jonathan  Duston,  a  native  of  Haver- 
hill, Mass..  a  grandson  to  the  intrepid 
Hannah  Duston.  mentioned  under 
Duston's  Island,  died  here,  July  4, 1812, 
aged  ninetv-three,  I 


Boundaries.  North  ])y  Dame's  Gore, 
which  separates  it  from  Dorchester, 
east  by  Orange,  south  by  Enfield,  and 
west  by  Hanover. 

First  Settlers.  George  Harris,  Thom- 
as Miner,  Joshua  Harris,  Samuel 
Jones,  and  Samuel  Meacham,  in 
1776. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Thomas  Bald- 
win. D.  D.,  ordained  in  1783;  removed 
in  1790. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,851  bushels;  potatoes,  42,068  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,652  tons  ;  wool,  8,541  lbs, ; 
maple  sugar,  12,894  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixteen  miles  east  from 
Dartmouth  College,  thirty  south-east 
from  Haverhill,  seventy-five  south-west 
from  Plymouth,  and  fifty-two  north- 
west from  Concord  by  railroad.   . 

CAXOIA. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  soil  of 
Candia  is  naturally  hard  of  cultivation ; 
but  the  industiy  of  the  inhabitants  has 
made  it  fruitful.  It  was  originally  cov- 
ered with  a  thick  growth  of  oak.  ash, 
maple,  birch,  &c.  The  site  of  this  Xovm. 
is  elevated,  and  commands  an  exten- 
sive view  of  the  rich  scenery  of  the  ad- 
jacent coxmtry — the  AVhite  Hills,  the 
Wachusett,  and  other  mountains,  the 
lights  on  Plum  Island,  and  the  ocean 
being  visible. 

In  the  west  part  of  the  to'w'n  is  a 
ridge  of  land  extending  from  north  to 
south,  which  is  the  highest  elevation 
between  Merrimac  River  and  the 
ocean.  On  the  east  side  of  this  ridge, 
r\vo  branches  of  Lamprey  River  take 
their  rise.  This  town  among  others 
contrilnited  largely  to  the  attainment 
of  independence ;  and  the  names  of 
sixty-nine  soldiers  of  the  revolution  are 
found  on  its  records.  The  inhabitants 
are  mostly  industrious  fanners,  many 
of  whom  are  wealthy. 

This  town  was  formerly  called 
Charmingfare,  in  consequence  of  its  first 
visitors  being  pleased  with  its  site  as  a 
place  of  residence.  It  is  really  a  beau- 
tiful io^\n,  and  the  birthplace  of  some 
of  the  most  respectable  people  in  the 
country.  It  derived  its  name  in  com- 
pliment to  Gov,  Benning  Went^vorth, 


40 


GAZETTEER    OF  .NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


who  was  once  a  pi-isoncr  on  the  island 
of  Candia  in  the  Mediten-anean  iSea. 

Boandaries.  North  by  Deertield, 
east  by  Nottingham,  soutii  by  Chester, 
and  Avest  by  Hooksett  and  AUenstown. 

First  Settlers.  William  Turner, 
John  Sargent,  and  others,  ia  1748. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  David  Jewett. 
settled  in  1771  :  removed  in  1780. 
Rev.  Joseph  Prince,  ordained  in  1782  ; 
removed  in  1789.  Rev.  Jesse  Ben- 
nington, ordained  in  1790;  died  in 
1815. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
6,220  bushels :  potatoes,  20,320  bushels : 
hay,  2,175  tons  ;  wool,  2,287  poimds. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  thirty- 
five  miles  west  from  Portsmouth.  The 
Concord  and  Portsmouth  Railroad 
passes  through  this  town. 

CA]!8TERBURY. 

Merrimac  Co.  Canterbui-y,  though 
an  uneven  to\\Ti5hip,  is  not  mountain-  j 
ous.  The  soil  is  generally  good :  the  | 
more  uneven  parts  aftbrding  excellent 
pasturage.  There  are  no  large  streams 
in  this  toAvn :  but  several  ponds  give 
rise  to  smaller  streams,  furnishing  good 
mill  sites,  and  near  which  are  cut  great 
quantities  of  hay.  Two  bridges  over 
the  Merrimac  connect  tliis  town  with 
BoscaAven.  Por  a  long  time  the  in- 
habitants were  exposed  to  the  inroads 
of  the  savages.  A  great  number  of 
horrid  murders  were  committed.  The 
husbandman  cleared  and  tilled  his  land 
under  the  protection  of  a  guard,  un- 
certain whether  the  seed  he  committed 
to  the  ground  might  not  be  watered 
by  his  blood  or  that  of  an  enemy. 
"  The  Hon.  Abicl  Foster  deserves  a 
particular  notice.  He  possessed  in  a 
great  degree  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  the  people ;  and  soon  after  he  left 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  church,  he  was 
called  to  arduous  duties  as  a  magistrate 
and  legislator.  In  1 783,  he  was  elected 
to  Congress ;  and  for  three  years  was 
a  member  of  that  body  tinder  the  old 
confederation.  He  was  successively  re- 
turned a  member  for  nearly  all  the  time 
until  l!^04  :  v.hen  he  retired  to  private 
life  and  domestic  tranquillity.    He  was 


an  ardent  lover  of  his  countiy,  and  faith- 
fully served  his  constituents — by  whom 
his  memory  will  long  be  cherished. 
He  died  in  Feb.,  1806. 

Canterbury,  from  its  elevated  situa- 
tion, has  ever  been  a  healthy  toyra. 

In  the  south-east  part  of  this  tovm. 
on  an  elevated  and  beautiful  site,  is  the 
village  of  the  "  Shakers."  At  present 
it  consists  of  more  than  two  hundred 
members.  Tliey  have  a  meeting-house 
open  at  all  times  of  public  worship, 
v>'liere  any  discreet  and  decent  specta- 
tor is  allowed  to  attend.  They  have  a 
"  Trustees'  Oftice,"  where  all  their  pub- 
lic business  is  transacted,  and  where 
strangers  are  at  first  received  on  their 
Aisits  to  the  society.  T'hey  have  also 
neat  dwelling-houses,  of  two  and  three 
stories,  and  several  workshops  both  for 
men  and  women.  Their  mills  and  va- 
rious kinds  of  machineiy  are  moved  by 
water  on  an  artificial  sti-eam.  They 
manufacture  many  articles  for  sale, 
which  are  remarkable  for  neatness  and 
durability.  Their  gardens  are  perhaps 
the  most  productive  of  any  in  the  coun- 
try ;  and  indeed  all  their  improved 
lands  exhibit  the  pleasing  eftects  of  in- 
dustry and  nxral  economy.  They  cul- 
tivate garden  seeds  and  take  much 
pains  to  propagate  those  of  the  best 
kind.  They  occupy  more  than  1,500 
acres  of  land,  lying  principally  in  a 
body,  which  they  have  '  consecrated  to 
the  Lord,'  and  which  they  enjoy  in  com- 
mon. They  cheerfully  pay  their  pro- 
portion of  public  taxes,  and  share  aU 
the  burthens  of  government,  except  the 
bearing  of  aiTns,  which  they  deem  to 
be  contrary  to  the  gospel ;  and  in  re- 
turn they  claim  from  goveniment  only 
that  protection  and  support  guaranteed 
to  other  citizens.  The  income  of  their 
manufactures,  together  with  their  agri- 
cultural products,  yields  their  temporal 
support ;  and  what  they  become  pos- 
sessed of  more  than  is  necessary  to 
their  wants,  they  devote  to  charitable 
purposes,  agreeably  to  their  church 
covenant.  It  should  be  mentioned  as 
a  practice  highly  creditable  to  this 
sect,  that  the  members  of  their  socie- 
ties never  make  use  of  ardent  spirits, 
except  in  cases  of  sickness,  being  aware 
of  the  evils  intemperance  brings  upon 


CANTERBURY. 


41 


society.  Another  practice  not  unwor- ; 
thy  of  imitiitiou  is,  they  refuse  to  he 
trusted  even  in  the  smallest  sum.  They 
transact  their  secular  concerns  Mitii 
great  uprightness ;  and  though  they 
may  have  suffered  reproach  from  their 
singularity  of  life  and  manners,  they 
have  become  a  proverb  for  industry, 
justice  and  benevolence. 

For  a  particular  account  of  the  reli- 
gious tenets  of  tliis  singular  people,  see 
Hay  ward's  Book  of  Reliyiotis. 

From  Dr.  Jackson's  invaluable  Ge- 
ology of  Xew  Hampshire,  Ave  copy  the 
following,  as  a  specimen  of  Shaker 
farming.  Dr.  Jackson  says,  "  On  visit- 
ing the  farm  of  this  industrious  com- 
munity, I  was  highly  gratified  to  find 
the  Trustees  wei'e  much  interested  in 
modern  improvements  in  agriculture, 
and  having  pointed  out  to  them  the 
best  methods  of  making  peat  composts, 
and  of  reclaiming  bogs,  I  visited  an 
extensive  morass  on  their  estate,  and 
suggested  methods  of  reclaiming  it  and 
rendering  it  fertile." 

The  following  report  was  made  to 
Dr.  Jackson,  February  1,  1843,  by  this 
industrious  people :  "  We  commenced 
operations,  in  good  earnest,  soon  after 
your  visit  here  in  1841,  and,  with  the 
expense  of  about  $40,  succeeded  in 
lowering  the  main  channel  in  our  mea- 
dow about  two  and  one  half  feet ;  we 
then  cleared  out  the  old  marginal  drains 
so  as  nearly  to  surround  a  small  piece, 
which  was  ploughed,  and  left  to  be  ex- 
posed to  the  action  of  the  frost,  intend- 
ed for  experiments  in  cultivation  the 
ensuing  season.  It  should  be  under- 
stood that  this  was  the  most  barren 
and.  apparently,  worthless  part  of  the 
meadow :  indeed  it  was  good  for  no- 
thing as  it  then  was,  for  it  produced 
nothing,  excepting  a  few  bushes.  This 
plat  was  planted  in  the  spring  of  1842, 
principally  with  potatoes,  one  third  of 
which  was  manured  in  the  hill  with  a 
small  quantity  of  stalde  manure,  one 
third  with  one  half  pint  of  unleached 
ashes  to  the  hill,  and  one  third  with 
no  addition  whatever.  The  two  first 
portions  produced  a  handsome  crop; 
the  other  but  very  few ;  the  whole  re- 
quired but  little  labor  in  hoeing,  and 
we  had   the    pleasure    of   harvesting 

4* 


from  this  piece  170  bu>hcls  of  beauti- 
ful roots,  wliich  did  not  cost  more  hard 
labor,  and  not  one  half  the  manure  that 
fifty  bushels  would  on  our  hard  upland 
soil,  to  say  nothing  of  tlic  time  emj^loy- 
ed  in  clearing  such  land  of  the  stones. 

"  We  have  never  meas'ured  the  land, 
and  cannot  tell  how  much  it  produced 
to  the  acre,  but  we  measured  one  small- 
er piece,  and  found  it  yielded  300 
bushels  to  the  aci-e ;  this  was  manured 
with  ashes  only. 

"  But  whether  the  crop  be  great  or 
small,  it  was  a  powerful  argument  to 
prove  the  practicability  of  rendering 
the  whole  meadow  productive.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  last  season  we  suiTound- 
ed  about  seven  acres  with  marginal 
drains,  with  sufficient  cross  drains  to 
lead  the  water  into  the  main  channel ; 
these  drains  we  intend  to  fill  vAih.  small 
stones. 

"  In  addition  to  the  trial  on  the  po- 
tatoe  crop,  we  tried  the  experiment  on 
grass,  corn  and  some  other  vegetables. 
One  small  piece  was  covered  with  a 
thin  coating  of  loam,  with  a  small 
quantity  of  lime,  say  twenty  loads,  of 
thirty  bushels  to  the  load,  and  two 
casks  of  lime  to  the  acre.  This  was 
sown  with  clover  and  red-top  seed; 
both  grew  luxuriantly,  producing  full 
two  tons  of  hay  to  the  acre  the  first 
year,  but  we  do  not  think  the  clover 
or  the  red-top  so  well  suited  to  this 
kind  of  soil  as  the  herds-grass.  The 
tap-root  of  the  clover  will  not  strike 
down  as  in  common  sod ;  of  course  it  is 
more  liable  to  be  destroyed  by  the  frost 
— but  the  herds-grass  appears  to  be  the 
most  profitable  article  we  can  grow  on 
this  kiijd  of  soil,  and  we  shall  endeavor 
to  introduce  it  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  The  earing  of  the  corn  was  nearly 
destroyed  by  the  hail,  but  its  vigorous 
growth  proved,  to  a  demonstration, 
that  the  soil  Avas  well  suited  to  that 
crop,  and  it  would  yield  abundantly 
when  manured  with  ashes,  lime,  or 
anything  that  would  produce  ammonia, 
such  as  stable  manure,  urine,  and,  par- 
ticularly, any  animal  substance.  But, 
aside  from  the  grain,  the  food  for  stock, 
arising  from  this  crop,  Avould  doubly 
compensate  us  for  the  labor  required 
in  its  cultivation,  provided  grass  would 


42 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


not  grow,  -which,  however,  we  are  grati-  convert  his  fifty  loads  of  manui-e  into 
fied  to  learn,  is  not  the  case.  150,  is  justly  deserving  of  that  poverty 

"  Carrots  and  other  tap-rooted  veg-   which  idleness  always  insures, 
etables  will  not  grow  to  advantage  in  |      '•  The   advantages   of   the   compost 
this  soil,  from  the  fact  that  the  top  of '  heap  are   numerous :    for  every  dead 
the  soil  contains  nourishment  enough  ,  animal  and  all  otherwise  useless   otFal, 


for  them  :  of  course  they  are  not  under 
the  necessity  of  striking  deep  to  obtain 
it.  But  though  many  otlier  plants  may 
be  made  to  vegetate  well  in  peat  land, 
yet  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  corn,  po- 
tatoes and  grass,  and  more  especially 


so  often  seen  by  the  road  side,  detri- 
mental to  the  olfactories  of  travellers, 
if  not  to  their  health,  may,  by  the  com- 
post heap,  be  converted  into  so  many 
sources  of  profit  to  the  jutlicious  hus- 
bandman.     In  fact,  we  consider  our 


the  latter,  make  the  best  return  for  the  ;  bog,  as  it  is,  for  compost  maniu-e,  a 
labor  applied  in  their  cultivation,  or,  j  treasure,  a  real  bank,  where  we  have 
at  least  it  is  so  with  regard  to  our  mea-  no  defalcation  to  dread,  and  no  fear  of 
dow.  xVnd  now  for  the  manure  heap :  stopping  payment  for  the  next  1000 
this  forms  a  grand  point,  on  which  tlie 


destiny  of  the  tiller  of  the  earth  must 
and  will  turn  :  for  a  farmer,  to  render 
his  lands  productive,  witliout  tliis  all 
important  item,  is  utterly  impossible. 


years,  at  least. 

"  But  one  great  objection  to  compost 
heaps,  as  here  recommended,  is  the 
requisite  labor  in  digging  them  over 
so  much.      Now  we   have  a  cheaper 


And  now,  after  two  years  fair  trial,  we  i  method  by  which  much  of  this  labor  is 
are  prepared  to  say,  that,  in  this  part  saved.  We  fona  our  heap  a  regular 
of  the  counti-y,  we  should  look  upon  !  square,  say  one  rod  wide  and  as  long 
that  form,  which  has  not  its  peat  land  |  as  we  please,  or  it  may  be  wider,  but 
in  sufficient  quantities  for  the  compost  \  this  is  a  convenient  shape.  The  mud 
heap,  as  nothing  worth  ;  for  we  have  i  being  hauled  and  placed  in  this  shape, 
found  by  experience,  that  meadow  mud, ,  from  six  to  twelve  inches  thick,  we  next 
mixed  with  one  half  or  one  third  of  its  i  cart  on  the  manure  of  the  same  thick- 
quantity  of  stable  manure,  or  one  tenth  ness  of  the  mud ;  then  comes  the  peat 
of  animal  substance,  and  suffered  to  i  again :  these  make  the  heap  of  suffi- 
remain  in  a  snug  heap  for  a  few  months,  cient  thickness.  Now,  with  a  large  plow, 
after  which,  from  one  half  bushel  to  this  heap  may  be  worked  over  in  a 
one  bushel  of  recently  slacked  lime  be- ,  few  minutes,  and  the  work  done  equally 
ing  applied  to  each  load,  of  fifty  bush-  j  well  as  with  a  shovel ;  only  care  must 
els,  and  well  mixed  and  allowed  to  re-  j  be  taken  to  have  the  plough  go  to  the 

bottom  of  the  heap. 

"  We  have  not  forgotten  the  carbo- 
nate of  ammonia  which  you  recom- 
mended, and  shall  endeavor  to  give  it 


mam  ten  or  fifteen  days,  produces  a 

manure  more  durable  in  its  effects  than 

the  same   quantity  of  common  stable 

manure ;  but  it  may  not,  in  all  cases, 

produce  that  immediate  luxuriance  in  ,  a  fair  trial  the  ensuing  season,  because 

vegetation  wliich  some   of  the   more  i  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  any  manure 


stimulating  manures  would :  and  hence 
arises  one  cause  of  its  rejection.  But 
if  any  one  doubts  its  efficacy,  let  him 
lay  off  a  small  plat  of  ground  and  an- 
nually apply  compost  made  as  above,  I 
after  "the  rate  of  twenty  loads,  of  fifty  j 
bushels,  to  the  acre,  for  any  successive 
number  of  years,  and  raise  what  he 


is  useful  in  peat  land,  in  proportion  to 
the  ammonia,  or  other  alkali,  that  it 
forms,  and  no  further,  and  should  this 
answer  our  expectations,  its  ease  of  ap- 
plication will  be  no  small  account  in 
its  favor. 

"  In  answer  to  your  several  inquiries 
concerning  the  manufacturing  of  sugar 


pleases,  and  see  if  that  soil  does  not  i  from  the  maple,  we  would  state  that 
increase  in  fertility.  we  have  not  been  sufficiently  accurate 

"  Now  this  being  a  well  established  j  in  our  experiments  to  be  very  nice  in 
fact,  it  seems  to  open  a  new  era  in  those  several  particulars  mentioned, 
farming  ;  for  the  man,  having  the  fa-  but  can  give  you  some  general  outlines 
cility  for  so  doing,  and  neglecting  to  I  of  our  operations.     Our  trees  would 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


43 


average  something  like  fourteen  inches 
in  diameter ;  of  this  size  we  tapjjcd  430 
in  the  year  1842,  from  which  we  ob- 
tained 302  barrels  of  sap,  making  2,150 
pounds  of  sugar ;  but  it  must  be  recol- 
lected, these  were  open  land  trees, 
which  will  yield,  upon  an  average,  one 
eighth  more  sugar  than  forest  trees, 
which  will  produce  about  four  pounds 
of  raw  sugar  the  season — this  we  should 
consider  a  fair  estimate  for  forest  trees 
of  one  foot  in  diameter,  taking  one 
season  with  anothei',  though  it  appears 
to  be  an  essentially  ditterent  result 
from  that  aftbrded  by  the  sap  we  sent 
you :  but  for  so  wide  a  difference  I 
can  give  no  satisfactory  reason. 

"  In  relation  to  tapping  trees,  I  would 
remark  that  the  tree  may  be  jjerfbrated 
to  the  colored  wood,  although  we  ob- 
tain near  one  third  more  sap  in  the 
season  ])y  boring  about  two  inches  at 
first,  and  after  tlic  flow  of  sap  begins 
to  abate,  as  it  generally  will  in  ten  or 
fifteen  days,  to  remove  the  tap  and  go 
an  inch  or  more  deeper. 

"  xVs  it  respects  the  quantity  of  sap 
obtained  from  trees  of  given  diameters, 
it  Avould  be  difficult  to  state  it,  for  some 
trees  of  the  same  diameter  with  others 
will  yield  double  the  quantity  of  sap  ; 
indeed  I  have  known  trees  of  one  foot 
to  yield  thirty  quarts  of  good  sap  in 
twenty-four  hours. 

"  You  Avish  to  know  how  many  tap 
holes  a  tree  will  admit  of  without  kill- 
ing it — this  question  I  cannot  answer ; 
but  I  once  inserted  twenty-four  taps, 
and  did  not  succeed  in  killing  the  tree. 
As  a  general  rule,  two  taps  are  suffi- 
cient for  one  tree,  unless  it  be  of  large 
size,  or  branched  near  the  ground,  in 
which  case  both  branches  must  be  tap- 
ped as  much  as  though  they  were  two 
distinct  trees. 

"  In  your  estimate  I  think  you  have 
assumeil  too  great  a  quantity  of  sugar 
for  the  sap,  although  the  quantity  of 
sap  assumed  is  a  fair  estimate  :  for  we 
never  have  made  one  thii-d  of  a  pound 
of  sugar  from  a  gallon  of  sap,  nor  do 
we  think  it  can  be  done  in  the  ordinary 
way.  But  it  would  be  fair  to  state 
seven  pounds  to  the  baiTcl,  of  thii'ty 
gallons,  or  four  pounds  to  the  tree  for 
forest  trees,  and  two  men  and  a  bov 


would  tend  1000  trees,  making  4000 
pounds  of  raw  sugar;  some  seasons 
they  would  make  more  and  some  less ; 
and,  at  this  rate,  it  would  be  profitable 
business,  especially  as  it  is  made  that 
season  of  the  year  when  farmers  have 
but  little  else  to  attend  to. 

"  In  relation  to  the  buckets  you  men- 
tion, an  old  sugar  maker  would  manu- 
facture his  own  troughs  on  the  spot  in 
a  little  more  time  than  it  would  re- 
quire to  make  the  bargain  with  the 
cooper,  although  the  buckets  Avould  be 
easier  to  handle. 

"  Your  ideas  in  relation  to  the  op- 
eration are  correct,  and  we  look  for- 
ward with  pleasing  anticipation  to  the 
day  Avhcn  they  will  be  carried  out." 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Gilman- 
ton,  south-east  by  Loudon,  south  by 
Concord,  west  by  Merrimac  River 
which  divides  it  from  Boscawen,  and 
north  by  Bean's  Hill  which  divides  it. 

First  Ministers.  Hcv.  Abiel  Foster, 
ordained  in  1761;  dismissed  in  1779. 
Rev.  Frederick  Parker,  ordained  in 
1791;  died  in  1802. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,114  bushels;  potatoes,  45.213  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,101  tons  ;  wool,  12,784  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  13,192  pounds. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  north  from 
Concord. 

CARROL.L.. 

A  township  in  Coos  county,  lying  at 
the  base  of  the  White  Mountains.  Its 
surface  is  uneven,  and  its  appearance 
dreary. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Jefferson  and 
Whitefield,  east  by  the  AVhite  Moun- 
tains, west  by  Whitefield  and  Bethle- 
hem, south  by  ungranted  lands. 

First  Settlers.  This  township  was 
granted  in  1772  to  Sir  Thomas  Went- 
worth.  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,  and 
eighty-one  others. 

"Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
400  bushels  ;  potatoes,  6.820  bushels  ; 
hay,  405  tons  :  wool,  580  pounds ;  ma- 
ple sugar,  2,620  pounds. 

Distances.  It  lies  one  hundred  and 
tAventy  miles  north  from  Concord,  and 
about  eighteen  miles  south-east  from 
Lancaster. 


44  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAilPSHIKE. 


CARROLL   COUNTY. 

OssiPEE  is  the  shire  to.^Ti.  The  follo^^•ing  is  the  legislative  description  of  its 
territory  —The  county  of  Can-oil  shall  contain  all  the  land  and  waters  inclu- 
ded within  the  following  to.vns  and  places,  which  now  constitute  a  part  of  the 
county  of  Strafford,  to  wit:  Albany,  Brookfield,  Chatham,  Conway  Eaton,  Ef- 
fingham, Freedom,  Moultonborough,  Sandwich,  Tamworth,  Tuftonborough 
Ossipee,' Wakefield,  and  Wolfeborough.  ,-u,>      ' 

This  county  is  therefore  bounded  north  by  the  county  of  Coos,  east  by  the 
State  of  Maine,  south  by  the  county  of  Belknap,  and  west  by  the  county  of 

^  Th^^'county  lies  on  the  north  side  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  and  presents  in 
common,  with  its  sister  county  of  Belknap  on  its  south  side,  as  much  beautiful 
scener>^  as  can  be  found  in  any  section  of  this,  or  any  other  countiy.  For  de- 
scriptions of  Lakes  Winnipiseogee  and  Ossipee,  see  Uikes  and  Ponds. 

The  suri-ace  and  soil  of  this  county,  and  its  hydraulic  power,  are  much  of  the 
character  of  those  in  the  county  of  Belknap.-See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  CARROLL  COLT^TY. 

Superior  Court,  Fourth  District.  At  Ossipee,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  July, 
and  at  Gilford,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.    At  Ossipee,  the  third  Tuesday  of  May,  and  second 

Tuesday  of  November.  r  a     -i       a  *\.^ 

Proktte  Courts.  At  Ossipee  Corner,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  April,  and  the 
second  Tuesday  of  February,  June,  August,  October,  and  December  ;  at  TV  est 
Ossipee,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  JanuaiT,  the  first  Tuesday  of  March,  the 
second  Tuesday  of  May,  July,  September,  and  November  5  and  at  Ossipee,  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  October. 


CENTRE  HARBOR. 

Belknap   Co.      Centre   Harbor  is 


splendid  mansion  for  tlie  entertainment 
of  travellers.     At  this  house  are  horses 


venTood    mortlv  a  rich  loam.     The  be  desirous  of  ^^s■t,ng  Bed  ^11  and  the 
P°,™w.h  is  oaU..ap,e,heee,..  ^Z:^'^^C:Slr^±^^ 


birch  and  pine. 

The  village  of  Centre  Harbor  is  de- 
lightfully situated  on  the  banks  of  Win- 
nipiseogee Lake,  and  is  surrounded  by 
some  of  the  most  splendid  scenery  in 
this  or  anv  other  country.  Red  Hill, 
in  Moultonborough,  is  near  this  village, 
and  is  easy  of  access  from  Mr.  Coe's 


be  found  sail  boats  for  the  purpose  of 
visiting  the  islands,  and  fishing  :  and  a 
steamboat  which  constantly  plies  in  the 
summer  months  between  this  and  the 
neighboring  lake  towns.  A  great  vari- 
etv  of  fish  and  fowl  are  found  in  this  vi- 
cinitv.  The  late  celebrated  Dr.  Dwight 
thus  describes  the  surrounding  scenery : 


CENTRE    HARBOR. 


45 


"  The  pi'ospect  of  this  lake,  and  its 
environs,  is  enchanting  ;  and  its  beau- 
ties are  seen  with  great  advantage  from 
a  delightful  elevation  a  little  distance 
from  tlie  road  towards  Plymouth.  The 
day  was  remarkably  fine.  Not  a  breath 
disturbed  the  leaves,  or  ruffled  the  sui'- 
face  of  the  waters.  The  sky  was  se- 
rene and  beautiful.  The  sun  shone 
with  a  soft  and  elegant  lustre  ;  such  as 
seems  peculiar  to  that  delightful  weatli- 
er,  which  from  the  20th  of  September 
to  the  20t}i  of  October,  so  often  elicits 
from  the  mouths  of  mankind  the  e})i- 
thet  of  charming.  Mildness  tempered 
the  heat ;  and  serenity  hushed  tlie  world 
into  universal  quiet.  The  Winuiijise- 
ogee  was  an  immense  field  of  glass  ; 
silvered  by  the  lustre  which  floated  on 
its  surface.  Its  borders,  now  in  full 
view,  now  dimly  retiring  from  the  eye, 
wex*e  formed  by  those  flowing  lines, 
those  masterly  sweeps  of  nature,  from 
which  art  has  derived  all  its  apprehen- 
sions of  ease  and  grace  ;  alternated  at 
the  same  time  by  the  intrusion  of  points, 
by  turns  rough  and  bold,  or  marked 
with  the  highest  elegance  of  flgure.  In 
the  centre  a  noble  channel  spread 
twenty-two  miles  before  the  eye,  unin- 
terrupted even  by  a  bush  or  a  rock. 
On  both  sides  of  this  avenue  a  train  of 
islands  arranged  themselves,  as  if  to 
adorn  it  with  the  finish,  which  could  be 
given  only  by  their  glowing  verdure, 
and  graceful  forms. 

"  Nor  is  this  lake  less  distinguished 
by  its  suite  of  hills,  and  mountains.  On 
the  north-west  ascends  a  remarkably 
beautiful  eminence,  called  the  Red 
Mountain  ;  limited  every  Avhere  by  cir- 
cular lines,  and  in  the  proper  sense  ele- 
gant in  its  figure  beyond  any  other 
mountain,  among  the  multitude,  which 
I  have  examined.  On  the  south  as- 
cends Mount  Major ;  a  ridge,  of  a  bold- 
er aspect,  and  loftier  height.  At  a  still 
greater  distance  in  the  south-east  rises 
another  mountain,  more  obscure  and 
misty;  presenting  its  loftiest  summit 
of  an  exactly  semicircular  form,  direct- 
ly at  the  foot  of  the  channel  above  men- 
tioned, and  terminating  the  watery  vis- 
ta between  the  islands,  by  which  it  is 
bordered,  in  a  magnificent  manner.  On 
the  north-east  the  Great  Ossipee  raises  i 


its  long  chain  of  summits  with  a  bold 
sublimity,  and  proudly  looks  down  on 
all  the  surrounding  region. 

"  As  we  did  not  cross  the  Winnipise- 
ogee,  I  am  unable  to  determine  in  what 
manner  an  excursion  on  its  waters 
might  be  compared  with  that  which  I 
made  on  Lake  George.  That  the  in- 
ternal and  successive  beauties  of  the 
Winnipiseogee  strongly  resemble,  and 
nearly  approach  those  of  Lake  George, 
I  cannot  entertain  a  doubt.  That  they 
exceed  them  seems  scarcely  credible. 
But  the  prospect  from  the  hill  at  the 
head  of  Centre  Harbor  is  much  superi- 
or to  that  from  Fort  George  ;  a  fact  of 
Vv'hich  hardly  anything  could  have  con- 
vinced me,  except  the  testimony  of  my 
own  eyes.  The  Winnipiseogee  pre- 
sents a  field  of  at  least  twice  the  extent. 
The  islands  in  view  are  more  numer- 
ous, of  finer  forms,  and  more  happily 
arranged.  The  shores  are  not  inferior. 
The  expansion  is  far  more  magnificent ; 
and  the  grandeur  of  the  mountains, 
particularly  of  the  Great  Ossipee,  can 
scarcely  be  rivalled.  It  cannot  be  re- 
marked without  some  surprise,  that 
Lake  George  is  annually  visited  by  peo- 
ple from  the  coast  of  New  England  j 
and  that  the  Winnipiseogee,  notwith- 
standing all  its  accumulation  of  splen- 
dor and  elegance,  is  almost  as  much 
unknown  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
country,  as  if  it  lay  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  Caspian." 

Centre  Harbor  derived  its  name  from 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  Mr.  Senter,  but 
its  spelling  was  changed,  probably  in 
consequence  of  its  location  on  the  lake. 
The  annual  increase  of  travellers  to 
this  delightful  region,  is  but  a  just  com- 
pliment to  the  taste  and  good  sense  of 
the  admirers  of  nature's  loveliest  works. 
The  village  of  Centre  Harbor  lies  part- 
ly in  Meredith. — See  L.  Winnipiseogee. 

Boundaries.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north-east  by  Moultonborough,  south- 
east by  Meredith,  south-west  by  New 
Hampton,  north-west  by  Holdemess 
and  Squam  Lake. 

First  Settlers.  The  first  settlers  were 
Ebenezer  Chamberlain  and  Col.  Jo- 
seph Senter;  they  came  from  Man- 
chester on  the  Merrimac  River  about 
the  year  1765,  being  then  a  part  of 


46 


GAZETTEER    OF   KEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Londondeny.  At  that  early  period  the 
hand  of  internal  improvements  had  not 
hegmi  its  operations  ;  the  roads  on  the 
hanks  of  the  Merrimae  were  almost  im- 
passible ;  no  canal  boats  glided  safely  by 
the  many  romantic  falls  on  that  majes- 
tic river ;  no  snorting  courser,  with  a 
gilded  chariot,  stood  ready  to  convey 
them  in  safety  through  the  wilderness,  at 
the  rate  of  twenty-tive  miles  an  hour,  to 
their  new  habitation.  A  passage  by  the 
river  was  their  best  recourse.  To  the 
minds  of  these  people  their  new  habita- 
tion seemed  as  far  up  noi-th,  as  Mars  Hill 
now  seems  down  east  to  a  Louisiana 
planter.  They  constructed  a  boat  of 
such  light  materials  as  to  be  easily 
transported  around  the  falls.  In  this 
boat  the  families  eml)arked  with  their 
provisions  and  household  goods,  and 
passing  up  the  river  about  sixty  miles, 
they  arrived  at  their  log  cabin  on  the 
banks  of  this  miniature  Archipelago 
in  about  the  same  time  it  now  takes  a 
steamer  to  cross  the  Atlantic. 

The  venerable  patriarch,  now  eighty- 
four  years  of  age,  who  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  greet  the  traveller  with  a  bright 
eye  and  smiling  face  at  this  place,  is  Sam- 
uel M.  Senter,  Esq..  the  son  of  one  of 
the  first  settlers,  and  father  of  Mrs.  Coe, 
for  many  years  the  accomplished  host- 
tCBs  of  the  "  Senter  House." 

First  Muiister.  Rev.  David  Smith 
settled  in  1819. 

Distances.  From  Boston  to  Mere- 
dith Village,  by  railroad,  is  108  miles  ; 
from  thence  to  Centre  Harbor  four 
miles  ;  from  thence  to  Conway  is  thir^ 
ty  miles,  and  from  Conway  to  the 
Notch  House  is  thirty  miles.  From  the 
Notch  House,  or  Thomas  Crawford's, 
to  Fabian's  is  three  miles.  Total  dis- 
tance, by  this  route,  from  Boston  to  the 
Notch  of  the  White  Mountains,  is  172 
miles.  A  railroad  is  in  progress  from 
Meredith  Villag-e  to  Centre  Harbor  and 
Conwfiy.  When  this  road  is  finished, 
a  trip  from  Boston  to  this  Alpine  region 
will  be  delightful.  From  Centre  Har- 
bor to  Concord  is  thirty-.scven,  and  to 
Guilford  is  thirteen  miles, 

CHARL-ESTO^^TV. 

Sullivan  Co.  The  only  rivers  in 
Charlestown  are  the  Connecticut  and 


Little  Sugar  Rivers.  In  the  former, 
there  are  throe  islands  within  the  limits 
of  this  town,  the  largest  of  which  con- 
tains  about   ten   acres,  and   is    called 

I  Sartwell's  Island.  The  others  contani 
abou^t  six  acres  each,  and  have  a  rich 
loamy  soil.     Sartwell's  Island  is  under 

I  a  hig-h  cultivation.     There  are  no  falls 

I  in  the  Connecticut  within  the  limits  of 
Charlestown  which  intcn-upt  the  boat 

I  navigation,  although  some  little  incon- 
venience is  experienced  in  low  water 
from  what   are   called  '•  Su^ar  River 


Ban 


Little  Sugar  River  waters  the 


north  part  of  Charlestown,  and  empties 
into  Connecticut  River  about  two  miles 
south  of  the  south  line  of  Claremont. 

This  town  has  but  few  factory  or  mill 
privileges.  The  soil  is  extremely  va- 
rious. West  of  the  great  road  leading 
from  Walpole  to  Claremont,  are  not 
less  than  1.500  acres  of  fine  intervale 
land,  generally  of  a  deep,  rich  and 
loamy  soil,  and  favorable  for  the  cul- 
ture and  growth  of  most  of  the  various 
kinds  of  grass  and  grain.  In  the  ea.st 
!  and  north-east  ])arts  of  the  town,  the 
I  soil  of  the  upland  is  good — the  natural 
growth  of  wood,  consisting  principally 
of  beech,  birch,  oak,  mai)le  and  hem- 
lock. There  is  a  ridge  of  hard,  broken, 
and  in  some  parts  stony,  land,  east  of 
the  river  road,  extending  almost  the 
Avhole  length  of  the  town,  and  which  is 
considered  unfit  for  settlements.  The 
south  part  of  the  town  appears  to  have 
a  difi'erent  soil,  and  is  favorable  for 
yielding  the  lighter  grains. 

Charlestown  contairis  two  parishes, 
which  are  divided  by  a  line  running 
from  Cheshire  Bridge  southerly  to  the 
comer  of  AcAvorth  and  Unity.  In  the 
south  parish,  there  is  a  handsome  vil- 
lage.  delightfully  situated,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  half  a  mile  from  Con- 
necticut River,  and  parallel  with  it.  In 
tlie  north  parish  is  a  meeting-house  and 
a  small  village.  Cheshire  Bridge,  about 
two  miles  north  of  the  south  meeting- 
house,  connects  thjs  town  with  Spring- 
field, Vt. 

In  1 7.54.  the  French  War  commenced, 
and  the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to 
take  up  their  residence  in  the  fort.  The 
first  scttlei-s  of  Charlestown,  like  the 
i  first  inhabitants  of  almost  every  fron- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


47 


tier  town  in  Ncav  England,  were,  prior 
to  1760,  the  vietims  of  savage  cruelty. 
For  twenty  years  after  the  first  settle- 
ment, their  neighbors  on  the  north  were 
the  French  in  Canada,  on  the  west  the 
Dutch,  near  the  Hudson,  on  the  east 
the  settlements  on  Merrimac  River,  and 
on  the  south  few  were  found  until  ax-ri- 
ved at  Northlield,  in  Massachusetts,  a 
distance  of  more  than  forty  miles.  The 
Indians  were  at  peace  but  a  small  por- 
tion of  that  time.  From  their  infancy, 
tlie  settlers  had  been  fomiliar  with  dan- 
ger, and  had  acquired  a  hardihood  un- 
knov/n  to  posterity.  When  they  at- 
tended public  worship,  or  cultivated 
their  lands,  they  sallied  from  the  fort 
prepared  for  battle,  and  worshipped  or 
labored  under  the  protection  of  a  senti- 
nel. In  their  warfare,  the  Indians  pre- 
ferred prisoners  to  scalps,  and  few  were 
killed  but  those  who  attempted  to  es- 
cape, or  appeared  too  formidable  to  be 
encountered  -vvith  success. 

The  first  child  bom  in  CharlestowTi 
was  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
Parker.  She  was  born  1744,  and  died 
in  1806. 

Charlestown  has  been  favored  with 
a  number  of  eminent  men,  only  one  of 
which  we  have  room  to  mention.  Capt. 
PiiiNEHAS  Stevens  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers.  The  town  when  in  its  in- 
fancy was  protected  by  his  intrepidity. 
He  was  a  native  of  Sudbury,  Mass., 
from  whence  his  father  removed  to 
Rutland.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  while 
his  father  was  making  hay,  he,  with 
three  little  brothers,  followed  him  to 
the  meadows.  They  were  ambushed 
by  the  Indians,  who  killed  two  of  his 
brothers,  took  him  prisoner,  and  were 
preparing  to  kill  his  youngest  brother, 
a  child  four  years  old.  He,  by  signs 
to  the  Indians,  made  them  understand 
if  they  would  spare  him,  he  would  car- 
ry him  on  his  back — and  he  carried 
him  to  Canada.  They  were  redeemed 
and  both  returned.  He  received  seve- 
ral commissions  from  Gov.  Shirley,- 
and  rendered  important  services  in  pro- 
tecting the  frontiers.  In  1747,  when 
Charlestown  was  abandoned  by  the  in- 
habitants, he  was  ordered  to  occupy  the 
fort  with  thirty  men.  On  the  4th  of 
April,  he  was  attacked  by  400  French 


i  and  Indians,  nnder  Mons.  Debeline. 
j  The  assault  lasted  three  days.  Indian 
stratagem  and  French  skill,  with  fire 
!  applied  to  every  combustible  about  the 
fort,  had  not  the  desu-ed  effect.  The 
heroic  band  were  not  appalled.  They 
refused  to  capitulate.  At  length  an 
interview  between  the  commanders  took 
place.  The  Frenchman  showed  his 
forces,  and  described  the  horrid  massa- 
cre that  must  ensue  unless  the  fort  v/as 
surrendered.  "  My  men  are  not  afraid 
to  die,"  was  the  answer  made  by  Capt. 
Stevens.  The  attack  continued  with 
increased  fury  until  the  end  of  the  third 
day,  when  the  enemy  returned  to  Can- 
ada, and  left  Capt.  Stevens  in  posses- 
sion of  the  fort.  Capt.  Stevens,  for  his 
gallantry  on  this  occasion,  was  present- 
ed by  Sir  Charles  Knowles  with  an  el- 
egant sword ;  and  from  this  circum- 
stance the  township,  when  it  was  incor- 
porated, in  1753,  took  the  name  of 
Charlestown.  This  territory  had  pre- 
viously been  called  Number  Four. 

Bog  iron  ore  and  other  minerals  is 
found  here. 

Boundaries.  West  by  the  west  bank 
of  Connecticut  River,  north  by  Clare- 
mont,  east  by  Unity  and  Acworth,  and 
south  by  Langdon  and  Walpole. 

First  Settlers.  Several  families  by 
the  names  of  Parker,  Farnsworth  and 
Sartwell  from  Groton,  Mass. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  John  Dennis, 
ordained  in  1754  ;  dismissed  in  1756. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
18,591  bushels;  potatoes,  41,902  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,241  tons  ;  WQpl,  25,721  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  6,759  poimds. 

Distances.  Fifty -one  miles  west  from 
Concord,  and  about  twenty  miles  south- 
east from  Windsor,  Vt.  A  railroad 
now  passes  through  this  delightful 
to'vvn. 

CHATHAM. 

Carroll,  Co.  Chatham  is  situated 
on  the  east  side  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains, and  adjoining  the  line  which  di- 
vides this  State  from  Maine, 

There  are  several  ponds  in  Chatham, 
and  some  considerable  streams.  The 
surface  is  mountainous  and  rocky,  and 
can  never  sustain  a  great  population. 


48 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Between  Chatham  and  Jackson,  Car- 
ter's Mountain  rises  so  high  as  to  pre- 
vent the  opening  a  road  between  the 
two  towns :  so  that  in  hokling  an  in- 
tercourse with  the  rest  of  the  county, 
the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  pass 
through  i^art  of  the  State  of  Maine. 

Boundaries.  Conway  on  the  south, 
Bartlett  and  Adams  on  the  west,  and 
Mount  Royse  on  tlie  north. 


First  Settlers.  Chatham  was  granted 
to  Peter  Livius  and  others,  Feb.  7, 1767. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,469  bushels;  potatoes,  13,835  bush- 
els; hay,  1,156  tons;  wool,  1,494  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  6.990  pounds. 

Distances.  Ninety-two  miles  north- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  forty- 
miles  north  of  Ossipee. 


CHESHIRE  COUNTY. 

Cheshire  is  one  of  the  western  counties  in  this  State,  and  Keexe  is  its  chief 
town.  Its  length  is  thirty-one  miles ;  its  greatest  breadth  twenty-six  miles ; 
and  its  least  breadth  fifteen.  It  is  bounded  north  by  the  county  of  Sullivan, 
east  by  Hillsborough  County,  south  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  west  by 
Vermont.  Throughout  the  whole  extent  on  the  west,  it  is  watered  by  the 
Connecticut,  the  western  bank  of  which  forms  the  boundary  line  between  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont. 

Ashuelot  River  is  a  considerable  stream,  and  is  tributary  to  Connecticut 
River.  It  has  its  source  from  a  pond  in  Washington,  and  after  receiving  two 
branches  in  Keene  and  Swanzey,  and  several  smaller  streams  in  Winchester, 
empties  into  Connecticut  River  at  Hinsdale.  Spafford's  Lake,  a  beautiful  col- 
lection of  water,  of  about  eight  miles  in  circumference,  is  situated  in  Chester- 
field.    There  is  a  pleasant  island  in  the  lake,  containing  about  eight  acres. 

The  Grand  Monadnock,  in  Dublin  and  Jaffrey,  is  the  highest  mountain. — 
See  Mountains.  Bellows'  Falls  on  Connecticut  River,  at  Walpole,  have  been 
regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  natural  curiosities  in  this  county. 

The  earliest  settlement  in  this  county  was  made  about  the  year  1732,  at 
Hinsdale,  then  a  part  of  Northfield,  and  under  the  government  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  county  probably  received  its  name  from  Cheshire;  one  of  the  west- 
em  counties  in  England. — See  County  Table. 


COURTS  IN  CHESHIRE  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court,  Third  District.  At  Ne^^-port,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  July, 
and  at  Keene,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Keene,  the  third  Tuesday  of  March,  and  second 
Tuesday  of  September. 

Probate  Courts.  At  Keene,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  every  month,  and  on  the 
third  Tuesday  of  March,  April,  May,  Sci)tember,  October,  and  November. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


49 


CHESTER. 

Rockingham  Co.  A  branch  of 
Exeter  River,  called  "  The  Branch," 
flows  through  the  north-east  part  of 
Chester,  beside  ■\vhicli  there  is  no 
stream  deserving  mention.  Massabe- 
sick  Pond  is  the  largest  body  of  fresh 
water  in  the  county,  and  contains 
about  1,.500  acres.  The  line  between 
this  town  and  Manchester  passes  more 
than  two  miles  through  the  westerly 
part  of  this  pond.  The  Indians  had  a 
settlement  of  ten  or  twelve  wigwams 
on  an  island  in  this  pond,  vestiges  of 
which,  it  is  said,  may  still  be  seen.  A 
considerable  portion  of  the  town  poss- 
esses a  good  soil,  and  many  of  the 
large  swells  yield  in  fertility  to  none 
in  the  State.  There  are  several  large 
and  valuable  meadows. 

In  this  town  are  two  caves,  some- 
times visited  by  strangers.  That  which 
was  earliest  noticed  is  situated  in  Mine 
Hill,  near  the  east  side  of  the  Massabe- 
sick  Pond.  The  entrance  is  about  five 
feet  high  and  two  and  a-half  wide. 
The  cavei-n  extends  into  the  hill,  in  a 
northern  direction,  about  eighty  feet, 
of  sufficient  dimensions  to  admit  a 
person  to  pass.  Its  form  is  very  irre- 
gular, and  its  height  and  breadth  va- 
rious, from  two  to  twelve  feet.  The 
other  is  in  the  westerly  side  of  Rattle- 
snake Hill,  in  the  south-west  part  of 
the  town,  in  a  ledge  of  coarse  granite, 
nearly  forty  feet  high.  It  has  two  en- 
trances. The  north  entrance  is  about 
eleven  feet  high  and  four  broad. 

Native  sulphur  is  found  in  this  to\vn 
in  small  quantities,  imbedded  in  tre- 
molite.  Granite  and  gneiss  are  the 
prevailing  rocks,  and  handsome  speci- 
mens of  grapliic  granite  are  sometimes 
found. 

The  village  in  this  town  is  pleasant, 
and  stands  chiefly  on  a  long  street.  It 
is  the  principal  place  of  business  in 
this  part  of  the  county,  and  is  situated 
on  an  elevated  rise,  commanding  one 
of  the  most  extensive  prospects  in  New 
England.  From  this  hill,  the  ocean, 
though  more  than  twenty  miles  dis- 
tant, may,  in  a  clear  day,  be  distinctly 
seen. 

Boundaries.  North  and  east  by  Ray- 
5 


mond,  Candia,  and  Hooksett,  east  by 
Poplin  and  Sandown,  south  by  Lon 
donderry,  and  Avest  by  Manchester. 

Fii'st  Settlers.  Samuel  Ingalls,  Jona 
than  Goodhue,  Jacob  Sargent,  Ebene- 
zer  Dearbox-n,  Robert  Smith,  and  B 
Colby. 

F'hst  Mvristers.  Rev.  Moses  Hale, 
settled  in  1730:  removed  in  1734. 
Rev.  John  Wilson,  settled  in  1734; 
died  in  1779. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
11,366  bushels;  potatoes,  33,355  bush- 
els; hay,  2,392'tons;  wool,  3,285  lbs. 

Distances.  Seventeen  miles  west 
south-west  from  Exeter,  and  twenty- 
three  south-east  from  Concord. 

CHESTERFIEL.D. 

Cheshire  Co.  Few  towns  on  Con- 
necticut River  have  so  little  intervale 
land.  For  the  whole  six  miles  that  it 
lies  upon  the  river,  the  hills  approach 
near  the  river's  side.  There  is  much 
good  upland,  well  adapted  for  grazing 
and  the  production  of  Indian  com. 
The  chief  articles  carried  to  market 
are  beef,  pork,  butter,  and  cheese. 
Cat's  Bane  Brook  is  a  stream  of  great 
importance,  as  it  furnishes  many  mill 
sites. 

Spaffbrd's  Lake  is  a  beautiful  collec- 
tion of  water,  situated  about  one  mile 
north  from  the  meeting-house.  It  con- 
tains a  surface  of  526  acres.  It  is  fed 
by  springs  in  its  bosom.  Its  waters 
are  remarkably  clear  and  pure,  its  bed 
being  a  white  sand.  In  this  lake  there 
is  an  island  of  about  six  acres,  which 
forms  a  delightful  retreat.  On  its  east 
side  issues  a  stream  called  Partridge's 
Brook,  sufficiently  large  for  a  number 
of  mills. 

West  River  Mountain  lies  in  this 
town  and  Hinsdale.  It  is  supposed  to 
have  been  once  subject  to  a  volcanic 
eruption,  and  there  is  at  present  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  lava  near  its  cra- 
ter. It  is  said,  by  those  who  live  near 
the  mountain,  that  it  frequently  trem- 
bles, and  a  rumbling  noise  is  heard  in 
its  bowels. 

Chesterfield  has  three  villages.  The 
principal  village,  leading  from  Hart- 
ford to  Hanover,  is  situated  near  the 


50 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


centre  of  the  town,  three  miles  east 
from  Connecticut  River,  and  is  very 
pleasant.  At  the  time  the  first  settlers 
came  here,  the  river  afforded  abun- 
dance of  shad  and  salmon,  and  the 
forests  were  well  stocked  -with  deer, 
bears,  and  other  game;  so  that  the 
inhabitants  did  not  experience  those 
privations  so  common  in  new  settle- 
ments. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Winchester 
and  Hinsdale,  west  by  Brattleboro' 
and  Duramerston,  Vt.,  north  by  West- 
moreland, and  east  by  Keene  and 
Swanzev. 

First  Settlers.  iMoses  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam Thomas,  Avith  their  families. 

-  First  Minister.  Rev.  Abraham  Wood, 
ordained  in  1772  ;  died  in  1823. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
9,143  bushels;  potatoes,  30,885  bush- 
els; hay,  3,534  tons;  wool,  7,044  lbs; 
maple  sugar,  11,993  pounds. 

Distances.  Eleven  miles  south-west 
from  Keene,  and  sixt].^-two  south-west 
from  Concord.  A "  raih'oad  pa.sses 
through  the  town. 

CHICHESTER. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
tOAvn  is  good,  and  richly  repays  the 
cultivator.  There  is  little  waste  land, 
nor  are  there  any  considerable  eleva- 
tions. The  east  part  of  the  to-svn  is 
watered  by  the  Suncook  River,  which 
affords  its  mill  sites  and  some  pro- 
ductive intervale.  In  various  parts  of 
the  town  are  still  to  be  seen  traces  of 
Indian  settlements ;  and  implements 
of  stone,  chisels,  axes,  &c.,  have  fre- 
quently been  found.  The  vicinity  was 
once  the  i-csidencc  of  a  powerful  tribe, 
the  Pcnacooks,  and  their  plantations 
of  corn,  &c.,  were  made  on  the  banks 
of  the  Suncook. 

Pinkfield  Pond  is  in  Chichester, 
from  which  flows  a  small  stream  south- 
west into  the  Suncook. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Pittsfield, 
south-east  by  Epsom,  south-west  by 
Pembroke,  and  north-west  by  Loudon 
and  a  part  of  Concord. 

First  Settler.  Paul  Morrill,  in  1753. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Josiah  Carpenter, 
ordained  in  1791 ;  dismissed  in  1827. 


Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,888  bushels  ;  potatoes,  23,822  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,908  tons  ;  wool,  3,798  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  1,908  pounds. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  east  from 
Concord. 

CLAREMONT. 

Sullivan  Co.  This  beautiful  town 
is  watered  by  Connecticut  and  Sugar 
Rivers,  besides  numerous  brooks  and 
rivulets.  Claremont  is  a  fine  undulat- 
ing ti-act  of  territory,  covered  with  a 
rich,  gravelly  loam,  converted  into  the 
best  meadows  and  pastm-es.  The  hills 
are  sloping  acclivities,  cro^vned  with 
elegant  summits.  The  intervales  on 
the  rivers  are  rich  and  luxuriant.  The 
agricultural  products  are  large  and 
valuable.  The  houses  and  buildings 
present  a  very  fiivorable  appearance, 
and  indicate  the  wealth  and  prosperity 
of  the  town.  In  tins  town  are  fine 
beds  of  iron  ore  and  limestone.  It 
received  its  name  from  the  country 
seat  of  Lord  Clive,  an  English  gen- 
eral. 

The  beautiful  location  of  Claremont, 
its  immense  water  power,  and  its  f:ici- 
lities  of  transportation  by  stesim,  ren- 
der it  a  most  desirable  location  for 
manufacturing.  Some  valuable  mine- 
rals are  found  here. 

Many  eminent  men  have  resided  in 
this  to-n-n.  The  Hon.  Caleb  Ellis  came 
to  reside  in  Claremont  about  1800. 
In  1804  he  was  chosen  a  member  of 
congress  from  this  State  ;  in  1 809  and 
1810  a  member  of  the  executive  coxin- 
cil ;  in  1812  an  elector  of  president 
and  vice-president  of  the  IT.  States. 
In  1813  he  was  aj)pointcd  judge  of 
the  superior  court,  in  which  otfice  he 
remained  till  his  death.  May  9,  1816, 
aged  forty-nine. 

Claremont  boasts  names  of  many 
other  valuable  citizens  :  among  which 
are  those  of  Samuel  Cole,  Esq.,  Dr. 
William  Sumner,  Col.  Benjamin  Sum- 
ner, Col.  Joseph  Waite,  Capt.  Joseph 
Tavlor,  and  Hon.  Samuel  Ashley. 

Boundaries.  This  tOAATi  has  Comish 
on  the  north,  NcAvport  on  the  east, 
Unity  and  CharlestoAvn  on  the  south, 
Weathersfield,  Vt.,  on  the  west. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


51 


Manufactures.  In  this  place  are  large 
and  increasing  manufactures  of  various 
kinds  of  goods,  tlie  statistics  of  which, 
when  obtained,  Avill  be  given  in  a  note 
at  the  close  of  the  volume. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  George  Whea- 
ton,  ordained  in  1772;  died  in  1773. 
Rev.  John  Tappan,  settled  in  1796; 
dismissed  in  1802. 

Proiliictions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
19,089  bushels  ;  potatoes,  43,410  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,990  tons;  wool,  14.260 
pounds;  maple  sugar,  8,115  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  north  from 
Charlestown,  eight  west  from  New]>ort, 
and  forty-seven  north  north-west  from 
Concord.  A  railroad,  from  Concord 
to  this  pleasant  town,  is  in  progress. 

ci.ark:svil,l,e. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  contains  40,- 
960  acres,  and  is  situated  on  the  east 
bank  of  Connecticut  River,  nortli  of 
Stewartstown.  The  soil  is  hard  and 
uninviting. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
1,020  bushels  ;  "potatoes.  5,870  bushels  ; 
hay,  367  tons  ;  wool,  650  pounds  ;  ma- 
ple sugar,  3,855  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  miles  north  of  Concord. 


COIiEBROOK. 

Coos  Co.  Colebrook  is  watered  by 
the  Mohawk  River  and  Beaver  Brook. 
The  soil  here  is  rich,  and  capable  of 
culture.  Intervales,  of  good  quality, 
stretch  along  the  Connecticut.  The 
people  are  industrious,  enterprising, 
and  happy. 

Boundaries.  Easterly  by  Dixville, 
southerly  by  Columbia,  Avesterly  by 
the  Connecticut  River,  and  northerly 
by  St^vartstown. 

First  Settlers.  Colebrook  was  origin- 
ally granted  to  Sir  George  Colebrook 
and  others. 

Fir.'it  Minister.  Rev.  0.  G.  Thatcher, 
settled  in  1824  ;  dismissed  in  1829. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
5,938  bushels;  potatoes,  31.675  bush- 
els ;  hay.  2,240  tons  ;  wool,  4,699  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  17.690  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-five  miles  north  of 


Lancaster,  and  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles  north  of  Qoncord. 


COI.UMBIA. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  lies  on  the 
east  bank  of  Connecticut  River.  The 
surface  of  the  town  is  quite  uneven, 
the  mountains  of  Stratford  lying  along 
the  south.  From  these  a  number 
of  streams  descend  north-westerly  in- 
to the  Connecticut,  furnishing  many 
fine  mill  sites.  There  are  also  scAxral 
small  ponds  in  the  toAvn.  On  the  bor- 
ders of  one  called  Lime  Pond,  vast 
quantities  of  shells  are  found,  from 
which  a  species  of  lime  is  made  that 
answers  for  some  uses.  The  most  re- 
markable locality  in  Columbia  is  the 
Lime  or  Marl  Pond,  which  is  two  miles 
south-east  from  the  centre  of  the 
town  of  Colebrook ;  it  is  near  the 
town  line,  and  is  quite  a  curiosity. 
This  pond  is  100  rods  long,  fifty 
rods  wide,  and  is  of  an  irregular 
elliptical  shape.  Its  bottom  is  covered 
to  the  depth  of  six  feet  with  perfectly 
white  calcarious  marl  of  extreme  puri- 
ty, formed  by  myriads  of  shells  of  the 
cyclas  and  planorbis,  an  abundance  of 
which  are  still  living  in  the  waters  of 
the  pond,  and  are  generally  found  un- 
der loose  stones.  Around  its  shores 
there  is  much  impure  gray  and  blue 
limestone. 

Boundaries.  Colebrook  is  on  the 
north,  Dixville  and  Ervin's  Location 
are  on  the  east,  and  Stratford  on  the 
south. 

First  Settlers.     First  granted  in  1 770. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
4.896  bushels;  potatoes,  15,590  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,553  tons  ;  wool,  3,385  lbs. : 
maple  sugar,  13,442  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  north  of 
Lancaster,  and  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  north  of  Concord. 


CONCORD. 

Merrimac  Co.  This  to-mi  is  the 
capitol  of  the  State,  and  shire  town  of 
the  county.  It  lies  on  both  sides  of 
the  Merrimac  River. 

There  are  five  ponds  in  Concord, 
the  largest  of  which  are  Turkey,  in  the 


52 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


soath-wcst.  and  Long  Pond  in  the  north- 
west parts  of  the  town,  on  the  streams 
passing  from  which  are  some  valuable 
mills  and  privileges.  The  Contoocook 
River  enters  the  west  corner  of  the 
town,  and  uniting  with  the  Merrimacon 
the  nortli-west  line,  forms  at  its  junc- 
tion the  celebrated  Daston's  Island.  On 
the  borders  of  the  Merrimac,  which 
is  the  principal  river  of  this  region,  are 
rich  intervale  lands,  highly  valued  by 
the  inhabitants,  and  well  cultivated.       ' 

The  intercourse  between  Boston  and 
Concord  by  means  of  the  Middlesex 
Canal  and  Locks  on  the  Mei-rimac 
River,  since  the  consti-uction  of  the 
canal  in  1803,  has  resulted  in  making- 
Concord  the  dcposite  of  an  extensive 
inland  trade.  The  great  increase,  liotli 
of  travel  and  trade  between  Boston  and 
Concord  since  the  opening  of  the  Con- 1 
cord  Railroad,  is  one  of  the  best  proofs 
of  the  superiority  of  locomotive  power 
over  all  others  for  the  conveyance  of 
passengers,  and  for  the  transportation 
of  almost  every  vai'iety  of  merchandise. 
Previous  to  tliis  event  it  was  a  day's  i 
journey  between  the  places,  and  a  box  i 
of  goods,  by  the  canal  and  river,  was 
frequently  a  week  or  more  on  its  pas- 
sage ;  now.  a  person  may  rest  at  night  \ 
at  Concord,  breakfast  in  Boston,  and 
return  to  Concord  to  dine,  bringing 
\vith  liim  twenty  tons  of  goods,  or  more 
if  he  chooses,  without  breaking  a  horse's  j 
back,  or  getting  stuck  in  the  river. 

Concord  is  rapidly  increasing  in 
business,  Avealth  and  population,  and  ■ 
the  extension  of  numerous  other  rail- 1 
roads  to  various  points,  from  its  cen-  j 
tral  position,  is  such  that  it  must  ev- 
er remain  one  of  the  most  important ' 
inland  marts  of  trade  in  Xew  Eng-  j 
land. 

The  river  is  about  100  yards  wide 
opposite  the  to\Yn  :  but  during  the  great 
freshets  which  sometimes  occur  here, 
the  river  rises  twenty  feet  above  the 
ordinary  level,  presenting  to  the  eye  a 
body  of  water  a  mile  in  width.  There 
are  several  bridges  across  the  Merri- 
mac at  this  place. 

The  princi])al  village  and  seat  of 
most  of  the  l)usiness  of  the  town,  is  on 
the  western  side  of  the  river  extending 
nearly  two  miles,  and  is  one  of  the 


most  healthy  and  pleasantly  situated 
villages  in  Xew  England.  The  streets 
are  wide  and  well  shaded  by  majestic 
elms.  The  churches  and  private  build- 
ings are  neat,  and  some  of  them  in  a 
style  of  elegance.  The  hotels  are  large 
and  commodious,  and  nowhere  can  the 
traveller  find  more  courteous  landlords 
or  a  more  comfortable  resting  place. 
On  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  near 
the  upper  bridge,  is  another  pleasant 
village,  at  which  are  SeiceWs  Falls  on 
the  ]Merrimac,  commanding  an  admi- 
rable site  for  mills,  almost  sufficient  to 
move  the  machinery  of  another  Low- 
ell. An  attemj)!  was  made  a  few  years 
since  to  improve  this  privilege,  but  like 
many  other  enterprises  of  the  kind,  op- 
erations ceased  in  consequence  of  the 
universal  depression  of  business.  The 
time,  however,  is  not  distant  when 
this  noble  water  power  will  be  produc- 
tive of  vast  benefit  to  this  town  and  the 
suiTounding  country.  Garvin  Falls, 
also  on  the  3Ierrimac  at  the  south-ea^t 
extremity  of  the  town,  affords  a  va.st 
hydraulic  power,  which  doubtless  Avill 
be  soon  imjiroved.  There  is  another 
pleasant  and  flourishing  village  in  tlie 
west  part  of  the  to"\\ni,  with  a  church 
and  society. 

The  soil  of  this  town  is  generally 
good,  and  the  intervales  very  produc- 
tive. Large  masses  of  granite  suit- 
able for  the  purposes  of  building  ex- 
ist here,  the  most  important  of  which 
is  Roby's  Ledge  situated  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  north-west  of  the 
State  House,  and  about  tAvo  hundred 
rods  distant  from  Merrimac  River, 
which  is  navigable  to  this  place  with 
boats.  The  course  of  the  ledge  is  from 
north-e^ast  to  south-west,  and  its  rise 
above  4.5'^  froin  a  plane  of  the  horizon, 
and  its  height  about  350  feet.  It  presents 
a  surface  of  massive  primitive  granite, 
of  more  than  4,500  square  rods.  The 
rift  of  this  stone  is  very  perfect,  smooth 
and  regular:  splits  are  easily  made  to 
the  depth  of  from  tAvelve  to  twenty  feet, 
and  of  almost  any  required  length. 
And  unlike  much  of  the  building  stone 
now  in  the  market,  it  has  been  ascertain- 
ed I)v  eminent  chemists  and  geologists, 
that  the  stone  from  this  quarry  is  per- 
fectly free  from  those  oxides,  or  other 


CONCORD. 


53 


mineral  substances,  wliich  on  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere,  mar  the  beauty  of 
much  of  the  New  En<j  land  granite. 

The  scenery  around  this  to^vTi  is  de- 
lightful, particularly  from  the  high 
grounds  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
Here  the  beautiful  villages  are  spread 
before  you,  seated  on  the  margin  of 
fertile  and  extensive  meadows,  decked 
with  groves  5  while  the  ^lemmac  -winds 
between  them  on  its  passage  to  the 
ocean,  and  distant  mountains  skirt  the 
horizon.  Concord,  originally  called 
Penacook,  was  granted  by  Massachu- 
setts to  a  company  of  settlers,  17  th 
Jan.,  1725,  and  the  settlement  began 
the  year  following.  In  1733,  the  plan- 
tation was  incoq:)orated  by  the  name 
of  Rumford,  which  name  it  retained 
until  7th  June,  1765,  when  the  town 
was  incorporated  by  its  present  name. 
This  town  suffered  much  from  incur- 
sions of  the  savages.  Several  of  die 
inliabitants  were  killed,  and  others 
taken  into  captivity,  between  the  years 
1740  and  1750. 

The  scene  which  took  place  in  this 
town  on  the  morning  of  August  11, 
1746,  O.  S.,  and  the  horrors  of  Indian 
warfai-e  cannot  better  be  described  than 
by  adopting  the  language  of  the  ven- 
erable Reuben  Abbot,  an  eye  wit- 
ness, as  it  was  related  by  him,  and 
taken  do\\Ti  in  writing,  five  years  be- 
fore his  death.  Mr.  Abbot  retained 
his  memory  in  a  remarkable  degree, 
and  died  in  1822,  in  the  100th  year  of 
his  age. 

"  I  witli  Abiel  Chandler  were  at  work 
in  the  Fan,  near  Sugar  Ball,  making 
hay,  on  Monday  morning,  Aug.  11, 
1746,  then  in  my  twenty-fourth  year. 
We  heard  three  guns  fired  at  Parson 
Walker's  fort,  which  were  the  appoint- 
ed signal  of  alarm  at  the  approach  or 
apprehension  of  the  Indians.  On  hear- 
ing the  alarm  guns  we  ran  up  to  the 
garrison,  and  found  the  soldiers  who 
were  stationed  there,  and  such  men  as 
could  be  spared,  had  gone  to  where  the 
I  men  were  killed.  We  followed  on,  and 
took  the  foot  path  [by  Capt.  Emery's, 
near  the  prison]  and  arrived  at  the  spot 
where  the  bodies  lay,  as  soon  as  those 
did  who  went  i-ound  on  the  main  road. 
When  we  arrived  near  the  brook,  that 

5* 


runs  through  the  farm  fonnerly  owned 

by Mitchell,  on  the  east  side  of 

the  brook  we  found  Samuel  Bradley^ 
stripped  naked,  scalped,  and  lying  on 
his  face  in  the  road,  within  half  a  rod 
of  the  bridge  over  that  brook.  He  was 
shot  through  the  body,  and  supposed 
through  his  lungs  ;  the  ball  struck  and 
spoiled  his  powder  horn,  which  the  In- 
dians left.  He  was  not  otherwise  wound- 
ed by  the  Indians  than  shot  and  scalp- 
ed. Jonathan  Bradley  lay  about  ten 
feet  out  of  the  road,  on  the  south  side, 
and  about  two  rods  east  of  the  brook. 
He  Avas  Lieutenant  in  Capt.  Ladd's 
company,  from  Exeter,  and  a  number 
of  years  older  than  Samuel.  He  was 
not  woimded  by  the  Indians  in  their 
fire,  and  immediately  after  the  Indians 
had  first  fired,  he  ordered  his  men  to 
fight  them.  As  but  few  of  the  Indians 
fired  the  first  time,  Jonathan  supposed 
that  he  and  his  six  men  could  manage 
them,  and  they  fired  at  the  few  who 
had  risen  up  from  their  ambush.  Im- 
mediately the  whole  body  of  the  In- 
dians, about  100  in  number,  rose  up 
and  fired.  Jonathan  seeing  their  num- 
ber and  receiving  their  firg,  ordered  his 
men  to  run  and  take  care  of  themselves. 
But  by  this  time,  Ohadkih  Peters^  John 
Bean,' John  T^ufkin  and  Samuel  Brad- 
ley, were  killed.  The  Indians  then 
rushed  upon  Jonathan  Bradley,  Wil- 
liam Stickney  and  Alexander  Roberts, 
took  Stickney  and  Roberts  prisoners, 
and  oftei-ed  Jonathan  Bradley  good 
quarter.  But  he  refused  to  receive 
quarter,  and  fought  with  his  gun  against 
that  cloud  of  Indians,  until  they  struck 
him  on  the  face  repeatedly  with  their 
tomahawks,  cut  a  number  of  gashes  in 
his  face,  one  large  gash  running  ob- 
liquely across  his  forehead  and  nose 
down  between  his  eyes  ;  another  on 
the  side  of  his  head,  and  one  on  the 
back  part  of  his  head,  which  entered 
his  skull  and  brought  him  to  the  ground. 
The  Indians  then  despatched  Mm,  took 
oflf  his  scalp,  and  stripped  him  nearly 
naked.  Obadiah  Peters  we  found  shot 
through  the  head.  Bean  and  Lufkin 
were  shot,  and  ran  from  the  brook  to- 
wards the  main  road  about  six  rods, 
and  fell  within  a  rod  of  each  other,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  road  as  now  trav^ 


54 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


elled.  Four  of  tlie  Indians  were  killed 
and  t^vo  wounded,  who  Avere  carried 
away  on  biers. 

"  The  soldiers  from  the  gamsons 
were  too  late  to  save  the  lives  of  these 
brave  men.  Upon  their  approach  the 
Indians  fled  like  cowards,  leaving  many 
of  their  jjacks  and  various  things,  which 
the  soldiers  took. 

"  A  mournful  duty  was  now  to  be 
performed — a  duty  which  each  one 
shrunk  from  ^^itli  instinctive  dread.  The 
dead  bodies,  naked,  bloody,  some  of 
them  mangled,  and  the  scalps  taken  | 


off,  were  to  be  removed.  A  cart  with 
a  yoke  of  oxen  was  sent  up  from  the 
street  to  convey  them  down,  but  no 
one  wtus  willing  to  drive.  At  last  Mr. 
Abbot  himself  drove  the  oxen  down  to 
the  fort  around  the  house  of  James 
Osgood.  There  the  people  collected 
to  behold  and  lament.  The  bodies 
were  laid  out,  and  all  buried  the  next 
day,  in  two  graves,  in  the  old  burying 
ground,  near  the  north-west  corner." 

On  the  22nd  of  August  1837,  N.  S., 
a  monument  was  raised  on  the  fatal 
spot,  in  commemoration  of  this  event, 
on  which  occasion  prayers  Mere  offered 
by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Bouton  and  Cum- 
mings,  hymns  were  sung,  and  a  neat 
and  appropriate  address  was  delivered 
by  Asa  McFarland,  Esq. 

The  monument  stands  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road  leading  to  Hopkinton, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  State 
House ;  it  is  a  plain  granite  shaft,  twelve 
feet  in  height,  resting  upon  a  base 
somewhat  elevated  and  u])on  an  ele- 
vated spot,  and  bears  the  following  in- 
scription : 

This  Monument  is 

in  memory  of 

Samuel  Bradley* 

Jonathan    Bradley 

Obadiah  Peters 

John  Brown  & 

John  Lufkin, 

who  were  massacred  August  11,1 746,  by 

the  Indians. 


Erected  1837,  by  Richard  Bradley,  son 

of  the  Hon.  John  Bradley,  and 

grandson  of  *Samuel  Bradley. 

"  In  the  wars  with  France  and  after- 


wai-ds  with  England,  till  our  Indepen- 
dence wtis  secured,  the  citizens  of  Con- 
cord shared  with  the  rest  of  the  coun- 
try their  full  part,  both  of  sacrifice  and 
of  glory.  Her  sons,  who  had  subdued 
the  wilderness,  and  defended  their  set- 
tlement against  the  Indians,  were  found 
in  the  ranks  of  our  annies  at  every 
post  of  danger  and  of  victory.  They 
fought  at  Louisburg  and  Ticondero- 
ga,  at  Crown  Point  and  Fort  Ed- 
ward, at  Bunker  Hill  and  Bennington, 
at  Saratoga  and  Yorktowm." — See  Bou- 
ton^s  Centennial  Discourse. 

The  library  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Historical  Society,  is  located  in  this 
town.  Its  annual  meeting  is  on  the 
second  Monday  of  June,  at  which 
time  an  address  is  delivered  by  one  of 
its  members. 

This  society  has  published  five  vol- 
umes of  Collections,  containing  a  large 
mass  of  valuable  and  emious  histori- 
cal matter. 

The  public  press  in  Concord  appears 
to  be  in  a  flourishing  condition.  All 
the  prominent  topics  of  the  day  are 
discussed  Arith  much  ability,  and  gen- 
erally with  good  feelings. 

Among  the  early  inhabitants  and 
distinguished  citizens  of  this  town,  may 
be  mentioned  the  folloT\-ing : 

Hon.  Timothy  "Walker,  son  of 
the  first  minister  of  Concord,  an  active 
patriot  during  the  revolution,  member 
of  the  convention  of  1784,  a  legislator, 
and  judge  of  the  common  pleas.  He 
died  May  5,  1822,  aged  eighty-five. 

Dr.  Philip  Carrigan,  an  eminent 
physician,  who  died  in  1806. 

Hon.  Thomas  \V.  Thompson,  a  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  and  politician,  who 
died  Oct.  1,  1821,  aged  fifty-seven. 

Sir  Benjamin  Thompson  (known 
to  the  world  as  Count  Rumford), 
settled  and  married  here  in  early  life. 

John  Farmer,  Esq.,  an  eminent  an- 
tiquary and  genealogist,  resided  here 
for  the  last  seventeen  years  of  his  life, 
and  died  Aug.  13, 1837,  aged  forty-nine. 
Mr.  Fanner's  health  was  always  exceed- 
ingly delicate  ;  he  therefore,  partly  of 
necessity  and  partly  of  choice,  adopted 
a  very  sedentary  mode  of  life.  He 
soon  became  known  as  an  Antiqua- 
rian, distinguished  far  beyond  all  his 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


55 


fellow  citizens,  for  exact  knowledge  of  ' 
facts  and  events  relative  to  the  history ' 
of  New  England.  His  mind  was  a  | 
wonderful  repository  of  names  and 
dates  and  particular  incidents,  not  | 
stored  up  indeed  for  private  gratifica- 
tion, but  always  open  for  the  benefit  of 
others.  So  general  and  well  establish-  j 
ed  was  his  reputation  for  accuracy^  that 
liis  autliority  was  relied  on,  as  decisive . 
in  historical  and  genealogical  facts.  I 
His  loss  was  deeply  felt  by  a  large  cir- 1 
cle  of  friends  at  home,  and  by  many 
kindred  minds  at  a  distance.  i 

Boundaries.  Noi'th-west  by  Canter- ! 
bury  and  Boscawen,  north-east  by  Lou- ! 
don  and  Chicestcr,  south-east  by  Pem- 
broke and  Bow,  and  south-west  by  \ 
Hopkinton. 

First  Settlers.  Benjamin  Stevens 
Ebenczer  Eastman,  and  others. 

First  ^[inisters.  Hex.  Timothy  Walk- 
er, settled  in  1730 ;  died  in  1782.     Rev 
Israel  Evans,  ordained  in   1789:  dis- ' 
missed   in    1797.      Rev.  Asa   McFar- 
land.  1).  D..  settled  in   1798;  died  in' 
1827.— SeeAoteS.  I 

Manufactures.  The  manufactures  of  [ 
Concord  are  numerous  and  valuable,  j 
They  consist  of  books,  furniture  of  all  I 
kind's,  boots,  shoes,  hats,  wearing  ap- ' 
parel,  stereotype  plates,  printing  and 
^\Titing  ink,  cari-iages.  harnesses,  gran- 
ite, lumber,  and  a  variety  of  other  arti- 
cles. The  manufactm-e  of  books  is  ex- 
tensive. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
16,374  bushels';  potatoes,  43,137  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,262  tons  ;  wool,  6,138  lbs. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  forty- 
six  miles  south-west  from  Augusta,  j 
Me. ;  ninety-seven  south-east  from 
Montpelier,  Vt. ;  one  hundred  and  fifty-  j 
three  north-east  from  Albany,  N.  Y. : 
seventy-five  by  railroad,  north  north- 1 
west  from  Boston,  Mass. ;  one  hundred  j 
and  three  north  from  Providence,  R.  I. ; 
one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  north  | 
north-east  from  Hartford,  Conn. ;  and 
four  hundred  and  seventy-four  north- 
east by  east  from  "Washington.  .As 
Concord  is  not  only  the  capital  of  the 
State,  but  one  of  the  most  important 
inland  depots  in  Xew  England  for! 
freight  and  passengers,  the  courses  and  | 
distances  from  all  the   towns  in   the  i 


St^ate  to  this  place,  will  be  found  under 
their  several  heads. 

For  description  of  the  State  House 
and  Insane  Hospital  in  this  to\\Ti,  see 
Public  Buildings. 


CONWAY. 

Carroll  Co.  Swift  River,  a  con- 
siderable and  very  rapid  stream,  Pe- 
quaAvkett  River,  and  a  stream  taking 
its  rise  in  AValker's  Pond,  the  two 
last  aftbrding  mill  lirivileges,  discharge 
themselves  into  Saco  Rivor,  in  this 
town.  Saco  River  here  is  from  ten  to 
twelve  rods  -wide,  and  about  two  feet 
deep ;  its  cuiTcnt  rapid,  and  broken  by 
falls.  This  River  has  been  knoAvn  to 
rise  twenty-seven,  and  even  thirty  feet, 
in  the  coui-se  of  twenty-four  hours. 

The  largest  collections  of  water  in 
Conway  are  a  part  of  Walker's  Pond 
and  Little  Pequawkctt  Pond,  which  lie 
in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  There 
is  a  detached  block  of  granite  on  the 
southern  side  of  Pine  Hiil,  the  largest, 
perhaps,  in  the  State. 

A  spring  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  on  the  bank  of  Cold  Brook, 
strongly  impregnated  with  sulphur,  has 
been  visited  frequently  by  the  infirm, 
and,  in  many  instances,  found  benefi- 
cial. There  are  also  in  this  town 
large  quantities  of  magnesia  and  ful- 
ler's earth.  The  intervale,  along  the 
river,  is  from  fifty  to  220  rods  wide. 
The  plain,  when '  properly  cultivated, 
produces  large  crops  of  com  and  rye. 
Conway  is  quite  a  resort  for  travellers, 
from  the  east  and  south,  to  the  White 
Mountains. 

Daniel  Foster,  in  1765,  obtained  a 
grant  of  this  township,  containing  21,- 
040  acres  ;  on  condition  that  each 
grantee  should  pay  a  rent  of  one  ear 
of  Indian  corn  annually,  for  the  space 
of  ten  years,  if  demanded. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Chatham  and 
Bartlett,  east  by  the  State  Line,  south 
by  Eaton,  and  west  by  Hale's  Location 
and  Burton. 

First  Settlers.  James  and  Benjamin 
Osgood,  John  Dolloff",  Ebenezer  Bur- 
bank,  and  some  others,  formed  settle- 
ments in  Conwav,  during  the  years 
1764,  8,  and  9. 


56  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


First  Minister.  Rev.  Nath'l  Porter,  D. 
D.,  settled  in  1778  ;  dismissed  in  1815. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
7,277  bushels  ;  potatoes,  41,753  bush-  jfive  miles  north  from  Ossipee 
els;  hay,  3,211  tons;  wool,  4,109  lbs 
maple  sugar,  22,500  pounds. 


Distances.  Seventy-six  miles  north 
north-east  from  Concord,  sixty  north 
by  Avest  from  Dover,  and  about  twenty- 


COOS   COUNTY. 

Lancaster  is  the  shire  town  of  the  county.  Coos  is  the  largest  county  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  within  its  limits  are  situated  the  greater  part  of  the  un- 
granted  lands  in  the  State. 

Large  poi'tions  of  this  county  are  exceedingly  mountainous,  cannot  be  culti- 
vated, and  will  probably  never  be  settled.  Tliis  county  extends  from  lat.  43° 
58'  to  the  extreme  north  part  of  the  State — being  seventy-six  miles  in  length, 
and  having  a  mean  width  of  about  twenty  miles. 

It  is  bounded  north  by  Canada,  east  by  Maine,  south  by  the  county  of  Car- 
roll, west  by  Grafton  county  and  the  State  of  Vermont.  Besides  the  stupen- 
dous pile  of  the  White  Mountains,  which  distinguishes  this  coimty,  there  are 
several  other  mountains  of  no  inconsiderable  height.  Those  in  Shelbume, 
Jackson  and  Chatham,  on  the  east  side  of  the  White  Mountains,  are  bold  and 
abrupt.  The  Peak  and  Bowback  Mountains  in  Stratford ;  the  elevations  in 
Dixville,  Columbia  and  Kilkenny ;  Pilot  and  Mill  Mountains  in  Stark  ;  Cape 
Horn  in  Northumberland,  and  Pondichem-,  south-west  of  Jefferson,  are  all  of 
considerable  magnitude,  and  partake  of  the  grandeur  of  the  Wliite  Hills. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  high  mountains  are  generally  found  the  sources  of 
our  greater  rivers.  Three  of  the  principal  rivers  of  New  England,  the  Con- 
necticut, Androscoggin  and  Saco,  take  their  rise  in  this  county.  There  are 
numerous  other  streams  which  become  tributary  to  these  rivers,  the  principal 
of  which  are  the  Mohawk,  Amonoosuck,  Israel's  and  John's  Rivers.  The  Mar- 
gallaway,  after  receiving  the  waters  of  Dead  and  Diamond  Rivers,  unites  \\i\h 
the  Androscoggin,  near  Umbagog  Lake.  This  lake  lies  principally  in  Maine. 
Lake  Connecticut  is  situated  north  of  the  45th  degree  of  latitude,  and  is  one  of 
the  sources  of  Connecticut  River.  The  largest  pond  in  this  county  lies  north 
of  Lake  Connecticut,  and  is  connected  with  it  by  an  outlet. 

The  fii'st  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  at  Lancaster  in  1763.  The 
name  of  the  county  is  of  Indian  origin,  although  the  same  name  occurs  in  the 
New  Testament. — See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  COOS  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court.,  Fifth  District.  At  Plymouth,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the 
fourth  Tuesday  of  July  ;  at  Lancaster,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  term  at 
Plymouth ;  and  at  Haverhill,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  fourth  Tuesday  of 
December. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


57 


Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Lancaster,  the  first  Tuesday  of  May,  and  first 
Tuesday  of  November. 

Probate  Courts.  At  Colebrook,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  September ;  at  Sti-at- 
ford,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  January ;  at  Lancaster,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
March,  and  November,  and  the  sej^ond  Tuesday  of  May ;  at  Bartlett,  on  the 
first  Tuesday  of  July ;  and  at  Shelburne,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  June. 


CORNISH. 

Sullivan  Co.  Connecticut  River 
waters  the  west  part  of  this  town,  and, 
by  means  of  a  bridge,  connects  Cor- 
nish Avith  AVindsor,  Vt.  The  soil  is 
generally  fertile.  The  town  is  hilly, 
with  the  exception  of  that  part  which 
lies  on  the  river.  Blow-mc-down  and 
Bryant's  Brooks  are  the  only  streams 
of  any  magnitude  ;  these  afford  good 
mill  privileges.  The  agricultural  pro- 
ducts of  this  town  are  very  consider- 
able. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Plainfield, 
east  by  Croydon,  south  by  Claremont, 
and  west  by  Windsor,  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  Emigrants  from  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1765. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  Wel- 
man,  settled  in  1768:  dismissed  in 
1785.  Rev.  Joseph  Rowell,  ordained 
in  1800;  dismissed  in  1828. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,598  bushels  ;  potatoes,  30,402  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,924  tons  ;  avooI,  16,606  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,138  pounds. 

Distances.  Seventeen  miles  north 
from  Charlestown,  sixty  north-west  by 
west  from  Concord,  and  twelve  north- 
west from  Newport.  This  town  lies 
opposite  to  Windsor,  Vt.,  and  is  the 
northern  terminus  of  a  railroad  be- 
tAveen  this  place  and  Walpole. 

CROYD3JV. 

SuLLivAX  Co.  The  north  branch 
of  Sugar  River  waters  this  town.  On 
this  stream  are  numerous  manufac- 
tures. Croydon  Mountain  is  of  con- 
siderable elevation,  on  which  are  two 
small  ponds.  The  soil  of  Croydon  is 
moist  and  rocky,  and  produces  valua- 
ble crops. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Cornish,  north 


by  Grantham  and  Springfield,  east  by 
Springfield  and  Wendell,  and  south  by 
Newport. 

Fii-st  Settlers.  This  tovm  was  granted 
to  Samuel  Chase  and  others,  in  1763. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Jacob  Haven, 
ordained  in  1788. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,263  bushels  ;  potatoes,  46,639  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,600  tons  ;  wool,  11,184  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  10,332  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-four  miles  north 
north-west  from  Concord,  and  eight 
north  from  Newport. 

DALTOST. 

Coos  Co.  Dalton  lies  between 
Lancaster  and  Littleton,  on  Connecti- 
cut River.  The  Great,  or  Fifteen-Mile 
Falls,  on  Connecticut  River,  commence 
in  Dalton,  and  ru^h  tumultuously 
along  its  north-west  boundaiy.  The 
town  is  also  Avatered  by  John's  River, 
and  several  large  brooks.  The  west- 
em  and  southern  parts  of  this  town 
are  hilly.  Along  the  borders  of  John's 
River  the  majestic  Avhite  pine  abounds. 
The  soil  on  the  highlands  is  deep,  and 
Avell  adapted  to  grazing ;  is  generally 
good,  and  in  some  parts  easy  of  culti- 
vation. Blake's  Pond,  the  only  one  in 
tOAATi,  lies  at  the  south-east  comer. 

Blake,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  was 
a  famous  hunter,  and  the  moose  which 
frequented  the  pond  called  by  his 
name,  often  fell  by  the  accuracy  of  his 
shots.  Blake  and  Captain  Bucknam, 
(one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Lancaster), 
on  a  hunting  excursion,  fired  at  a 
mark,  on  a  small  bet.  Bucknam  fired 
first,  and  cut,  at  the  distance  of  tAventy 
rods,  near  the  centre  of  a  mark  not 
larger  than  a  dollar.  Blake  then  fired, 
and,  on  going  to  the  tree  on  which  the 


58 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


mark  was  made,  no  trace  of  tlie  ball 
could  be  discovered.  Bucknam  exult- 
ed. "  Cut  out  your  ball,"  said  Blake, 
"  and  you  '11  find  mine  o'  top  on  't." 
The  ojperation  being  performed,  the 
two  balls  were  found,  the  one  safely 
lodged  upon  the  other. 

Near  the  Slate  Hill  in  Dalton  there 
is  a  mineral  spring  of  some  celebrity, 
which  was  found  to  be  a  mild  chaly- 
beate water,  and  which  may  be  used 
as  a  tonic  by  invalids.  This  spring- 
deposits  a  thin  crust  of  bog  iron  oi'c. 

This  town  received  its  name  from 
Hon.  Tristham  Dalton,  a  grantee. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Lancas- 
ter and  ^\Taitefield,  south  by  Bethle- 
hem, south-west  by  Littleton,  and 
north-west  by  Luncnburgh,  Yt. 

First  Settlers.  Moses  Blake  and  ^Yal- 
ter  Bloss. 

First  Minister.  "William  Hutcliinson, 
settled  in  1833. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
933  bushels  ;  potatoes,  33,266  bushels  ; 
hay,  2,244  tons  ;  wool,  4,302  pounds  ; 
maple  sugar,  11,855  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles  north  by  west  from  Concord, 
and  about  eight  miles  south  by  west 
from  Lancaster. 

DANBURY. 

Graftox  Co.  Danbury  is  in  the 
south  part  of  said  county,  and  lies  in 
the  form  of  a  diamond.  This  town  is 
generally  hilly,  although  there  are  some 
intei^ales.  In  the  north-east  part  is  a 
large  hill.  The  eastern  section  is  wa- 
tered by  Smith's  River. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Orange,  north- 
east by  xVlexandria,  south-east  by  New 
Chester,  south-west  by  Wilmot,  and 
north-west  by  Cushing's  Gore. 

First  Settlers.  The  first  settlement 
was  made  in  1771,  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  township. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,584  bushels;  potatoes,  22,704  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,564  tons ;  wool,  5,705  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  4.378  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixteen  miles  south  by 
west  from  Plymoutli.  The  Northei-n 
Railroad  passes  through  the  tOAvn.  It 
is  twenty-nine  miles  north  from  Con- 
cord by  railroad. 


DANVII^IiE. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  town  was 
formerly  a  part  of  Kingston,  and  until 
recently  known  by  the  name  of  Hawke. 
The  soil  is  uneven,  but  in  some  parts 
good.  Acchusnut  River  passes  over 
the  north-west  comer.  Lons;  Pond 
lies  in  the  east  part,  and  Cub  Pond  on 
the  west  side. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Poplin,  east 
by  Kingston,  south  by  Kingston  and 
Ham])Stead,  and  west  by  Sandown. 

Fiist  Settlers.  Jonathan  Sanborn, 
Jacob  Hook,  and  others,  settled  be- 
tween the  years  1735  and  1739. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  John  Page,  set- 
tled in  1763;  died  in  1782. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,996  bushels  :  potatoes.  8,868  bushels  ; 
hay,  823  tons  ;  wool,  896  pounds,  &c. 

'Distances.  Thirty-three  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  ten  south-west 
from  Exeter. 

DEERFIEL.D. 

RocKixGHAM  Co.  This  town  has 
a  number  of  very  pleasant  ponds, 
which  afford  fish  of  various  kinds. 
Moulton's  Pond  is  situated  at  the  west 
part  of  the  Xovin.  This  pond,  although 
small,  is  noted,  on  account  of  its  hav- 
ing no  visible  inlet,  and  therefore  is 
supposed  to  be  supplied  by  a  subterra- 
neous passage,  as  the  water  is  always 
of  nearly  an  equal  depth.  The  outlets 
of  the  pond  run  in  opposite  directions. 
This  pond  is  al>;o  i-cnuirkable,  on  ac- 
count of  having  been  often  sounded 
witliout  discovering  any  bottom.  A 
branch  of  Lamprey  River  passes  south 
and  south-  east  through  Deerfield. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  uneven, 
the  soil  daral)le  and  fertile,  although 
hard  to  cultivate.  The  Tuckaway,  be- 
tween Deerfield  and  Nottingham,  the 
Saddleback,  between  Deerfield  and 
Northwood,  and  Fort  Mountain  on  the 
west,  are  the  principal  elevations. 

In  the  west  part  of  this  town,  on  the 
soutlierly  side  of  a  ridge  of  rocks, 
which  extend  three-fourths  of  a  mile, 
is  a  natural  formation  in  the  rock,  for 
sixty  years  designated  as  the  ''  Indian 
Camp."  Its  sides  are  iiTcgular,  and 
the  top  is  covered  with  a  canopy  of 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


59 


granite,  projecting  about  fourteen  feet, 
affording  a  shelter  from  the  sun  and 
rain.  On  the  east  side  of  this  camp  is 
a  natural  flight  of  steps,  or  stones  re- 
sembling steps,  by  which  persons  may 
easily  ascend  to  the  top  of  the  rock. 

Deerfield  was  once  a  place  of  favor- 
ite resort  for  deer,  great  numbers  of 
which  were  taken.  While  the  petition 
for  the  town  was  pending,  a  ]VIr.  Batch- 
elder  killed  a  deer,  and,  presenting 
it  to  Gov.  Wentworth,  obtained  the  act 
under  the  name  of  Deer-Jield.  During 
the  Indian  wars  the  inhabitants  lived 
in  garrisons,  but  no  serious  mischiefs 
were  experienced. 

Boundaries.  North-Avest  by  Epsom, 
north  by  Northwood,  east  by  Notting- 
ham, south  by  Raj-mond  and  Candia. 

First  Settlers.  John  Robertson,  Jacob 
Smith,  Isaac  Shepard,  Benjamin  Batch- 
elder,  and  others,  in  1756. 

First  Mirtister.  Rev.  Timothy  Up- 
ham,  ordained  in  1772  ;  died  in  1844. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
10,150  bushels';  potatoes,  40,830  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,798  tons  ;  wool,  6,272  lbs. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  east  south- 
east from  Concord,  tliirty  west  by  north 
from  Portsmouth,  and  about  twenty 
west  by  north  from  Exeter. 

H11.LSBOROUGH  Co.  This  toAvn  is 
divei-sitied  with  hills  and  valleys  ;  it  is 
well  watered,  and  its  soil  is  favorable 
to  the  several  puiposes  of  agriculture. 
There  are  three  ponds  :  Dudley's,  Peck- 
er's, and  Fulton's.  The  two  former 
are  sources  of  the  north  branch  of  Pis- 
cataquog  River.  There  are  some  man- 
ufactures in  this  town,  and  bricks  are 
made  in  a  considerable  quantity. 

The  name  of  the  town  was  given 
by  Gov.  John  Wentworth,  in  honor  of 
his  wife,  whose  maiden  njame  was 
Dering. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Hillsborough 
and  Henniker,  east  by  Weare,  south 
by  Franccstown,  and  west  by  Antrim. 

First  Settlers.  Alexander  Robinson 
and  William  McKean,  in  1765. 

First  Ministi 
settled  in  1801, 

Productions  of  the  Soil.   Indian  com, 


6,907  bushels ;  potatoes,  37,675  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,719  tons  ;  wool,  4,724  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,826  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-five  miles  soutli- 
west  from  Concord,  and  twenty-two 
noitli-west  from  Amherst. 

»ERRY. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  is  a  fine 
grazing  toAvnship,  taken  from  London- 
deny  in  1828.  The  village  is  very 
handsome,  and  a  great  thoroughfare 
for  travellei-s.  The  soil  is  very  pro- 
ductiA^e.  and  the  inhabitants  are  re- 
markable for  their  industiy,  general 
wealth,  and  longevity. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Londonderry, 
south  by  Windham  and  Salem,  north 
by  Chester,  and  east  by  Sandown  and 
Hampstead. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
13,139  bushels  ;  potatoes,  38,955  bush- 
els :  hay,  3,417  tons  ;  wool,  2,709  lbs. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  west  south- 
west from  Exeter,  twenty-five  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  twelve 
miles  south-east  from  Manchester. 


i>ixviu:*E. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  comprises 
31,023  aci'cs  of  uneven  land.  Numer- 
ous streams  meander  through  it  from 
the  surrounding  heights. 

In  this  town  is  the  celebrated  Dix- 
viLLE  Notch,  which  is  thus  described 
by  Dr.  Jackson,  in  his  Geology  of  the 
State : 

"  This  Notch  may  be  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  exhibitions 
of  natural  scenery  in  the  State,  per- 
haps even  sitrpassing  the  famous  Notch 
of  the  '\Alnte  Mountains  in  picturesque 
grandexir. 

"  It  is  a  natural  defile  through  the 
high  mountains,  which  extend  in  a 
general  north  and  south  direction 
through  the  town  of  Dixville. 

"  The  angular  and  precipitous  ap- 
pearance of  the  mica  slate  rocks,  rising 
hundreds  of  feet,  almost  perpendicu- 
larly, on  either  side,  is  strikingly  dif- 
ferent from  the  rounded  and  water- 
worn  appearance  of  most  of  the  prim- 
itive rocks   throughout   the   northern 


60 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


part  of  tlie  United  States,  and  seems 
to  come  nearer  to  the  scenery  of  the 
Alps  than  anything  else  in  New  Eng- 
land. It  is  evident  that  so  interesting 
a  spot  as  this  must,  when  known,  draw 
thither  a  portion,  at  least,  of  the  nu- 
merous visitants  to  the  picturesque 
scenery  of  the  State." 

Near  tliis  Notch  is  a  curious  ravine, 
called  the  Flume,  worthy  the  observa- 
tion of  travellers. 

Boundaries.  North  by  the  Grants  to 
Dartmouth  College,  and  Atldnson  and 
Gilmanton  Academies,  east  by  Col- 
lege Lands  and  AVentAvorth's  location. 

First  Settler.   Col.  Timothy  I)ix,  jr. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  north  north- 
east from  Lancaster,  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-six  north  north-east  from 
Concord. 

DORCHESTER. 

Grafton  Co.  Dorchester  is  sit- 
uated on  the  Highlands  between  Con- 
necticut and  Merrimac  Rivers.  The 
principal  streams  are  the  south  branch 
of  Baker's  River,  a  branch  of  Masco- 
my,  and  Rocky  Branch.  There  are 
two  consideralile  ponds,  both  in  the 
•west  part  of  the  town.  The  soil,  in 
some  parts,  is  very  fertile  :  particularly 
the  intervales  on  the  branch  of  Baker's 
River.  The  Highlands  are  very  un- 
even, and  the  greater  part  rocky. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Dame's  Gore, 
which  separates  it  from  Canaan,  west 
by  Lime,  north  by  Wentworth,  east  by 
Groton. 

First  Settlers.  Benjamin  Rice  and 
Stephen  ]\  lurch. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Increase  S.  Da- 
vis, settled  in  1828  ;  dismissed  in  1833. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,150  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  32,783  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,372  tons  ;  wool,  5,248  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  13,581  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-three  miles  south 
by  east  from  Haverhill,  and  forty 
north-west  from  Concord. 

DOVER. 

Strafford  Co.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  and  important 
towns  in  New  Hampshire.     The  prin- 


cipal streams  in  Dover  ai*e  the  Co- 
checo,  and  Bellamy  Bank,  or  Back 
River.  They  take  a  south-east  course 
through  the  town,  and  unite  with  other 
waters  to  form  the  Piscataqua. 

Cocheco,  or  Quocheco  Rivei-,  has  its 
rise  from  several  small  streams  in 
New  Durham,  which  unite  in  Faraa- 
ington,  whence  the  river  meanders 
through  Rochest-er,  there  receiving  the 
Isinglass,  a  tributary,  and  thence  ])asses 
through  Dover  into  the  Newichwan- . 
nock,  or  Salmon  Fall  River,  the  prin- 
cipal branch  of  the  Piscataqua.  The 
Cocheco  is  a  beautiful  river,  and  very 
important  to  the  inhabitants  of  Roches- 
ter and  Dover. 

Passing  over  this  town  in  any  direc- 
tion, the  traveller  finds  no  rugged 
mountains  nor  extensive  barren  plains, 
but  occasionally  ascends  gentle  swells 
of  land,  from  the  height  of  which  the 
eye  meets  some  delightful  object :  a 
winding  stream,  a  well  cultivated  farm, 
or  a  distant  village.  In  the  south  part 
of  the  town  is  a  neck  of  land,  about 
two  miles  long  and  half  a  mile  broad, 
1  having  Piscataqua  on  one  side,  and 
;  Back  River  on  the  other.  From  the 
]  road,  on  either  hand,  the  land  gradu- 
ally descends  to  the  rivers.  It  com- 
mands a  very  delightful,  variegated, 
and  extensive  prospect  of  bays,  adja- 
cent shores,  and  distant  mountains. 
On  this  neck  the  first  settlement  of 
the  toAVTi  was  made,  in  1623,  by  a  com- 
pany in  England,  Avhose  design  it  was 
to  plant  a  colony,  and  establish  a  fish- 
ery around  the  Piscataqua  :  for  which 
purpose  they  sent  over,  with  several 
others,  Edward  and  "William  Hilton, 
fishmongers,  of  London.  These  men 
commenced  their  operations  on  the 
Neck,  at  a  place  by  the  Indians  called 
"NVinichahanat,  wliich  they  called  North- 
am.  and  afterwards  Dover.  For  sev- 
eral years  this  spot  embraced  the  prin- 
cijnil  part  of  the  population  of  the 
to\\Ti ;  here  was  erected  the  first  meet- 
ing-house, afterwards  surrounded  with 
an  entrenchment,  and  flankarts,  the 
remains  of  which  are  still  visible  ;  here 
the  people  assembled  to  worship,  and 
to  transact  their  public  business.  In 
process  of  time,  the  business  and  pop- 
ulation of  the  town  began  to  centre 


DOVER. 


61 


around  Cocheco  Falls,  about  four  miles 
north-west  from  the  Xcck.  These  falls 
are  in  the  river  whose  name  they  bear, 
and  give  to  the  water  that  passes  over 
them  a  sudden  descent  of  thirty-two 
and  a  half  feet. 

Situate  at  the  head  of  navigation, 
about  twelve  miles  from  the  ocean, 
having  a  fertile  country  on  the  north, 
west,  and  south,  they  are  considered 
among  the  most  valuable  in  New  Eng- 
land. Around  these  falls  the  beautiful 
village  of  Dover  is  situated,  containing 
many  handsome  buildings. 

A  Society  of  Friends  was  established 
here  at  an  early  period,  and  fonnerly 
comprised  about  one-third  of  die  pop- 
ulation. 

A  Congregational  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1638.  A  Mr.  Leverich,  a 
worthy  Puritan,  was  their  first  minis- 
ter, and  probably  the  first  ordained 
minister  that  preached  the  gospel  in 
New  Hampsliire.  Mr.  Leverich  soon 
removed,  and  until  the  settlement  of 
the  pious  Daniel  Maud,  in  1642,  the 
church  was  much  oppressed  by  the  bad 
character  of  their  ministers. 

The  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  D.  D., 
the  celebrated  historian  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  ordained  in  this  to^vn,  in 
1767.  He  removed  to  Boston,  and 
was  settled  there,  April  4,  1787.  He 
died  in  Boston,  June  20,  1798,  aged 
fifty-four. 

This  to-vvn,  in  its  early  years,  was 
greatly  frequented  by  the  Indians,  and 
experienced  many  suff'erings  in  their 
repeated  attacks  upon  the  inhabitants. 
In  1675,  Major  Waldron,  by  a  strata- 
gem, secured  about  200  Indians  at  Do- 
ver, who  had  at  times  exhibited  signs 
of  hostility.  Seven  or  eight  of  them, 
who  had  been  guilty  of  some  atroci- 
ties, were  immediately  hanged,  and  the 
rest  sold  into  slavery.  The  Indians 
abroad  regarded  this  act  of  Waldron's 
as  a  breach  of  faith,  and  swore  against 
him  implacable  revenge.  In  1689,  af- 
ter a  lapse  of  thirteen  years,  they  de- 
termined to  execute  their  project  Pre- 
vious to  the  fatal  night  (27th  of  June), 
some  hints  had  been  thro^vn  out  by 
the  squaws,  but  they  were  either  mis- 
understood or  disregarded ;  and  the 
people  suffered  them  to  sleep  in  their 

6 


gan-isons  as  usual.  In  the  stillness  of 
night  the  doors  of  the  garrisons  were 
opened,  and  the  Indians,  at  a  concerted 
signal,  rose  from  their  lurking  places, 
and  rushed  upon  the  defenceless  in- 
habitants. Waldron,  though  eighty 
years  of  age,  made  a  gallant  defence, 
but  was  ovenvhelmed  by  the  superior 
numbers  of  his  adversaries,  who  liter- 
ally cut  him  to  pieces.  In  this  affair 
twenty-three  persons  were  killed,  and 
twenty-nine  made  prisoners.  The  In- 
dians were  soon  overtaken,  and  nearly 
the  whole  party  destroyed.— See  Note  4. 

Bmindaries.  On  the  east  it  is  sepa- 
rated from  Elliot  in  Maine  by  the  Pis- 
cataqua,  has  the  toMTi  of  Somersworth 
on  the  north-east  and  north,  and  Bar- 
rington  on  the  west. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  David  Maud, 
settled  in  1642:  died  in  1655.  Rev. 
John  Re}Tier,  settled  in  1657  ;  died  in 
1669.  Rev.  John  Reamer,  settled  in 
1671  :  died  in  1676.  Rev.  John  Pike, 
settled  in  1681  ;  died  in  1710.  Rev. 
Nicholas  Sever,  settled  in  1711;  dis- 
missed in  1715;  died  in  1764.  Rev. 
Jonathan  Cashing,  settled  in  1717 :  dis- 
missed in  1764.  Rev.  Jeremy  Belk- 
nap, D.  D.,  settled  in  1767;  dismissed 
in  1786.  Rev.  Robert  Gray,  settled  in 
1787  ;  dismissed  in  1805. 

Manufactures.  "  The  Cocheco  Man- 
ufacturing Co."  now  have  in  operation 
four  cotton  mills,  containing  43,392 
spindles,  1194  looms,  and  manufacture 
about  140,000  yards  of  printing  goods 
per  week,  "  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty- 
five  yams,"  or  about  7.000,000  yards 
per  annum.  Also,  one  large  printery, 
capable  of  turning  out  7,000  pieces  of 
prints  per  week :  one  large  machine 
shop,  in  which  10,000  spindles  can  be 
built  yearly.  The  number  of  males 
employed  are  about  500,  females  1000, 
total  1500.  These  works  consume  about 
5,200  bales  of  cotton,  11,000  gallons  of 
oil,  5,000  tons  hard  and  soft  coal,  60 
tons  potatoe  starch,  400  casks  French 
Madder,  besides  large  quantities  of 
drugs,  iron,  steel,  castings,  and  other 
materials  for  the  manufacture  of  prints, 
&c. 

The  Cocheco  Manufacturing  Co.  al- 
so own  water  power  on  the  Cocheco 
River,  mthin  three  miles  of  the  village, 


62 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


capable  of  operating  80,000  spindles, 
■which  may  in  consequence  of  the  Co- 
checo  Railroad,  be  brought  into  use. 
In  addition  to  the  above,  there  is  now 


is  a  paper"  manuliictory,  carried  on  by 
Mr.  C.  C.  P.  Moses. 

Distances.     Forty  miles  east   from 
Concord,  twelve  north-west  by  north 


located  on  the  Bellamy  Ri'ver.  one  mile  I  from  Portsmouth,  tifty-four  south  from 


from  the  village,  a  flannel  manufacto 
ry,  sixty-seven  by  thirty  feet,  two  sto 


Portland  by  railroad,  to  Exeter  seven 
miles,  and  to  Boston  sixty-six  miles. 


nes  liigh,  and  another  for  finishing  the 
goods  of  thirtv-five  by  twentv-five  feet, 
three  stories  high,  besides  other  neces- 
sary buildings  for  caiTying  on  the 
works.  The  first  mentioned  building 
contains  two  sets  of  carding  machines, 
with  other  machinery  to  con-espond. 
Twenty  hands  are  employed,  male  and 
female';  48,000  pounds  of  wool  manu- 
factured annually,  and  turn  out  3,000 
pieces  of  colored  flannels  of  fifty  yards 
each. 

Also,  on  the  same  river,  is  a  paper 
mill  seventy-five  feet  long,  and  three 
stories  hieh,  the  only  building  used  for 
the  manfacture  of  the  article,  but  has 
several  other  buildings  connected  with 
the  establishment.  This  mill  is  capa- 
ble of  using  175  tons  of  stock  annually 
into  paper,  the  value  of  which  would 
be  about  S25,000.  Thirteen  persons 
are  employed,  viz.  six  men,  two  boys, 
and  five  girls. 

Bellamy  Mills,  one  mile  and  a  half 
from  Dover  Village,  are  situated  on 
Bellamy  River,  commonly  called  by  for  ripenm 
the  inhabitants  Back  River.  They  con- 
sist of  a  saw  mill,  and  a  building  for 
the  manufacture  of  flax  and  cotton  ma- 
chinery, railroad  cars,  milh^Tight  work 
in  general,  and  carriage  axle  making, 
&c.,  &c. 

There  are  two  water  privileges  here. 
The  river  is  bnt  small,  but  is  a  never 
failing  current,  being  supplied  with  Ba- 
ker's and  other  springs,  one  mile  above 
the  falls.  These  springs  boil  out  pure 
cold  water  the  hottest  day  in  summer, 
and  is  the  most  delicious  water  to  drink 
in  New  England.  A  Salem  company 
have  a  room  rented  of  the  ^lessrs. 
Richardsons,  where  they  knit  drawers 
and  shirts  by  scientific  power.  The 
river  takes  its  rise  in  Barrington.  and 
falls  into  the  Piscataqua  River  at  Do- 
ver Neck. 

A  mile  below  Bellamy  Mills  is  a 
flannel  manufactory,  carried  on  by  Mr 
Alfred  Sawyer,  and  a  little  further  below 


DUBLIN. 

Cheshire  Co.  Dublin  is  situated 
on  the  height  of  land  between  Connec- 
ticut and  Mcrrimac  Rivers.  Its  streams 
are  small ;  those  on  the  Avest  side  run 
into  the  Ashuelot,  those  on  the  east  in- 
to Contoocook  River.  The  rain  which 
fiiUs  on  the  roof  of  the  church  is  shared 
bv  those  rivers.  There  is  a  pond  near 
the  middle  of  the  toAvn  called  Centre 
Pond,  one  mile  in  length,  and  about 
the  same  breadth.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Grand  ISlonadnock  lies  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Dublin,  and  near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  tOAvn  is  Breed's  Mountain. 
Monadnock  was  formerly  covered  %A-ith 
a  growth  of  small  timber  and  shnibbe- 
rv,  but  fires  having  run  over  it  at  dif- 
ferent times,  it  presents  little  more  than 
raeged  rocks.  Between  the  rocks,  how- 
ever, there  are  low  whortleberry-  bush- 
es, which  produce  great  quantities  of 
frait  of  a  very  rich  fiavor.  The  season 
is  the  latter  part  of  Au- 
gust, and  to  those  who  ascend  the  sum- 
mit at  this  season  they  are  peculiarly 
grateful.  This  mountain  is  not  diffi- 
cult of  access.  The  view  from  its  sum- 
mit is  sublime.  Its  height  is  3.718  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  land 
in  this  town  in  general  is  much  better 
for  grazing  than  tillage. 

The  late  Rev.  Edward  Sprague  be- 
queathed nearly  8,000  dollars  for  the 
support  of  public  schools,  the  annual 
interest  of  which  is  to  be  applied  to  this 
object.  He  also  left  the  toA\-n  $5,000, 
the  interest  of  which,  paid  quarterly, 
is  to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  an  or- 
dained Congregational  minister,  who 
shall  statedly  preach  in  Dublin. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Nelson  and 
Hancock,  east  by  Peterborough,  south 
by  JaflFrey,  and  west  by  Marlborough 
and  Roxburv. 

First  Settlers.  John  Alexander,  Henry 
Strongman,  and  Wm.  Strong,  in  1762. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


63 


First  Ministers.  Rev.  Joseph  Fairar, 
ordained  in  1772;  dismissed  in  1776. 
Rev.  Edward  Sprague,  ordained  in 
1777;  died  in  1817. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,680  bushels ;  potatoes,  34,028  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,646  tons  ;  wool,  6,294  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  17,779  pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  east  by  soiith 
from  Keene.  and  fifty  south-west  from 
Concord. 

DUMMER. 

Coos  Co.  Dummer  comprises  23,- 
040  acres.  It  is  watered  by  the  Amo- 
noosuck  and  Androscoggin. 

This  to^\^l  is  exceedingly  rough  in 
its  surface,  cold  in  its  soil,  and  conse- 
quently uninviting  to  cultivators. — 
There  are,  however,  in  some  parts  of 
the  town  some  good  pasturage  and  til- 
h\ge  land. 

Boundaries.  -»rillsfield  and  Errol  arc 
on  the  north,  Cambridge  on  the  east. 
Milan  on  the  south,  and  Ivilkenny  on 
the  west. 

First  Settlers.  Dummer  was  granted, 
March  8,- 1773,  to  Mark  II.  Wentworth, 
Nathaniel  Haven,  and  others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Wheat,  1 50 
bushels ;  potatoes,  2.380  bushels  ;  hay, 
153  tons;  wool.  218  pounds;  maple 
sugar,  2,105  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  forty 
miles  north  by  east  from  Concord,  and 
about  thirty  miles  north  by  east  from 
Lancaster, 

OUNBARTOX. 

Merrimac  Co.     The   situation  of 
this  town  is  somewhat  elevated,  though 
there  are  but  few  hills,  nor  any  moun-  [ 
tains.     The  air  is  clear,  the  water  is  j 
good,  and  the  health  of  its  inhabitants  j 
is  seldom  interrupted  by  sickness.  The  [ 
soil  is  good,  peculiarly  euited  for  corn, 
wheat,  and  orcharding.     Almost  every 
lot  in   town  is    ca])a1)le   of  making  a 
good  fann.     The   fanners  here   have 
good  buildings,  and  are  excellent  hus- 
bandmen.    The  advantages   in  point 
of  water  privileges  are  not  great.     Ar- 
senic is  found  here. 

The  inhabitants  are  principally  de- 
scendants  of  Scotch-Irish;   so   called 


from  the  Xorth  of  Ireland.  Their 
posterity  still  retain  many  traits  of 
character  peculiar  to  that  people. 

It  was  first  called  Starkstown,  in 
honor  of  the  principal  proprietor.  Its 
present  name  is  derived  from  Dunbar- 
ton,  in  Scotland,  from  whence  Stark 
emigrated. 

Boundaries.  Weare  is  on  the  west, 
Hopkinton  and  Bow  on  the  north.  Bow 
and  Ilooksctt  on  the  east,  and  GofFs- 
town  on  the  south. 

First  Settlers.  Joseph  Putney,  James 
Rogers,  William  Putney,  and  Obadiah 
Foster,  in  1 749. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Walter  Harris, 
D.  D.,  settled  in  1789;  dismissed  in 
1830. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
8,610  bushels ;' potatoes,  19,105  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,690  tons  ;  wool,  3,897 
pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  south-west 
from  Concord,  and  about  twenty  miles 
north  of  Amherst. 

DURHAJII. 

Strafford  Co.  The  situation  of 
this  to^vn,  upon  the  Piscataqua  and  its 
branches,  is  very  favorable,  both  as  to 
water  power  and  transportation.  Oys- 
ter River,  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Piscataqua,  issues  from  Wheelwright's 
Pond,  in  Lee,  and  after  running  nearly 
its  whole  course  in  Durham,  furnish- 
ing, in  its  progress,  several  convenient 
mill  sites,  falls  into  the  main  river, 
near  Piscataqua  Bridge,  This  bridge 
is  2,600  feet  in  length,  and  forty  in 
width.  It  cost  $65,400.  The  'tide 
flows  into  this  branch  of  the  river,  up 
to  the  Falls,  near  the  meeting-house 
in  the  village,  where  business  to  a 
large  amount  is  annually  transacted. 
This  village  is  a  very  central  depot  for 
the  lumber  and  produce  of  the  adja- 
cent country. 

Lamprey  River,  another  branch  of 
the  Piscataqua,  runs  through  the  west- 
erly part  of  this  town,  over  several 
fiilis  remarkably  well  adapted  for  mill 
sites,  into  the  town  of  New  Market, 
where  it  falls  into  the  Great  Bay. 
Upon  both  sides  of  Oyster  River,  a 
deep  argillaceous  loam  prevails,  which 


64 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


is  peculiarly  favorable  to  the  produc- 
tion of  the  grasses,  of  Avhich  very 
heavy  crops  are  cut,  and  hay  is  an  ar- 
ticle of  considerable  ex})ort.  Exten- 
tensive  ledges  of  excellent  granite, 
with  Avhich  this  town  abounds,  have 
been  the  source  of  much  profitable 
employment  to  the  inhabitants. 

A  large  block  of  detached  granite,  | 
in  the  south-east  part  of  this  town,  was  i 
formerly  placed  in  a  very  singular  sit- 
uation. "  Its  weight  was  sixty  or  sev- ! 
enty  tons,  and  it  was  poised  so  exactly 
upon  two  other  stones,  as  to  be  visibly 
moved  by  the  wind.  It  was  some  years 
since  dislodged  from  this  extraordinary 
position,  by  the  barbarous  curiosity  of 
some  visitors. 

Durham  was  originally  a  part  of 
Dover,  but  soon  after  its  settlement 
was  formed  into  a  distinct  parish,  by 
the  name  of  Oyster  River,  from  the 
stream  which  passes  through  it.  From  ' 
the  abundance  of  excellent  oysters , 
found  in  its  Avaters,  this  river  jaobably : 
derived  its  name,  and  it  was  a  famous  i 
rendezvous  of  the  Indians.  j 

For  many  years  this  place  suffered  \ 
exceedingly,   by   Indian   depredations  | 
and  murders.     In  1G94,  when  a  large  ^ 
part  of  the  inhabitants  had  marched  | 
to  the  westward,  the  Indians,  who  were  j 
dispersed  in  the  Avoods  about  Oyster, 
River,  having  diligently  observed  the 
number  of  men  in  one  of  the  garri- 
sons, rushed  upon  eigliteen  of  them,  as 
they  were  going  to  their  moniing  de- 
votions  :  and,  having  cut  off  their  re- ; 
treat  from  the  house,  put  them  all  to 
death  except  one,  Avho  fortunately  es- ' 
caped.     They  then  attacked  the  house,  | 
in  Avhich  there  were  only  two   boys,  | 
beside  the  women  and  children.     The 
boys  kept  them  otf  for  some  time,  and 
wounded  several  of  them.     At  length 
the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  house,  and  j 
even  then  the  boys  would  not  surren- 
der, till  the  Indians  had  promised  to 
spare  their  lives.     The  latter,  however. ' 
perfidiously  murdered  three  or  four  of  , 
the  children,  one  of  whom  they  fixed  ] 
upon  a  sharp  stake,  in  the  vicAV  of  its 
mother.     The  next  spring  the  Indians 
nan-owly  Avatched  the  frontiers,  to  de-  [ 
termine  the  safest  and  most  Aulnerablc  I 
points  of  attack.     The  settlement  at  I 


Oyster  River  was  selected  for  destruc- 
tion. Here  were  tAvelve  garrisoned 
houses,  amply  sufficient  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  :  but,  not  ap- 
prehending any  danger,  many  of  the 
families  remained  in  their  unfortified 
houses,  and  those  who  Avere  in  the  gar- 
risons AA-ere  indifl'erently  prepared  for 
a  siege,  as  they  Avere  destitute  of  pow- 
der. The  enemy  approached  the  place 
undiscovered,  and  halted  near  the  Falls. 
One  John  Dean,  whose  house  stood 
near  the  Falls,  happening  to  rise  very 
early  for  a  journey,  before  the  dawn 
of  day,  Avas  shot  as  he  came  out  of  his 
door.  The  attack  noAv  commenced  on 
all  points,  Avhere  the  enemy  Avas  ready. 
They  entered  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Adams  Avithout  resistance,  Avhere  they 
murdered  fourteen  persons,  whose 
graves  can  still  be  traced.  The  house 
of  John  Buss,  the  minister,  AAas  de- 
stroyed, together  Avith  his  valuable  li- 
brary. He  Avas  absent  at  the  time,  and 
his  Avife  and  family  fled  to  the  Avoods. 
Many  other  cruelties  Avere  perpetrated, 
Avhen  the  Indians,  fearing  that  the  in- 
habitants from  the  neighboring  settle- 
ments would  collect  against  them,  re- 
treated, having  killed  or  captured  be- 
tAveen  ninety  and  a  hundred  persons, 
and  destroyed  tAvcnty  houses,  five  of 
Avhich  Avere  ganisoned.  Minute  ac- 
counts of  these  disasters  are  given  in 
Belknap's  valuable  History  of  Ncav 
Hampshire,  to  which  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred. 

Major-General  Johx  Sullivan,  of 
the  revolutionary  army,  was  a  resident 
of  this  toAvn,  and  died  here  Jan.  23, 
1795.  He  was  a  native  of  Berwick, 
Me. ;  was  a  distinguished  commander 
during  the  Avar;  Avas  President  of  the 
State  three  years,  and  aftcrvNards  Dis- 
trict Judge  of  New  Hamp.«hire.  On 
all  occasions  he  proA-ed  himself  the 
fii-m  supporter  of  the  rights  of  the 
countiw. 

The  Hon.  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Col. 
Winbom  Adams,  and  Hon.  George 
Frost,  Avere  also  residents  of  this  town. 

Boundaries.   Korth-east  by  Madliury, 

cast  and  south-east  by  Little  and  Great 

Bavs.  south  by  New  Market,  and  west 

by  Lee. 

'  First  Ministers.     Rev.  Huuh  Adams, 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


65 


settled  in  1718  ;  dismissed  in  1739. 
Rev.  Nicholas  Gilman,  ordained  in 
1 741 ;  died  in  1 748.  Rev.  John  Adams, 
settled  in  1748;  dismissed  in  1778. 
Rev.  Curtis  Coe,  settled  in  1780;  dis- 
missed in  1805. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
6,250  bushels;  potatoes,  26,156  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,547  tons ;  wool,  2,046  lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty-two  miles  east  by 
south  from  Concord,  eleven  west  north- 
west from  Portsmouth,  and  five  south 
from  Dover,  by  railroad. 

EAST  KINGSTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  soil  of 
this  town  is  of  an  excellent  quality, 
and  well  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of 
grain  and  grass.  Powow  River  crosses 
tlae  south-west  part  of  this  town,  hav- 
ing its  sources  in  the  Ponds  of  King- 
ston. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Exeter,  east 
by  Kensington,  south  by  South  Hamp- 
ton, west  and  north-west  by  King- 
ston. 

First  Settlers.  William  and  Abra- 
ham Smith. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Peter  Coffin, 
settled  in  1739;  dismissed  in  1772. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2.900  bushels;  potatoes,  10,120  bush- 
els; hay,  830  tons;   wool,  1,143  lbs. 

Distances.  Forty-two  miles  south- 
east by  east  from  Concord,  and  twenty 
south  south-west  from  Portsmouth, 
and  by  railroad  five  miles  south  from 
Exeter. 

EATON. 

Carrol  Co.  The  soil  of  the  up- 
lands of  this  town,  which  are  quite 
uneven,  is  moderately  good,  and  the 
plains  furnish  excellent  pine  timber. 
There  are  several  small  ponds  in  this 
town. 

Six-mile  Pond  is  in  this  town  ;  and 
is  about  four  miles  long,  and  from  one 
half  to  one  mile  in  width.  Its  waters 
discharge  into  Ossipee  Lake.  The 
mill-streams  are  fed  principally  by 
springs  and  small  brooks.  Iron  ore, 
of  a  good  quality,  is  found  here. 

6* 


In  the  town  of  Eaton,  near  Snell's 
Pond,  occurs  an  important  vein  of 
zinc  and  lead  ores.  The  dimensions 
of  this  vein  are  sufficiently  great  to 
waxTant  mining  operations ;  since  a 
vein  of  six  feet  wide  alFords  ample 
room  for  the  miners. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Ossipee  .and 
Effingham,  west  by  Burton  and  Tam- 
worth,  nortli  by  Conway,  and  east  by 
the  State  of  Maine. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,479  bushels;  potatoes,  29,874  bush- 
els; hay,  2,978  tons;  wool,  2,859  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,540  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty-four  miles  north- 
east from  Concord,  fifty-five  north 
north-east  from  Dover,  and  about  fif- 
teen miles  north  from  Ossipee. 

EFFINGHAM. 

Carroll  Co.  There  are  several 
mountains  of  considerable  elevation 
in  this  town.  Ossipee  River  passes 
through  the  town,  over  which  is  a  toll- 
bridge.  Province  Pond  lies  between 
Effingham  and  Wakefield.  Its  former 
name  was  Leavitt's  Town. 

There  is  a  large  pond  near  the  Ossi- 
pee River,  and  Province  Pond  lies  be- 
tween Effingham  and  Wakefield. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Parsonsfield, 
Me.,  south  by  Wakefield,  south-west 
and  north-west  by  Ossipee. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Gideon  Burt, 
settled  in  1803;  died  in  1805. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,724  bushels ;  potatoes,  26,848  bush- 
els; hay,  1,807  tons;  wool,  2,373  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  400  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  five  miles 
north  from  Ossipee. 

Elil-SWORTH. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  is  a 
mountainous  tract  of  territory.  The 
most  prominent  elevation  is  Carr's 
Mountain.  A  small  stream  issues  from 
West  Branch  Pond,  and  runs  into  the 
PemigGAvasset,  at  Campton,  The  soil, 
though  in  some  parts  sterile,  produces 
wheat,  rye,  and  com.  Maple  sugar  is 
made  here,  and  clover  seed  was  for- 


66 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


merly  raised  in   considerable   quanti- 
ties. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Woodstock, 
east  by  Thornton,  south  by  Kumney, 
and  west  by  Wan-en. 

First  Minister.     Rev.  Israel  Blake. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com. 
638  bushels  ;  potatoes,  8,580  bushels;! 
hay,  691  tons;  wool,  1,424  pounds;' 
maple  sugar,  7,351  pounds. 

Distances.  Tifty-nine  miles  north 
north-west  from  Concord,  and  about 
twelve  miles  north  from  Plymouth. 

ENFIELO. 

Grafton  Co.  The  surface  of  this 
town  is  diversified  with  hills  and  val- 
leys, and  watered  by  a  variety  of  ponds 
and  streams,  stored  with  fish  of  every 
species  common  to  the  country. 

Mascomy  Pond,  which  has  acquired 
from  travellers  the  appellation  of  Plea- 
sant Pond,  is  a  beautiful  collection  of 
water,  four  miles  in  length  and  of  vari- 
ous breadth,  interspersed  with  islands 
and  checkered  Avith  inlets.  Its  eastern 
banks  are  covered  with  trees ;  the  hills 
gradually  rise  one  above  another  for 
some  distance.  Along  the  western 
bank,  between  the  pond  and  Mont 
Calm,  within  a  few  rods  of  the  water, 
extends  the  turnpike  road,  the  whole 
distance  through  a  beautiful  village, 
shaded  to  the  north  on  either  side  by  a 
growth  of  trees.  Mascomy  River  emp- 
ties into  this  pond  in  the  north-west 
part.  Tliis  pond  is  supposed  to  have 
once  been  much  higher  than  it  now  is. 
and  the  plain  and  villages  to  the  south 
are  supposed  to  have  been  the  bed  of 
it  This  fact  is  sufficiently  evident 
from  the  ancient  shore  still  remaining 
round  the  pond,  aboxit  thirty  feet  above 
high  water,  and  from  logs  having  been 
frequently  found  twelve  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  plain  once  flowed. 

On  the  west  bank,  near  the  southern 
extremity,  is  the  Shaker's  settlement, 
situated  on  a  fertile  plain.  It  is  di- 
vided into  three  families,  but  all  wor- 
ship in  the  same  house.  The  structure 
of  the  buildings,  though  not  lofty,  are 
neat  and  convenient.  A  new,  large 
and  costly  granite  building  has  recent- 
ly been  erected.     They  occupy  about 


1,000  acres  of  land,  and  their  number 
consists  of  about  300.  They  are  agri- 
culturalists and  mechanics.  Garden 
seeds  are  grown,  and  wooden  ware, 
whips,  corn  brooms,  leather  and  vari- 
ous other  articles,  are  manufactured  by 
them  with  peculiar  neatness.  Copper 
and  other  valuable  minerals  are  found 
here.     See  Canterbury. 

Mountain  Pond,  on  the  summit  of 
Mont  Calm,  is  200  rods  long,  and  100 
wide.  At  the  outlets  of  the  ponds  are 
mills  of  various  kinds. 

Boundaries.  Korth-east  by  Canaan, 
south-east  by  Grafton,  south-west  by 
Grantham,  and  west  by  Lebanon. 

First  Sdtlers.  Nathaniel  Bicknell, 
Jonathan  Paddleford,  and  Elisha  Bing- 
ham. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Edward  Ev- 
ans, settled  in  1779 ;  dismissed  in  1805. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1.479  bushels;  potatoes,  55,435  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,310  tons  ;  wool,  23,953  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  9,826  pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  south-east  from 
Dartmouth  College,  and  forty-two 
north-west  from  Concord,  and  about 
eighteen  miles  south  by  south-east 
from  Pl^-mouth. 

EPPING. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  town  was 
foiTnerly  a  part  of  Exeter.  The  soil, 
in  general,  is  very  good,  and  well  suit- 
ed to  raise  the  various  productions  that 
grow  in  the  State.  Lamprey  River  at 
the  west,  receives  the  Patuckaway,  and 
runs  through  the  whole  length  of  the 
town.  Another  river  runs  through  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  and  from  that 
circumstance  is  called  North  River. 

By  observations  taken  at  six  in  the 
forenoon,  at  one  and  nine  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  from  Fahrenheit's  ther- 
mometer placed  in  the  open  air,  thir- 
teen feet  from  the  ground,  and  where 
the  sun  does  not  shine  on  the  thermom- 
eter, the  annual  average  of  heat  for  ten 
vears  in  succession,  was  44  1-12**. 
During  that  period  the  annual  average 
of  rain  that  fell,  was  two  feet  ten  inch- 
es, and  of  snow  six  feet  seven  inches. 

William  Plumek,  one  of  its  most 
distinguished  and  estimable    citizens, 


GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


67 


resided  in  this  tovm.  A  considerable 
portion  of  his  life  was  employed  in  the 
service  of  the  people,  in  the  several 
stations  of  represent^itive  and  senator 
in  the  legislature,  president  of  the  sen- 
ate, speaker  of  the  house  of  representa- 
tives, representative  and  senator  in 
congress,  and  for  four  years  as  chief 
magistrate  of  tlie  State. ' 

The  late  Gen.  Heniy  Dearborn,  and 
John  Chandler,  Esq.,  formerly  resided 
here. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Nottingham 
and  Lee,  east  by  New  Market,  Exeter 
and  Brentwood,  south  by  Brentwood 
and  Poplin,  and  west  by  Raymond. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  l^obert  Cut- 
ler, ordained  in  1747;  dismissed  in 
1755.  Rev.  Joseph  Stearns,  ordained 
in  1758;  died  in  1788.  Rev.  Peter 
Holt,  settled  in  1793;  dismissed  in 
1821. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
10,050  bushels";  potatoes,  29,552  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,295  tons  ;  wool,  3.814  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty-nine  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  twenty  west  from 
Portsmouth,  and  eight  north-west  from 
Exeter. 

EPSOM. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  surface  of  the 
town  is  generally  uneven.  The  prin- 
cipal eminences  are  called  M'Coy's, 
Fort,  Nat's,  and  Nottingham  Moun- 
tains. The  soil  is  in  general  good,  and 
well  adapted  for  grazing  or  grain. 
Great  and  Little  Suncook  are  the  only 
streams  deserving  the  name  of  rivers. 
Here  are  three  ponds,  Chesnut,  Round, 
and  Odiome's.  Brown  oxide,  and  sul- 
phuret  of  iron  are  found,  the  latter 
most  frequently  in  its  decomposed 
state.  Varieties  of  quartz,  feldspar  and 
schorl  are  also  found.  An  alluvial  de- 
posite  has  been  discovered,  which  has 
been  ascertained  to  be  terra  de  senna ; 
it  constitutes  a  very  handsome  and  du- 
rable paint  for  cabinet  work. 

Like  all  other  frontier  towns,  Epsom 
was  exposed,  in  its  early  settlement,  to 
the  Indians. 

Maj.  AxDREW  M'Clary,  a  native 
of  this  town,  fell  at  the  battle  of  Breed's 
Hill,  June  17,  1775.     Like  the  illustri- 


ous Roman,  he  left  his  plough  on  the 
news  of  the  massacre  at  Lexington, 
and  in  the  action  when  he  lost  his  life 
displayed  great  coolness  and  bravery. 

Here  John  M' Clary  an  estimable  cit- 
izen was  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  frame 
while  raising,  Dec.  13,  1821,  at  the  age 
;  of  thirty-six  years. 

I  Boundaries.  North  by  Pittsfield,  east 
by  Deerfield  and  Northwood,  south  by 
AllenstowTi,  west  by  Pembroke  and 
Chichester. 

First  Settlers.  This  tOAVTi  was  grant- 
ed to  Theodore  Atkinson  and  others. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  John  Tucke, 
ordained  in  1761  ;  dismissed  in  1774. 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Haseltine.  ordained  in 
1784;  died  in  1813. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,034  bushels;  potatoes,  28,880  bush- 
els; hay,  2,362  tons;  wool,  4,510  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  684  pounds. 

Distancts.  Twelve  miles  east  from 
Concoi-d. 


ERROL.. 

Coos  Co.  This  Ioavti  is  situated  on 
the  west  of  Umbagog  Lake.  Several 
considerable  streams  here  unite  with 
the  Androscoggin.  The  surface  of 
the  town  is  rough ;  the  soil  cold  and 
hard  to  till. 

Boundaries.  The  State  of  Maine 
bounds  this  town  on  the  east,  Cam- 
bridge and  Dummer  on  the  south, 
Millsfield  on  the  west,  and  Wentworth 
Location  on  the  north. 

First  Settlers.  EiTol  was  granted  to 
Timothy  Ruggles  and  others,  Feb.  28, 
1774. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
479  bushels;  potatoes,  3,400  bushels; 
hay,  258  tons  ;  wool,  501  pounds ;  ma- 
ple sugar,  1,165  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  north  north- 
east from  Lancaster,  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  north  by  north-east  from 
Concord. 


EXETER. 

RocKixGHAM  Co.  The  compact 
part  of  the  town  lies  about  the  falls, 
which  separate  the  fresh  from  the  tide 
water  of  a  branch  of  the  Piscataqua, 


68 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


called  by  the  natives  Swarascot,  and 
now  known  by  the  name  of  Exeter 
River.  Above  the  falls  this  stream  as- 
sumes the  name  of  Great  River,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  one  of  its  smaller 
branches,  called  Little  River.  Great 
River  has  its  source  in  Chester,  whence 
it  runs  through  several  tOA\Tis  before 
it  meets  the  tide  water  in  the  centre  of 
Exeter.  On  this  river  are  many  val- 
uable mill  pmileges. 

The  soil  of  Exeter  is  in  general 
good,  though  comprehending  every  va- 
riety, from  that  of  the  best  quality  to 
the  least  productive.  Like  most  toAvns 
in  the  State,  it  is  essentially  agricultu- 
ral, and  the  improvement  in  the  style 
of  husbandry  has  been  very  great.  The 
number  of  industrious  and  enterprising 
mechanics,  to  whom  Exeter  is  indebted 
for  her  prosperity,  is  very  rapidly  in- 
creasing. 

Phillip's  Academy,  in  Exeter,  was 
founded  by  the  liberal  donations  of 
John  Phillips,  LL.  D.,  in  1781,  who  at 
his  death,  in  1795,  bequeat?ied  to  the 
institution  a  large  portion  of  his  estate. 

Bexjamix  Abbot,  LL.  D.,  has  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  principal  with 
distinguished  ability  for  more  than  fifty 
years.  The  building  stands  on  a  plain, 
near  the  centre  of  the  toMni,  and  is  well 
provided  with  accommodations  for  the 
different  branches  of  instruction,  and  a 
large  hall  for  declamation  and  the  an- 
nual exhibitions. 

The  settlement  of  Exeter  com- 
menced in  1638,  by  John  Wheehvright 
and  others,  who  formed  themselves  in- 
to a  body  politic,  chose  their  magis- 
trates, and  bound  the  people  to  obe- 
dience. Their  laws  were  made  in  pop- 
ular assemblies  ;  and  the  combination 
thus  entered  into  subsisted  about  three 
years.  Erom  1675  to  1712,  Exeter, 
like  most  of  the  early  settlements,  suf- 
fered from  the  attacks  of  the  Indians. 

Hon.  Samuel  Tennet,  M.  D.  was 
an  original  member  of  the  ISI^ew  Hamp- 
shire Medical  Society,  its  vice  president 
several  years,  and  a  member  of  con- 
gress in  1800  and  1804. 

Gen.  Nathaniel  Peabodt  was  an 
original  member  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Medical  Society ;  was  a  member 
of  the  old  congress,  a  senator  of  the 


New  Hampshire  legislature  in  1792; 
and  speaker  of  the  house  in  1793. 

Hon.  Nicholas  Gilman  was  a 
member  of  the  old  congress,  and  a  sen- 
ator in  congress  from  1805  to  his  death 
in  1814. 

Gen.  Nathaniel  Folsom  was  a 
member  of  the  old  congress,  and  a  val- 
uable revolutionary  officer. 

Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith,  a  native  of 
Peterborough,  Mas  one  of  the  first  rep- 
resentatives to  congress  under  the 
Federal  government,  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  New 
Hampshire  in  1802,  was  chief  justice, 
and  continued  such  till  1809,  when  he 
was  elected  governor.  He  was  ap- 
pointed chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
judicial  court  in  1813. 

Hon.  John  Taylor  Gilman,  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  principal  set- 
tlers at  Exeter,  was  an  active  support- 
er of  the  revolution ;  a  member  of  the 
old  congress ;  filled  at  times  the  offices 
of  representative  and  State  treasurer ; 
and  for  fourteen  years,  between  1794 
and  1816,  was  governor  of  the  State. 

Exeter  has  at  all  periods  of  its  his- 
tory possessed  eminent  and  useful  men ; 
and  some  of  the  first  lawyers  and  jurists, 
antiquarians  and  scholars,  have  re- 
ceived their  early  education  at  its  lit- 
erary institution. 

Boundaries.  North  by  New  Market, 
east  by  Stratham,  south-east  by  Hamp- 
ton, south  by  Kensington,  and  west  by 
Brentwood  and  Epping. 

First  Settlers.  This  town  was  set- 
tled in  the  year  1638,  by  John  ^Vheel- 
wright  and  others. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  John  "Wheel- 
\\Tight,  settled  in  1638;  dismissed  in 
1642.  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  ordained 
in  1650;  died  in  1683.  "Rev.  John 
Clarke,  ordained  in  1698 ;  died  in  1705. 
Rev.  John  Odlin,  settled  in  1706 ;  died 
in  1754.  Rev.  Woodbridge  Odlin,  set- 
tled in  1743  ;  dismissed  in  1776.  Rev. 
Isaac  Mansfield,  settled  in  1776;  dis- 
missed in  1787.  Rev.  William  H.  How- 
land,  settled  in  1790;  dismissed  in 
1828. 

Manufactures.  The  Exeter  Manu- 
facturing Company  has  expended 
about  $210,000.  The  manufacturing 
1  building  is  built  of  brick,  and  is   175 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


69 


feet  long,  forty-five  feet  Avidc,  five  sto- 
ries high,  with  basement  and  attic ;  con- 
taining 5,120  throstle  spindles,  175 
looms;  employing  28  men,  10  boys, 
170  girls,  total,  208  persons  ;  consum- 
ing annually  1,200  bales,  or  520,000 
pounds  of  cotton  ;  producing  1,450,000 
yards  418.  36  inch  wide  sheetings; 
valued  at  al)out  SI 20,000  dollars. 

The  machinery  is  operated  by  water, 
except  in  the  summer  months,  when 
the  Avatcr  fails ;  then  operated  by 
steam  poAver,  consuming  on  the  ave- 
rage 250  tons  of  coal  per  annum. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,776  bushels;  potatoes,  24,570  bush- 
els; hay,  1,570  tons;  wool,  1,489  lbs. 

Distancfs.  Porty  miles  south-east 
by  east  from  Concord,  and  iburteen 
south-west  from  Portsmouth,  fifty-six 
miles  south  of  Portland,  and  forty-nine 
north  of  Boston  by  raih-oad. 

FARMllVGTON. 

Strafford  Co.  Fannington  was 
formerly  a  part  of  Eochester.  The 
Cocheco  meanders  through  the  north- 
east part  of  the  town.  The  Blue 
Hills,  or  Prost  Mountains,  extend  near- 
ly through  the  town,  under  difterent 
names.  Prom  the  summit  of  the  ridge 
in  the  south-east  part,  ships  may  be 
seen  with  the  naked  eye  off  Ports- 
mouth Harbor  ;  while  to  the  north 
and  west  the  White  Hills  and  the  Mo- 
nadnock,  with  many  other  mountains 
meet  the  eye  of  the  beholder.  There 
is,  not  far  from  the  village  in  Farm- 
ington,  a  rock  supposed  to  weigh  from 
sixty  to  eighty  tons,  so  exactly  pois- 
ed on  other  rocks,  that  it  may  be 
caused  to  vibrate  several  inches  by  the 
hand. 

At  the  bank  of  the  Cocheco,  a  little 
more  than  a  mile  south-east  from  the 
principal  village,  is  a  place  called  the 
Dock.,  so  named  from  the  circumstance 
that  the  first  settlers  usually  deposited 
their  lumber  here,  to  be  floated  down 
the  river.  This  name  is  sometimes 
ignorantly  applied  to  the  village. 

Hon.  Aarox  "NVixCtATE,  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  legislature,  a 
counsellor  from  1797  to  1803,  and  for 
some  time  chief  justice  of  the  common 


pleas  in  Strafford,  died  here  in  1822, 
aged  seventy-eight  years. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Milton, 
south-east  by  Rochester,  south-west  by 
Stratford,  and  north-west  by  Ncav  Dur- 
ham. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,209  bushels;  potatoes,  35,447  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,565  tons  ;  wool,  4,415  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,206  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-five  miles  east 
north-east  from  Concord,  and  seven- 
teen north-Avest  bv  north  from  Dover. 


FlTZAVIIililAM. 

Cheshire  Co.  Camp  and  Priest 
Brooks,  running  in  a  southerly  direc- 
tion, are  the  principal  streams'  in  this 
town.  South  Pond,  230  rods  long  and 
of  various  width ;  Sip's  Pond,  200  rods 
long  and  100  wide  ;  Rockwood's  Pond, 
and  Collin's  Pond,  are  the  only  natural 
collections  of  water. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  hilly ; 
the  soil  is  rocky.  There  is  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  ven,'  productive  and 
highly  valuable  meadow  land.  The 
soil  is  suitable  for  grazing  and  tillage. 
Beef,  pork,  butter,  and  cheese,  are  the 
staples.  The  farmers  have  of  late 
turned  their  attention  to  the  raising  of 
sheep. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  towTi  is  a 
large  hill,  remarkable  for  the  beauti- 
fully romantic  prospect  it  affords.  Gap 
Mountain,  which  at  a  distance  appears 
to  be  a  part  of  the  Monadnock,  and 
on  wdiich  are  found  various  kinds  of 
stones,  suitable  for  whetstones,  lies 
partly  in  Troy  and  partly  in  the  north- 
east part  of  Pitzwilliam. 

Brigadier-General  James  Reed,  a 
revolutionaiy  patriot,  Avhose  merits,  as 
an  officer  and  a  man,  will  be  long  re- 
membered, was  a  citizen  of  this  towTi. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Royalston 
and  Winchendon  in  Mass.,  west  by 
Richmond,  north  by  Troy,  and  east  by 
Rindge. 

First  Settlers.  James  Reed,  John 
Fassett,  Benjamin  Bigelow,  and  others, 
in  1760. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Benjamin  Brig- 
ham,  ordained  in  1771  ;  died  in  1799. 


70 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA3IPSHIRE. 


Rev.  Stephen  TVilliams,  settled  in  1800  : 
dismissed  in  1802. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,945  bushels  :"  potatoes,  37,793  bush- 
els;  hay,  1,64-4  tons;  wool,  1,631  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,497  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirteen  miles  south-east 
from  Keene,  and  sixty  soutli-west  from 
Concord.  The  Cheshire  Railroad  pass- 
es through  this  town. 

FRANCESTOIVN. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  two  south 
branches  of  the  Piscataquog  rise  in 
this  town :  the  largest  branch  from 
Pleasant  Pond,  the  other  from  Haunt- 
ed Pond.  The  former  branch  passes 
near  the  Aillage  in  Franccstown. 

Pleasant  and  Haunted  Ponds  ai-e  con- 
siderable collections  of  water.  The 
land  is  uneven,  and  in  many  parts 
stony,  but  tlie  qualities  of  the  soil  are 
warm  and  moist.  There  are  some 
small  intervales,  which  are  very  pro- 
ductive. The  streams  of  water  are 
not  large,  and  almost  every  mill  is  sit- 
uated on  rivers  that  take  their  rise 
from  hills  and  ponds  within  the  limits 
of  the  town.  The  highest  land  is 
Crotched  Mountain,  the  summit  of 
which  is  more  than  600  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  common  in  the  centre  of 
the  town.  One  of  the  summits  of  this 
mountain  is  covered  Avith  wood :  tlie 
other  is  almost  a  solid  ledge  of  rocks, 
affording  a  very  extensive  prospect  to 
the  south-west. 

There  is,  in  the  easterly  part  of  this 
town,  a  very  extensive  and  valuable 
quarry  of  freestone.  It  is  of  a  dark 
greyish  color,  and,  when  polished, 
strongly  resembles  the  variegated  mar- 
ble of  Vermont.  In  the  north  part  of 
this  town  black  lead  has  been  found, 
of  a  good  quality;  and  in  the  south 
part  some  beautiful  specimens  of  rock 
crystal.  The  common  garnet  is  met 
with  in  various  places.  Excellent  soap 
stone  is  found  here. 

On  the  north  side  of  Haunted  Pond 
there  is  a  bar  of  twenty  rods  in  length. 
six  feet  high,  and  three  or  four  feet 
through  ;  but  for  what  purpose,  or  by 
what  means,  this  barrier  was  raised,  is 
a  matter  of  conjecture  only. 


The  local  situation  of  this  to\\Ti  is 
very  eligible  for  business,  Iteing  near 
the  centre  of  the  county,  and  on  the 
great  thoroughfare  from  AViudsor  to 
Boston,  and  on  a  leading  road  from 
the  south-west  i)art  of  the  State  to 
Concord.  Tlie  village  is  very  pleas- 
ant, neatly  built,  and  flourishing. — 
Francestown  derived  its  name  from 
Frances^  the  wife  of  the  last  Gov.  Went- 
worth. 

Mr.  James  "Woodbury,  who  died 
j\Iarch  3,  1823,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five,  closed  his  life  in  this  toA^ii.  He 
was  an  active  soldier  in  the  old  French 
war,  and  engaged  by  the  side  of  Gen. 
Wolfe  Avhen  he  was  killed,  at  tlie  me- 
morable siege-  of  Quebec.  He  was 
one  of  the  truly  invincible  rani^ers  un- 
der the  immortal  Stark,  and  discharged 
every  duty  in  a  prompt  and  com-ageous 
manner. 

Boundaries.  "West  by  Greenfield, 
north  by  Deering,  east  by  Xew  Boston 
and  Weare,  and  south  by  Lyndebo- 
rough  and  Greenfield. 

First  Ministei:  Rev.  liloses  Brad- 
ford, settled  in  1790  ;  dismissed  in 
1827. 

Product  ion  A  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,847  bushels;  potatoes,  34,031  bush- 
eis;  hay,  2,773  tons;  wool,  9,527  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,015  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  north-west 
from  Amherst,  and  twentj'-eight  south- 
west from  Concord. 

FRANCONIA. 

Graftox  Co.  A  large  proportion 
of  this  tovra  is  mountainous.  Its 
streams  are  branches  of  the  Lower 
Amonoosuck  River,  and  rise  on  the 
mountainous  tracts  to  the  east.  Here 
arc  several  ponds  :  one  of  which,  called 
Ferrin's  Pond,  is  the  source  of  the  mid- 
dle branch  of  Pcmigewasset  River. 
The  mountains  adjoining  the  Notch, 
through  which  the  road  passes,  are 
most  conspicuous.  These  are  called 
Mounts  La  Fayette  and  Jackson.  On 
the  latter  is  the  celebrated  "  Profile," 
;  or  '•  Old  Man  of  tlie  Mountain."  It  is 
I  situated  on  a  peak  of  solid  rock,  1,000 
j  feot  in  height,  and  almost  perpendicu- 
I  lar.     On  this  peak,  nature,  in  her  wild- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


71 


est  mood,  exhibits  the  profile  of  the 
human  face,  of  which  eveiy  feature  is 
delineated  with  wonderful  exactness. 

The  Franconia  mountain  pass  pre- 
sents to  the  traveller  some  of  the 
wildest  scenery  in  our  country,  and 
must  ever  remain  a  great  thoroughfare 
between  the  upper  waters  of  the  Con- 
necticut River  and  the  ocean. 

This  place  is  remarkable  for  its  cold 
weather :  it  is  not  unfrequcnt,  that  the 
mercury  in  Fahrenheit's  thermometer 
stands  thii'ty  or  forty  degrees  below 
zero. 

'•  This  town  owes  its  rise  and  pros- 
perity to  the  discovery  and  Avorking  of 
a  rich  vein  of  granular  magnetic  iron 
ore,  which  exists  -within  the  present 
limits  of  the  town  of  Lisbon,  at  its  south- 
eastern corner.  The  iron  ore  is  a  vein 
from  three  and  a  half  to  four  feet  wide, 
included  in  granite  rocks.  The  course 
of  the  vein  is  north  30°  east,  south  30° 
west,  and  its  dip  is  to  the  south-east  70 
or  80°.  It  has  been  opened  and  wrought 
forty  rods  in  length,  and  144  feet  in 
depth.  The  ore  is  blasted  out  by  the 
workmen,  employed  by  a  contractor 
who  supplies  the  Franconia  furnace. 
The  mine  is  Avi-ought  open  to  daylight, 
and  is  but  partially  covered  to  keep  out 
the  rain.  On  measuring  the  direction 
of  this  vein,  it  was  evident  that  it  ex- 
tended into  the  valley  below,  and  on 
searching  on  the  hill  side  in  that  direc- 
tion it  was  readily  discovered." 

Dr.  Jackson  says  of  the  "  Flume"  : 
"  The  Flume  is  a  deep  chasm,  having 
mural  precipices  of  granite  on  each 
side,  while  a  mountain  torrent  rushes 
through  its  midst,  falling  over  precipi- 
tous crags  and  loose  masses  of  rock. 
During  the  freshets  of  the  spring  sea- 
son and  in  early  summer,  it  is  not  prac- 
ticable to  walk  in  the  bed  of  the  Flume, 
but  in  the  driest  season  of  the  year 
there  is  but  little  water  in  it,  and  the 
bottom  of  the  ravine  affords  a  good 
footpath. 

''  The  direction  of  this  rocky  fissure 
is  north  80°  east,  and  it  appears  to 
have  resulted,  not  from  the  abrasion 
of  the  rocks  by  the  action  of  nmning 
water,  but  to  have  been  produced 
originally  by  a  fracture  of  the  uplifted 
rocks. 


"  The  Avails  of  t"he  chasm  on  either 
hand  exhibit  proofs  in  favor  of  this 
opinion,  for  they  are  not  water  worn, 
but  present  surfaces  of  fracture,  and 
the  projecting  ledges  on  each  side  are 
still  comparatively  sharp  and  well  de- 
fined in  their  outlines. 

"  One  of  the  most  remarkable  objects 
in  the  Flume  is  an  immense  rounded 
block  of  granite,  which  hangs  over  head, 
supported  merely  by  small  surfaces  of 
contact  against  its  sides.  It  appears  to 
the  traveller  looking  at  it  from  below, 
as  if  ready  to  fall  upon  him. 

"  The  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree  crosses 
the  top  of  the  ravine,  and  affords  a 
natural  bridge  to  adventurous  persons 
Avho  rejoice  in  the  feat  of  crossing  so 
narroAV  a  foot  path  suspended  high  in 
air.  No  one  unaccustomed  to  feats  of 
the  kind  should  attempt  so  unnecessa- 
ry and  dangerous  a  pass." 

Boundaries.  North  by  Bethlehem, 
east  by  ungranted  land,  and  south  by 
Lincoln  and  Landaff, 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Artemas  Knight, 
Lemuel  Barnett,  Zebedee  Applebee 
and  others,  in  1774. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
371  bushels  ;  potatoes,  18,29.5  bushels  ; 
hay,  1,135  tons;  wool,  2,302  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  6,968  pounds. 

Distances.  TAventy-eight  miles  north- 
east from  Haverhill,  and  ninety-five 
miles  north  from  Concord. 

FRANKLIN. 

INIerrimac  Co.  Franklin  is  a  place 
of  considerable  and  increasing  business. 
The  junction  of  the  Winnipiseogee 
and  PemigCAvasset  Rivers,  in  this  tOAvn, 
form  the  noble  Merrimac,  creating  on 
both  streams  an  extensiA^e  and  A^alua- 
ble  Avater  poAver.  A  famous  peat  bog 
is  in  this  tovrsx — plumbago,  &c.  has  been 
found  here. 

The  Northern  Railroad  from  Con- 
cord to  Connecticut  RiA^er  passes 
through  the  centre  of  the  toAvn,  which 
renders  it  one  of  the  most  eligible 
places  of  trade  and  manufactures  in  the 
country. 

This  toAvn  was  taken  from  parts  of 
the  tOAvns  of  Salisbury,  Andover,  San- 
bomton  and  Nortlifield. 


72 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Boundaries.  iSTorth  by  New  Chester, 
east  by  Mcrrimac  Eiver,  south  by  Bos- 
cawen,  and  west  by  Salisbury  and  An- 
dover. 

First  Settlers.     See  Salisbvry. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Benjamin  P. 
Stone,  settled  in  1831  :  dismissed  in 
1832. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
6,514  bushels  :  potatoes,  16,989  bush- 
els- hay,  1,415  tons  ;  wool,  4,957  lbs. 

Distances.  Nineteen  miles  north  by 
north-west  from  Concord,  by  the  Korth- 
em  Railroad. 

fref:dom. 

Carroll  Co.  Freedom  is  an  une- 
ven township,  biit  has  some  good  farms. 
It  is  bounded  in  part  by  the  Ossipee 
Lake,  and  River,  which  discharge  east- 
wardly  into  the  Saco. 

This  town  was  formerly  called  North 
Effingham. 

First  Settlers.    See  Effingham. 

First  Ministers.     See  Effingham. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,428  bushels;  potatoes,  22,025  bush- 
els; hay,  1,613  tons  ;  wool,  3,299  lbs. 

IXstances.  Sixty  miles  north  nortli- 
east  from  Concord,  and  about  seven 
miles  north  of  Ossipee. 

GIIiFORD. 

Belkxap  Co.  The  soil  of  Gilford 
is  generally  productive.  There  are  two 
ponds  in  this  town.  Little  and  Chattle- 
borough.  Gunstock  and  Miles's  Riv- 
ers, rising  in  Suncook  Mountains  and 
flowing  north  into  the  lake,  are  the 
principal  streams.  The  north  source 
of  the  Suncook  River  is  on  the  south 
of  these  mountains,  which  extend  in  a 
lofty  pile  OA'er  the  east  part  of  the  to'wn, 
from  Gilmanton  line  nearly  to  the  lake. 
There  are  two  islands  in  the  lake,  be- 
longing to  Gilford,  one  of  which  has 
been  connected  to  the  main  land  by  a 
bridge  thirty  rods  in  length.  Four 
bridges  across  the  Winnipiseogee  con- 
nect the  town  with  Meredith.  The  vil- 
lage at  this  place  is  thriving  and  plea- 
sant. Gilford  is  the  shire  town  of  the 
county. 

Boundaries.  The  Winnipiseogee  Lake 
forms  the  northern  boundar\' ;  on  the 


east  lies  Alton  ;  south  Gilmanton,  and 
on  the  west  Long  Bay  and  Winnipise- 
ogee River. 

Fii-st  Settlers.  James  Ames  and  S. 
S.  Gilman. 

First  Ministers.  Elder  Richard  Mar- 
tin, settled  in  1798.  Elder  Uriah  Mor- 
ton, ordained  in  1808  :  died  in  1817. 

Productiojis  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com. 
6.193  bushels  ;  potatoes,  38.825  bush- 
els :  hay,  3,158  tons  ;  wool,  8,114  lbs. : 
maple  siigar,  2,960  pounds. 

Distances.  The  Concord  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad  passes  through  this  tovra, 
twenty-five  miles  from  Concord. 

GIL.::>IANTON. 

Belknap  Co.  Besides  the  "Winni- 
piseogee, this  tovra  is  watered  by  the 
Suncook  and  Soucook  Rivers,  which 
have  their  sources  in  Gilmanton.  The 
Suncook  rises  in  a  pond  near  the  top 
of  one  of  the  Suncook  Mountains,  ele- 
vated 900  feet  above  its  base.  The  wa- 
ter of  this  pond  falls  into  another  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  of  one  mile  in 
length,  and  half  a  mile  Ande.  Passing 
from  this,  it  falls  into  another,  covering 
about  500  acres,  from  which  it  mean- 
ders through  the  town,  receiving  seve- 
ral streams  in  its  course.  The  Son- 
cook  rises  f)om  Loon,  Rocky,  and 
Shellcamp  Ponds,  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town. 

This  town  is  veiy  hilly  and  rocky. 
The  soil  is  hard,  buf  fruitful,  when  pro- 
perly cultivated.  The  geology  of  this 
town  presents  many  varieties.  There 
are  several  springs  in  Gilmanton.  term- 
ed mineral :  one  of  Avhich  has  proved 
efficacious  in  cutaneous  and  bilious  af- 
fections. 

Dorothv  Weed,  rhe  first  child,  was 
born  here  Oct.  13,  1762.  An  Acade- 
my was  founded  here  in  1764.  Its  pro- 
diictive  funds  are  about  $11,000.  The 
theological  seminary  at  this  place  is 
connected  with  the  "academy,  and  is  a 
flourishing  institution.  See  Public  In- 
stitutions. 

Porcupine  Hill  in  this  town  exhibits 
a  romantic  precipice  which  is  much 
visited.  This  hill  is  a  fine  field  for  the  ex- 
ploration of  the  geologist  and  botanist. 

Gen.  Joseph  Badger,  one  of  the  first 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


73 


settlers,  was  the  first  magistrate  in 
town ;  for  many  years  representative, 
and  for  some  time  previous  to  his  death, 
judge  of  probate  for  the  county  of 
Strafford. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Gilford,  south- 
east by  Barnstead,  south-west  by  Lou- 
don, Canterbuiw,  and  Northfield,  north- 
west by  Wiiinipiseogee  River  and 
Bay. 

First  Srttlers.  Benjamin  Mudgctt, 
John  Mudgett,  Orlando  "Weed,  and 
others,  in  1771. 

First  Ministers.  Elder  Walter  Pow- 
ers, ordained  in  1786;  dismissed  in 
1806.  Rev.  Isaae  Smith,  ordained  in 
1774:  died  in  1817. 

Productio?is  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
13,412  bushels';  potatoes,  84,608  bush- 
els ;  hay,  5,807  tons  ;  wool,  15,299  lbs. : 
maple  sugar,  10,522  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  north  north- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  eight 
miles  south  south-west  from  Gilford. 

GIIiSUM. 

Cheshire  Co.  Tliis  is  a  small 
to^vnship  situated  about  ten  miles  east 
from  tlie  Connecticut.  The  soil  is,  in 
many  parts,  fertile,  and  produces  good 
crops  of  grass  and  grain.  Ashuelot 
River  runs  through  this  town  and  af- 
fords a  good  water  power. 

Gilsum  was  granted  to  Messrs.  Gil- 
bert, Sumner,  and  others.  From  the 
combination  of  the  first  syllables  of  the 
names  of  these  men,  it  derives  the  name 
of  Gil-sum. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Stoddard  and 
Sullivan,  south  hy  Keene,  west  by 
Surry,  and  north  by  Alstead  and  Mar- 
low. 

First  Settlers.  Josiah  Kilbum,  Pe- 
latiah  Pease,  Obadiah  Wilcox,  Ebene- 
zer  Dewey,  and  Jonathan  Adams,  in 
1764. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Elisha  Fish, 
installed  in  1794;  died  in  1807. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,288  bushels  ;' potatoes,  15,858  bush- 
els; hay,  1,237  tons;  wool,  3,662  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  15.835  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  south-west  by 
west  from  Concord,  and  about  nine 
north  from  Keene. 

7 


GOFPSTOWN. 

HiLLSDOKorGH  Co.  Piscataquog 
River,  the  tributary  branches  of  which 
unite  near  the  west  line  of  the  to-mi, 
mns  through  its  centre  in  an  easterly 
du-ection,  and  falls  into  Mcrrimac  Riv- 
er at  Piscataquog  Village  in  Bedford. 
Large  quantities  of  lumber  are  annu- 
ally floated  do^\-n  this  river  to  the  Mer- 
riinac,  and  most  of  the  mill  privileges 
ai-e  derived  from  this  valuable  stream. 

There  are  two  considerable  eleva- 
tions in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town, 
which  obtained  from  the  Indians  the 
name  of  Un-can-nu-nuc.  On  the  rivers 
are  considerable  tracts  of  valuable  in- 
tervale. Back  from  the  rivers  com- 
mence extensive  plains,  easy  of  culti- 
vation, and  producing  abundant  crops. 
From  these  plains  the  land  rises  on 
each  side  of  Piscataquog  River  into 
large  swells. 

The  village  of  Amoskeag  is  in  this 
town,  on  the  Avest  side  of  Merrimac 
Rrs^er,  opposite  the  beautiful  city  of 
Manchester,  to  which  it  is  connected  by 
a  substantial  bridge.  At  this  place  are 
the  celebrated  Amoskeag  Falls.  Amos- 
keag is  already  a  place  of  consider- 
able business,  and  must  eventually  be- 
come the  mart  of  large  manufacturing 
operations.  The  vicinity  of  these  falls 
was  much  frequented  by  the  Indians. 
The  Sachem  Wonolanset  resided  here. 
The  tribe  under  him  was  sometimes 
m.olested  by  the  Mohawks,  who  car- 
ried terror  to  the  hearts  of  all  the  east- 
em  Indians.  In  time  of  war  between 
these  hostile  tribes,  the  Indians  living 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  falls,  con- 
cealed their  provisions  in  the  large  cav- 
ities of  the  rocks  on  the  island  in  the 
middle  of  the  upper  part  of  the  fall. 
They  entertained  an  idea  that  their 
deity  had  cut  out  these  cavities  for  that 
purpose. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Gove,  a  man  distin- 
guished for  his  urbanity,  his  talents 
and  professional  skill,  resided  in  this 
town.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  prac- 
titioners of  medicine  in  the  county. 
He  was  many  years  an  active  member 
of  the  legislature. 

Boundaries.  Northerly  by  Dumbar- 
ton, easterly  by  Manchester  and  Hook- 


74 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


sett,  southerly  by  Bedford,  and  wester- 
ly by  New  Boston. 

First  Ministers.  Kev.  Joseph  Cur- 
rier, ordained  in  1771  ;  dismissed  in 
1774.  Rev.  Cornelius  Waters,  ordain- 
ed in  1781:  dismissed  in  1795.  Rev. 
D.  L.  Morrill,  LL.  D.,  settled  in  1802; 
dismissed  in  1811. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
12,694  bushels:  potatoes,  28,434  bush- 
els: hay,  3,258  tons;  wool,  3,621  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  534  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  north  by 
east  from  Amherst,  and  fifteen  south 
from  Concord. 

GORHA9I. 

Coos  Co.  This  is  a  rough  and  un- 
productive township,  lying  on  the  north- 
erly base  of  the  White  Mountains. 
Several  streams  descend  from  the 
mountains  through  this  towTi  into  the 
Androscoggin.  It  Avas  fonnerly  called 
Shelhume  Addition. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
321  bushels  ;  potatoes,  4,597  bushels  ; 
hay,  216  tons;  wool,  393  pounds;  ma- 
ple sugar,  3,525  pounds. 

Distances.  Ninety-six  miles  north- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  twenty 
miles  east  from  Lancaster. 


GOSHEN. 

Sullivan  Co.  From  Sunapee 
Mountain,  lying  in  the  east  part  of  this 
town,  spring  many  small  streams,  which' 
unite  in  forming  Sugar  River.  Rand's 
Pond  is  in  the  north-east  part  of  the 
town.  The  soil  is  particularly  calcu- 
lated for  the  production  of  grass. 

The  crops  of  the  first  settlers  were 
greatly  injured,  and  sometimes  entirely 
destroyed  by  early  frosts.  In  such 
cases  they  procured  grain  from  Wal- 
pole  and  other  places.  At  a  certain 
time  of  scarcity,  Capt.  Rand  went  to 
Walpole  after  grain,  and  being  detain- 
ed by  a  Aiolent  snow  stonn,  his  family 
was  obliged  to  live  without  provision 
for  six  days,  during  which  time  Mrs. 
Rand  sustained  one  of  his  childi-en,  five 
years  old,  by  the  milk  from  her  brei^st, 
having  a  short  time  before  buried  her 
infant  child. 


Boundaries.  West  by  Lempster  and 
Unity,  north  by  Newport  and  Wendell, 
south-east  by  Bradford,  and  south  by 
Washington. 

First  ibettlers.  Capt.  Benjamin  Rand, 
William  Lang,  and  Daniel  Grindle,  in 
1769. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2,396  bushels;' potatoes,  23,127  bush- 
els; ha3%  1,924  tons;  wool,  8,811  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  13,397  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-two  miles  west  by 
north  from  Concord,  and  about  ten 
miles  south-east  from  Newport. 

GOSPORT. 

Rockingham  Co.  See  Isle  of 
Shoals. 

GRAFTON. 

Grafton  Co.  Grafton  is  watered 
by  branches  of  Smith's  and  Mascomy 
Rivers.  Heard's  River,  a  small  tribu- 
tary^ to  Smith's  River,  waters  the  south- 
east part.  There  are  five  ponds.  The 
largest,  containing  from  200  to  300 
acres,  is  called  Grafton  Pond.  Two 
are  named  Mud  Ponds.  The  surface 
of  Grafton  is  very  hilly,  in  some  parts 
very  mountainous ;  and  the  soil  is  so 
rocky  as,  in  many  places,  to  be  unfit 
for  cultivation.  There  are,  however, 
some  good  tracts  of  land. 

In  this  to-vMi  there  is  a  remarkable 
ledge,  called  the  Pinnacle,  on  the  south 
side  of  which  the  ground  rises  by  a 
gradual  ascent  to  the  summit :  but  on 
the  north  side,  it  falls  neai'ly  150  feet, 
within  the  distance  of  six  or  eight  feet. 
Isinglass,  as  it  is  commonly  called,  is 
found  in  a  state  of  great  purity  in  Glass 
Hill  Mountain.  At  Glass  Hill  in  this 
town  "  is  a  very  valuable  quarry  of  mi- 
ca. This  hill  *  is  about  three  or  four 
hundred  feet  above  its  immediate  base, 
and  is  composed  of  a  very  coarsely 
crystalized  granite,  which  is  a  vein  in 
mica  slate.  The  mica  is  very  clear 
transparent  and  colorless,  or  when  in 
thick  masses  has  a  delicate  red  tinge 
The  felspar  is  of  a  beautiful  white  col- 
or, and  contains  both  soda  and  potash. 
The  quartz  is  colorless  and  has  a  grea- 
sy lustre,  and  occurs  in  singularly 
modified  crystals  appearing  as  if  com- 
pressed by  the  mica.     Crystals  of  black 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


75 


tourmaline  occasionally  arc  found  com- 
pressed between  the  lamina  of  the  mica. 
Large  and  very  thin  plates  of  com- 
prcssd  felspar  and  mica  are  also 
found." 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Orange, 
south-west  by  Springfield,  and  north- 
west by  Enfield. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Joseph  Hoyt, 
and  Capt.  Alexander  Pixby  and  wife, 
in  1772. 


First  Minister.  Rev.  Oliver  "Wil- 
liams, ordained  in  1786;  died  in  1790. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,115  bushels:  potatoes,  30,052  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,21 1  tons  ;  wool,  10,074  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5.584  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-four  miles  north- 
west from  Concord  by  railroad,  thirteen 
south-east  from  Dartmouth  College, 
and  about  seventeen  miles  south-west 
from  Plymouth. 


GRAFTON  COUNTY. 

Haverhill  and  Plymouth  are  the  county  towns.  It  is  fifty-eight  miles 
in  length,  and  its  greatest  breadth  is  thirty  miles.  It  is  bounded  north  by  the 
county  of  Coos  and  the  Connecticut  River,  east  by  the  counties  of  Coos,  Car- 
roll and  Belknap,  south  by  Merrimac  and  Sullivan,  and  west  by  the  State  of 
Vermont  and  Connecticut  River. 

Grafton  County  is  watered  by  Connecticut  River,  on  which  are  several  plea- 
sant and  fionrishing  towns  ;  by  Pemigewasset  and  Lower  Amonoosuck  Rivers, 
and  by  many  smaller  streams.  Squam  and  Xewfound  Lakes  are  the  largest 
collections  of  water.     See  Lakes  and  Ponds. 

There  are  numerous  elevations  which  come  under  the  name  of  mountains. 
Those  of  the  most  importance  are  Gardner's  in  Lyman,  Peaked  in  Bethlehem, 
Moosehillock  in  Benton,  Cushmau's  and  the  Blue  Mount  in  Woodstock,  Cart's 
in  Warren  and  Ellsworth,  Moose  in  Hanover,  and  Cardigan  in  Orange. 

A  large  portion  of  Grafton  County  is  mountainous  and  hilly,  but  this  cir- 
cumstance does  not  prevent  its  productiveness.  It  presents  fine  tracts  for  pas- 
turage, a  large  proportion  of  arable  land,  and  on  the  rivers,  extensive  and  fer- 
tile intervales. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  county  was  made  at  Lebanon,  and  this  was  the 
first  settlement  on  Connecticut  River  north  of  Charlestown.  It  received  its 
name  in  honor  of  Augustus  Henry  Fitzrov,  Duke  of  Grafton. — See  County 
Table. 


COURTS  IN  GRAFTON  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court,  Fifth  District.  At  Plymouth,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the 
fourth  Tuesday  of  July :  at  Lancaster,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  term  at 
Plymouth  ;  and  at  Haverhill,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  fourth  Tuesday  of 
December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Haverhill,  the  second  Tuesday  of  April,  and 
first  Tuesday  of  October,  for  the  Western  Judicial  District ;  at  Plymouth,  the 
second  Tuesday  of  ]\Iay,  and  third  Tuesday  of  November,  for  the  Eastern  Ju- 
dicial District, 


76 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


Probate  Courts.  At  Haverhill,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  Januaiy,  April,  Au- 
gust, and  October ;  at  PIpnouth,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  May,  July,  Novem- 
ber, and  February' ;  at  Canaan,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  June,  and  December ; 
at  Lisbon,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  March,  and  September. 


GRANTHAM. 

SuLLiVAX  Co.  There  are  seven  or 
eight  ponds  in  Grantham,  the  largest 
of  which  lies  in  the  south-east  part  of 
the  town  and  is  called  Eastman's 
Pond,  containing  nearly  300  acres. 
Another,  lying  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  contains  nearly  200  acres. 

Croydon  Mountain  extends  through 
the  Avestcrly  part  of  Grantham  in  a  di- 
rection from  south-Avest  to  north-east. 
The  soil  is  productive,  especially  on 
the  west  of  the  mountain.  It  seems  to 
be  more  favorable  for  Avheat  than  any 
other  species  of  grain.  The  mountain 
affords  good  pasturage,  and  the  lower 
land  yields  grass  in  abundance. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  mountain  is 
a  spring  supposed  to  possess  medi- 
cinal qualities,  Aisited  by  hundreds 
of  valetudinarians  in  the  summer  sea- 
son. On  the  summit  of  Croydon 
Mountain  is  a  natural  pond,  contain- 
ingabout  fifty  acres. 

boundaries.  North  by  Enfield,  east 
by  Springfield,  south  by  Croydon,  and 
west  by  Plainfield. 

First  Settlers.  Grantham  was  grant- 
ed to  AVilliam  Symmes,  and  sixty- 
three  others. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Dana  Clayes, 
ordained  in  1821. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,097  bushels ;"  potatoes,  22.160  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,446  tons ;  wool,  12,248  lbs. ;  \ 
maple  sugar,  8,425  poimds. 

Distances.  TavcIvc  miles  south-east  i 
from  Dartmouth  College,  forty  north-  j 
west  from  Concord,  and  about  twelve  ! 
miles  north  of  NcAvport.  I 

GREENFIELD.  | 

H11.LSEOROUGH  Co.  Contoocook 
River  forn^s  part  of  the  Avcst  boundary,  I 
and  separates  this  tOAvn  from  Hancock. ' 


[  The  soil  is  generally  fertile.  The  hiUs 
afford  excellent  pasturage :  the  A-alleys 
and  plains  are  favorable  for  grain. 
Hops  arc  raised  in  great  abundance. 
A  part  of  Crotched  Mountain  rises 
from  the  north  part,  and  part  of  LAmde- 
borough  Mountain  from  the  south  and 
east  sections  of  this  toAvn. 

There  are  some  valuable  meadows ; 
in  one  of  them  have  been  found  many 
valuable  relics,  from  AAhich  it  is  con- 
jectured that  it  AA'as  a  faAorite  spot  of 
the  sons  of  the  forest.  There  are  Aa-c 
ponds ;  the  largest  about  one  mile  in 
length,  and  one  third  of  its  length  in 
Avidth. 

Boundaries.  North  by  FrancestOAvn, 
east  by  FrancestOAA-n  and  Lyndebor- 
ough,  south  by  Lyndeborough  and 
Temple,  and  Av^est  by  Peterboronorh. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Alexander  Par- 
ker, Major  A.  Whittemore,  Simeon 
Fletcher,  and  others,  in  1771. 

First  Mitiistey-s.  Rev.  Timothy  Clark, 
settled  in  1800;  dismissed  in  1811. 
Rev.  John  Walker,  ordained  in  1812; 
dismissed  in  1822. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,351  bushels:  potatoes,  24,359  bush- 
els: hay,  1.909  tons:  avooI,  4,052  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  1,873  pounds. 

Distances.  Fourteen  miles  west 
north-M'est  from  Amherst,  and  thirty- 
eight  south-Avest  from  Concord. 

GREENIiAND. 

RocKiNGHAAi  Co.  The  soil  is  re- 
markably good.  The  orchards  and 
gardens  of  this  town  are  valuable,  and 
yield  annual  profits  to  the  fiirmers.  In 
this  tOAAni  are  some  very  valuable  farms, 
and  elegant  country  seats. 

Rev.  Samuel  MClintock,  D.  D., 
Avho  died  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of 
his  ministry,  AA'as  born  at  Medford, 
Mass.,  May  1,  1732  5  graduated  at  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHERE. 


77 


New  Jersey  College  in  1751 ;  ordained 
in  1756  ;  and  died  April  27,  1804,  aged 
seventy-two.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Ireland.  Dr.  M'Clintock  was  a 
sound  divine,  eminent  as  a  preacher, 
and  distinguished  for  his  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  his  country.  He  served 
as  a  chaplain  in  tlie  army  of  the  revo- 
lution. 

Boundaries.  North  by  the  Great 
Bay  and  Newington,  east  by  Ports- 
mouth and  Rye,  south  by  Northamp- 
ton, and  west  by  Stratham. 

Fiist  Ministers.  Rev.  William  Al- 
len, ordained  in  1707;  died  in  1760. 
Rev.  Samuel  M'Clintock,  D.  D.,  or- 
dained in  1 756  ;  died  in  1 804. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5.508  bushels;  potatoes,  24,260  bush- 
els: hay,  1,878  tons;  wool,  2,221  lbs. 

Distances.  Five  miles  west  south- 
west from  Portsmouth,  and  forty-five 
east  south-east  from  Concord.  The 
Eastern  Railroad  passes  through  this 
town. 

GROTON. 

Grafton  Co.  The  north  pai-t  of 
this  to^vn  is  watered  by  a  branch  of  Ba- 
ker's River,  and  the  southerly  part  has 
several  small  streams,  which  fall  into 
Newfound  Lake.  There  is  but  one 
pond  of  any  consequence  lying  wholly 
in  this  tOAvn,  and  that  is  situated  about 
a  mile  north-east  of  the  meeting-house. 

Boundaries.  Rumney  is  on  the  north, 
Hebron  on  the  east.  Orange  on  the 
south,  and  Dorchester  on  the  west. 

First  Settlers.  James  Gould,  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Mellen,  Jonas  Hobart,  Phin- 
ehas  Bennett,  and  Samuel  Farley,  in 
1779.  Groton  was  granted  in  1776  to 
George  Abbot  and  others,  by  the  name 
of  Cockermouth. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Samuel  Per- 
ley,  ordained  in  1779;  dismissed  in 
1785.  Rev.  Thomas  Page,  ordained  in 
1790;  died  in  1813. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.     Indian  com, 
1,448  bushels;    potatoes,  26,211  bnsh- 
■  els  ;  hay,  2,610  tons  ;  wool,  5,674  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  11,475  pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  south-west 
from  Plymouth,  forty-five  north-west 
from  Concord,  and  fifteen  south-east 
from  Hanover. 

7* 


I  HAMPSTEAD. 

'  Rockingham  Co.  This  town  lies 
,  partly  on  the  height  of  land  between 
Mcrrimac  and  Piscataqua  Rivers.  Most 
of  the  waters  descend  south-west  into 
the  Merrimac  through  Spiggot  River, 
I  which  flows  from  Wash  Pond,  near  the 
centre  of  the  town.  Angly  Pond  is  in 
the  noi-th-east  part  of  the  toAvn,  the 
waters  of  which  pass  into  Powow  Riv- 
er. Island  Pond,  in  the  south-west 
part  of  the  town,  contains  a  valuable 
farm  of  300  acres. 

The  town  was  granted  by  Gov.  Ben- 
ning  Wentworth,  and  named  by  him 
after  a  pleasant  village  five  miles  north 
of  London,  England.  He  reserved  the 
island  before  mentioned  for  his  own 
farm. 

Among  the  valuable  citizens,  who 
have  resided  in  this  to"wn,  were  Daniel 
Little,  Esq.,  Richard  Harzen,  Esq.,  Col. 
Jacob  Bailey,  and  Hon.  John  Calfe. 

Boundaries.  -North  by  Sandown, 
east  by  Kingston,  south  by  Plaistow, 
and  west  by  Londonderry. 

First  Settlers.  ]\Ir.  Emerson,  Mr. 
Ford,  Mr.  Heath,  and  others,  in  1728. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Henry  True, 
ordained  in  1752  ;  died  in  1782.  Rev. 
John  Kelly,  installed  in  1792. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,583  bushels  ;  potatoes,  13,970  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,124  tons  ;  wool,  694  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  twelve  miles 
south-west  from  Exeter. 

HAMPTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  soil  of 
Hampton  is  well  adapted  to  tillage  and 
mowing,  and  about  one  fifth  of  the  ter- 
ritory is  a  salt  marsh.  Hampton  is 
pleasantly  situated ;  many  eminences 
in  the  town  affording  romantic  views 
of  the  ocean.  Isles  of  Shoals,  and  sea- 
coast  from  Cape  Ann  to  Portsmouth. 
Its  beaches  have  long  been  the  resort 
of  invalids  and  parties  of  pleasure,  and 
are  little  inferior  to  the  famous  Nahant 
beach  near  Boston.  Here  are  a  num- 
ber of  commodious  houses  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  numerous  visitors. 

Boards  Head  is  an  abrupt  eminence 
extending  into  the  sea,  and  dividing 


78 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


the  beaches  about  half  way  between  the 
river's  mouth  and  tlie  north-east  cor- 
ner of  the  to\\Ti.  On  the  north  beach 
are  numerous  fish-houses,  from  which 
the  A\-inter  and  summer  fisheries  have 
been  cai-ried  on  with  much  success. 
Great  quantities  of  the  winter  fish  are 
earned  frozen  into  Yennont  and  Can- 
ada. 

The  Indian  name  of  this  town  was 
Winnicumet. 

This  tOAvn  was  fonnerly  the  scene  of 
Indian  depredations.  On  the  17th 
Aug.,  1703,  a  party  of  Indians  killed 
five  persons  in  Hampton,  among  whom 
•was  a  widow  Mussey.  celebrated  as  a 
preacher  among  the  Eriends. 

The  Hon.  Christopher  Toppan 
died  here  in  Feb.,  1819,  aged  eighty- 
four  :  he  was  a  very  useful  and  distin- 
guished citizen. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  north  by 
Hampton,  south-east  by  the  Atlantic, 
south-west  by  Hampton  Falls,  north- 
west by  a  part  of  Exeter. 

First  Stttlers.  Emigrants  from  the 
county  of  Norfolk. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Stephen  Batch- 
elder,  ordained  in  1638:  removed  in 
1641.  Rev.  Timothy  Dalton,  ordain- 
ed in  1639  :  died  in' 1661.  Rev.  John 
Wheelwright,  ordained  in  1647  ;  dis- 
missed in  16.58.  Rev.  Seaborn  Cotton, 
settled  in  1660;  died  in  1686.  Rev.  John 
Cotton,  settled  in  1696  :  died  in  1710. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Gookin,  settled  in  1710 ; 
died  in  1 734.  Rev.  Ward  Cotton,  set- 
tled in  1734  :  dismissed  in  1765.  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Thayer,  settled  in  1766  ;  died 
in  1792.  Rev.  Jesse  Appleton,  D.D., 
settled  in  1797  ;  dismissed  in  1807,  and 
died  in  1819. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
10,972  bushels  :  potatoes,  55.485  bush- 
els :  hay,  2,590'tons  ;  wool,  1,835  lbs. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  south-west 
from  Portsmouth,  five  south-east  from 
Exeter,  by  railroad,  and  forty-six  south- 
east from  Concord. 

HAMPTON  FAIiliS. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  generally  good.  Hampton 
Falls  was  originally  a  part  of  Hamp- 
ton, and  is  now  much  associated  with 


it,  in  the  various  emplojinents  of  the 
people. 

Boundaries.     North-east  by  Hamp- 
ton, south-east  by  the  marshes,  south 
by  Seabrook,  west  by  Kensington. 
"  First  Settlers.     See  Hampton. 

First  Ministe7-s.  Rev.  Theophilus 
Cotton,  settled  in  1712:  died  in  1726. 
Rev.  Joseph  Whipple,  ordained  in  1727; 
died  in  1757.  Rev.  Josiah  Bayley,  set- 
tled in  1757  ;  died  in  1762.  Rev. Paine 
Wingate,  settled  in  1763  ;  removed  in 
1771.  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,  D.  D., 
settled  in  1781;  died  in  1797.  Rev. 
Jacob  Abbot,  settled  in  1798. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,119  bushels  ;  potatoes,  19.885  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,245  tons  ;  wool,  1,886  lbs. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord,  and  by  raih-oad  eleven 
miles  south-west  from  Portsmouth,  and 
six  south-east  from  Exeter. 


HANCOCK. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  soil  of 
this  to-«Ti  is  various,  but  generally  pro- 
ductive, and  is  considered  a  good  farm- 
ing town.  The  west  part  of  the  town 
is  mountainous,  but  aff'ords  excellent 
pasturing  and  many  good  farms.  The 
other  parts  of  the  to^\'n  are  agreeably 
diversified  with  plains,  hills  and  valleys. 
On  the  Contoocook,  and  some  of  its 
tributary  streams,  there  are  several 
tracts  of  excellent  intervale. 

There  are  two  considerable  ponds  in 
the  tovm,  one  of  which  is  in  the  centre, 
a  few  rods  north  of  the  meeting-house. 
The  ponds  atford  a  great  variety  of  fish, 
and  are  much  resorted  to  by  anglers. 

This  to\\'n  was  named  for  Gov. 
Hancock,  of  Boston,  who  was  one  of 
the  original  proprietors. 

Boundaries.  Contoocook  River  on 
the  east  divides  it  from  Greenfield, 
south  by  Peterborough  and  Dublin, 
west  by  Nelson,  and  north  by  Antrim. 

First  Settler.  John  Grimes,  in  May, 
1764. 

First  Mnister.  Rev.  Reed  Paige,  or- 
dained in  1791  ;  died  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,080  bushels ;  potatoes,  29,589  bush- 
els;  hay,  2,811  tons;  wool,  6,991  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  3,557  pounds. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


79 


Distances.     Thirty-six  miles   south-       Hon.    Joiix    AViieelock,   LL.  D 
west   from   Concord,   and   twenty- two  president  of  the  college  thirty-five  yearel 
north-west  fi-om  Amherst.  who  died  April  4,   1817,   aged  sixty- 

three. 
HANOVER  ^^"-  Bezaleel  "Woodavard,  who 

died  Aug.,  1804. 

Graftox    Co.       The    Connecticut       Rev.  John  Smith,  D.  D.,  who  died 
River  separates  Hanover  from  Norwich,  April,  1809. 

Vermont.  In  this  town  there  is  no  river  I  Hon.  John  Hubbard,  who  died  in 
nor  any  considerable  stream  besides  the  '  Sept.,  1810. 

Connecticut.  Mink  Brook,  running  in  |  Rev.  Fraxcis  Brown,  D.  D.,  who 
a  south-west  direction,  Slate  Brook  in  j  died  July  27,  1820,  aged  thirty-six. 
a  west  course,  and  Goose-Pond  Brook  i  These  gentlemen  were  all  connected 
in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  are  :  with  the  college. 

among  the  principal  streams.  Neither  j  Boundaries.  Northerly  by  Ljine, 
of  them  is  large  enough  for  j)ei-manent  easterly  by  Canaan,  southerly  by'  Le- 
mill  priWleges.  There  are  several  small  banon,  and  westerly  by  Norwich,  Vt. 
islands  in  Connecticut  River  Avithin  the  I  First  Settleis.  Col.  Edmund  Free- 
limits  of  Hanover,  the  largest  of  Avliich  '■  man,  Benjamin  DaAis,  Benjamin  Rice, 
is  Parker's  Island,  containing  about  Gideon  Smith,  and  Asa  Parker,  in  1765. 
twenty  acres.     There  are  no  natural       First  Ministers.      Rev.   Eden   Bur- 


ponds  in  the  town. 


roughs,  D.  D.,  installed  in  1772;  dis- 


The  surface  of  Hanover  is  agreeably  missed  in  1810.  Rev.  Samuel  Col- 
diversified  with  hills  and  valleys,  and  lins,  installed  in  1788;  dismissed  in 
the  greatest  part  is  suitable  for  farms. :  1795.  Rev.  Abel  Bridgman,  settled  in 
There  is  but  a  small  proportion  of  waste  1791 ;  died  in  1800.  College  Church — 
land ;  less,  perhaps,  than  in  any  other  Rev.  E.  Wheelock,  D.  D.,   settled  in 


tOAvn  in  Grafton  county.  It  is  estima- 
ted that  nearly  one  half  is  under  im- 
provement. Moose  ^Mountain  is  a  con- 
siderable elevation,  extending  across 
the  tOAvn  from  north  to  south,  at  the 
distance  of  about  five  miles  from  Con- 
necticut River.  A  handsome  bridge 
connects  the  south-west  part  of  the 
tOAATi  Avith  NorAvich. 

The  principal  village  is  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  tOAA'n.  on  a  beautiful 
and  extensive  plain,  half  a  mile  from 
Connecticut  River,  and  180  feet  above 
the  level  of  its  Avaters.  Vegetable  sub- 
stances are  found  in  different  parts  of 
this  plain  at  a  depth  of  from  fifty  to 
eighty  feet.  The  principal  houses  are 
erected  round  a  square,  level  area,  of 
twelve  acres.  The  remainder  stand 
on  different  streets,  leading  from  the 
Green  in  all   directions. 

In  this  pleasant  vilage  is  located 
Dartmouth  College. — See  Colleges. 

Among  the  Avorthy  men  who  have 
finished  their  earthly  career  in  this 
place,  may  be  mentioned  the  folloAA-ing: 

Rev.  Eleazar  Wheelock,  D.  D., 
who  died  April  24,  1779,  aged  sixty- 
nine. 


1771  :  died  in  1779.  Rca-.  Sylvanus 
Ripley,  settled  in  1779;  died  iia  1787. 
Rev.  John  Smith,  D.  D.,  settled  in 
1786:  died  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,634  bushels  ;  potatoes,  63,662  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,704  tons  :  wool,  43.987  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  11,185  pounds. 

Distances.  This  tOAvn  is  four  mUes 
north-east  from  the  rail-road  depot  at 
Lebanon;  sixty-nine  miles  north  of 
Concord.  Hanover  is  about  thirty 
miles  south  from  Haverhill. 

HAVERHIIili. 

This  is  a  very  pleasant  tOAvn,  and  is 
one  of  the  shire  toAATis  of  Grafton  coun- 
ty. It  is  watered  by  Oliverian  and 
Hazen  Brooks.  The  soil  is  suited  to 
CA'cry  species  of  cultivation  common  to 
the  climate.  There  is  a  cjuarry  of 
granite  suitable  for  mill  stones  and 
buildings,  and  a  bed  of  iron  ore,  on  the 
Avest   side   of  Benton,  bordering  this 

tOAATl. 

The  principal  Anllage  is  at  the  south- 
AA'Cst  angle  of  the  tOAvn,  and  knoAvn 
by  the  name  of  Haverhill  Comer.  There 


80 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA3fPSHIRE. 


is  a  beautiful  common  in  this  village, 
laid  out  in  an  oblong  square,  around 
which  the  buildings  regularly  stand. 
The  site  is  a  handsome  elevation,  ovei-- 
looking  the  adjacent  country  many 
miles  north  and  south,  and  not  less 
than  six  or  seven  miles  east  and  Avest. 
From  the  street,  the  ground  slopes  with 
unusual  elegance  to  the  west,  and  is 
succeeded  by  broad  intervales.  The 
prospect  here  is  delightful.  There  is 
another  \Tllage  at  the  north-west  angle 
of  the  town,  on  a  street  nearly  a  mile 
in  length,  straight  and  very  level.  Sev- 
eral of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town 
were  from  Newbury  and  Haverhill, 
Mass.,  and  from  the  last  place,  this 
town  derived  its  name. 

Hon.  Moses  Dow  was  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  citizens  of  this 
place. 

Hon.  Charles  Johnston,  who  died 
March  5,  1813,  aged  seventy-six,  re- 
sided here.  He  was  a  valuable  officer 
in  the  revolution,  and  was  many  years 
judge  of  probate  in  Grafton  County. 

Hon.  James  Woodward  and  Hon. 
Ezekiel  Ladd  were  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  were  judges  of  the  old 
county  court. 

Dr.  Jackson  says,  "  The  best  crys- 
tals are  found  in  Haverhill,  and  occur 
near  the  house  of  Mr.  Roswell  Wilmot, 
in  cHorite,  the  crystals  being  quite  per- 
fect, and  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter. 
Their  colors  are  rather  too  dull  for 
jewelry." 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Bath, 
east  by  Benton,  south-west  by  Pier- 
mont,  and  west  bv  Newburv,  Vt. 

First  Settler.  Capt.  John  Hazen.  1764. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Ethan  Smith, 
ordained  in  1792;  dismissed  in  1799! 
Rev.  John  Smith,  ordained  in  1802: 
dismissed  in  1807. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
10,700  bushels ;  potatoes,  85,824  bush- 
els; hay,  5,251  tons;  wool,  22,159  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  8,335  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-one  miles  north- 
west from  Plymouth,  and  ninety-nine 
miles  north  north-west  from  Concord, 
by  the  Northern  Railroad  and  stages. 

Soon  the  "Iron  Horse,"  vnW  pass 
through  this  part  of  the  lovely  valley 
of  Connecticut  River. 


HKBRON. 

Grafton  Co.  A  considerable  part 
of  Newfound  Lake  lies  in  the  south- 
east part  of  this  town.  It  has  no  river, 
nor  any  important  streams.  Nearly 
one  half  of  the  t0A\Ti  was  included  in 
the  grant  of  Cockennouth,  now  Gro- 
ton.  The  remaining  part  was  taken 
from  Plymouth. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Rumney  and 
Plymouth,  east  by  Phonouth,  south  by 
Bridgewater,  Alexandria  and  Orange, 
and  west  by  Groton. 

First  Ministers.     See  Groton. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,673  bushels;  potatoes,  10,850  bush- 
els; hay,  1,542  tons  ;  wool,  4,594  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  11,090  pounds. 

Distances.  Nine  mUes  south-west 
from  PhTnouth,  and  forty  north-west 
from  Concord. 

HENXIKJBR. 

Merrimac  Co.  Contoocook  River 
passes  easterly  through  its  centre,  and 
divides  the  tOAvn  into  nearly  equal  por- 
tions of  teiTitory  and  population.  Its 
course  is  rather  circuitous,  and  in  many 
places  presents  scenes  of  considerable 
interest  and  beauty.  Few  places  afford 
better  prospects  for  the  successful  op- 
eration of  water  machinery  than  this. 
There  are  several  ponds  of  consider- 
able size.  Long  Pond  is  the  largest, 
being  between  one  and  two  miles  in 
length,  and  from  forty  to  eighty  rods 
■wide — situated  one  mile  north  of  the 
centre  Aullage.  Craney  Hill  is  the 
principal  elevation,  and  embraces  a 
large  portion  of  territory  on  the  south 
of  the  town.  It  is  mostly  in  a  state  of 
cultivation.  The  soil  of  the  hills  is 
favorable  for  wheat — the  valleys  pro- 
duce good  crops  of  corn. 

Henniker  received  its  present  name 
from  Gov.  Wentworth,  in  honor  of  his 
friend  Henniker,  probably  John  Hen- 
niker, Esq.,  a  merchant  in  London,  and 
a  member  of  the  British  parliament  at 
that  time. 

The  Hon.  Robert  Wallace  was  a  dis- 
tinguished citizen  of  Henniker.  He 
died  Jan.  1815,  aged  sixty-six. 

Boundaries.  Hopkinton  is  on  the 
cast,  Deering  and  Weare  on  the  south, 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


81 


Hillsborough  on  llie  west,  Warner  and 
Bradford  on  the  north. 

First  Settler.     James  Peters,  in  1 7  6 1 . 

First  Ministers.  Eev.  Jacob  Rice, 
ordained  in  1769;  dismissed  in  1782. 
Rev.  IMoses  Sawyer,  ordained  in  1802  ; 
dismissed  in  182G. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
13,300  bushels  ;  potatoes,  35,279  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,373  tons ;  wool,  7,564  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,105  pounds. 

Distances.  Tv.'cnty-three  miles  north- 
west from  Amherst,  and  fifteen  west 
from  Concord. 

HI]LL. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  is  watered 
by  Pemigewassct  and  Smitli's  Rivers, 
and  several  small  streams.  Eagle  Pond 
is  the  only  one  of  note.  Ragged  Moun- 
tain is  of  considerable  elevation,  and 
but  little  inferior  to  Kearsarge.  View- 
ed from  the  summit  of  the  neighbor- 
ing hills,  this  town  appears  very  un- 
even, yet  there  are  many  fine  tracts 
converted  into  productive  farms.  The 
soil  in  some  parts  is  rich  and  fertile  ; 
it  is  generally  good.  There  is  at  the 
south-east  section  of  the  town  a  flour- 
ishing village,  situated  on  a  spacious 
street  one  mile  in  length. 

This  town  was  granted,  Sept  14, 
1 753,  to  eighty-seven  proprietors,  who 
held  their  first  meeting  at  Chester ; 
and  as  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabi- 
tants belonged  to  that  place,  it  was 
called  New  Chester,  which  name  it 
retained  until  Jan.  1837,  Avhen  it  was 
changed  to  its  ])resent  name. 

In  Dec.  1820,  six  children  of  Mr. 
William  Follansbee  were  consumed  in 
the  flames  of  liis  house,  while  he  and 
his  wife  were  absent. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Bristol,  Dan- 
bury,  and  Alexandria,  east  by  New 
Hampton  and  Sanbornton,  south  by 
Andover,  and  west  by  Wilmot. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Cutting  Favor, 
and  CaiT  Huse,  Esq.,  settled  in  1768. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
4,555  bushels;  potatoes,  19,712  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,972  tons  ;  wool,  4,045  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  552  pounds. 


Distances.  Twenty-four  miles  north 
north-west  from  Concord,  and  forty- 
four  south  south-east  from  Haverhill. 


HILLSBOROUGH. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  town  is 
well  watered.  Contoocook  River  passes 
through  the  south-east  corner,  and  af- 
fords several  excellent  water  privileges. 
Hillsborough  River  has  its  source  from 
ponds  in  AVashington ;  runs  in  a  south- 
east course  through  the  whole  extent 
of  Hillsborough,  receiving  the  outlets 
of  several  ponds  on  the  east,  and  forms 
a  junction  with  the  Contoocook,  on 
the  south  line  of  this  to^vn.  The  land 
here  is  uneven,  but  it  aifords  many 
good  farms. 

Plumbago,  in  great  purity,  is  found 
here. 

There  are  four  pleasant  villages  in 
this  to\\ni,  the  largest  of  which  is  called 
Hillsborough  Bridge.  It  is  situated  on 
both  sides  of  Contoocook  River,  and 
is  the  seat  of  considerable  trade. 

The  citizens  of  this  town  struggled 
hard  for  the  independence  of  our  coun- 
try ;  and  Hillsborough  boasts  of  having 
given  birth,  in  former  and  latter  years, 
to  gallant  soldiers  and  wise  counsel- 
lors. 

The  first  children  bom  in  Hillsbo- 
rough were  John  M'Calley  and  Maiy 
Gibson,  who  intermarried,  and  received 
as  a  gift  a  tract  of  land  from  the  prin- 
cipal proprietor. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Bradford,  east 
by  Henniker,  south  by  Deering  and 
Antrim,  and  west  by  Windsor  and  part 
of  Washington. 

First  Settlers.  James  M'Calley,  Sam- 
uel Gibson,  Robert  M'Clure,  James 
Lvon  and  others,  in  1741. 

'First  Minister.  Rev.  Jonathan  Bams, 
ordained  in  1772  ;  dismissed  in  1803. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
8,509  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  40,757  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,809  tons  ;  wool,  5,472  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,900  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-three  miles  north- 
west from  Amherst^  thirty  west  south- 
west from  Concord. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


HILLSBOROUGH    COUNTY. 

Amherst  is  the  shire  to^vn.  Hillsborough  has  Merrimac  county  on  the 
north,  Rockingham  on  the  east,  the  State  of  Massachusets  on  the  south,  and 
Cheshire  county  on  the  west.  The  surface  of  this  county  is  generally  uneven, 
though  there  are  but  few  lofty  mountains.  LjTideborough  Mountain,  in  the 
township  of  Lyndeborough,  the  Unconoonock,  in  Goffstown,  Crotched,  in 
FrancestO'vvn,  are  of  considerable  altitude. 

This  section  of  New  Hampshire  is  well  watered.  The  noble  and  majestic 
Merrimac  passes  its  south-eastern  border.  At  Nashua  and  Nashville  the 
Nashua,  a  beautiful  stream  from  Massachusetts,  discharges  its  waters  into  the 
Merrimac.  North  of  the  Nashua  the  Souhegan  and  Piscataquog,  sti*eams  of 
much  value  and  consequence  to  the  manufacturing  interests,  discharge  them- 
selves into  the  Merrimac ;  the  former  in  the  tOA^aiship  of  Merrimac,  the  latter 
in  Bedford. 

Part  of  a  large  collection  of  water,  denominated  a  lake,  the  Massabesick, 
lies  on  the  east  boundar\'  of  Manchester.  Besides  these  there  are  numerous 
ponds  interspersed  through  the  whole  extent  of  territory.  Some  of  the  largest 
of  these  are  Gregg's  Pond,  in  Antrim,  Pleasant  Pond,  in  Pranccstown,  Bab- 
boosuck  Pond,  in  Amherst,  and  Potanipo,  in  Brookline. 

This  county  possesses  many  advantages  for  manufacturing  establishments  ; 
and  it  is  gratifying  to  find  that  many  of  its  citizens  are  turning  their  attention 
to  this  branch  of  national  and  individual  wealth. 

The  settlement  of  this  county  was  made  at  Nashua,  lately  Dunstable,  some 
years  before  the  war  with  King  Philip,  in  1765.  It  received  its  name  from  the 
Earl  of  Hillsborough,  one  of  the  Privy  Council  of  George  III. — See  County 
TeMe. 

COURTS  IN  HILLSBOROUGH  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court,  Second  District.  At  Concord,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
July ;  and  at  Amherst,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Amherst,  the  third  Tuesday  of  April ;  at  Man- 
chester, the  fourth  Tuesday  of  October. 

Probate  Courts.  At  Amherst,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  every  month ;  at 
Francestown,  on  the  "Wednesday  next  following  the  first  Tuesday  of  January, 
April,  July,  and  October ;  at  Nashua,  on  the  Wednesday  next  after  the  first 
Tuesday  of  December  and  February ;  at  Temple,  on  the  Wednesday  next 
after  the  first  Tuesday  of  May  and  August :  at  Manchester,  on  the  Wednesday 
next  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  June  and  September. 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


83 


HINSDALE. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  town  is  well 
watered  with  springs  and  rivulets  of 
the  purest  water.  The  Connecticut 
washes  its  western  border;  and  the 
Ashuelot  runs  through  the  centre, 
forming  a  junction  with  the  Connecti- 
cut, a  little  below  the  great  bend  called 
Cooper's  Point.  Kilbum  Brook  rises 
in  Pisgah  Mountain,  runs  south,  and 
falls  into  Ashuelot  River.  Ash-swamp 
Brook  rises  in  West  River  Mountain, 
runs  a  south-west  course,  and  falls 
into  the  Connecticut,  near  the  side  of 
Hinsdale's  Fort.  There  are  several 
islands  in  the  Connecticut  in  this 
town. 

On  the  north  line  of  Hinsdale  is 
West  River  Mountain,  which  extends 
from  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut 
east  across  the  whole  width  of  the 
town.  Its  greatest  elevation  is  at  the 
west  end.  In  this  mountain  is  found 
iron  ore,  and  some  other  minerals  and 
fossils.  South  of  Ashuelot  is  Stcb- 
bins'  Hill,  a  tract  of  excellent  land, 
and  principally  in  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. The  intervales  here  are  ex- 
tensive, and  of  an  excellent  quality. 

On  the  point  of  a  hill,  not  far  from 
Connecticut  River,  there  is  to  be  seen 
the  remains  of  an  Indian  fortification, 
constructed  prior  to  the  settlement  of 
the  town.  There  is  a  deep  trench 
drawn  across  the  hill,  to  separate  it 
from  the  plain  back,  and  is  continued 
to  the  river. 

This  town  encountered  all  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  Indian  wars,  and  strug- 
gled with  other  hardships  incident  to 
frontier  settlements,  begun  in  the  wil- 
derness and  remote  from  cultivated 
lands. 

Hinsdale  was  originally  a  part  of 
Northfield,  and  received  its  name  from 
Col.  Ebenezer  Hinsdale,  one  of  the 
principal  inhabitants,  who  was  highly 
esteemed  for  his  virtue  and  talents. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Vernon  and 
Brattleborough,  north  by  Chesterfield, 
east  by  Winchester,  and  south  by  North- 
field  in  Mass. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Bunker  Gay, 
ordained  in  1760;  died  in  1815. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.     Indian  corn, 


8,338  bushels  ;  potatoes,  12,529  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,586  tons  ;  wool,  4,012  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  980  pounds. 

Distances.  Seventy -five  miles  south- 
west by  west  from  Concord,  and  about 
fifteen  south-west  from  Keene.  A  rail- 
road passes  through  the  town. 

HOIiDGRNKSS. 

Grafton  Co.  The  soil  of  this  town 
is  hard,  and  not  easily  cultivated,  but 
when  subdued  is  quite  productive. 
The  Pemigewassct  imparts  a  portion 
of  its  benefits  to  this  place ;  and  here 
are  various  other  streams,  which  serve 
to  fertilize  the  soil,  and  to  furnish  mill 
sites.  Squam  River,  the  outlet  of 
Squam  Ponds,  runs  in  a  south-west 
direction,  and  empties  into  the  Pemi- 
gewassct, near  the  south-west  angle  of 
the  town.  This  stream  affords  excel- 
lent mill  privileges ;  there  are  three 
ponds,  or  lakes ;  and  here  are  also 
beautiful  scener}',  and  fine  fishing. 

The  road  from  Plymouth  through 
this  place,  to  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  and 
along  the  borders  of  that  lake  through 
Centre  Harbor,  to  Wolfeborough,  is 
highly  interesting. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Campton,  east 
by  Sandwich,  Moultonborough,  and 
Centre  Harbor,  south  by  New  Hamp- 
ton, and  west  by  the  Pemigewasset 
River. 

First  Settler.  William  Piper,  in  1763. 

First  Minister.    Rev.  Robert  Fowle. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,897  bushels;  potatoes,  36,891  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,188  tons  ;  wool,  6,629  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  8,397  pounds. 

Distances.  The  Concord  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad  passes  through  the  town, 
about  thirty-six  miles  from  Concord. 
Holderness  lies  about  six  miles  north- 
east from  PhTnouth. 

HOLIilS. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Nashua  River 
waters  the  south-east  part  of  this  town, 
and  Nisitissit  crosses  the  south-west 
extremity.  There  are  four  ponds, 
known  by  the  name  of  Flint's,  Peni- 
chook,  Long,  and  Rocky  Ponds.  There 
is  a  pleasant  village  near  the  centre  of 


84 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


the  town,  on  a  site  somewhat  elevated. 
The  original  name  of  Hollis  was  iVi'- 
sitissit,  its  Indian  name.  The  name  is 
either  derived  from  Thomas  Hollis,  a 
distinguished  benefactor  of  Harvard 
College,  or  from  the  Duke  of  Newcas- 
tle. This  toAvn  contains  a  variety  of 
soils.  On  the  Nashua  is  some  excel- 
lent intervale. 

Boundaries.  Northerly  by  Milford 
and  Amherst,  easterly  by  Dunstable, 
southerly  by  the  State*  line  of  Mass. 

First  Settler.  Capt.  Peter  Powers,  in 
1731. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Daniel  Emer- 
son, ordained  in  1743  ;  died  in  1801. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
7,648  bushels ;  potatoes,  17,935  bushels ; 
hay,  806  tons  ;  wool,  2,625  pounds  ; 
wheat,  1,015  bushels. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  south  from 
Amherst,  and  thirty-eight  south  from 
Concord. 

HOOKSETT. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  River  Merri- 
mac,  whose  course  is  nearly  north 
and  south,  passes  through  this  to^\^l 
a  little  west  of  the  centre.  Here  are 
those  beautiful  falls,  knowni  by  the 
name  of  Hooksett  Ealls.  The  descent 
of  water  is  about  sixteen  feet  in  thirty 
rods.  A  high  rock  divides  the  stream. 
Hooksett  has  become  an  important 
manufacturing  town. 

From  an  eminence  called  the  Pin- 
nacle, on  the  west  side,  there  is  a  de- 
lightful landscape.  The  water,  above 
and  below  the  falls,  the  verdant  banks, 
the  cultivated  fields,  and  the  distant 
hills  in  the  back-ground,  form  a  pic- 
turesque scene.  There  is  a  pleasant 
village  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

Over  the  Merrimac,  at  this  place, 
are  two  bridges,  one  of  "\^'hich  is  for 
the  Concord  Railroad.  Hooksett  Canal 
is  in  this  town.  It  is  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  in  length. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Bow  and  Al- 
lenstown,  east  by  Deerfield  and  Can- 
dia,  south  by  Chester  and  Manchester, 
and  west  by  Goffstown. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com. 
4,527  bushels;  potatoes,  9,660  bush- 
els ;  hay,  854  tons  ;  wool,  873  pounds. 

instances.    Eight  miles  south  south- 


east from  Concord,  and  nine  miles 
north  of  Manchester,  by  the  Concord 
Railroad. 

HOPKINTON. 

Merrimac  Co.  Contoocook  River 
flows  from  Henniker  into  the  south- 
westerly part  of  this  to^vn,  and  mean- 
ders in  a  north-east  direction.  In  its 
course  it  receives  Wanier  and  Black- 
water  Rivers,  and  several  large  brooks, 
and  empties  into  Men-imac  River,  at 
Concord.  On  tliese  streams  are  some 
valuable  ti-acts  of  intervale  and  mea- 
dow land.  The  principal  village  in 
Hopkinton  is  seven  miles  from  the 
State  House  in  Concord.  In  this  town 
the  county  jail  is  located. 

In  the  west  part  of  the  toAvn  is  a 
thriving  village,  on  the  Contoocook 
River,  kno^\^l  as  Iliirs  Bridge,  or  Con- 
toocookville,  where  is  a  valuable  water 
power,  and  several  mills.  This  town 
suffered  from  Indian  depredations. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Warner  and 
Boscawen,  east  by  Concord,  south  by 
Bow,  Dumbarton,  and  AYeare,  and  west 
by  Henniker. 

First  Settlers.  Emigrants  from  Hop- 
kinton, Mass.,  in  1740. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  Scales, 
ordained  in  1757:  dismissed  in  1770. 
Rev.  Elijah  Fletcher,  ordained  in  1773 ; 
died  in  1789.  Rev.  Jacob  Cram,  or- 
dained in  1789:  dismissed  in  1794. 
Rev.  Ethan  Smith,  settled  in  1800; 
dismissed  in  1817. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
13,685  bushels  ;  potatoes,  35,897  bush- 
els :  hay,  4,136  tons  :  avooI,  12,077  lbs 

Distances.  Twenty-eight  miles  north 
from  Amherst,  and  seven  west  from 
Concord. 

HUDSON. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  land  in 
this  toA\'n  is  of  easy  cultivation.  On 
the  Merrimac  are  fine  intervales,  of  a 
deep  rich  soil.  Distant  from  the  river, 
the  land  is  hilly  and  somewhat  broken. 
There  are  two  ponds,  kno'vvn  by  the 
name  of  Little  Massabesick  and  Otter- 
nick  Ponds. 

The  first  settlements  were  made  on 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


85 


the  banks  of  the  river,  where  the  In- 
dians had  cleared  fields  for  cultivating 
com.  The  first  inhabitants  lived  in 
garrisons.  ^^Hiile  tlie  men  were  abroad 
in  the  fields  and  forests,  the  women 
and  children  Avere  lodged  in  these 
places  of  security.  Near  the  Indian 
corn  fields  have  been  found  cinders  of 
a  blacksmith's  forge,  which  have  led  to 
the  conjecture  that  tliey  employed  a 
smith  to  manufacture  their  imple- 
ments of  war  and  agriculture.  The 
name  of  this  town  formerly  was  Not- 
tingham AYest. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Litchfield  and 
Londonderry,  east  by  Windham  and 
Pelham,  south  by  Tyngsborough  in 
Mass.,  and  west  by  Men-imac  River, 
which  separates  it  from  Nashua. 

First  Settlers.  Settled  as  early  as 
1710,  by  Messrs.  Blodgett,  Winn,  Love- 
well,  Colburn,  Hill,  Greely,  Cross, 
Cumings,  Pollard,  Marsh,  and  Mer- 
rill. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mer- 
rill, settled  in  1737  ;  died  in  1796. 
Rev.  Jabez  P.  Fisher,  settled  in  1796  ; 
dismissed  in  1801. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
8,341  bushels  ;  potatoes,  18,090  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,098  tons  ;  wool,  2,398  lbs. : 
buckwheat,  1,219  bushels. 

Distances.  Seventeen  miles  south- 
east from  Amherst,  and  forty  south 
from  Concord. 

jACKSoar. 

Coos  Co.  Jackson  is  situated  on 
the  east  side  of  the  A\Tiite  Mountains. 
The  surface  of  the  tovm  is  uneven, 
but  the  soil  is  rich  and  productive. 
It  is  watered  principally  by  the  two 
branches  of  Ellis's  River,  passing  from 
the  north,  and  uniting  on  the  south 
border,  near  Spruce  Mountain.  The 
principal  elevations  are  called  Black. 
Baldface,  and  Thorn  Mountains.  Jack- 
son was  formerly  called  Adams. 

Tin  ore,  of  an  excellent  quality 
and  in  great  abundance,  is  found  in 
this  town.  See  Jackson^s  Geology  of 
New  Hampshire,  p.  139. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Chatham,  north 
by  Unlocated  Lands,  and  south  by 
Bartlett. 


~    First  Settler.    Benjamin  Copp,  set- 
tled in  1779. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Daniel  Elkins, 
settled  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.     Indian  corn, 
2.060  bushels  ;  potatoes,  24,7.50  bush- 
I  els  :  hay,  1,824  tons  :  wool,  2,788  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2.64.5  pounds. 

Distances.  Ninety  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  forty  south- 
east from  Lancaster. 


JAFFREY. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  Grand  Monad- 
nock  is  situated  in  the  north-west  part 
of  this  town  and  in  Dublin.  Innumera- 
ble streams  of  water  issue  from  the 
mountain.  Those  which  issue  from  the 
western  side  discharge  themselves  into 
the  Connecticut  River ;  those  from  the 
eastern  form  the  head  waters  of  Con- 
toocook  River.  The  largest  stream 
rises  about  one  hundred  rods  from  the 
summit,  and  descends  in  a  south-east 
direction.  With  this  brook,  the  thirsty 
and  fatigued  visitors  of  the  mountain 
associate  the  most  pleasing  recollec- 
tions. The  uneven  soil  of  Jaflfrey,  af- 
fording numerous  meadows,  and'  rich 
pastures,  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  rais- 
ing cattle. 

There  are  several  ponds  in  Jaffrey. 
Out  of  three  of  which  issue  streams 
sufficient  to  carry  mills  erected  near 
their  outlets.  In  the  largest,  which  is 
400  rods  long,  and  140  wide,  is  an 
island  comprising  about  ten  acres. 

About  one  and  a  half  miles  south- 
east from  the  mountain  is  the  "  Mo- 
nadnock  mineral  spring."  The  spring 
is  slightly  impregnated  with  carbonate 
of  iron  and  sulphate  of  soda.  It  pre- 
sents so  uniform  a  temperature  as 
never  to  have  been  known  to  freeze. 
A\Tiere  the  spring  issues  from  the  earth, 
yellow  ochre  is  thro"\\Ti  out. 

Jaflfrey  received  its  name  from 
George  Jaflfrey,  Esq.,  of  Portsmouth, 
one  of  the  original  proprietors. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Dublin,  east 
by  Peterborough  and  Sharon,  south  by 
Rindge  and  Fitzwilliam,  and  west  by 
Troy  and  Marlborough. 

First  Settlers.  Mr.  Grout  and  Jolin 
Davison,  in  1758. 


86 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


First  Ministers.  Rev.  Laban  Ains- 
worth,  settled  1778  ;  dismissed  in  1782. 
Rev.  Giles  Ljanan,' settled  in  1832. 

Production's  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,037  bushels ;  potatoes,  47,184  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,014  tons  ;  wool,  6,168  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  7,492  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-six  miles  south- 
west by  south  fi-om  Concord,  and  about 
fifteen  miles  south-east  from  Keene. 

JEFFERSON. 

Coos  Co.  Pondicherry  Pond,  in  this 
to-vvn,  is  about  200  rods  in  diameter, 
and  is  the  principal  source  of  John's 
River.  Pondicherry  Bay  is  about  200 
rods  wide  and  100  long. 

Mount  Pliny  lies  in  the  easterly  part 
of  this  town,  and  around  its  base  there 
is  excellent  grazing  and  tillage  land. 
On  the  south-west  side  of  this  moun- 
tain are  several  fine  farms.  Avhich  com- 
mand a  most  delightful  view  of  the 
"White  Mountains.  Israel's  River  pass- 
es through  Jefferson  from  south-east  to 
north-west,  and  here  receives  a  consid- 
erable branch. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lancaster, 
east  by  Kilkenny,  and  west  by  White- 
field. 

First  Settlers.  Col.  Joseph  "Whipple, 
Samuel  Hart,  and  others,  in '1773. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
2,047  bushels  :  potatoes,  21,17.5  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,037  tons  ;  wool,  1,637  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  7,807  pounds. 

Distances.  Ninety-eight  miles  north 
from  Concord,  and  ten  south-east  from 
Lancaster. 

KEENE, 

Cheshire  Co.  Keene  is  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  towns  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  soil  is  of  various  kinds, 
and  generally  good. 

Ashuelot  River  has  its  source  in  a 
pond  in  Washington,  and  discharges 
itself  into  the  Connecticut  at  Hinsdale, 
twenty  miles  distant  from  Keene.  — 
Keene  has  been  called  one  of  the  "  pret- 
tiest villages  in  New  England ;"  and 
president  Dwight,  in  his  travels,  pro- 
nounced it  one  of  the  pleasantest  inland 
towns  he  had  seen. 

The  principal  \illage  is  situated  on 


a  flat,  east  of  the  Ashuelot,  nearly  equi- 
distant from  that  and  the  upland.  It 
is  particularly  entitled  to  notice  for  the 
extent,  width,  and  uniform  level  of  its 
streets.  The  mam  street  extending 
one  mile  in  a  straiglit  line,  is  almost  a 
perfect  le\iel,  and  is  Avell  ornamented 
with  trees.  The  buildings  are  good  and 
well  arranged  ;  some  of  them  are  ele- 
gant. 

Keene  has  ever  been  an  important 
site  for  inland  trade  :  but  since  the  con- 
struction of  the  Cheshire  Raib'oad, 
which  passes  through  the  centre  of  the 
town,  great  additions  to  its  business 
must  be  the  consequence.  It  is  the 
county  to^\'n. 

The  usual  scourge,  which  attended 
the  frontier  settlements,  visited  this 
to^\Ti.  In  1 745  the  Indians  killed  Jo- 
siah  Fisher,  a  deacon  of  the  church  :  in 
1746,  they  attacked  the  fort,  the  only 
protection  of  the  inhabitants.  They 
were,  however,  discovered  by  Capt. 
Ephraim  Dorm  an  in  season  to  prevent 
their  taking  it.  He  was  attacked  by 
tAvo  Indians,  but  defended  himself  suc- 
cessfully against  them,  and  reached  the 
fort.  An  action  ensued,  in  which  John 
BuUard  was  killed  :  Mrs.  M'Kenney 
who  being  out  of  the  fort,  was  stabbed 
and  died:  and  Nathan  Blake  taken 
prisoner,  earned  to  Canada,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  Mi*.  Blake  after- 
wards returned  to  Keene,  where  he  liv- 
ed till  his  death,  in  1811,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-nine  years  and  five  months. 
WTien  he  was  ninety-four  he  married 
a  widow  of  sixty.  The  Indians  burnt 
all  the  buildings  in  the  settlement,  in- 
cluding the  meeting-house.  The  in- 
habitants continued  in  the  fort  until 
April,  1747,  when  the  to^n  was  aban- 
doned. In  1753  they  retunied,  and  re- 
commenced their  settlements.  In  1755 
the  Indians  again  attacked  the  fort. 
Their  number  was  great,  and  the  onset 
violent,  but  the  vigilance  and  courage 
of  Capt.  Syms  successfully  defended 
it.  After  burning  several  buildings, 
killing  cattle,  &c.,  they  withdrew.  They 
again  invaded  the  town,  but  with  little 
success. — See  ^ote  1 1 . 

Col.  Isaac  Wtmax,  an  active  and 
influential  man,  marched  the  first  de- 
tachment of  men  from  this  town,  in  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


87 


war  of  the  revolution,  and  was  present 
at  the  battk^  of  Breed's  Hill. 

Manufactures.  This  plaee  has  be- 
come quite  a  manufocturing  town. 
Among  the  most  important  manufac- 
tures, is  that  of  window  glass,  of  a  su- 
perior quality,  the  most  important  ma- 
terials for  which  are  found  in  this  town. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Surry  and 
Gilsum,  cast  by  Sullivan  and  Koxbu- 
ry,  south  by  Swnnzey,  and  west  by 
Lliesterfield  and  AVestmoreland.  j 

First  Settlers.  Jeremiah  Hall,  Eli- 
sha  Root,  Nathaniel  Kockwood,  Josiah 
Fisher,  and  Nathan  Blake,  in  1734.        | 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jacob  Bacon, ; 
ordained  in  1738 ;  left  in  1747.  Rev.  Ez- 1 
ra  Carpenter,  settled  in  1753;  left  in  | 
1760.  Rev.  Clement  Sumner,  ordain- 
ed 1761  :  left  in  1772.  Rev.  Aaron  Hall, 
settled  in  1778  ;  died  in  1814. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
9,402  bushels  ;  potatoes,  41,800  bush- 
els ;  hay.  3,568  tons  ;  avooI,  7,687  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  16,128  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty-five  miles  to  Concord 
by  stage,  and  about  four  hours'  ride  to 
Boston  by  railroad.  —  See  Hayicard's 
Book  of  Reference. 

KENSINGTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  town  has 
no  streams  of  any  note  ;  its  surface  is  j 
pretty  even.  There  is  much  good  land 
in  the  town  fit  for  grazing  and  tillage,  j 

This  place  is  very  pleasant,  and  was 
formerly  a  part  of  Hampton. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Exeter,  east 
by  Hampton  Falls,  south  by  South 
Hampton,  and  west  by  East  Kingston. 

First  Settlers.     See  Hampton. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Fogg,  ordained  in  1737  ;  died  in  1789. 
Rev.  Naphtali  Shaw,  ordained  in  1793  ; 
dismissed  in  1812. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,072  bushels:  potatoes,  14.460  bush- 
els; hay,   1,414   tons;    wool.  2.070  lbs. 

Distances.  Forty-four  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  six  miles 
south  of  Exeter  railroad  depot. 

KILKENNT. 

Coos  Co.  This  place  was  granted 
in  1774,  and  contained,  in  1840,  but 


nineteen  inhaldtiints.  They  are  poor, 
and  for  aught  that  appears  to  the 
contrary,  must  always  remain  so,  as 
they  may  be  deemed  actual  trespassers 
on  that  part  of  creation  destined  by  its 
author  for  the  i-esidence  of  bears,  wolves, 
moose,  and  other  animals  of  the  forest. 
An  exception,  however,  may  possibly 
be  made  in  favor  of  a  narrow  strip  of 
land  along  the  soutli  l^oundary  of  the 
town. 

Pilot  and  Willard's  Mountains,  so 
called  from  a  dog  and  his  master,  cov- 
er a  considerable  part  of  this  town. 
AVillard,  a  hunter,  had  been  lost  two  or 
three  days  on  these  mountains,  on  the 
east  side  of  which  his  camp  Avas  situ- 
ated. Each  day  he  observed  his  dog 
Pilot  left  him,  as  he  supposed  in  pur- 
suit of  game ;  but  towards  night  he 
would  constantly  return.  Willard  be- 
ing, on  the  second  or  third  day,  nearly 
exhausted  with  fatigue  and*  hunger, 
put  himself  under  the  guidance  of  his 
dog,  who  in  a  short  time  conducted 
him  in  safety  to  his  camp. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Jefferson  and 
Lancaster,  north  by  Piercy,  east  by 
Milan  and  Randolph,  and  south  by  un- 
granted  land. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Wheat,  50 
bushels  ;  potatoes,  320  bushels ;  hay, 
46  tons  ;  Vool,  50  pounds ;  maple  su- 
gar, 275  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
mile.s  north  of  Concord,  and  about 
fifteen  north-east  from  Lancaster. 

KINGSTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  There  are  sev- 
eral  ponds  in  this  town.  The  largest 
is  Great  Pond,  Avhich  lies  on  the  west 
of  the  village,  and  contains  upwards  of 
300  acres,  with  an  island  of  ten  or 
twelve  acres  covered  Avith  wood.  There 
are  no  high  hills  in  Kingston :  those 
called  the  Great  Hill  and  Rockrimmon 
are  the  highest.  The  soil  of  I\ingston 
is  genei-ally  loamy. 

This  town  suffered  in  common  Avith 
others  in  the  vicinity,  from  Indian 
depredations.  Many  Indian  imple- 
ments. Avith  some  ancient  French  coin, 
have  been  ploughed  up  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  ponds. 


88 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


Maj.  Ebexezer  Stevens,  one  of  the 
early  settlers,  was  a  very  distinguished 
and  useful  citizen. 

This  to\\-n  was  also  the  residence 
of  the  Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett,  one  of 
the  first  worthies  of  the  State,  and  an 
eminent  physician.  His  public  career 
commenced  in  1765,  and  from  that 
time  to  his  death  he  was  an  imwearied 
advocate  and  supporter  of  the  liberties 
of  America.  He  was  the  first  governor 
of  the  State  under  its  free  constitution. 
He  died  in  1795,  aged  sixty-five. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Brentwood, 
east  by  East  Ivingston,  south  by  New- 
town and  Plaistow,  and  west  by  Hamp- 
stead. 

First  Settlers.  James  Prescott,  Eben- 
ezer  "Webster,  and  others,  in  1694. 

First  Ministers.  Eev.  Ward  Clark', 
ordained  in  1725:  died  in  1737.  Rev. 
Joseph  Secombe,  settled  in  1737  ;  died 
in  1760.  Rev.  Amos  Tappan,  or- 
dained in  1762:  died  in  1771.  Rev. 
E.  Thaver.  D.  T>..  settled  in  1776  ;  died 
in  1812. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,265  bushels;  potatoes,  15,275  bush- 
els; hay,  1,126   tons;  wool,   1.247   lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty-eight  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  six  south  from 
the  railroad  depot  at  Exeter. 

liANCASTER. 

Coos  Co.  This  is  the  shire  town  of 
the  county,  and  situated  on  the  south- 
eastern bank  of  Connecticut  River, 
which  forms  and  washes  its  north-west 
boundary,  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 

Besides  the  Connecticut,  which  is 
deep  and  about  twenty-two  rods  in 
width  while  it  passes  through  Lancas- 
ter, the  town  is  watered  by  Israel's 
River,  and  several  brooks.  Across 
this  river  a  bridge  and  several  dams 
are  thrown,  forming  a  valuable  water 
power.  There  are  several  ponds  in 
Lancaster,  the  largest  of  which  is  call- 
ed Martin-]\Ieadow  Pond,  from  Mar- 
tin, a  hunter.  This  communicates 
with  Little  Pond. 

Lancaster  is  situated  near  lofty 
mountains,  but  is  not  itself  mountain- 
ous. There  are  three  hills  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  called  Martin-Mea- 


dow Hills  ;  and  the  land  in  the  south- 
east part  lies  too  high  up  the  moun- 
tains for  cultivation.  The  soil  along 
the  Connecticut  is  alluvial,  the  mea- 
dows extending  back  nearly  three 
fourths  of  a  mile ;  and  at  the  mouth  of 
Israel's  River  much  further. 

The  village,  or  most  compact  part 
of  the  town,  lies  on  a  street  extending 
from  the  bridge  across  Israel's  River 
northwardly ;  it  is  very  pleasant,  and 
is  the  site  of  considerable  ti-ade. 

The  war  of  the  revolution  tended  to 
retard  the  settlement  of  the  town. 
After  the  war  closed,  the  town  settled 
with  considerable  rapidity,  and  has 
since  gradually  increased  in  wealth 
and  business. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Fiery  Steed  in 
his  fantastic  prances  about  the  country 
will,  ere  long,  pass  through  this  ro- 
mantic to^^-n  on  his  passage  to  Lake 
Connecticut,  to  icet  his  ivhistle  Avith  the 
crystal  waters  at  the  fountain  head  of 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  streams  in 
the  world. 

Boundaries.  South-west  by  Dalton, 
south  by  ^Miitefield  and  Jefferson, 
north-east  and  east  by  EHkenny  and 
Northumberland. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  David  Page, 
Emmons  StockAvell,  and  Edward  Buck- 
nam,  in  1763. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Joseph  TVil- 
liard,  installed  in  1794;  dismissed  in 
1822. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,506  bushels;  potatoes,  59,228  bush- 
els; hay,  3,555  tons:  wool,  8,331  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  24.365  pounds. 

Distances.  Ninetj-five  miles  north 
from  Concord,  and  about  forty  miles 
north-east  of  Haverhill. 

liANDAFF. 

Grafton  Co.  Wild  Amonoosuck 
River  mns  from  south-east  to  north- 
west through  the  south  part  of  the 
toAvn.     Through  the  north-westerly  ex- 

'  tremity  passes  the  Great  Amonoosuck 

I  River. 

I  Landaff  Mountain  in  the  east  part, 
Co])l)le  Hill  in   the   centre,   and  Bald 

,  Hill  in  the  we^t,  are  the  principal  ele- 

ivations.     The  farmers  here  are  very 


GAZETTEEK    OF    MEW    HAMFbHlKE. 


89 


industrious,  and  the  soil  well  rewards 
them  for  their  labor. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Franco- 
nia,  east  by  Lincoln,  south  by  Benton, 
and  west  by  Bath. 

First  Settlers.  LandafF  was  granted 
in  1764  to  James  Avery,  and  others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,592  bushels ;  potatoes,  5,297  bushels  ; 
hay,  2,825  tons;  wool,  7,416  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  13,935  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  north-east 
from  Haverhill,  and  ninety-five  north 
by  west  from  Concord. 

L.ANGDON. 

SuLLivAK  Co.  The  principal  vil- 
lage in  this  to\vn  is  three  miles  east 
from  Connecticut  River,  and  six  from 
Bellows  Falls.  A  considerable  branch 
of  Cold  River  passes  south-west  through 
the  whole  extent  of  this  town,  and 
unites  with  the  main  branch  near  the 
south  line.  Langdon  was  named  in 
honor  of  Gov.  Langdon. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Charlestown, 
east  by  Acworth,  south  by  Alstead  and 
Walpole,  and  west  by  Walpole  and 
Charlestown. 

First  Settlers.  Seth  Walker,  Nathaniel 
Rice,  and  Jonathan  Williard,  in  1773. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Abner  Knee- 
land,  ordained  in  1805;  dismissed  in 
1810. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
4,863  bushels  :"  potatoes,  20,000  bush- 
els; hay,  2,013  tons  :  wool,  8,808  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  2,562  pounds. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  south 
south-west  from  Newport,  and  fifty-six 
west  by  south  from  Concord. 

Grafton  Co.  Besides  the  Con- 
necticut on  its  west  border,  this  town 
is  watered  by  Mascomy  River,  run- 
ning from  east  to  west  through  its  cen- 
tre, and  affording  many  valuable  mill 
sites  and  a  constant  supply  of  Avater. 
The  soil  here  is  alluvial,  the  intervales 
on  the  Connecticut  extending  back 
from  the  river  about  half  a  mile.  There 
are  meadows  or  intervales  on  Mascomy 
River. 

The  principal  \illage  is  situated  on 
8* 


a  plain  near  the  central  part,  at  the 
head  of  the  falls  of  Mascomy  River, 

This  is  a  very  pleasant  village,  and 
has  recently  become  an  important 
place  of  business  in  consequence  of  the 
Northern  Railroad  passing  through  it. 

There  are  falls  in  the  Connecticut 
in  this  town,  which  have  been  locked 
and  canalled  by  a  company,  called  the 
White  River  Company.  Lyman's 
Bridge  connects  this  town  with  Hart- 
ford, Vt.  A  medicinal  spring  has 
been  discovered  here,  a  lead  mine 
has  been  opened,  and  there  has  been 
found  on  Enfield  line,  near  the  out- 
let of  the  Great  -Pond,  a  vein  of  iron 
ore. 

Lebanon  was  the  first  to\\n  settled 
on  Connecticut  River  to  the  north  of 
Charlesto^-n.  The  first  settlers  were 
a  hardy,  brave  people,  tenacious  of 
their  principles;  most  of  them  were 
men  of  strong  minds,  good  habits,  cor- 
rect principles,  and  good  common  edu- 
cation. 

Boundaries.  Hanover  is  on  the 
north,  Enfield  on  the  east,  Plainfield 
on  the  south,  and  Hartford,  Vt.  on  the 
west. 

First  Settlers.  William  Downer, 
William  Dana,  Levi  Hyde,  Charles 
Hill,  Silas  Waterman,  and  Nathaniel 
Porter. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Isaiah  Potter, 
installed  in  1772;  died  in  1817. 

Manufactures.  In  consequence  of  its 
great  hydraulic  power,  this  town  has 
become  the  site  of  large  manufacturing 
operations,  the  statistics  of  which,  when 
received,  will  be  given  in  a  note  at  the 
close  of  the  volume. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,942  bushels  ;  potatoes,  44,654  bush- 
els ;  hay,  4,075  tons  ;  avooI,  46,361  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,660  pounds. 

Distances.  Four  miles  south  from 
Dartmouth  College,  sixty-five  north- 
west from  Concord  by  the  Northern 
Railroad,  and  about  four  miles  east  of 
the  mouth  of  ^Yhite  River  in  Vermont. 

Strafford  Co.  In  the  north  part 
of  this  tOAvn  lies  Wheelwright's  Pond, 
containing  about  165  acres,  and  form- 


90 


GAZETTKKK    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


ing   the  principal    source    of    Oyster 
River. 

This  pond  is  memorable  for  the 
hattle  which  was  fought  near  it,  in 
1690,  between  a  scouting  party  of  In- 
dians and  two  companies  of  rangers, 
under  Captains  Floyd  and  Wiswall. 
The  engagement  lasted  two  hours. 
"Wiswall,  liis  lieutenant,  sergeant,  and 
twelve  men,  were  killed,  and  several 
wounded.  Floyd  continued  to  fight 
till  his  men,  wearied  and  M-ounded. 
drew  off,  and  obliged  him  to  follow. 
The  enemy  also  retreated. 

From  the  north-east  extremity  of 
Epping,  Lamprey  River  entei's  Lee, 
and,  after  a  serpentine  course  of  about 
seven  miles,  it  passes  into  Durham. 
Other  parts  of  the  town  arc  watered 
by  Little,  North,  and  Oyster  Rivers. 

Boundaries.  North  by  INIadbury,  east 
by  Durham,  south  by  New  Market  and 
Epping,  and  west  by  Nottingham  and 
Barrington. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Samuel  Hutch- 
ins,  settled  in  1792. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
7,605  bushels;  potatoes,  24,725  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,428  tons  ;  wool,  2,642  lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty-one  miles  east 
south-east  from  Concord,  and  twelve 
south-west  from  Dover. 

I.EMPSTER. 

Sullivan  Co.  The  surface  of  this 
town  is  in  general  uneven,  and  tlie 
eastern  part  is  mountainous.  The 
soil  is  moist,  and  better  suited  for 
grass  than  grain.  The  town  is  well 
watered,  although  its  streams  are  small. 
One  branch  of  Sugar  River,  and  the 
south  and  west  branches  of  Cold  River, 
afford  conveniences  for  water  machin- 
ery. Near  the  west  boundary  line  is  a 
pond,  320  rods  long  and  eighty  wide. 
Sand  Pond  lies  in  this  town  and  Mar- 
low. 

Boundanes.  North  by  Unity,  east 
by  Goshen  and  Washington,  south  by 
Marlow,  and  west  by  Acworth. 

First  Settlers.  Emigrants  from  Con- 
necticut, in  1770. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Elias  Fisher, 
ordained  in  1787  ;  died  in  1831. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.    Indian  com, 


2,184  bushels;  potatoes,  32,876  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,672  tons  ;  wool,  11,443  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  8,232  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-two  miles  west 
from  Concord,  and  about  twelve  miles 
south-east  from  Newport. 

lilNCOLiN. 

Grafton  Co.  Lincoln  is  a  moun- 
tainous township.  The  middle  branch 
of  the  Pemigewasset  passes  through 
nearly  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  has 
its  source  in  Ferrin's  Pond,  in  the 
south  part  of  Franconia.  Here  are 
several  ponds,  viz.,  Bog,  Fish,  and  Loon 
Ponds.  There  are  many  elevations,  of 
which  Kinsman's  Mountain  is  the  most 
considerable. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  town  are 
tAvo  large  gulfs,  made  by  an  extraor- 
dinary discharge  of  water  from  the 
clouds, in  1774.  The  numerous  "slips," 
as  they  are  called,  from  the  mountain 
are  worthy  of  notice.  They  commence 
near  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and 
proceed  to  its  base,  forcing  a  passage 
through  all  obstructions.  The  soil  here 
is  poor.  Wild  animals,  such  as  bears, 
racoons,  foxes,  sables,  otters,  deer,  «S:.c., 
are  very  numerous.  This  town  affords 
a  fine  field  for  the  sportsman. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Franconia, 
south  by  Peeling,  east  by  Thornton, 
and  Ungranted  Lands,  south  and  west 
by  LandafF. 

First  Settlers.  This  town  was  grant- 
ed, in  1764,  to  James  Avery  and  others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
34  bushels  ;  potatoes,  2,045  bushels ; 
hay,  143  tons  ;  avooI,  239  pounds  ;  ma- 
ple sugar,  3,410  pounds. 

Distances.  Eighty  miles  north  from 
Concord,  and  about  twenty  miles  east 
from  Haverhill. 

I^ISBOX. 

Grafton  Co.  Lisbon  is  watered  by 
Amonoosuck  River,  running  through 
the  whole  extent  of  the  tOAvn,  and  by- 
several  smaller  streams.  Here  are 
several  ponds,  the  most  noted  of  which 
is  called  Mink  Pond,  lying  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  affording  mill-sites  at 
its  outlet. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


91 


The  soil  admits  of  three  divisions  : 
the  meadows,  or  intervales,  on  Amo- 
noosuek  River,  which  arc  generally 
very  productive  :  the  plain  land,  of  a 
light,  thin  soil,  requiring  considerahle 
manure  to  make  it  productive ;  and 
the  uplands,  of  a  strong,  deep  soil, 
which  afford  many  good  farms. 

Blueberry  Mountain  is  the  principal 
elevation.  Large  quantities  of  iron  ore 
and  limestone  are  found  here.  The 
Franconia  Iron  Works  receive  their 
supply  of  ore  from  this  town.  This 
town  was  called  Concord,  until  1824. 

Boundaries.  North  l)y  Littleton  and 
Bethlehem,  east  by  Franconia,  south  by 
Landaff,  and  west  by  Lyman. 

First  Settlers.  Lisbon  was  granted,  in 
1763,  to  Joseph  Burt  and  others. 

First  Minister.  Elder  Joshua  Quim- 
by  was  ordained  in  1800. 

Productions  of  the  .So//.  Indian  corn, 
4,348  bushels;  potatoes,  46,159  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,584  tons  ;  wool,  8,569  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  10,845  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  north-east 
from  Haverhill,  and  ninety-five  north- 
west from  Concord. 

LITCHFIELD. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Litchfield  is 
a  small  fertile  township,  on  the  east 
bank  of  Merrimac  River.  This  town 
has  an  excellent  soil.  There  are  two 
ferries  :  Thornton's,  near  the  meeting- 
house, on  the  post  road  from  Amherst 
to  Portsmouth ;  and  Read's,  three  miles 
above. 

It  was  originally  kno'^Ti  by  the  In- 
dian name  of  Natticott.  and  by  the  Eng- 
lish one  of  Brenton''s  Farm. 

The  Hox.  Wyseman  Clagett 
closed  his  life  in  this  town.  He  was  a 
native  of  England,  came  to  this  coun- 
try before  the  revolution  commenced, 
and  sustained  several  important  offi- 
ces. He  was  attorney-general  under 
the  provincial  and  state  governments, 
and  filled  the  office  with  dignity  and 
honor. 

Boundaries.  East  by  Londonderry, 
and  west  by  Memmac  River. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Joshua  Tufts, 
ordained  m  1741  ;  dismissed  in  1744. 
Rev.  Samuel  Cotton,  ord -.lined  in  1765  : 


dismissed  in  1784.  Rev.  Enoch  Pils- 
bury,  settled  in  1815;  died  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,072  bushels  ;  potatoes,  7,315  bushels  ; 
hay,  664  tons  ;  avooI,  1 ,236  pounds  ; 
buckwheat,  669  bushels. 

Distances.  Eight  miles  east  from 
Amherst,  and  thirty  south  by  east  from 
Concord.  The  Concord  Railroad  pass- 
es on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river, 
where  there  is  a  station. 

LITTIiETON. 

Grafton  Co.  Littleton  is  on  the 
Connecticut,  and  extends  on  that  river 
about  fourteen  miles.  The  beautiful 
Connecticut,  in  passing  doAvn  the 
rapids  called  Fifteen  Mile  Falls,  ex- 
tending the  whole  length  of  Littleton, 
nxns  in  foaming  waves  for  miles  to- 
gether, which  render  it  impossible  to 
ascend  or  descend  with  boats  in  safety. 

There  are  three  bridges  over  the 
Connecticut  in  Littleton.  Amonoo- 
suck  River  waters  the  south  part,  hav- 
ing on  its  banks  small  tracts  of  excel- 
lent intervale.  The  principal  village 
is  on  the  Amonoosuck,  about  four 
miles  from  the  Connecticut,  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  and  is  called 
Glynville.  Raspbeiry,  Black,  Palmer's, 
and  Iron  Mountains,  are  the  most  prom- 
inent elevations. 

Near  Amonoosuck  River  there  is  a 
mineral  spring,  the  water  of  which  is 
said  to  be  similar  to  the  Congress 
Spring  at  Saratoga.  Hone  slate  is 
found  here,  in  great  abundance  and 
purity. 

Littleton  is  an  important  point  for 
travellers  passing  from  the  Connecticut 
River  to  and  from  the  White  Moun- 
tains. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Concord, 
and  Waterford,  Vt.,  north-east  by  Dal- 
ton,  south-east  by  Bethlehem,  and 
south-west  by  Lyman. 

First  Settler.  Captain  Nathan  Cas- 
w-ell,  about  1 774. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Drury  Fair- 
bank,  settled  in  1820. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,269  bushels;  potatoes,  38,203  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,019  tons  ;  wool,  9,620  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  16,798  pounds. 


92 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


Distances.  Thirty  miles  north  by 
east  from  Haverhill,'  and  one  hundred 
north  north-west  from  Concord. 

IjONDONDERRY. 

Rockingham  Co.  Londonderry 
adjoins  the  east  line  of  the  county  of 
Hillsborough.  This  town  contains 
very  little  waste  land,  and,  it  is  be 
lieved,  has  as  extensive  a  body  of  fer- 
tile soil  as  any  towoi  in  the  east  section 
of  the  State. 

The  most  considerable  stream  in 
this  town  is  Beaver  Brook,  or  Eiver, 
issuing  from  Beaver  Pond,  a  beautiful 
body  of  water,  nearly  circular  in  foi-m, 
and  about  300  rods  in  diameter,  about 
one  mile  north-east  from  the  village. 
Three  miles  north-west  from  this  pond 
are  three  other  small  ponds :  Scoby's, 
Upper  and  Lower  Shields.  Sniall 
streams  issuing  from  these  unite,  and 
fall  into  the  Beaver  Brook,  on  which 
are  extensive  and  valuable  meadows. 
There  are  several  other  ponds  in  the 
town. 

Londondeny,  which  formerly  in- 
cluded the  present  town  of  Deny,  was 
settled  in  1719,  by  a  colony  of  Presby- 
terians from  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of 
Londonderry,  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
to  which  place  their  ancestors  had 
emigrated  about  a  century  before,  from 
Scotland.  They  Avere  a  part  of  120 
families,  chiefly  from  three  parishes, 
who,  with  their  religious  instructors, 
came  to  Xew  England  in  the  summer 
of  1718.  In  October,  1718,  they  ap- 
plied to  the  government  of  Massachu- 
setts for  the  grant  of  a  township,  and 
received  assurances  that  a  grant  should 
be  made  them,  when  they  should  se- 
lect a  place  for  its  location.  After 
some  time  spent  in  viewing  the  coun- 
try, they  selected  the  ti-act"  afterwards 
composing  the  town  of  Londonderry, 
at  first  knoA\-n  by  the  name  of  Nutfid'd. 
In  1719,  sixteen  families,  accompanied 
by  Rev.  James  ]\IcGregore,  one  of  the 
clergymen  who  had  emigrated  from 
Ireland  with  them,  took  possession  of 
the  tract ;  and,  on  the  day  of  their 
arrival,  attended  religious  services  and 
a  sermon,  under  an  oak  on  the  east 
shore  of  Beaver  Pond. 


The  inhabitants  of  Londonderry,  in 
1720,  purchased  the  Indian  title  ;  and, 
although  it  was  long  a  frontier  town, 
were  never  molested  by  the  Indians. 
They  introduced  the  culture  of  the 
potatoe,  a  vegetable  till  then  unknown 
in  New  England  ;  and  the  manufacture 
of  linen  cloth,  which,  though  long 
since  declined,  was  for  many  years  a 
considerable  source  of  their  early  pros- 
perity. 

A  portion  of  this  town,  in  1828,  was 
taken  to  form  the  pleasant  town  of 
Deny. 

Rev.  Matthew  Gt.ark,  second  min- 
ister of  Londonderry,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  had,  in  early  life,  been 
an  officer  in  the  army,  and  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  defence  of  the 
city  of  Londonderry,  when  besieged  by 
the  army  of  King  James  II.,  A.  D. 
1688-9.  He  aftei-wards  relinquished 
a  military  life  for  the  clerical  profes- 
sion. He  possessed  a  strong  mind, 
marked  by  a  considerable  degree  of 
eccentricity.  He  died  Jan.  25,  1735, 
and  was  borne  to  the  grave,  at  his  par- 
ticular request,  by  his  fonner  compan- 
ions in  arms,  of  whom  there  were  a 
considerable  number  among  the  early 
settlers  of  this  town  ;  several  of  whom 
had  been  made  free  from  taxes  through- 
out the  British  dominions,  by  King 
William,  for  their  bravery  in  that  me- 
moi-able  siege. 

A  company  of  seventy  men  from 
this  toAvn,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
George  Reid,  were  in  the  battle  of 
Breed's  Hill,  and  about  the  same  num- 
ber were  in  that  at  Bennington,  in 
which  Capt.  David  M'Clary,  one  of 
their  citizens,  a  distinguished  and  brave 
officer,  was  killed. 

Major-General  John  Stark,  and  Col. 
George  Reid,  officers  of  the  army  of 
the  revolution,  were  natives  of  this 
town.  Londonderry  has  produced  many 
other  distinguished  men. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Chester  and 
Manchester,  east  by  Deny,  south  by 
Windham  and  Salem,  and  west  by 
Manchester  and  Litchfield. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  McGre- 
gore,  ordained  in  1719;  died  in  1729. 
Rev.  Matthew  Clark,  settled  in  1 729 ; 
died  in  1735.    Rev.  Thomas  Thomp- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


93 


son,  settled  in  1732;  died  in  1738. 
William  Davidson,  settled  in  1740; 
died  in  1 794.  Jonathan  Brown,  settled 
in  1795  ;  dismissed  in  1804. 

Second  Church.  Rev.  David  McGre- 
gore,  .'lettled  in  1737;  died  in  1777. 
Rev.  William  Morrison,  settled  in  1783 ; 
died  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
10,203  bus-hels";  potatoes,  30,466  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,230  tons ;  wool,  2,897  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty-six  miles  south 
south-east  from  Concord,  thirty-live 
south-west  from  Portsmouth,  and  about 
six  miles  south-east  from  Manchester. 

L.OUDON. 

Merrimac  Co.  Soucook  River 
passes  from  Gilmanton  south  through 
Loudon,  furnishing  valuable  mill  priv- 
ileges. There  is  some  good  intervale 
on  its  borders.  Loudon  was  originally 
a  part  of  Canterbury,  and  lies  on  the 
east  side  of  Merrimac  River. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Canter- 
bury, north-east  by  Gilmanton,  south- 
east by  Pittsfield  and  Chichester,  and 
south-west  by  Concord. 

First  Settlers.  Abraham  and  Jethro 
Batchelder  and  Moses  Ordway. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jedcdiah  Tuck- 
er, settled  in  1789;  dismissed  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
8,000  bushels  ;  potatoes,  43,639  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,905  tons  ;  wool,  7,958  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  22,619  pounds. 

Distances.  About  ten  miles  north- 
east from  the  State  House  in  Concord. 

L.YMAN. 

Grafton  Co.  Lyman  is  situated 
on  Connecticut  River.  There  is  in 
this  town  one  considerable  elevation, 
called  Lyman's  Mountain.  The  north- 
west branch  of  Burnham's  River  has 
its  source  from  this  mountain. 

There  are  several  ponds  in  the  east 
part  of  Lyman,  through  the  largest  of 
which  Burnham's  River  has  its  course. 
The  lower  bar  of  the  Fifteen  Mile 
Falls  is  in  this  town.  Carleton's  Falls 
are  several  miles  below;  and  below 
these  is  Steven's  Ferry,  which  com- 
municates with   Barnet.      The   scen- 


ery in  this  to^v'n  is  wild  and  ro- 
mantic. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Barnet, 
Vt.,  north-east  by  Littleton,  south-east 
by  Lisbon,  and  west  by  Bath. 

First  Settlers.  Lyman  was  granted 
in  1761,  to  a  number  of  proprietors,  of 
whom  was  Daniel  Lyman,  from  whom 
it  probably  received  its  name. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,751  bushels;  potatoes,  41,960  bush- 
els; hay,  3,127  tons;  wool,  13,502  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,169  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirteen  miles  north  of 
Haverhill,  and  one  hundred  miles  north 
north-east  from  Concord. 

liYME. 

Grafton  Co.  The  soil  here  is  simi- 
lar to  that  of  other  towns  on  Connecti- 
cut River,  with  this  difference,  that 
there  is  a  less  proportion  of  intervale, 
and  a  less  difference  between  that  di- 
rectly adjoining  the  river  and  the  other 
parts  of  the  town. 

I  There  are  three  small  streams  pass- 
I  ing  through  Lyme  and  emptjing  into 
Connecticut  River.  There  are  two 
small  ponds,  the  largest  of  which  is 
called  Ports  Pond.  Here  is  an  eleva- 
tion called  Smart's  Mountain.  The 
town  received  its  name  from  Lyme, 
Connecticut. 

The  Hon.  Jonathan  Franklin  resid- 
ed in  this  to-rni  many  years,  and  was  a 
valuable  citizen. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Orford,  east 
by  Dorchester,  south  by  Hanover,  and 
west  by  Thetford,  Vt.  ' 

First  Settlers.  Settled  in  1764  by 
Walter  Fau-field,  John  and  William 
Sloan,  and  others  from  Connecticut. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  William  Conant, 
settled  in  1783 ;  died  in  1810. 

Productions  of  tire  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,649  bushels ;  potatoes,  57,303  bushels ; 
hay,  5,014  tons  ;  wool,  32,655  pounds  ; 
maple  sugar,  3,785  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  south  from 
Haverhill,  and  fifty -five  north-west  from 
Concord. 

li  YIVDEBOROUG-H . 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  is  an 
elevated  township,  having  a  considera- 


u 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


ble  mountain  which  divides  it  from  ea^t 
to  west.  There  is,  in  the  north-east 
part  of  the  town,  below  the  mountain, 
a  plain,  where  there  is  a  small  village, 
pleasantly  situated  near  Piscataquog 
River.  The  soil  of  this  town,  thougJi 
stony,  is  deep  and  strong.  For  gi-azing 
it  is,  perhaps,  not  exceeded  by  any  town 
in  the  county.  The  streams  are  small, 
originating  principally  from  sources  in 
the  tOAVTi,  and  running  north  and  south 
from  the  mountain. 

In  1753,  Benjamin  L^-nde,  Esq.  of 
Salem,  purchased  a  considerable  part 
of  the  towTiship,  and  adjoining  lands. 
From  him  the  place  took  the  name  of 
Lyndeborough. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1809,  three 
children  were  burnt  in  a  barn,  while 
their  parents  were  attending  an  instal- 
lation at  Mount  Vernon. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Francestown, 
east  by  New  Boston  and  Mount  Ver- 
non, south  by  Milford  and  "Wilton,  and 
west  by  Temple. 

First  Settlers.  The  earliest  names 
were  Putnam,  Chamberlain  and  Cram. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  John  Rand, 
settled  in  1757:  dismissed  in  1762. 
Rev.  Sewall  Goodrich,  settled  in  1768; 
died  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,379  bushels :  potatoes,  22,983  bushels ; 
hay,  1,860  tons:  wool,  3,-339  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  6,143  pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  west  north- 
west from  Amherst,  and  thirty  south 
south-west  from  Concord. 

MADBURY. 

Strafford  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  generally  productive.  In  some 
parts  of  the  town,  bog  iron  ore  has 
been  dug  u{3  in  considerable  quantities, 
and  in  some  instances  red  and  yellow 
ochre. 

Bellamy  Bank  River  is  the  only 
stream  of  any  magnitude,  and  Barba- 
does  Pond  the  only  considerable  body 
of  water.  This  pond  lies  between  Do- 
ver and  Madbury,  and  is  120  rods  long, 
fifty  wide.  Madbury  formerly  constitu- 
ted a  part  of  the  ancient  town  of  Dover. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Dover,  I 
south-west  by  Durham  and  Lee,  and  i 
north-west  by  Bamngton. 


First  Settlers.     See  Dover. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Samuel  Hyde 
commenced  pi-eaching  in  1758,  and  con- 
tiuued  till  1770.  Rev.  Eliphaz  Chap- 
man officiated  from  1771  to  1773. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
4,457  bushels;  potatoes,  6,280  bushels; 
hay,  1,107  tons;  wool,  1,557  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-six  miles  east 
south-east  from  Concord,  and  about 
three  miles  from  the  railroad  depot  at 
Dover 

MANCHESTER. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  to\\Ti  lies 
on  the  east  side  of  Merrimac  River,  on 
wliich  it  is  bounded,  nine  miles ;  it  is 
otherwise  bounded  north  by  Hooksett, 
east  by  Chester,  and  south  by  Litchfield. 

Massabesick  Lake  lies  at  the  east  of 
the  town.  It  is  a  fine  sheet  of  water, 
with  many  islands  and  presenting  some 
of  the  finest  prospects  in  this  part  of  the 
State  ;  this  lake  or  pond  is  divided  into 
two  nearly  equal  pai-ts  by  a  narrow 
strait  crossed  by  a  bridge ;  each  of  these 
parts  is  about  three  miles  long  by  one 
mile  wide.  Its  outlet,  the  Cohas  Brook, 
is  a  fine  mill  stream,  and  the  only  con- 
siderable stream  rising  in  the  town. 

The  soil  of  a  considerable  part  of  the 
town  is  light  and  sandy.  The  inter- 
vales on  the  river  are  inconsiderable, 
but  of  easy  cultivation  and  productive, 
and  the  swells  aflford  some  fine  farms. 

The  Amoskeag  Falls,  between  Man- 
chester and  Gofi■sto^\^l,  are  the  largest  on 
the  MeiTimac.  At  an  ordinary  stage 
of  the  water,  the  fiiU  to  the  foot  of  the 
locks  is  forty-seven  feet,  and  the  whole 
fall  in  the  distance  of  a  mile  is  fifty- 
four  feet.  A  permanent  stone  dam  is 
erected  across  the  river  at  the  head  of 
the  falls,  and  un  the  east  side,  guard- 
gates  of  most  substantial  masonry  are 
constracted,  through  which  the  Avater 
passes  into  a  spacious  basin  connected 
with  the  upper  canal  for  the  use  of  the 
mills,  and  with  the  Amoskeag  Canal 
for  purposes  of  navigation. 

The  upper  canal  is  4,950  feet  long, 
seventy-five  feet  wide  at  tlie  basin,  from 
which  it  is  gradually  naiTOwed  to  forty- 
five  feet,  is  ten  feet  deep  and  walled 
throughout  with  stone.     The  lower  ca- 


MANCHESTER. 


95 


nal  which  occupies  the  place  of  the 
Amoskeag  Canal,  is  7,500  feet  long,  of 
a  size  and  depth  coiTCsponding  with 
the  upper  canal,  and  constnicted  in  a 
similar  manner.  The  fall  from  the  up- 
per into  the  lower  canal  is  twenty  feet, 
and  from  the  latter  into  the  river  varies 
from  twenty  to  thirty  feet.  The  wa- 
ter power  is  estimated  by  competent 
engineers,  to  be  sufficient  to  drive 
216,000  spindles,  with  all  the  machinery 
to  complete  the  manufacture  of  the 
cloth.  The  rapid  fall  of  the  river  be- 
low prevents  any  obstruction  from  back 
water. 

There  are  now  in  operation  at  this 
place,  seven  large  cotton  mills,  four 
OAvned  and  operated  by  the  Amoskeag 
Manufiicturing  Company,  and  three  by 
the  Stark  ^lills  Corporation,  containing 
105,000  spindles  and  3000  looms,  em- 
ploying 640  males  and  3500  females, 
consuming  annually  36,000  bales  cot- 
ton, 635,000  pounds  potatoe  starch, 
31,000  gallons  sperm  oil,  6700  cords 
wood,  1200  tons  anthracite  coal,  and 
producing  39,500,000  yards  of  sheeting, 
shirting,  ticking,  denims,  merino 
stripes,  and  cotton  flannel. 

There  are  connected  with  these  mills 
an  extensive  blue  dyeing  establishment, 
long  ranges  of  cotton  warehouses  and 
buildings  for  repair  shops  and  counting- 
houses,  numerous  blocks  of  boarding 
houses  for  the  operatives,  containing  166 
tenements,  all  of  which  buildings  are 
built  of  bricks  in  the  most  substantial 
manner,  Tsath  slated  roofs,  and  well 
adapted  for  the  purposes  for  which 
they  are  used. 

There  is  a  large  machine  shop  and 
foundry-  owned  by  the  Amoskeag  Man- 
ufacturing Company  in  which  are  em- 
ployed 500  hands,  and  consumes  350 
tons  bar  iron  and  steel,  400  tons  an- 
thracite coal,  3000  tons  pig  iron,  30,000 
bushels  charcoal,  and  can  furnish  an- 
nually 25  locomotives  and  the  machi- 
nery necessary  for  a  25,000  spindle 
mill.  There  are  blocks  of  houses  con- 
taining sixty-six  tenements  for  the  help 
employed  in  the  shop  and  foundry,  and 
more  in  contemplation. 

The  muslin  de  laine  mill,  owned  by 
the  Merrimac  Mills  Corporation,  con- 
tains 22,000  spindles,  600  looms,  and 


■  with  the  print  works  connected  there- 
j  -with,  employs  450  males  and  550  fe- 
males, consumes  2000  bales  cotton, 
500,000  pounds  avooI,  1500  cords  wood, 
.3000  bushels  charcoal,  6000  gallons 
Ohio  oil,  6000  gallons  sperm  oil,  40,000 

j  pounds  oil  soap,  and  40,000  pounds 
;  starch  annually,  and  produces  5,200,000 
yards  of  muslin  de  laines  and  fine  print- 

■  ing  cloths,  which  are  printed  at  their 
print  works,  and  are  celebrated  for  the 
brilliancy  of  their  colors,  and  the  taste 
displayed  in  the  patterns. 

j  Since  the  beginning  of  the  year  1839, 
a  large  village  has  gro^Ti  up  near  the 
I  mills,  in  which  are  eight  meeting-houses 
erected,  at  an  expense  of  more  than 
$50,000,  for  the  use  of  the  Congrega- 
tionalists,  Baptists,  Universalists,  Meth- 
odists, Freewill  Baptists,  Episcopalians, 
j  and  Unitarians.  Several  of  these  are 
]  large  and  handsome  buildings.  Nine 
'  school-houses  afford  accommodations 
t  for  fifteen  schools,  and  upwards  of  900 
\  scholars ;  four  large  hotels ;  seventy- 
]  five  stores,  and  more  than  400  private 
i  dwellings.  A  to^vn  house  ninety  by 
I  sixty-eight  feet,  tM-o  stories  high,  with 
I  a  spacious  town  hall,  cupola,  clock, 
bell,  &c.,  erected  in  1841,  at  an  expense 
I  of  $23,000,  was  desti-oyed  by  fire  in 
I  August,  1 842,  and  is  now  rebuilt. 
j  The  village  is  beautifully  situated  on 
'  a  plain  about  ninety  feet  above  the  river. 
!  The  boarding  houses  of  the  corpora- 
j  tions  occupying  the  slope  towards  the 
canals.  It  is  laid  out  upon  a  plan  at 
once  neat  and  convenient.  The  prin- 
cipal street  is  one  hundred  feet  wide, 
and  extends  more  than  a  mile  north 
and  south,  and  from  sixty  to  one  hun- 
dred rods  distant  from  the  river ;  ten 
other  streets  intersect  this,  and  four 
others  run  parallel  to  it  at  right  angles. 
These  streets  are  about  fifty  feet  wide 
Four  large  squares  have  been  laid  out 
for  public  use,  some  of  which  are  en- 
closed and  planted  with  trees. 

A  public  cemeter}',  called  the  valley, 
containing  twenty  acres,  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  village,  is  a  beautiful 
spot.  It  is  intersected  by  a  deep  val- 
ley and  a  running  stream,  and  is  laid 
out  with  winding  paths  and  avenues. 
It  i?  always  a  place  of  great  resort  and 
of  just  pride  to  the  citizens. 


96 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


An  athenaeum  was  established  in 
January,  1844,  which  has  a  library  of 
2200  volumes,  and  a  reading  room  for 
periodicals  and  newspapers,  and  a  law 
library  has  been  commenced  which  has 
now  about  400  volumes. 

Three  bridges  across  the  Men-imac 
connect  this  town  with  Goffsto^^Ti  and 
Bedford.  Two  of  these  are  new  and 
handsome  structures,  erected  at  an  ex- 
pense of  more  than  $23,000. 

The  villages  of  Piscataquog  and 
Amoskeag  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
are  connected  by  these  bridges  with 
Manchester,  and  in  fact  constitute  with 
it  but  one  place  of  business. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Cohas  is  a 
thriving  village  growing  up  around  the 
mills  on  that  stream. 

The  growth  of  the  callage  of  Man- 
chester is  unrivalled  by  any  place  in 
the  world  except  Lowell,  and  is  a  mag- 
nificent specimen  of  the  entei'prise  and 
skill  of  the  New  England  people.  The 
population  within  the  limits  of  the  city  in 
1838  was  about  50;  in  1848  the  city  cW 
tained  12.000  inhabitants.  Manches- 
ter was  incorporated  as  a  city  in  1846. 

Gen.  John  Stark  was  long  a  resident 
of  this  town  and  is  buried  hei-e. — See 
Stark. 

Hon.  Samuel  Blodgett,  the  founder 
of  the  Amoskeag  Canal,  died  here  in 
1806.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  enterprise,  and  a  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  early  after  the 
Revolution.  He  had  formed  a  just  es- 
timate of  the  value  of  the  immense 
water  power  afforded  here  by  the  Mer- 
rimac,  and  expended  an  ample  fortune 
acquired  by  commerce  in  early  life,  in 
the  consti-uction  of  this  canal,  which 
was  completed  about  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  has  been  a  work  of  great 
public  utility. 

The  Concord  Railroad,  which  passes 
through  the  village  near  the  margin  of 
the  upper  canal  and  has  a  neat  and 
spacious  depot  at  the  south  side  of  the 
village,  affords  great  facilities  to  the 
manufacturing  companies,  and  the  gen- 
eral business  of  the  village  and  sur- 
rounding country. 

Boundaries.  North  and  east  by  Ches- 
ter, south  bv  Londonderry  and  Litch- 
field. 


First  Settlers.     See  Londonderry. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,584  bushels  :' potatoes,  18.261  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,222  tons  ;  wool,  2,061  lbs. 

Distances.  By  the  Concord  Railroad 
seventeen  miies  south-cast  from  Con- 
cord, and  fifty-eight  nortli  from  Boston. 
^\jnherst  lies  about  twelve  miles  south- 
west from  this  city. 

MARLBOROUGH. 

Cheshire  Co.  There  are  several 
ponds  in  this  town  which  are  the 
sources  of  some  of  the  branches  of 
Ashuelot  Eiver.  The  soil  is  rocky,  but 
good  for  grazing. 

Col.  Andrew  Colbum,  an  officer  kill- 
ed in  the  revolutionary  war,  belonged 
to  this  to^^^l. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Boxbury,  east 
by  Dublin  and  Jaffrey,  south  by  Troy, 
west  by  Swanzey  and  a  part  of  Keen'e. 

First  Settlers.  William  Barker,  Abel 
Woodward,  Benjamin  Tucker,  and 
Daniel  Goodenough. 

First  Minisfeis.  Rev.  Joseph  Cum- 
mings,  ordained  in  1778  ;  dismissed  in 
1780.  Rev.  Holloway  Fish,  ordained 
in  1793;  died  in  1824. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,305  bushels:  potatoes,  24,190  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1.627  tons  ;  atooI,  2,105  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar.  6,667  pounds. 

Distances.  Six  miles  south-east  from 
Keene,  and  fifty-eight  south-west  from 
Concord.  The  Cheshire  Railroad  pass- 
es through  the  towm. 

MARIiO\l^. 

Cheshire  Co.  Ashuelot  River 
passes  through  almost  the  whole  length 
of  this  town.  There  are  no  ponds  of 
note,  nor  any  mountains.  The  soil  is 
rather  wet,  but  considerably  produc- 
tive. There  are  large  tracts  of  mea- 
dow land  on  Ashuelot  River  and  other 
streams,  of  an  excellent  quality.  The 
land  is  generally  uneven,  but  not  veiy 
rocky.  It  produces  the  various  kinds 
of  grain. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Acworth  and 
Lempster,  east  by  Washington  and 
Stoddard,  south  by  Gilsum,  and  west 
bv  Alstead. 


GAZETTEER    OP    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


97 


First  Settlers.  Joseph  Tubbs,  Sam-  smaller  ponds.  Tliere  is  probably  no 
uel  and  John  Gustin,  N.  Koyce,  X.  town  in  the  countrv  more  pleasantly 
Miller,  Nathan  Huntley,  and  others.       ,  and  advantaf,rcously  situated,  or  of  a 

First  Minister.  Key.  Caleb  Blood,  I  better  soil,  than  Meredith.  T'he\vater3 
settled  in  1778;  dismissed  in  1779. !  of  the  Winnipiseogce,  %vashing  the 
Eey.  Eleazar  Beckwith  succeeded,  and   boundaries  of  a  great  part  of  the  to\yn, 


preaclied  till  his  death  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,287  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  32,450  bush- 
els ;  hay,  L609  tons;  avooI,  4,393  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  9.870  i)ounds. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  nortli  from 
Keene,  and  fifty  west  by  south  from 
Concord. 

MA  soar, 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  surface 
of  Mason  is  uneyen ;  the  hills  are 
chiefly  large  swells,  with  narrow  yal- 
leys  between  them.  The  streams  are 
rapid.  There  are  no  natural  ponds. 
The  principal  meado\ys  Ayere  formerly 
beayer  ponds.  Souhegan  is  the  prin- 
cipal stream,  affording  many  fine  mill 
sites.  The  small  streams  run  into 
Nashua  Riyer,  and  into  Tanapus,  or 
Potanipo  Pond,  in  Brookline. 

The  soil  in  the  east  part  is  rather 
light.  The  west  part  is  mostly  a 
strong,  deep  soil,  red  or  dark  loam,  but 
stony.     It  is  good  for  grass  or  grain. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Temple  and 
"Wilton,  east  by  Milford  and  Brookline, 
south  by  Townsend  and  Ashby  in  AIs., 
and  west  by  New  Ipswich. 

First  Settlers.  Enoch  Lawrence  and 
Deacon  Nathan  Hall. 

First  Ministers.  Key.  Jonathan 
Searle,  ordained  in  1772;  dismissed 
in  1782  ;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill,  ordained 
in  1790. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2,415  bushels  ;  potatoes,  14,384  bush- 
els ;  hay,  947  tons  ;  wool,  1,099  lbs. ; 
wheat,  1,010  bushels. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  south-west 
from  Amherst,  and  forty-fiye  south 
south-west  from  Concord. 

MEREDITH. 

Belknap  Co.  There  is  in  this  town 
a  pond  adjoining  to  Centre  Harbor, 
about  two  miles  long  and  one  wide, 
emptying  into  the  lake,  near  the  vil- 
lage.    Besides   this,  there  are  several 


convey  many  heavy  mercantile  arti- 
cles to  and  iVom  ahnost  the  doors  of 
sevei-al  of  the  inliabitants  in  the  sum- 
mer ;  and  in  the  winter  tlie  ice  serves 
as  a  level  and  easy  road.  But  now 
the  railroad  from  Concord  to  the  north 
passing  through  this  town,  gives  it 
every  advantage  which  can  be  derived 
from  easy  and  clieap  transportation, 
and  an  abundant  water  power. 

Near  the  upper,  or  north-west  part 
of  the  town,  the  traveller  passing  along 
the  road  is  presented  with  a  very  beau- 
tiful landscape.  On  the  east  and  south- 
east the  placid  Winnipiseogee,  the  larg- 
est lake  in  New  Hampshire,  Avith  its 
numerous  islands,  arrests  the  eye,  and 
bounds  the  circle  of  vision  in  a"  south- 
east direction.  On  the  north-east,  Os- 
sipee  Mountain  rises  boldly  to  view. 
On  the  north  the  prospect  is  inter- 
cepted by  Red  Hill,  a  pleasant  and 
noted  eminence  in  Moultonborough, 
only  a  few  miles  distant. 

At  Meredith  Bridge  is  a  handsome 
and  flourishing  village,  and  the  seat  of 
much  business.  The  water,  power  of 
Meredith  is  immense.  It  is  connected 
with  the  principal  village  of  Gilford, 
by  a  bridge  over  the  Winnipiseogee. 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Smith  moved  into 
this  town  at  an  early  period  of  its  set- 
tlement, and  was  as  a  father  to  the  new 
settlers  for  many  years.  He  died  Aug. 
22,  1807,  aged  seventy-three. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Centre  Har- 
bor, and  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  north- 
east and  east  by  said  Lake  and  River, 
south-east  by  Great  Bay,  south  and 
south-west  by  Sanbornton,  north  and 
north-west  by  New  Hampton. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Simon  F.  Wil- 
liams, settled  in  1792;  dismissed  in 
1798.  Rev.  David  Smith,  settled  in 
1819;  died  in  1824. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
14,117  bushels;  potatoes,  66,279  bush- 
els ;  hay,  5,263  tons ;  wool,  9,854  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,325  pounds. 

Distances.      By   the    Concord   and 


98 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Montreal  Railroad  twenty-four  miles 
north  from  Concord,  and  one  mile 
north-west  from  Gilford. 

MERRIMAC. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  Merrimac 
River  waters  the  east  borders  of  this 
town,  through  its  whole  extent,  open- 
ing a  communication  by  water  from 
this  place  to  Boston.  Souhegan  enters 
this  town  from  Amherst,  pursues  a 
winding  course  to  the  Men-imac,  where 
it  discharges  itself,  one  mile  above 
Thornton's  Ferry.  There  are  fine 
water  privileges  upon  this  stream. 
Babboosuck  Brook,  issuing  from  Bab- 
boosuck  Pond,  in  Amherst,  empties 
into  Souhegan  River ;  and  Penichook 
Brook,  from  a  pond  in  Hollis,  forais 
the  southern  boundary.  Tlie  soil  in 
various  places  is  very  fertile,  but  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  land  is 
plain.  There  are  some  fine  intervales 
on  the  Merrimac.  Some  of  the  best 
and  most  extensive  water  priWleges 
the  county  affords,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  from  the  Merrimac,  on  Souhe- 
gan River,  lie  unimproved. 

This  town  claims  the  first  discovery 
in  this  region,  in  making  what  are 
called  Leghorn  bonnets.  They  were 
first  made,  several  years  since,  by  the 
Misses  Burnaps.  Some  of  their  bonnets 
were  sold  at  auction  for  $50  each. 


The  first  house  in  this  toMTi  was 
erected  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  for 
a  house  of  traffic  with  the  Indians. 
For  some  time  one  Cromwell  carried 
on  a  lucrative  trade  with  the  Indians, 
weighing  their  furs  with  his  foot,  till, 
enraged  at  his  supposed  or  real  decep- 
tion, they  formed  the  resolution  to 
murder  him.  This  intention  was  com- 
municated to  Cromwell,  who  buried 
his  wealth  and  made  his  escape.  With- 
in a  few  hours  after  his  fiiglit,  a  party 
of  the  Penacook  tribe  arrived,  and, 
not  finding  the  olyect  of  their  resent- 
ment, they  burnt  his  habitation. 

Hon.  Matthew  Thoknton,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence,  resided  many 
years  in  this  to\\^l.  He  died  in  1803, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-nine. 

Boundaries.  Bedford  is  on  the  north, 
Litchfield  on  the  east,  Dunstable  on 
the  south,  and  Amherst  on  the  west. 

First  Miiustcr.  Rev.  Jacob  Bumap, 
settled  in  1772;  died  in  1821. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,463  bushels;  potatoes,  14,969  bush- 
els; hay,  1,480  tons;  wool,  1,532  lbs.; 
buckwheat,  908  bushels. 

Distances.  Six  miles  south-east  from 
Amherst,  and  twenty-eight  miles  south 
from  Concord,  by  raih-oad.  The  rail- 
road between  Lowell  and  Concord 
passes  through  this  town. 


MERRIMAC    COUNTY. 

Concord  is  the  county  town.  The  county  of  Merrimac  is  bounded  north 
by  the  counties  of  Grafton  and  Belknap,  east  by  the  counties  of  Strafford 
and  Rockingham,  south  by  the  county  of  Hillsborough,  and  west  by  the  county 
of  Sullivan. 

Its  greatest  length  is  thirty-six  miles  ;  its  breadth,  at  the  broadest  part, 
is  twenty-six  miles.  The  surface  is  uneven,  and  in  some  parts  rugged  and 
mountainous  ;  but  its  general  fertility  is,  perhaps,  equal  to  either  of  the  other 
counties  in  the  State.  The  northerly  part  of  the  county  is  rough  and  moun- 
tainous. 

Kearsarge  is  the  highest  mountain,  its  summit  being  about  2,400  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea.  It  is  composed  of  a  range  of  hiUs,  i-unning  north  and 
south  about  six  miles.    Its  general  aspect  is  rugged  and  craggy,  excepting 


GA.ZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


99 


when  its  roughness  is  shaded  by  the  woody  covering  that  darkens  its  sides. 
The  Ragged  Mountains,  so  called  from  their  appearance,  lie  north-east  of 
Kearsarge,  and  between  Andover  and  Hill.  They  are  nearly  2,000  feet  high, 
at  the  north  points  of  the  range.  Bear's  Hill,  in  Xorthfield,  Sunapee  Moun- 
tain, in  Newbury,  Catamount,  in  Pittsfield,  and  the  Peak,  in  Hooksett,  are 
the  other  most  considerable  elevations.  A  part  of  Lake  Sunapee  lies  in 
Newbury ;  and  there  are  numerous  ponds  interspersed  throughout  the  whole 
territory. 

The  ^Icrrimac  River  meanders  through  nearly  the  centre  of  the  county, 
and  forms  the  boundary  some  distance  at  the  north-eastern  pai-t.  It  receives 
from  the  west  the  Blackwatcr  and  Contoocook  Rivers,  and  from  the  east 
Soucook  and  Suncook,  and  other  smaller  streams. — See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  MERRD^IAC  COUNTY. 

Superior  Court,  Second  District.  At  Concord,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
July ;  and  at  Amherst,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Concord,  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  March,  and 
second  Tuesday  of  October. 

Probate  Court.    At  Concord,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  every  month. 


MI  DDL  ETON. 

Strafford  Co.  This  town  is  a 
very  level  township,  having  no  high 
ground  except  a  part  of  Moose  Moun- 
tain, which  separates  it  from  Brook- 
field.  There  are  no  rivers  nor  ponds, 
and  the  soil  is  rocky. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Brookfield, 
east  by  Wakefield,  south  by  IVIilton, 
and  west  by  New  Durham. 

First  Settlers.  Thomas  Morgan  and 
others  settled  a  short  time  before  the 
Revolution. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Nehemiah  Ord- 
way,  settled  in  1778. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1.895  bushels :  potatoes,  11,660 bushels; 
hay,  815  tons;  wool.  969  pounds;  ma- 
ple sugar,  1,180  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-five  miles  north- 
west from  Dover,  and  forty  miles  north- 
east from  Concord. 


Coos  Co.    The  Upper  Amonoosuck 
and  Androscoggin  Rivers  pass  through 


this  tovra.  There  are  several  ponds, 
and  some  considerable  mountains.  It 
was  called  Paulsburgh  until  1824. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Dummer  and 
Cambridge,  east  by  Success,  south  by 
Berlin,  and  west  by  Kilkenny  and 
Winslow's  Location. 

First  Settlers.  This  to'\\Ti  was  grant- 
ed in  1771,  to  Sir  William  Ma^me  and 
others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
982  bushels  ;  potatoes,  16,080  bushels; 
hay.  859  tons:  wool,  1.613  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  8.645  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  north  by  east  from  Concord,  and 
about  twenty-two  north-east  fi'om  Lan- 
caster. 

MII.FORD. 

HiLLSBOROTTGH  Co.  Milford  lies 
on  both  sides  of  Souhegan  River,  which 
runs  through  the  town  from  west  to 
east,  forming  a  rich  meadow  or  inter- 
vale, from  one  quarter  to  one  half  a 
mile  wide.  The  banks  of  this  river 
are    annually    overflowed,    by    which 


100 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


means,  the  soil,  which  is  bhic 
deep,  is  much  enriched.  Thi: 
has  extensive  water  privileges. 

Boundaries.  North  by  JNIason  and 
Wilton,  north  by  Mount'  Vernon  and 
Lyndeborough,  east  by  Amherst,  and 
south  by  Hollis  and  Brookline. 

First  Settlers.  John  Burns,  William 
Peabody,  Benjamin  Hopkins,  and  Ca- 
leb Jones. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Humphi-ey 
Moore,  ordained  in  1802. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
8,524  bushels :  potatoes,  14..574  bushels : 
hay,  1,640  tons:  wool,  900  pounds: 
buckwheat,  800  bushels. 

Distances.  Thirty-two  miles  south 
by  west  from  Concord,  and  about  five 
miles  south-Avest  from  Amherst. 


and  of  considerable  size,  connecting  with 

town '  the  Salmon  Fall  River.      This  tovra 

was  formerly  a  part  of  Rochester. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Middle- 
ton  and  Wakefield,  east  by  Salmon 
Fall  River,  separating  it  from  Maine, 
and  south-west  by  Farmington. 

First  Settlers.     See  Rochester. 

First  ^[inisters.     See  Rochester. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
7,282  bushels:  potatoes,  32,660  bush- 
els; hay,  2,19-3  tons:  wool,  3,625  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  670  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  twenty  north-west 
bv  north  from  Dover. 


MlLIiSFIELD. 


MOUNT  VERNON. 

Hillsborough  Co.     There  is  but 


one  stream  of  any  note,  and  this  was 
called  })v  the  Indians  Qaohquinapassa- 
Coos  Co.  Clear  Stream  waters  its  I  hessananagnog.  The  situation  is  ele- 
north  extremity,  and  riiillip's  River  |  vated,  and  towards  the  east  and  south- 
with  several  small  streams  the  other  i  east  there  is  a  considerable  prospect, 
parts.  Here  are  several  ponds,  the  There  is  a  flourishing  village  situated 
largest  is  about  300  rods  long,  140  wide.  \  near  the  highest  point  of  elevation. 
This  toAvn  Avas  named  after  Sir  Thomas  This  to\\-n  was  originally  a  part  of  Am- 
Mills,  a  grantee.  herst,  from  which  it  was  detached  iu 


The  surface  of  the  town  is  too  rough 
and  the  climate  too  cold  for  cultivation. 

Boundaries.  EiTol  is  on  the  east, 
Dummer  is  on  the  south,  Ervin's  Lo- 
cation and  ungranted  lands  are  on  the 
west,  and  Dixville  on  the  north. 

First  Settlers.  IMillsfield  was  granted 
in  1774,  to  George  Boyd  and  eighty- 
one  others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
160  bushels;  potatoes,  125  bushels: 
hay,  52  tons ;  wool,  24  pounds ;  maple 
sugar,  100  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  north  of  Concord,  and  about 
thirty-five  miles  north-east  from  Lan- 
caster. 

MILTON. 

Strafford  Co.  The  Salmon  Fall 
River  washes  its  Avhole  eastern  boun- 
daiT,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles ;  and 
a  bx-anch  of  the  same  river  crosses  from 
the  south  part  of  Wakefield,  and  unites 
near  the  centre  of  the  eastern  boundary. 

Tenerifte.  a  l)old  and  rocky  moun- 
tain, extends  along  the  eastern  part  of 
Milton  near  which  lies  Milton  Pond,  1  on  the  north-west  shore  of  Winnipis- 


1803. 

Dr.  Daxiel  Adams,  who  com- 
menced and  conducted  the  Medical 
and  Agricultural  Register,  and  is  au- 
thor of  a  popular  system  of  arithmetic, 
school  geography,  and  a  number  of  use- 
ful school  books,  has  his  residence  in 
this  place. 

Boundaries.  North  by  New  Boston, 
east  by  Amherst,  south  by  Amherst  and 
Milford,  and  west  by  L^mdeborough. 

First  Settlers.     See  Amherst. 

First  ^finisters.  Rev.  John  Bruce, 
ordained  in  1785:  died  in  1809.  Rev. 
Stephen  Chapin.  D.  D.,  installed  in 
1809;  dismissed  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4.037  bushels;  potatoes,  13.061  bush- 
els :  hay,  1.261  tons  ;  wool,  804  pounds ; 
wheat,  "1.168  bushels. 

Distances.  Three  miles  north-west 
from  Amherst,  and  twenty-nine  south- 
west from  Concord. 

I  MOl  L.TONBOROUGH, 

;      Carroll  Co.    This  town  is  situated 


MOULTONBOROUGH. 


101 


eogee  Lake.  This  town  is  broken  by 
mountains  and  ponds.  Red  Hill,  lying 
wholly  ■within  this  town,  commands  no- 
tice from  the  east,  south,  and  west: 
and  extends  about  three  miles  from  east 
to  west,  betAveen  Red  Hill  River  on  the 
north,  Great  Squam  on  the  west,  Great 
Squam  and  Long  Pond  on  the  south, 
terminating  south-east  by  a  neck  of  fine 
land  extending  into  the  Winnipiseogee. 
Its  summit  is  covered  with  the  uva  ursa 
and  low  blueberry  bush,  which  in  au- 
tumn give  the  hill  a  reddish  hue,  from 
which  circumstance  its  name  was  prob- 
ably derived.  A  number  of  oval  bluffs 
rise  on  its  summit,  from  each  of  which 
the  prospect  on  either  hand  is  exten- 
sive and  delightful.  The  north  bluff  is 
supposed  to  consist  of  a  body  of  iron 
ore.  Bog  ore  is  found  in  a  brook  de- 
scending from  this  bluff. 

Ossipee  Mountain  extends  its  base 
into  this  town,  and  is  a  commanding 
elevation.  On  the  south  part  of  this 
mountain,  in  Moultonborough,  is  a 
mineral  chalybeate  spring,  the  waters 
strongly  impregnated  -wdth  iron  and 
sulphur,  and  efficacious  in  cutaneous 
eruptions.  About  a  mile  north  is  a 
spring  of  pure  cold  water,  sixteen  feet 
in  diameter,  through  the  centre  of  which 
the  water,  containing  a  small  portion 
of  fine  Avhite  sand  is  constantly  thrown 
up  to  the  height  of  two  feet — the  spring 
furnishing  water  sufficient  for  mills. 
On  the  stream  nearly  a  mile  below, 
is  a  beautiful  waterfoU  of  seventy  feet 
perpendicular.  Descending  on  the  left 
of  this  fall,  a  cave  is  found,  containing 
charcoal  and  other  evidences  of  its 
having  been  a  hiding  place  for  the  In- 
dians. 

Red  HiU  River  originates  in  Sand- 
wich, and  passes  through  this  town  in- 
to the  Winnipiseogee.  Long  Pond  is 
a  beautiful  sheet  of  Avater,  and  connects 
with'  the  lake  by  a  channel  sixty  rods 
in  length.  Squam  and  Winnipiseogee 
Lakes  lie  partly  in  Moultonborough. 
The  soil  of  this  to^\^l  is  fruitful,  though 
in  some  parts  rocky. 

Many  Indian  implements  and  relics 
have  been  found  indicating  this  to  have 
been  once  their  favorite  residence.  In 
1820,  on  a  small  island  in  the  Winni- 
piseogee, was  found  a  curious  gun  bar- 

9* 


rel,  much  worn  by  age  and  nist,  divest- 
ed of  its  stock,  enclosed  in  the  body  of 
a  pitch  pine  tree  sixteen  inches  in  di- 
ameter. Its  butt  rested  on  a  flat  rock, 
its  muzzle  elevated  about  30"^.  In 
1819,  a  small  dirk,  one  and  a  half  feet 
in  length  from  the  point  to  the  end  of 
the  hilt,  round  blade,  was  found  in  a 
new  field,  one  foot  under  ground,  bear-, 
ing  strong  marks  of  antiquity.  This 
gun  barrel  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Dr.  Prescott  of  Lowell. 

On  the  line  of  Tuftonborough,  on 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  at  the  mouth  of 
Melvin  River,  a  gigantic  skeleton  was 
found  about  thirty  years  since,  buried 
in  a  sandy  soil,  apparently  that  of  a 
man  more  than  seven  feet  high — the 
jaw  bones  easily  passing  over  the  face 
of  a  large  man.  A  tumulus  has  been 
discovered  on  a  piece  of  newly  cleared 
land,  of  the  length  and  appearance  of  a 
human  grave,  and  handsomely  rounded 
I  with  small  stones,  not  found  in  this 
'  part  of  the  country ;  which  stones  are 
too  closely  placed  to  be  separated  by 
striking  an  ordinary  blow  with  a  crow- 
bar, and  bear  marks  of  being  a  compo- 
sition. The  Ossipee  tribe  of  Indians 
once  resided  in  this  vicinity,  and  some 
years  since  a  tree  was  standing  in 
I  Moultonborough,  on  which  was  canned 
j  in  hieroglyphics  the  history  of  their  ex- 
peditions. 

I  Dr.  Jackson  says :  "  Red  Hill,  in  this 
town,  which  rises  about  2,000  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  is  composed 
,  of  a  beautiful  sienite,  in  Avhich  the  fel- 
[  spar  is  of  an  ash  gi'ey  color,  when 
j  freshly  exposed.  Xear  the  summit  of 
the  mountain,  where  the  ledges  of  rock 
are  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  air,  it 
is  of  a  reddish  hue.  The  mountain  is 
crossed  at  about  one-third  of  its  height 
by  a  large  dyke  of  porphyritic  trap, 
whose  general  direction  is  about  north 
30°  west.  Being  covered  with  soil,  it 
is  impossible  to  trace  its  limits.  The 
hornblende  of  the  sienite  is  in  some  in- 
stances well  crystalized,  so  as  to  afford 
very  good  cabinet  specimens.  Near 
the  house  of  Mr.  Cook,  about  half  way 
from  the  base  to  the  summit,  occurs  a 
deposit  of  bog  iron  ore.  It  is  only  a 
few  inches  thick,  and  of  limited  extent. 
From  it  a  crow-bar  has  been  manufac- 


102 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


tared.  ITear  this  spot  small  quantities 
of  iron  prrites  have  been  found,  also 
black  tourmaline,  which  has  been  mis- 
taken for  coal. 

"  This  mountain  is  covered  with  soil 
and  is  wooded  nearly  to  the  summit. 
It  owes  its  name  to  the  circumstance  of 
the  leaves  uva  ursa  with  which  it  is 
covered,  changing  to  a  brilliant  red  in 
the  autumn." 

Boundaries.  North  by  Sandwich  and 
Tamworth,  north-east  by  Ossipee, 
south-east  by  Tuftonborough,  and  west 
by  Centre  Harbor  and  Squam  Lake. 

First  Settlers.  Ezekiel  Moulton  and 
others. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Samuel  Per- 
ley,  ordained  in  1778;  died  in  1779. 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Shaw,  ordained  in  1779. 
Rev.  Joshua  Dodge,  settled  in  1808. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
7,169  bushels ;' potatoes,  31,606  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,663  tons ;  wool,  4,843  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  8.901  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  north  from 
Concord,  and  about  fifteen  miles  north- 
west from  Ossipee. 

NASHUA. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  town, 
which  was  called  Dunstable  until  1836, 
originally  embraced  a  large  extent  of 
territory,  comprising  the  towns  of 
Nashua,  Nashville,  llollis,  Mcrrimac 
and  Hudson  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
Tyngsborough  and  Dunstable  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  also  portions  of  Pelham, 
Litchfield,  Milford,  Brookline  and  Pep- 
perell. 

In  the  north-east  corner  of  the  town 
(and  in  Nashville)  on  Nashua  River  is 
the  flourishing  village  of  Nashua,  the 
centre  of  a  large  trade  and  the  seat  of 
important  manufactures.  The  village 
lies  partly  in  Nashua  and  partly  in 
Nashville,  the  river  forming  the  di- 
viding line.  (See  Nashville).  That 
part  of  the  village  lying  in  Nashua, 
contains  four  churches,  a  beautiful  town 
house,  a  bank,  a  large  number  of  hand- 
some dwelling  houses,  about  fifty  stores 
and  three  taverns.  There  are  also  four 
taverns  in  town  out  of  the  village. 

The  Nashua  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  in   1823.     It 


has  four  mills,  two  15.o  feet  in  length, 
4.5  in  breadth,  and  six  stories  in  height; 
two  aliout  190  feet  in  length,  50  feet  in 
breadtli,  and  five  stories  high.  They 
contain  37,000  spindles,  1,090  looms, 
and  manufacture  13,000,000  yards  of 
cloth  per  annum,  use  10,000  bales  cot- 
ton weighing  4,000,000  pounds,  and 
their  pay  roll  is  Si 6,000  ever)'  four 
weeks.  Their  canal  is  three  miles  long, 
sixty  feet  wide,  and  eight  feet  deep, 
head  and  fall  thirty-six  feet.  There 
are  1,000  females  and  200  males  em- 
ployed in  these  mills. 

In  1845,  the  Nashua  Company  built 
a  large  machine  shop  :  the  main  build- 
ing is  150  feet  long,  with  an  addition 
of  158  feet,  used  for  a  blacksmith's 
shop,  furnace,  &c.  The  main  building 
is  occupied  by  shuttle  and  bobbin  ma- 
kers, locksmiths,  gunsmiths,  manufac- 
turer of  axes,  hoes,  ploughs,  and  by  ar- 
tisans in  other  branches ;  there  are 
about  300  men  employed  in  this  con- 
cern. More  than  $35,000  worth  of 
mortise  locks  and  latches  for  dwelling 
house  doors,  and  rosewood  and  brass 
knobs  for  the  handles  of  the  same,  are 
manufactm-ed  during  a  year. 

In  1845,  a  large  and  extensive  iron 
foundry  was  erected  ;  more  than  4,000 
pounds  of  castings  per  day  are  manu- 
factured from  pig  iron ;  eighteen  tons 
can  be  melted  in  twelve  hours ;  more 
than  thirt}'  men  are  employed,  and  the 
business  exceeds  $40,000  a  year. 

The  same  year  a  cotton  manufactur- 
ing estaljlishment  went  into  operation 
in  the  Salmon  Brook,  at  '■  the  Harbor." 
so  called ;  about  S30,000  worth  of 
goods  are  annually  manufactured. 
There  are  also  other  valuable  manu- 
factures on  Nashua  River  and  the  wa- 
ters of  Salmon  Brook.  In  the  spring 
of  1848,  an  extensive  concern  went 
into  operation  for  making  railroad 
iron. 

The  soil  of  Nashua  has  considerable 
variety.  The  land  in  the  east  part  of 
the  town,  on  Merrimac  River,  is  level 
and  fertile,  as  well  as  some  portion  of 
the  valleys  of  the  Nashua  and  Salmon 
Brook,  but  a  considerable  part  of  the 
town  is  sandy  or  uneven.  It  is  water- 
ed by  Salmon  Brook,  a  small  stream 
flowing  from  Groton,  Mass.,  and  emp- 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


103 


tying  into  the  Merrimac,  and  by  the 
Merrimac  and  Nashua  Kivers. 

This  was  the  earliest  settlement  in 
the  southern  part  of  New  Hampshire. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1673,  and  settled 
before  that  time.  Since  1679  it  has  had 
a  settled  minister.  It  Avas  a  frontier 
settlement  for  fifty  years,  and  as  such 
peculiarly  exposed  to  Indian  attacks. 
In  1675,  during  Philip's  war,  it  was 
abandoned.  In  1691  several  i)ersons 
were  killed  in  towTi  by  the  Indians. 
From  this  time  to  1706,  frequent  at- 
tacks were  made  and  ravages  commit- 
ted, and  in  one  of  which,  the  celebrated 
friendly  Indian,  Joe.  English,  was  kill- 
ed. In  1724,  two  persons  were  cap- 
tured in  Nashville,  and  carried  away. 
A  party  of  eleven  persons  started  in 
pursuit,  but  were  soon  waylaid  by  the 
Indians,  and  ten  of  them  killed.  The 
only  survivor  was  Josiah  Farwell,  Avho 
was  the  next  year  lieutenant  in  Love- 
well's  expedition. 

In  1725,  Capt.  John  Lovewell  of  this 
town,  raised  a  company  of  volunteers, 
and  marched  northward  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy.  In  his  tirst  expedition  they 
killed  one  Indian  and  took  one  prison- 
er ;  in  his  second  excursion  they  killed 
ten  Indians,  but  in  his  third  expedition 
he  fell  into  an  ambuscade  at  Lovewell's 
Pond,  in  Fryeburg,  Me.  Capt.  Love- 
well,  Lieut.  Fanvell,  and  Ensign  Rob- 
bins,  all  of  this  towTi,  were  killed,  as  al- 
so the  chaplain,  Mr.  Frye,  and  twelve 
others,  and  eleven  wounded.  In  this 
conflict  the  noted  chief  Paugus  was 
killed.  The  blow  fell  heavily  upon  the 
feeble  settlement,  but  it  was  a  triumph 
for  New  England.  The  power  of  the 
Indians  was  broken  forever,  and  song 
and  romance  have  embalmed  the  mem- 
ory of  the  heroes  of"  Lovewell's  Fight." 

Dunstable  belonged  to  Massachu- 
setts till  the  division  line  between  the 
two  provinces  of  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire  was  settled  in  1741.  It 
was  incorporated  by  New  Hampshire, 
April  1,  1746,  and  the  name  altered  to 
Nashua,  in  December,  18.36.-See  A;16. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Merrimac,  east 
by  Memmac  River,  south  by  T\Tigs- 
borough  and  Dunstable,  Mass.,  and 
west  by  Hollis. 

First  Settlers.    In  16 SO,  there  were 


thirty  families  in  Dunstable,  the  former 
name  of  this  place.  Edward  Tyng 
came  here  soon  after  its  incorporation. 
The  names  of  Weld,  Blanchard,  Waldo, 
Cummings,  «S:c.  were  among  the  first 
comers. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Thomas  Weld, 
settled  in  1685;  died  in  1702.  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Prentice,  settled  in  1718; 
died  in  1737.  Rev.  Josiah  Swan,  set- 
tled in  1738  ;  dismissed  in  1746.  Rev. 
Samuel  Bird,  settled  in  1747;  dismiss- 
ed in  1751.  Rev.  Joseph  Kidder,  set- 
tled in  1767;  died  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,278  bushels;  potatoes,  15,395  bush- 
els; wool,  1,200  pounds;  hay,  1,116 
tons. 

Distances.  Thirty-four  miles  south 
of  Concord,  and  thirty-nine  north  from 
Boston  by  railroad,  and  about  twelve 
miles  south-east  from  Amherst  by 
stage.  A  railroad  passes  from  this 
place  to  Worcester  and  Providence. 

NASHVILLE. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  town 
was  a  part  of  Nashua,  from  which  it 
was  set  off  and  incorporated  June  23, 
1842. 

The  soil  on  the  rivers  and  other 
streams  is  rich,  but  elsewhere  is  light 
and  sandy. 

In  the  south-east  comer  of  the  town 
is  a  considerable  portion  of  Nashua 
village. — See  Nashua. 

The  part  lying  in  Nashville  contains 
a  number  of  churches,  the  Jackson  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  the  Nashua  and 
Lowell  Railroad  Depot,  a  beautiful 
cemetery,  a  large  number  of  handsome 
dwelling-houses,  and  about  thirty  stores. 

The  cemetery  is  very  beautiful.  It 
lies  in  a  grove  in  the  rear  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Church,  occupying  about  two 
acres,  and  the  lots,  about  200  in  num- 
ber, are  owmed  by  individuals  of  all  the 
religious  societies,  both  in  Nashua  and 
Nashville.  Cost  of  ground,  fences, 
walks,  &c.,  about  $3,000. 

NELSON. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  town  is  situa- 
ted on  the  height  of  land  between  Con- 
necticut and  Merrimac  Rivers.     The 


104 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


surface  is  hilly,  but  good  for  grazing. 
In  the  south  part,  a  branch  of  the  Ash- 
uelot  River  rises  ;  and  from  Long 
Pond,  in  this  town,  and  Hancock,  is- 
sues a  branch  of  Contoocook  River. 
The  best  mill  privileges  are  furnished 
by  streams  issuing  from  ponds  in  this 
town,  of  which  there  are  four,  contain- 
ing a  surface  of  1,800  acres.  The  in- 
habitants are  principally  fanners,  of 
industrious  habits. 

Boundaries.  Stoddard  is  on  the 
north,  Antrim  on  the  east,  Dublin  on 
the  south,  Roxbury  and  SuUivan  on 
the  west. 

First  Settlers.  Breed  Batchelder  and 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Breed,  in  1767. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jacob  Foster, 
installed  in  1781  ;  dismissed  in  1791. 

Productions  oftlie  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,550  bushels;  potatoes,  31,741  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,207  tons;  wool,  12,258  lbs.; 
maple  sugar.  5,227  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  south-west 
from  Concord,  and  eight  north-east 
from  Keene. 

KE^V  BOSTON. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Several  streams 
water  this  to^^-n,  the  largest  of  which 
is  the  south  branch  of  Piscataquog 
River,  having  its  source  in  Pleasant 
Pond,  in  Francesto^-n.  This  tOAvn 
consists  of  fertile  hills,  productive  vales, 
and  some  valuable  meadows.  The  soil 
is  favorable  for  all  the  various  produc- 
tions common  to  this  section  of  the 
State,  and  there  are  many  excellent 
farms,  under  good  cultivation. 

In  the  south  part  of  Kew  Boston 
there  is  a  considerable  elevation,  called 
Jo  English  Hill,  on  one  side  of  which 
it  is  nearly  perpendicular.  Its  height 
is  572  feet.  Beard's  Pond  and  Jo 
English  Pond  are  the  only  ponds  of 
note. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Weare,  east 
by  Goffsto^vn  and  Bedford,  south  by 
Amherst  and  Lyndeborough,  and  west 
by  Lyndeborough. 

"^  First  Settlers.  The  names  of  some 
of  them  were  Cochran,  Wilson,  Cald- 
well, McNeil,  Person,  and  Smith,  1733. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Solomon  Moor, 
ordained  in  1768  ;  died  in  1803. 


Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
10,794  bushels  ;  potatoes,  31,350  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,431  tons  :  avooI,  4,299  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  1,269  lbs.;  wheat,  2,143 
bushels. 

Distances.  Nine  miles  north  north- 
west from  Amherst,  and  seventy-two 
south  by  west  from  Concord. 

NEWBURY. 

Meerimac  Co.  The  south  part  of 
Sunapee  Lake  lies  in  the  north-west 
part  of  this  town.  Todd  Pond,  500 
rods  in  length,  and  sixty  in  width,  af- 
fords a  small  branch  to  Warner  River. 
From  Chalk  Pond  issues  a  small 
stream,  communicating  with  Sunapee 
Lake.  The  land  is  generally  mountain- 
ous, and  the  soil  hard  and  rocky. 

Newbury  Avas  originally  called  Dant- 
zic  ;  in  1778  it  took  the  name  of  Fish- 
erslield;  and  in  1837  it  took  its  present 
name.. 

Boundaries.  North  by  New  London, 
east  by  Sutton,  south  by  Bradford,  and 
west  by  Goshen  and  Wendell. 

First  Settlers.  Zephaniah  Clark,  set- 
tled in  1762. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,455  bushels  ;  potatoes,  25,828  bush- 
els :  hay,  2,260  tons  ;  wool,  7,297  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,191  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  west  by 
north  from  Concord. 

NEW  CASTDE. 

Rockingham  Co.  New  Castle  is  a 
rough  and  rocky  island,  situated  in 
Portsmouth  harbor,  and  formerly  call- 
ed Great  Island.  A  handsome  bridge, 
built  in  1821,  connects  this  tOTvn  with 
!  Portsmouth. 

This  island  was  the  seat  of  busi- 
ness, when  ancient  Strawberry  Bank 
was  the  mere  germ  of  the  town  of 
Portsmouth.  Fishing  is  here  pursued 
with  success ;  and  the  soil  among  the 
rocks,  being  of  good  quality,  is  made 
to  produce  abundantly.  Fort  Consti- 
tution and  the  light-house  stand  on 
this  island.  This  island  may  be  con- 
sidered a  part  of  Portsmouth. 

Hon.  Theodore  Atkinson,  for  a 
number  of  years  chief  justice  of  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


105 


province,  secretary  and  president  of 
the  council,  was  bom  at  New  Castle, 
Dec.  20,  1697,  and  died  Sept.  22,  1789, 
aged  eighty-two  years. 

First  Mniisters.  Kev.  John  Emerson, 
ordained  in  1704;  dismissed  in  1712. 
Rev.  Wm.  Shurtleff,  settled  in  1712: 
dismissed  in  1732.  Rev.  John  Blunt, 
settled  in  1732;  died  in  1748.  Rev. 
David  Robinson,  settled  in  1748;  died 
in  1749.  Rev.  Stephen  Chase,  settled 
in  1750;  died  in  1778.  Rev.  Oliver 
Xoble,  settled  in  1784;  died  in  1792. 

Productions  of  the  i!Soil.  Indian  corn, 
60  bushels ;  potatoes,  5,232  bushels ; 
hay,  176  tons. 

Distances.  An  island  in  Portsmouth 
harbor,  about  tvro  miles  from  Ports- 
mouth. 

NE^V  DURHA3I. 

Strafford  Co.  The  surface  of 
this  town  is  very  uneven,  a  portion  so 
rocky  as  to  be  unfit  for  cultivation. 
The  soil  is  generally  moist,  and  well 
adapted  to  grazing.  There  are  five 
ponds  in  New  Durham,  the  largest  of 
which  is  Merrymeeting  Pond,  about 
ten  miles  in  circumference,  from  which 
a  copious  and  perpetual  stream  runs 
into  Merrj-meeting  Bay,  in  Alton. 
Ela's  River  flows  from  Coldrain  Pond 
into  Farmington,  on  which  is  a  fine 
waterfall.  The  Cocheco  also  has  its 
source  here. 

Mount  Betty,  Cropple-crown,  and 
Straw's  Mountains,  are  the  principal 
eminences.  On  the  north-east  side  of 
the  latter  is  a  remarkable  cave,  the  en- 
trance of  which  is  about  three  feet 
wide  and  ten  feet  high.  The  outer 
room  is  twenty  feet  square  ;  the  inner 
apartments  become  smaller,  until,  at 
the  distance  of  fifty  feet,  they  are  too 
small  to  be  investigated.  The  sides, 
both  of  the  galleries  and  the  rooms,  are 
solid  granite.  They  bear  marks  of 
having  been  once  united,  and  were 
probably  separated  by  some  great  con- 
vujsion  of  nature. 

There  is  a  fountain,  over  which  a 
part  of  Ela's  River  passes,  which  is 
regarded  as  a  curiosity.  By  sinking  a 
small  mouthed  vessel  into  this  foun- 
tain, water  may  be  procured  extremely 


cold  and  pure.  Its  depth  has  not  been 
ascertained. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  town  is  Rat- 
tlesnake Hill,  the  south  side  of  which 
is  almost  100  feet  high,  and  nearly 
perpendicular.  Several  other  hills  in 
this  town  contain  precipices  and  cavi- 
ties, some  of  considerable  extent. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Wolfe- 
borough  and  Alton,  east  by  Brookfield 
and  Middleton,  south-east  by  Farming- 
ton,  south-west  and  west  by  Alton. 

First  Settlers.  New  Durham  was 
granted,  in  1749,  to  Ebenezer  Smith 
and  others. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Por- 
ter, D.  D.,  ordained  in  1773;  removed 
in  1777. — See  Conwaij. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
4,785  bushels  ;  potatoes,  26,320  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,804  tons  ;  wool,  2,226  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,740  pounds. 

Distances.  About  thirty-five  miles 
north-east  from  Concord,  and  thirty- 
two  north-west  by  north  from  Dover. 

XEW  HAMPTON. 

Belkkap  Co.  Pemigewasset  River, 
which  washes  the  west  boundary,  is 
the  only  stream  of  magnitude  in  the 
town ;  and  over  it  is  throwTi  the 
bridge,  which  unites  the  town  with 
Bristol. 

There  is  a  remarkable  spring  on  the 
west  side  of  Kelly's  Hill,  in  this  town, 
from  which  issues  a  stream  sufficient 
to  supply  several  mills.  This  stream 
is  never  affected  by  rains  or  droughts, 
and  falls  into  the  river,  after  running 
about  a  mile.  Pemigewasset  Pond  lies 
on  the  border  of  Meredith.  There  are 
four  other  ponds  in  this  town. 

The  soil  of  New  Hampton,  though 
the  surface  is  broken  and  uneven,  is 
remarkably  fertile,  producing  in  abun- 
dance most  kinds  of  grain  and  grass. 
The  industry  of  the  inhabitants  has 
enabled  them,  in  years  of  scarcity,  to 
supply  the  wants  of  other  to^^'ns.  In 
the  south  part  of  the  town  there  is  a 
high  hill,  of  a  conical  form,  which 
may  be  seen  in  almost  any  direction, 
from  ten  to  fifty  miles  ;  the  prospect 
from  the  summit  of  which  is  very 
pleasant. 


106 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


In  1763,  Gen.  Jonathan  Moulton,  of 
Hampton,  having  an  ox  weighing 
1,400  pounds,  fattened  for  the  purpose, 
hoisted  a  flag  upon  his  horns,  and 
drove  him  to  Portsmouth,  as  a  present 
to  Gov.  Wentworth.  He  refused  to 
receive  any  compensation  for  the  ox, 
but  merely  as  a  token  of  the  governor's 
friendship  and  esteem,  he  would  like 
to  have  a  charter  of  a  small  gore  of 
land  he  had  discovered  adjoining  the 
town  of  Moultonborough,  of  whith  he 
was  one  of  the  principal  ])roprietors. 
It  was  granted,  and  he  called  it  New 
Hampton^  in  honor  of  his  native  town. 
This  small  gore  of  land  contained  19,- 
422  acres,  a  part  of  which  now  consti- 
tutes the  town  of  Centre  Harbor. 

The  Academical  and  Tkeological  In- 
stitution in  this  town  is  finely  located, 
and  in  a  very  prosperous  condition. 
The  average  number  of  male  and  fe- 
male scholars  is  about  400,  This  is 
one  of  the  best  seminaries  of  learning 
in  our  country. 

Boundaries.  West  by  the  Pemige- 
wasset  River,  north  by  Holdeniess, 
east  by  Centre  Harbor,  south  by  Mere- 
dith and  Sanbornton. 

First  Settler.  Samuej  Kelley  settled 
in  1775.  ~    " 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jerem.  Ward, 
ordained  in  1782  ;  died  in  1816.  R^v. 
Salmon  Hibbard,  ordained  in  1800; 
dismissed  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,463  bushels;  potatoes,  41,944  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,306  tons  ;  wool,  6,066  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5.245  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  north  by 
west  from  Concord,  and  about  fifteen 
north-west  from  Gilford.  The  Con- 
cord and  Montreal  Railroad  passes 
through  this  town. 

NE\l^rNGT01V. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  generally  sandy  and  unproduc- 
tive, excepting  near  the  waters,  where 
it  }ields  good  crops  of  grain  and  grass. 
At  Fox  Point,  in  the  north-west  part 
of  the  toAvn,  Piscataqua  Bridge  is 
thrown  over  the  river  to  Goat  Island, 
and  thence  to  Durham  shore.  The 
bridge  was   erected  in  1793,  is  2,600 


feet  long,  and  fortv  wide  ;    cost  $65.- 
401. 

Newington  was  among  the  settle- 
ments early  exposed  to  the  ravages  of 
the  Indians.  In  May,  1690,  a  party 
of  Indians,  under  a  sagamore  of  the 
name  of  Hoophood,  attacked  Fox 
Point,  destroyed  several  houses,  killed 
fourteen  persons,  and  took  six  prison- 
ers. They  ■v\'ere  immediately  pursued 
by  the  inhabitants,  who  recovered  some 
of  tlie  captives  and  a  part  of  the  plun- 
der, after  a  severe  action,  in  wliich 
Hoophood  was  wounded. 

Newington  was  originally  a  part  of 
Portsmouth  and  Dover,  and  was  early 
settled. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  the  Pis- 
cataqua, cast  by  Portsmouth,  south  by 
Greenland  and  Great  Bay,  west  and 
north-west  by  Great  and  Little  Bays. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Joseph  Adams, 
ordained  in  1715  ;  died  in  1783.  Rev. 
Joseph  Langdon,  ordained  in  1788; 
dismissed  in  1810. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,310  bushels  ;- potatoes,  18,275  bush- 
els; hay,  1,148  tons;  wool,  1,424  lbs. 

instances.  Forty-four  miles  east 
south-east  from  Concord,  and  five  west 
from  Portsmouth. 


NEW  IPSWICH. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  toAATi  is 
watered  by  many  rivulets,  but  princi- 
pally by  the  Souhegan  River,  which  is 
formed  by  the  junction  of  two  streams  ; 
the  west  issuing  from  a  small  pond  on 
the  Pasture  Mountain,  so  called  ;  the 
south  from  two  ponds  in  Ashbumham, 
ISIass.,  near  the  base  of  Watatick  Hill. 
Over  this  river,  in  this  town,  is  a  stone 
bridge,  built  in  1817.  It  is  156  feet 
long,  twenty-two  feet  wide,  and  forty- 
two  feet  high,  resting  on  a  single  arch 
of  split  stoine ;  cost  $3,500. 

The  first  cotton  factory  in  the  State 
was  built  in  this  town,  in  1803.  New 
Ipswich  has  become  an  important  man- 
ufacturing town.  Pratt's  and  Hoar's 
Ponds  contain  about  fifty  acres  each. 
Here  is  fine  pasture  land  under  culti- 
vation. 

The  New  Ipswich  Academy  was  in- 
corporated June  IS  1789. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


107 


^  The  principal  village  is  in  the  centre 
of  the  town,  in  a  pleasant  and  fertile 
valley.  Many  of  the  dwelling-houses 
are  of  brick,  and  are  elegant  in  appear- 
ance. 

New  Ipswich  has  produced  many 
men,  who  have  become  eminent  as 
patriots,  merchants,  and  men  of  sci- 
ence. 

Boundaries.  South  by  Massachusetts, 
west  by  Rindge,  north  by  Sharon  and 
Temple,  and  east  by  Mason. 

First  Settlers.  Keuben  Kidder,  Archi 
bald  White,  Joseph  and  Ebenezer  Bul- 
lard,  and  J.  Stevens,  prior  to  1749. 

First  Minister.  Kev.  Ste})hen  Far- 
rar,  ordained  in  1760  ;   died  in  1809. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2,262  bushels;  potatoes,  17,413  bush- 
els; hay,  1,480  tons;  wool,  800  lbs; 
buckwheat,  930  bushels. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  south  south- 
west from  Concord,  and  about  eighteen 
miles  south-west  from  Amherst. 

NEW  liONDON. 

Merrimac  Co.  Lake  Sunapee  sep- 
arates this  town  from  Wendell,  and 
is  the  principal  source  of  Sugar  River. 
There  are  three  considerable  ponds  in 
this  town.  Little  Sunapee  Pond,  one 
and  a  half  miles  in  length,  and  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  in  width,  lies  in  the 
west  part,  and  empties  its  waters  into 
Lake  Sunapee. 

Harvey's  and  Messer's  Ponds,  near 
the  centre  of  the  to-wn,  are  the  princi- 
pal sources  of  Warner  River.  They 
are  about  a  mile  in  length,  and  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  and  are 
separated  by  a  bog,  many  parts  of 
which  rise  and  fall  with  the  water. 
Pleasant  Pond,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  is  nearly  two  miles  long 
and  one  Avide.  The  settlements  of 
New  London  are  formed,  principally, 
on  three  large  swells  of  land.  The 
soil  is  deep  and  good.  In  the  north 
part  are  several  elevations.  In  some 
parts  the  land  is  rocky,  but  there  is 
little  not  capable  of  cultivation.  There 
are  in  this  town  many  excellent  farm- 
ers, who  make  the  business  of  agricul- 
ture profitable. 

The  damage   sustained  by  the   in- 


habitants of  this  town,  by  the  violcDt 
\vhirhvind  of  Sept.  9,  1821,  was  estim- 
ated at  S9,000.  A  large  rock  lying 
out  of  the  ground,  100  feet  long,  fifty 
wide,  and  twenty  high,  was  rent  into 
two  pieces,  and  thrown  about  twenty 
feet  asunder. 

Boundaries.  North  and  east  by  Wil- 
mot,  south  by  Sutton  and  Newbury, 
west  by  Sunapee  Lake,  and  north-west 
by  Springfield. 

First  Settlers.  Nathaniel  Merrill  and 
James  Lamb. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,142  bushels;  potatoes,  26,994  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,095  tons ;  wool,  8,665  lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  west  north- 
west from  Concord. 

NEW^  MARKET. 

Rockingham  Co.  Piscassick  River 
passes  through  this  town  into  Dur- 
ham. The  Lamprey  River  washes  its 
north-east  boundary,  as  does  the  Swam- 
scot  the  south-east.  The  soil  is  good, 
and  agricultural  pursuits  are  here 
crowned  with  much  success.  There 
are  several  pleasant  and  thriving  vil- 
lages, in  wliich  are  lai-ge  and  valuable 
manufactures. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Shute,  who  died  in  this 
town,  September,  1819.  was  respected, 
not  only  for  her  excellent  qualities, 
but  the  adventures  of  her  youth. 
When  thirteen  months  old,  she  was 
taken  by  a  party  of  Indians,  carried 
to  Canada,  and  disposed  of  to  the 
French ;  educated  in  a  nunnery,  and, 
after  remaining  thirteen  years  in  cap- 
tiWty,  was  redeemed  and  restored  to 
her  friends. 

Daniel  Brackett  recently  died  in  this 
town.     He  Aveighed  560  pounds. 

New  Market  was  originally  a  part 
of  Exeter. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lee  and  Dur- 
ham, east  by  Squamscot  River  and 
Great  Bay,  south  by  Exeter,  and  west 
by  Epping. 

First  Settlers. — See  Exeter. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  John  Moody, 
ordained  in  1730  ;  died  in  1778.  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Ewers,  settled  in  1795 ;  died 
in  1832. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.    Indian  com, 


108 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


6,102  bushels;  potatoes,  20,722  bush- 
els; hay,  1,550  tons;  wool,  1,120  lbs. 

Mamifactures.  In  this  towni  are  the 
folloAving  manufactures,  viz  :  —  Three 
cotton  mills,  containing  18,000  spin- 
dles, 520  looms,  manufacture  4,000,000 
yards  Nos.  18  and  30  sheetings  and 
shirtings  per  annum  ;  consume  1 ,500,- 
000  pounds  of  cotton,  employ  450  per- 
sons, value  of  manufactured  goods 
$325,000 ;  two  machine  shops,  for 
manufacturing  of  cotton  machinery, 
steam  engines,  boilers,  &c.,  employ  fifty 
persons ;  two  founderies,  for  castings 
of  iron  and  brass,  make  1,200  tons 
castings  per  annum,  and  employ  fifty 
persons. 

Distances.  Thirty-six  miles  south- 
east from  Concord'  by  stage,  and  by 
railroad  twelve  miles  west  by  south 
from  Portsmouth. 

NEWPORT. 

Sullivan  Co.  This  is  the  shire 
town  of  Sullivan  county.  Its  central 
situation  and  its  water  power,  together 
with  the  enterprising  spirit  of  its  in- 
habitants, has  rendered  Newport  a 
place  of  considerable  business. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  toAvn,  and 
the  confluence  of  the  east  and  south 
branches  of  Sugar  River  and  the  Croy- 
don Turnpike,  is  a  handsome  village. 
In  general  the  soil  is  rich  and  pro- 
ductive. Sugar  River  flows  through 
this  town,  and  its  three  branches  unite 
near  the  village,  whence  it  passes 
through  Claremont  into  the  Connec- 
ticut. 

There  are  a  few  eminences  in  New- 
port, designated  as  Bald,  Coit,  and 
East  Mountains,  and  Blueberry  Hill. 
This  town  is  noted  for  its  good  schools, 
and  its  various  charitable  societies. 

Boundaries.  Croydon  Is  on  the  north, 
"Wendell  on  the  east,  Goshen  and  Unity 
south,  and  Claremont  on  the  west. 

First  Settlers.  The  first  efl'ort  towards 
a  settlement  was  made  in  the  fall  of 
1763,  by  Jesse  Wilcox,  Ebenezer  Mor- 
rit,  Jesse  Kelsey,  and  Samuel  Hurd. 
The  first  settlers  were  principally  from 
Killingworth,  Conn. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  John  Reme- 
lee,  ordained  in   1783 ;   dismissed  in 


1791.  Rev.  Abijiih  "Wines,  settled  in 
1795;  dismissed  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,673  bushels;  potatoes,  26,086  bush- 
els; hay,  2,637  tons;  wool,  8,306  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  9,658  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  west  by  north 
from  Concord,  about  thirty-five  north 
from  Keene,  and  fourteen  east  south- 
east from  Windsor,  Yt. 

NEWTOA\  N. 

Rockingham  Co.  Country  Pond 
lies  in  Newtown  and  Kingston,  and  two 
other  small  ponds  connect  by  outlets 
with  its  waters.  The  soil  produces 
good  crops  of  grain  or  grass,  and  is 
well  tilled  by  skilful  husbandmen. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Kingston,  east 
by  South  Hampton,  south  by  Massa- 
chusetts, and  west  by  Plaistow. 

First  Settler.  Joseph  Bartlett,  in  1 720. 

Fii-st  Minister.  Rev.  John  Eames, 
settled  in  1759;  removed  in  1791. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,537  bushels  ;  potatoes,  9,860  bushels ; 
hay,  753  tons;  wool,  991  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord  by  stage,  and  twenty- 
seven  south-west  from  Portsmouth  by 
the  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad. 

NORTHFIELD. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  soil  of  this 
to^\'n  is  in  some  parts  good — that  of  the 
best  quality  lies  on  the  two  ridges  ex- 
tending through  the  town.  Chesnut 
Pond  lies  in  the  east  part  of  the  town, 
and  its  waters  flow  into  the  AVinnipise- 
ogee  three  miles  from  its  junction  with 
the  PcmigCAvasset.  Sondogardy  Pond 
flows  into  the  ]\Ierrimac.  Near  Web- 
ster's Falls,  the  "Winnipiseogee  falls  in- 
to the  Pcmigcwasset,  and  the  united 
streams  form  the  ^Merrimac  River. 

The  principal  elevation,  called  Bean 
Hill,  separates  the  town  from  Canter- 
bury. Northfield  fonnerly  possessed 
valuable  water  privileges  on  the  Win- 
nipiseogee  River,  but  this  portion  of 
its  territory  is  embraced  by  the  new 
town  of  Franklin. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Winnipiseo- 
gce  River,  which  divides  it  from  San- 
bornton,  east  by  Gilmanton,  south  by 


GAZETTEER    OP    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


109 


Canterbury,  and  west  by  the  Merriniac 
River. 

First  Settlers.  Benjamin  Blanchard 
and  others,  in  1760. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Liba  Conant, 
settled  in  1823. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
6.518  bushels;  potatoes,  25,635  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,363  tons ;  wool,  8,095  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  945  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixteen  miles  north  from 
Concord. 

NORTHAMPTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  town,  for- 
merly constituting  the  ])arish  called 
North  Hill,  in  Hampton,  lies  on  the  sea 
coast. 

Little  River  rises  in  the  low  grounds 
in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  after 
running  south-east  one  or  two  miles, 
takes  an  east  course,  falling  into  the 
sea  between  Little  Boar's  Head,  in  this 
town,  and  Great  Boar's  Head,  in  Hamp- 
ton. Winnicut  River  rises  near  the 
centre  of  the  town,  and  passes  north- 
west into  Great  Bay. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Greenland, 
east  by  Rye  and  the  sea,  south  by 
Hampton,  and  west  by  Stratham. 

First  Settlers.     See  Hampton. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Goo- 
kin,  ordained  in  1731;  died  in  1766. 
Rev.  Joseph  Hastings,  ordained  in  1 767; 
removed  in  1774.  Rev.  David  Mc- 
Clure,  D.  D.,  settled  in  1776;  dismiss- 
ed in  1784.  Rev.  Benjamin  Thurston, 
settled  in  1785;  dismissed  in  1800. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,032  bushels;  potatoes,  39,750  bush- 
els; hay,  1,522  tons;  wool,  2,101  lbs. 

Distances.  Forty-seven  miles  south- 
east by  east  from  Concord  by  stage, 
and  nine  miles  south  by  west  from 
Portsmouth  by  the  Eastern  Railroad. 

NORTHUMBERLAND. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  lies  on  the 
east  bank  of  Connecticut  River.  The 
soil  along  the  Connecticut  is  very  pro- 
ductive, perfectly  free  from  stone  and 
gravel,  and  originally  covered  with  a 
growth  of  butternut.  A  portion  of  the 
upland  is  also  good,  and  covered  with 
pine,  spruce,  fir,  ash,  maple,  &c. 

Cape  Horn,  an  abrupt  mountain  of 
10 


1,000  feet  in  height,  lies  near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  town.  Its  north  base  is  sep- 
arated from  the  Connecticut  l)y  a  nar- 
row plain,  and  the  upper  Amonoosuck 
passes  near  its  east  l)asc,  as  it  falls  into 
the  Connecticut.  Here  the  meadows 
are  extensive,  and  are  annually  covered 
by  the  spring  floods,  presenting  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  inland  sea. 

At  the  falls  in  the  Connecticut,  be- 
low the  mouth  of  the  Amonoosuck,  a 
handsome  bridge  connects  Northum- 
berland with  Guildhall,  in  Vermont. 
A  dam  is  also  thrown  across  the  river 
at  this  place,  at  both  ends  of  which  are 
pleasant  villages,  and  mills  of  various 
kinds  are  erected. 

Near  the  river  a  small  fort  was 
erected  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  placed  in  the  command  of  Capt. 
Jeremiah  Eames,  afterwards  well 
known  for  his  usefulness,  wit,  and 
pleasantry. 

The  scenery  of  Northumberland  is 
very  wild  and  beautiful,  and  the  peo- 
ple industrious,  prosperous  and  happy. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Stratford, 
south  by  Stark,  south-west  by  Lancas- 
ter, and  west  by  Guildhall  and  Maid- 
stone. 

First  Settlers.  Thomas  Bumside  and 
Daniel  Spaulding,  with  their  families, 
settled  in  1767. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,617  bushels;  potatoes,  21,600  bush- 
els; hay,  1,241  tons;  wool,  3,114  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  12,560  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  north  from  Concord,  and  seven 
north-east  from  Lancaster. 

NORTHWOOD. 

Rockingham  Co.  There  are  a 
number  of  ponds  in  this  town,  and  ex- 
cellent fishing.  Suncook  Pond,  750 
rods  long,  100  wide;  Jenness'  Pond, 
300  rods  long,  150  wide;  Long  Pond, 
about  300  rods  long,  50  Avide ;  Harvey's 
Pond,  200  rods  long,  from  40  to  80 
wide ;  a  part  of  Great  Bow  Pond  is  al- 
so in  this  towTi,  and  a  part  of  North 
River  Pond ;  Pleasant  Pond,  and  Lit- 
tle Bow  Pond. 

The  north  branch  of  Lamprey  River 
has  its  rise  in  this  town  near  Saddle- 
back Mountain,  a  high  ridge  between 


110 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


this  to-mi  and  Deerfield.  On  the  east 
side  of  this  ridge  are  found  crystals  and 
crystalline  spars  of  various  colors  and 
sizes.  This  town  has  an  elevated  site, 
and  commands  a  distant  and  varied 
prospect.  The  waters  flowing  from  the 
farm  of  the  late  Jonathan  Clarke,  Esq., 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  fall  into  three 
different  rivers,  the  Suncook,  Lamprey, 
and  Isinglass. 

The  soil  of  this  to^vn  is  generally 
moist,  and  well  suited  to  grazing. 
Northwood  was  originally  a  part  of 
K^ottingham. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Strafford, 
south-east  by  Nottingham,  south  and 
south-west  by  Deerfield,  and  north- 
west by  Epsom  and  Pittsfield. 

First  Settlers.  Moses  Godfrey,  John 
Batchelder,  Increase  Batchelder,  from 
Northampton,  in  1763. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Edmund  Pills- 
bury,  ordained  in  1779:  left  in  1797. 
Rev.  Josiah  Prentice,  ordained  in  1 799  ; 
left  in  1805. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,-536  bushels;  potatoes,  26,842  bush- 
els: hay,  2,144  tons;  wool,  3,403  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  east  from 
Concord,  twenty  north-west  from  Exe- 
ter, and  about  the  same  distance  west 
from  Dover. 

NOTTINGHAM. 

Rockingham  Co.  There  are  seve- 
ral ponds  in  this  town,  mostly  of  small 
size.  Little  River  and  several  other 
streams  rise  here;  and  North  River 
passes  through  the  toA\-n.  The  soil  is 
in  many  parts  good,  though  the  surface 
is  rough  and  broken.  Several  moun- 
tains extend  along  the  western  part  of 
the  town,  forming  parts  of  the  range 
called  Blue  Hills. 

Nottingham  Square  is  a  pleasant  vil- 
lage on  an  eleva'ted  site. 

Bog  iron  ore  is  found  here  in  great 
quantities ;  and  it  is  said  inexhaustible 
masses  of  moimtain  ore  exist  in  the 
mountains.  Crj-stals  and  crystalline 
spars  are  found  here ;  and  also  ochres 
in  small  quantities. 

Gen.  Joseph  Cillet,  of  this  town, 
entered  the  army  of  the  Revolution  at 
its  commencement  and  commanded  the 


first  New  Hampshire  regiment.  He 
was  distinguished  for  bravery  and  pa- 
triotism during  the  wliolc  contest. 

Hon.  Thomas  Bartlett,  also  of 
this  toA^Ti,  was  an  active  revolutionary 
patriot,  one  of  the  committee  of  safety ; 
Lt.  Col.  under  Stark  at  the  capture  of 
Burgoyne,  and  commanded  a  regiment 
at  West  Point  in  1 780,  when  the  treach- 
ery of  Arnold  betrayed  that  post. 

Gen.  Hexry  Butlek,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  this  town,  an  officer  in  the  army 
of  the  Revolution,  and  Major  General 
of  militia.  Descendants  of  these  revo- 
lutionan'  worthies  now  live  in  the  town. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Baning- 
ton,  south-east  by  Lee  and  part  of  Ep- 
ping,  south  by  Epping  and  Raymond, 
and  west  by  Deerfield  and  Northwood. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Joseph  Cilley 
and  others,  in  1727. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Stephen  Emery, 
ordained  in  1742:  dismissed  in  1749. 
Rev.  Benjamin  Butler,  settled  in  1758 ; 
left  in  1770. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,824  bushels  ;'  potatoes,  25,360  bush- 
els :  hay,  2,215  tons:  wool,  3,464  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty-five  miles  east 
south-east  from  Concord,  and  twenty 
west  from  Portsmouth. 

ORANGE. 

Graftox  Co.  In  this  town  are 
found  many  mineral  substances,  such 
a,s  lead  ore,  iron  ore,  &c.  There  is  in 
the  south-cast  part  a  small  pond,  in 
which  is  found  a  species  of  paint  re- 
sembling spruce  yellow.  Chalk,  inter- 
mixed with  magnesia,  is  said  to  be 
procured  from  the  same  pond.  In 
1810,  a  valuable  species  of  ochre  was 
discovered.  It  is  found  in  great  abun- 
dance, deposited  in  veins,  and  of  a 
quality  superior  to  the  imported. 

The  surface  of  Orange  is  uneven, 
but  the  soil  in  many  parts  of  it  is  pro- 
ductive. Cardigan  Mountain  lies  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Jackson  says :  "  In  Orange,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  turnpike  and  near 
the  summit  of  the  elevated  land,  which 
divides  the  waters  flowing  into  the  Con- 
necticut from  those  which  flow  into  the 
Merrimac,  a  series  of  deep  pot  holes 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Ill 


occur  in  the  solid  granite  rocks,  one  of 
which,  from  its  great  depth  and  per- 
fect regularity,  is  called  the  well.  It  is 
four  and  one  quarter  feet  in  diameter 
at  the  top  and  two  feet  at  the  bottom. 
One  side  has  been  broken  away,  so 
that  a  concave  portion  of  a  semi-cylin- 
der is  seen.  From  the  top  on  that  side 
to  the  bottom  of  the  well  the  perpen- 
dicular depth  is  eleven  feet,  and  on  the 
opposite  side,  where  the  surface  is  level 
with  the  road,  the  depth  is  eight  feet. 
The  abraded  surface  or  interior  of  this 
ancient  pot-hole,  is  polished  smooth, 
having  the  same  appearance  as  is  ob- 
served in  those  of  more  recent  origin 
at  Bellows  Falls.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  neighl)oring  village  had  cleared  tlie 
rocks,  soil  and  water  from  this  well  for 
the  sake  of  inspecting  it,  so  that  a  good 
opportunity  was  oft'cred  for  a  full  ex- 
amination of  its  surface  and  depth.  I 
was  informed  that  the  stones  which 
were  found  in  it  were  rounded  and  pol- 
ished, reseml)ling  those  usually  found 
in  the  pot-holes  at  Bellows  Falls. 

"  On  exploring  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity, Ave  found  a  great  number  of 
more  shallow  holes  of  a  similar  nature, 
and  on  the  surface  of  the  rocks,  where 
they  had  been  recently  uncovered,  nu- 
merous drift  scratches  were  observed." 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Groton, 
east  by  Alexandria,  south-west  by 
Grafton,  and  west  by  Canaan. 

First  Settlers.  Silas  Harris,  Benja- 
min Shaw,  David  Fames.  Col.  Elisha 
Bavne,  and  Capt.  Joseph  Kenny,  1773. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,033  bushels;  potatoes,  13,840  bush- 
els; hay,  1,136  tons:  wool,  2,503  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  3.479  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixteen  miles  east  from 
Dartmouth  College,  ten  south-west 
from  Pl}Tnouth,  and  forty  north-west 
from-Concord. 

ORPOIiD. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  lies  on 
Connecticut  River,  over  which  is  a 
bridge,  connecting  with  Fairlee.  The 
soil  is  generally  of  a  fertile  character. 
The  large  intervale  farms,  watered  by 
the  Connecticut,  are  particularly  dis- 
tinguished for  their  beauty  and  fertility. 


Here  are  two  considerable  elevations, 
called  Mount  Cuba  and  Mount  Sun- 
day, lying  near  the  centre  of  the  town. 
There  are  four  or  live  ponds  of  con- 
sideral)le  size,  one  of  which,  called  Ba- 
ker's Upper  Pond,  lies  witbin  three  or 
four  miles  of  Connecticut  Kiver.  This 
pond  discharges  its  waters  into  another 
pond,  lying  partly  in  Wentworth,  and 
the  waters  of  both  empty  into  Baker's 
River.  Indian  Pond  lies  about  one 
'  mile  west  from  Baker's  Upper  Pond. 
I  Limestone  is  found  in  great  aliun- 
■  dance.  It  is  of  the  primitive  kind, 
coarse  grained,  and  forms  a  strong  and 
,  hard  cement.  It  is  found  at  the  foot 
I  of  a  mountain,  about  400  or  500  feet 
!  above  Connecticut  River.  Soap  stone 
j  is  also  found  here  in  great  abundance. 
A  light  grey  granite  rock,  much  used 
for  mill  stones  and  for  building,  is 
found  in  various  places.  Galena,  or 
lead  ore,  of  a  very  fine  texture,  con- 
!  taining  needles  of  crystallized  quartz, 
or  lead,  has  been  found,  in  considera- 
ble quantities  in  sinking  a  well. 

Orford  contains  a  pleasant  village, 
situated  on   the   main   road.      "  It   is 
built  on  a  beautiful  plain  bordered  by 
intervale  on  the  west.     The  hills  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  near  the  centre 
of  the  expansion,  approach  each  other 
so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  neck ;  and  with 
a  similar  approximation   at   the   two 
ends  give  the  whole  the  appearance  of 
a  double  amphitheatre,  or  of  the  nu- 
merical figm-e  8.     The  greatest  breadth 
of  each  division  is  about  one  and  a 
I  half  miles  ;  and  the  length  of  each  be- 
tween  two   and   three   miles."       The 
buildings  stand  principally  on  a  single 
I  street,  of  two  or  three  miles  in  extent. 
j  Excellent   limestone    abounds   in   this 
I  town,  and  also  many  beautiful  speci- 
'  mens  of  minerals  have  been  found  here. 
Boundaries.       North    by   Piermont, 
east  by  "Wentworth,  south  by  L\Tne, 
and  west  by  Fairlee,  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  Mr.  Cross,  in  the  vear 
1765. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Oliver  Noble, 
ordained  in  1771;  dismissc<l  in  1777. 
Rev.  John  Sawyer,  settled  in  1787; 
left  in  1795.  Rev.  Svhester  Dana, 
settled  in  1801 ;  left  in  1822. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.     Indian  corn, 


112 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


8,569  bushels:  potatoes,  62.117  bush- 
els j  hay,  4,481  tons  ;  wool,  9,585  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  8.530  pounds. 

Distances.  About  twelve  miles  south 
of  Haverhill,  and  sixty-two  north-west 
from  Concord. 

OSSIPEE. 

Carroll  Co.  Ossipee,  the  shire 
town  of  the  county,  is  about  sixteen 
miles  in  length  and  seven  in  breadth. 
The  west  and  south-west  parts  of  the 
tovm  are  hilly  and  mountainous,  pre- 
senting a  beautiful  contrast  Avith  the 
north  and  east  parts  of  the  town,  which 
are  moderately  uneven  or  level. 

Along  the  east  side  of  the  town  lies 
the  direct  road  from  Dover  to  Conway 
and  the  White  Mountains,  which  is 
one  of  the  easiest  and  most  pleasant 
stage-routes  in  New  England  ;  present- 
ing every  variety  of  scenery, — moun- 
tains, hills,  valleys,  meadows,  and  many 
beautiful  sheets  of  water, — among  the 
most  interesting  of  which  is  Ossipee 
Lake,  about  eight  miles  long  and  seven 
wide  ;  and  not  less  remarkable  on 
account  of  its  entire  destitution  of  is- 
lands, and  the  bright  silvery  belt  that 
surrounds  it.  than  the  Winnipiseogee, 
so  famous  for  its  numerous  islands. 
Ossipee  Lake  is  generally  shallow,  and 
has  many  small  bays  and  inlets,  and 
numerous  kinds  of  hsh.  In  the  south 
part  is  a  large  bed  of  iron  ore,  which 
extends  some  distance  inland,  and  re- 
quires only  capital  and  enteqirise  to 
make  it  of  great  utility. 

In  July  and  August,  all  along  the 
shores  of  this  lake,  the  ground  is  blue 
with  berries,  and  becomes  the  resort  of 
numerous  flocks  of  pigeons,  and  other 
birds,  which  altogether  make  Ossipee 
Lake  a  most  inviting  spot  for  those 
fond  of  sport,  or  seeking  recreation. 
And  then  again,  the  prospect  afl'orded 
and  associations  connected,  add  to  the 
charms  that  nature  has  so  lavishingly 
bestowed  upon  the  place. 

At  the  distance  of  about  three  miles 
to  the  south-east  is  Green  Mountain, 
in  the  crevices  of  whose  rocks  ice  is  to 
be  found  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
And  in  the  distance,  at  the  north,  the 
White  Mountains   show  their   snowy 


summits  ;  and  a  little  further  to  the 
west  Choconia  Peak  is  distinctly  seen, 
down  the  precipitous  sidp  of  which  an 
Indian  is  said  to  have  leaped,  after 
having  prayed  to  the  "  Great  Spirit" 
that  the  white  man  might  never  be 
able  to  raise  cattle  in  its  vicinity. 
Upon  the  top  of  this  mountain,  though 
so  high  and  bleak  that  neither  trees 
nor  shrubs  can  grow,  there  is  water, 
and  a  cranbeiTy  bed.  And  very  near 
between  the  main  road  and  the  lake, 
in  a  level  field,  is  a  large  mound,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  place  where  the  In- 
dians buried  their  dead,  after  an  en- 
counter with  Capt.  Loveil ;  and  a  few 
rods  to  the  north  of  this,  is  a  river  that 
bears  his  name.  This  is  also  supposed 
to  be  the  place  where  the  good  young 
Frye  died  so  nobly. 

Near  the  foot  of  Ossipee  Mountain 
is  a  beautiful  little  cascade,  which  at- 
tracts numerous  visitors  to  the  moun- 
tain. Also  a  spring,  slightly  impreg- 
nated with  sulphuric  acid  gas,  which 
has  attained  some  celebrity  among  the 
inhabitants,  as  a  remedy  for  cutaneous 
diseases. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Tamworth, 
east  and  north-cast  by  Effingham, south- 
ea,st  by  Wakefield,  south-west  and  west 
by  Wolfeborough,  Tuftonborough,  and 
Moultonborough. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Samuel  Arnold, 
settled  in  1829  ;  dismissed  in  1831. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
8,106  bushels;  potatoes,  44.745  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,868  tons ;  wool,  4,023  lbs. 

Distances.  Sixty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  about  forty-five  miles 
north  from  Dover,  and  fifteen  north- 
east from  Gilford,  across  Winnipiseo- 
gee Lake. 

PEIiHAM. 

Hillsborough  Co.  There  are  in 
Pclham  three  ponds,  called  Gumpas, 
Island,  and  North  Ponds.  Beaver 
River  passes  through  the  town.  On 
this  river  and  the  tributary  streams 
there  is  much  valuable  meadow.  The 
inhalntants  depend  principally  on  agri- 
culture for  the  means  of  support.  Con- 
siderable timber  and  cord  wood  was 
formerly  carried  annually  to  the  banks 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


113 


of  the  Merrimac.  and  thence  conveyed 
to  New>)ur\i)ort.  or  to  Boston  through 
the  Middlesex  Canal. 

This  is  a  very  pretty  to^\^l,  and  con- 
tains many  excellent  farms. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Windham  and 
Salem,  east,  south-east,  and  south,  by 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  west 
by  Hudson. 

First  Settlers.  John  Butler,  William 
Richardson,  and  others,  in  1792. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  Hobbs, 
ordained  in  1751  :  died  in  176.5.  Rev. 
Ames  Moody,  ordained  in  1765;  dis- 
missed in  1792.  Rev.  J.  H.  Church, 
D.D.,  settled  in  1798. 

Productions  of  t/ie  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,155  bushels  :  potatoes,  17,900  bush- 
els ;  wool.  1,635  pounds;  buckwheat, 
774  bushels. 

Distances.  Thirty-seven  miles  south 
from  Concord,  and  nineteen  south-east 
from  Amherst, 

PEMBROKE. 

Merrimac  Co.  This  town  is  gene- 
rally well  watered.  The  Suncook, 
on  the  south-east  boundary,  furnishes 
many  valuable  water  privileges.  The 
main  street  extends  nearly  on  a  paral- 
lel with  the  Merrimac  River,  in  a 
straight  course,  about  three  miles,  and 
is  very  pleasant.  On  this  are  situated 
the  Academy,  and  the  principal  vil- 
lage. 

Pembroke  has  a  variety  of  soils, 
mostly  very  productive.  On  the  rivers 
are  small  but  valuable  tracts  of  inter- 
vale, and  from  these  the  land  rises  in 
extensive  and  beautiful  swells,  yielding 
in  abundance  when  properly  cultivated. 
Pembroke  is  the  ancient  Suncook  of  the 
Indians. 

Boundaries.  West  by  Meirimac 
River,  north-west  by  Soucook  River, 
which  separates  it  from  Concord,  north- 
east and  east  by  Chichester  and  Ep- 
som, and  south-east  by  Suncook  River, 
dividing  the  town  from  AUenstown. 
^  Firsf Settlers.  This  town  was  grant- 
ed to  the  brave  Capt.  John  Lovewell, 
and  sixt)'^  of  his  associates,  and  was 
settled  by  some  of  them  in  1729. 

First  'Ministers.  Rev.  Aaron  AVTiit- 
temore,   ordained    in    1737  ;    died    in 

10* 


I  1767.  Rev.  Jacob  Emerv,  settled  in 
1768;  left  in  1775.  Rev.  Zacheus 
Colbv,  settled  in  1786:  dismissed  in 
1803' 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7,724  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  25,320  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,130  tons  ;  wool,  2,857  lbs. 

Distances.  Six  miles  south-east  from 
Concord. 

PETERBOROUGH. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Peterborough 
lies  in  a  north-east  direction  from  the 
Grand  Monadnock,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  east  by  a  chain  of  hills,  called  Pack 
Monadnock.  Contoocook  River  runs 
in  a  north-east  and  north  direction, 
through  the  centre  of  the  town,  afford- 
ing several  good  privileges  for  mills 
and  factories.  The  north  branch,  from 
Dublin,  originating  partly  from  waters 
near  the  Monadnock,  and  partly  from 
Long,  or  Hunt's  Pond,  Iving  in  Nelson 
and  Hancock,  affords  a  never-failing 
supply  of  water,  and  furnishes  those 
noble  falls,  on  which  are  situated  seve- 
ral factories.  There  are  extensive  and 
valuable  meadows  on  this  branch,  above 
these  falls ;  and  the  soil  generally, 
throughout  the  town,  is  excellent. 

In  the  centre  of  the  iovra.  is  a 
high  hill,  formerly  the  site  of  a  meet- 
ing-house, at  an  elevation  of  200  feet 
above  the  river.  The  chain  of  hills  on 
the  east  is  distinguished  by  two  prin- 
cipal summits.  BetAveen  these  sum- 
mits is  a  depression,  of  a  quarter  part 
of  the  mountain's  height.  About  sixty 
rods  west  of  the  ridge,  or  summit,  of 
this  depression,  on  an  emhenchment  of 
the  mountain,  is  a  pond  of  about  nine 
acres  extent,  very  deep,  and  replenish- 
j  ed  with  fish,  at  an  elevation  of  200 
'  feet  above  the  site  of  the  meeting- 
house. There  is  another  pond  near 
the  foot  of  the  southern  summit,  of 
thirty-three  acres ;  from  which,  during 
the  diy  season,  there  is  no  visible  out- 
let. There  are  rocks  in  several  places, 
which  afford  indications  of  sulphur, 
and  crumble  on  exposure  to  the  sun 
and  air.  Iron  ore,  of  an  excellent 
quality,  has  been  discovered,  but  as  yet 
in  small  quantities. 

The  first  settlers,  wholly  unused  to 


114 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


clearing  and  cultivating  wild  lands, 
endured  great  hardships.  Tlieir  near- 
est gristmill  was  at  Townsend,  twenty- 
five  miles  distant — their  road  a  line  of 
marked  trees.  The  first  male  child 
born  here  was  John  Richie ;  he  was 
born  Feb.  22,  1751,  and  died  in  the 
service  of  his  country  at  Cambridge, 
in  1776. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Hancock  and 
Greenfield,  east  by  Temple,  south  by 
Sharon,  west  by  JafFrey  and  Dublin. 

First  Settlers.  William  llobbe,  Alex- 
ander Scott,  Hugh  Gregg,  Wm.  Scott, 
and  Samuel  Stinson,  about  1793. 

First  Ministers.  Eev.  John  Morrison, 
ordained  in  1766;  resigned  in  1775. 
Rev.  David  Annan,  settled  in  1778; 
left  in  1792.  Rev.  Elijah  Dunbar,  or- 
dained in  1799;  dismissed  in  1827. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,588  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  34,291  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,390  tons  ;  wool,  5,150  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  4,149  pounds. 

Distances.  This  town  lies  mid-way 
between  Amherst  and  Keene,  being 
twenty  miles  from  each.  It  is  forty 
miles  south-west  from  Concord. 


PIERMONT. 

Grafton  Co.  The  soil  of  this  town, 
especially  on  the  Connecticut,  is  good. 
The  meadows,  or  intervales,  are  exten- 
sive, and  in  some  instances  highly  cul- 
tivated. The  meadows  are  composed 
of  sandy  loam,  in  some  places  inclined 
to  marie,  and  are  favorable  to  the 
growth  of  wheat,  corn,  and  every  kind 
of  grain.  Back  from  the  river  the 
town  is  made  up  of  swells  of  fine  graz- 
ing and  mowing  land,  well  watered 
with  brooks  and  springs. 

In  the  north-east  part  of  the  town 
are  three  considerable  ponds,  called 
Eastman's  Ponds.  From  these  ponds 
issues  Eastman's  Brook,  which,  passing 
in  a  south-east  direction,  falls  into 
Connecticut  River,  forming  a  number 
of  excellent  mill  sites.  Indian  Brook, 
on  which  mills  are  erected,  is  in  the 
south  part  of  this  town. 

Here  is  found  a  mine  qf  valuable 
iron  ore. 

Boundaries.      North   by  Haverhill 


east  by  "Warren,  south  by  Oxford,  and 
west  by  Bradford,  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  This  town  was  grant- 
ed, in  1764,  to  John  Temple  and  fifty- 
nine  others,  and  was  first  settled  in 
1770. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  John  Richards, 
settled  in  1776  ;  left  in  1802, 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,403  bushels;  potatoes,  32,715  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,428  tons  ;  avooI,  14,198  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  7,660  pounds. 

Distances.  Seventy-five  miles  north 
north-west  from  Concord,  and  about 
ten  miles  south  from  HaverhiU. 

PITTSBURG. 

Coos  Co.  Previous  to  the  date  of 
the  incorporation  of  this  town,  Dec. 
10,  1840,  it  was  called  Indian  Stream 
Temtory. 

This  town  lies  on  the  borders  of 
Canada.  Lake  Connecticut,  and  seve- 
ral considerable  ponds,  are  within  its 
borders.  This  tract  contains  160,360 
acres,  principally  of  unsubdued  land. 

Distances.  This  town  lies  about  on© 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of  Con- 
cord, and  about  forty  miles  north-east 
from  Lancaster. 


PITTSFIELD. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  surface  of 
Pittsfield  is  pleasantly  varied,  with 
a  good  soil.  Suncook  River  passes 
through  the  tOAvn.  aff'ording  good  mill 
pri\dleges.  Catamount  INIountain  ex- 
tends across  the  south-east  part  of  the 
town,  from  the  summit  of  which  de- 
lightful views  are  obtained.  There  are 
a  number  of  ponds  in  the  town ;  west 
of  which  the  magnetic  needle  varies 
materially.  Berry's  Pond  is  on  the 
mountain.  It  is  half  a  mile  in  length, 
and  is  supplied  by  mountain  springs. 

There  is  a  neat  and  flourishing  ^-il- 
lage  in  Pittsfield,  which  possesses  a 
fine  water  power. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Bam- 
stead,  south-east  by  Strafford  and 
Northwood,  south-west  by  Chichester 
and  Epsom,  and  north-west  by  Lou- 
don. 

First  Settlers.  John  Cram  and  others. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


115 


First  Ministers.  Rev.  Christopher 
Page,  settled  in  1789;  dismissed  in 
1793.  Rev.  Ezra  Scovel,  settled  in 
1827;  dismissed  in  1829. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,641  bushels;  potatoes,  31,651  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,392  tons ;  wool,  3,420  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  1.702  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  north-east 
from  Concord. 

PIiAl]VFIEIi». 

SuLLiVAV  Co.  In  this  tovm  there 
is  considerable  valuable  intervale ;  on 
Connecticut  River,  and  in  other  parts 
of  tho  town,  are  excellent  meadows. 
Here  are  two  ponds  At  the  south- 
west part  of  this  town,  in  Connecticut 
River,  is  Hart's  Island,  which  contains 
nineteen  acres.  Waterqucechy  Falls 
are  in  this  town.  A  bridge  was  erected 
here  in  1807.  A  small  stream,  flowing 
from  Croydon  Mountains,  waters  the 
town.  Plainfield  has  a  pleasant  village, 
situated  on  a  handsome  plain,  through 
the  centre  of  which  the  street  passes 
north  and  south. 

On  a  pleasant  eminence  in  Meriden 
Parish  is  located  "  The  Union  Acade- 
my," incorporated  June  16,  1813.  It 
is  endowed  with  a  permanent  fund  of 
$40,000.  the  liberal  bequest  of  the  late 
Hon.  Daniel  Kimball,  the  interest 
of  which,  as  directed  by  his  last  will, 
is  to  be  applied  as  follows,  viz. : — $150 
annually  to  the  support  of  a  Calvinis- 
tic  preacher,  and  the  remainder  for  the 
instruction  of  pious  young  men  for  the 
ministry.  The  seminary  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lebanon,  east 
by  Grantham,  south  by  Cornish,  and 
west  by  Hartland,  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  L.  Nash  and  J.  Rus- 
sell, settled  in  1764. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Abraliam  Car- 
penter, settled  in  1765;  dismissed  in 
1799.  Rev.  Micah  Porter,  settled  in 
1804;  dismissed  in  1824. 

Productions  oft/ie  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,467  bushels  ;  potatoes,  35,408  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,654  tons  ;  wool,  18,606  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5.307  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  south  from 
Dartmouth  College,  sixty  miles  north- 


west from  Concord,  and  about  fifteen 
miles  north-west  from  Newport. 

PL.AISTOW. 

Rockingham  Co.  Plaistow  was 
originally  a  part  of  Haverhill,  Mass., 
and  included  in  the  purchase  of  the 
Indians  in  1 642.  After  it  became  an- 
nexed to  New  Hampshire,  a  charter 
was  granted  in  1749.  The  soil  of  this 
town  is  good,  being  a  mixture  of  black 
loam,  clay,  and  gravel, 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Hamp- 
stead,  north-east  by  Kingstown  and 
Newtown,  south-east  and  south-west 
liy  Haverhill,  Mass.,  and  west  by  At- 
kinson. 

First  Settlers.  Capt.  Charles  Bart- 
lett,  Nicholas  White,  Esq.,  Dea.  Ben- 
jamin Kimball,  and  J.  Harriman. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  Cush- 
ing,  settled  in  1730;  died  in  1764. 
Rev.  Gyles  Merrill,  ordained  in  1765  j 
died  in*1801. 

productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,793  bushels  ;'  potatoes,  7,256  bush- 
els ;  hay,  703  tons  ;  wool,  724  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord  by  stage,  and  twelve 
miles  south  from  Exeter  by  the  Boston 
and  Maine  Railroad. 

PliYMOUTH. 

Grafton  Co.  Plymouth  is  one  of 
the  shire  towns  of  the  county.  Be- 
sides numerous  smaller  streams,  there 
are  two  rivers  in  the  toAvn,  Pemige- 
wasset  and  Bakers,  both  of  which  are 
of  considerable  importance.  They  take 
their  rise  in  the  height  of  land  between 
the  Connecticut  and  Merrimae,  called 
the  Ea.stern  Ridge.  Baker's  River  is 
thirty  miles  in  length.  The  soil  is 
tolerably  good,  and  in  general  is  well 
cultivated.  Holmes'  Academy  is  sit- 
uated in  this  to^vn,  and  is  a  very  flour- 
ishing school. 

The  intervales  in  this  town  were 
formerly  the  resort  of  Indians,  for 
hunting.  At  the  mouth  of  Baker's 
River  they  had  a  settlement,  where  In- 
dian graves,  bones,  &e.,  have  been 
found ;  also  gun  barrels,  stone  mor- 
tars, pestles,  and  other  utensils.    Here 


116 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHmE. 


it  is  said,  the  Indians  were  attacked  by 
Captain  Baker  and  a  party  from  Ha- 
verhill, Mass.,  who  defeat-ed  them,  kill- 
ed a  number,  and  destroyed  a  large 
quantity  of  fur.  From  him  Baker's 
River  derives  its  name. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  water 
power  in  this  town,  and  the  passage 
of  the  Concord  and  Montreal  Railroad 
through  it,  it  bids  fair  to  become  an 
important  place  of  trade  and  manu- 
facture. 

Boundaries.  The  Pemigewasset,  on 
the  east,  separates  it  from  Holderness, 
south-west  by  Bridgewater,  west  by 
Rumney,  and  north  by  Campton. 

First  Settlers.  Zachariah  Parker  and 
James  Hobart,  in  1 764. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Nathan  "Ward, 
ordained  in  1765;  dismissed  in  1794; 
Rev.  Drury  Fairbanks,  ordained  in 
1800;  dismissed  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,020  bushels ;  potatoes,  26,087  bush- 
els; hay,  2,443  tons  ;  wool,  5,223  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  9,579  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-three  miles  north 
from  Concord  by  stage,  and  thirty-one 
south-east  from  Haverhill.  The  Con- 
cord and  Montreal  Railroad  passes 
through  this  town. 

POPLIN. 

Rockingham  Co.  There  is  a 
small  pond  in  the  north  part  of  Pop- 
lin, called  Loon  Pond ;  and  the  town 
is  watered  by  Squamscot,  or  Exeter 
River,  beside  several  small  streams. 
The  soil  is  generally  of  a  good  quality, 
and  the  surface  of  the  town  is  not 
broken  by  high  hills.  The  inhabitants 
are  principally  industrious  farmers. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Epping,  east 
bv  Brentwood,  south  by  a  comer  of 
I^ngston,  west  by  Chester  and  Ray- 
mond. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Orlando  Hinds. 
The  date  of  this  gentleman's  settle- 
ment is  not  stated. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,318  bushels  ;  'potatoes,  9,340  bushels  ; 
hav,  796  tons  ;  wool,  1,371  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty-four  miles  west 
south-west  from  Portsmouth,  and  thirty 
south  south-east  from  Concord. 


PORTSMOUTH. 

Rockingham  Co.  This  important 
toAvn  is  the  only  seapoi-t  in  the  State. 
Portsmouth  is  built  on  a  beautiful  pe- 
ninsula, on  the  south  side  of  the  river ; 
and,  as  seen  from  the  towers  of  the  stee- 
ples, the  river,  harbor,  points,  islands, 
and  adjacent  country,  presents  a  de- 
lightful assemblage  of  objects. 

In  many  parts  of  the  town  are  beau- 
tiful gardens.  That  part  of  it  which 
lies  round  Church  Hill,  extending 
north  and  west,  was  originally  called 
Strau-herry  Bank.  The  first  house  of 
which  we  have  any  account,  erected  in 
what  is  now  the  compact  part  of  the 
town,  was  built  by  Humphrey  Chad- 
bourne,  and  according  to  tradition, 
stood  near  the  comer  of  Court  and 
Pond  Streets.  It  was  called  the 
"  Great  House,"  and  is  frequently  re- 
ferred to  in  early  histories.  Within 
the  memory  of  the  present  generation, 
a  garrison  house  stood  in  Water  Street, 
another  in. Fore-Street,  and  a  third  at 
the  Ferr}--ways.*  These  were  probably 
the  principal  houses  on  "  the  Bank." 
The  first  meeting-house  stood  on  Pleas- 
ant Street.  Except  the  garrison  houses 
above  mentioned,  the  earliest  settle- 
ments were  probably  on  the  south  road. 

From  the  peculiar  advantages  of  its 
situation,  Portsmouth  appears  almost 
wholly  to  have  escaped  the  ravages  of 
the  Indians.  Secured  on  three  sides 
by  the  Piscataqua,  the  ocean,  and  an 
inlet,  it  was  accessible  to  the  savages 
only  by  the  isthmus  which  connects  it 
with  the  main  ;  and  across  that  a  stock- 
ade fence  was  extended  for  defence. 
The  settlements  were  also  compact,  and 
the  number  of  inhabitants  at  an  early 
date  considerable. 

In  1 822,  the  wealthy  and  enterpris- 
ing citizens  of  this  town  connected 
Portsmouth  with  Kittery,  in  Maine,  by 
two  bridges,  one  480  feet  in  length,  sup- 
ported by  twenty  piers  ;  the  other  1 750 
feet,  supported  by  seventy  piers.  Un- 
der the  long  bridge,  for  900  feet,  the 
water  varies  from  forty-five  to  fifty- 
three  feet  in  depth  at  low  water.  The 
draw  is  1336  feet  from  the  island,  and 
the  water  is  twenty-one  feet  deep  at 
low  tide.    This  bridge  greatly  increases 


PORTSMOUTH. 


117 


and  facilitates  the  travel.  The  to^vTi  is 
also  connected  with  New  Castle  by  a 
bridj^e  built  in  1821.  The  streets, 
though  not  laid  out  with  much  regu- 
larity, are  neat  and  pleasant,  and  con- 
tain many  beautiful  buildings. 

Portsmouth  Aqueduct  Company  was 
incorporated  1797,  and  commenced  its 
operations  in  1799.  Water  of  excel- 
lent quality  is  brought  from  a  fountain 
about  three  miles  distant,  and  conduct- 
ed into  all  the  principal  streets. 

Portsmouth  i)ier,  340  feet  in  length, 
and  about  sixty  feet  wide,  was  incorpo- 
rated 1795. 

Portsmouth  Athcnajum  was  incor- 
porated 1817,  and  has  a  large  libraiy, 
and  cabinets  of  mineralogy,  natural  his- 
tory, &c.  The  institution  is  rapidly 
increasing  in  A^alue.  The  people  of 
this  town  were  at  an  early  period 
friendly  to  literature,  and  their  institu- 
tions for  learning  are  highly  respect- 
able. 

Portsmouth  is  the  centre  of  a  con- 
siderable trade  directed  by  wealthy  and 
enterprising  citizens.  The  Piscataqua, 
as  it  passes  this  to^vn.  is  from  a  half  to 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  wide  ;  and  al- , 
though  the  current  is  so  swift  as  to 
prevent  the  river  from  freezing,  yet  it  | 
forms  one  of  the  most  secure  and  com- 
modious harbors  in  the  United  States,  ^ 
into  which  ships  of  any  size  or  burthen 
may  enter  with  perfect  safety.  It  is  j 
protected  by  nature  from  the  ravages 
of  the  north-east  storms,  and  can  very 
easily  be  rendered  inaccessible  to  ene- 
mies. The  main  entrance  to  the  har- 
bor, which  is  well  protected  by  forts,  is 
on  the  north-east,  between  New  Castle 
and  Kittery :  the  other  entrance,  on 
the  south  of  New  Castle,  is  called  Little 
Harbor,  where  the  water  is  shoal,  and 
the  bottom  sandy.  At  this  place,  in 
the  spring  of  162.3,  the  first  settlers  of 
this  State  made  their  landing,  and  in 
the  same  year  commenced  settlements 
here  and  at  Dover. 

About  one  mile  below  the  town  the 
navigation  is  rendered  somewhat  diffi- 
cult by  the  rapidity  of  the  current :  the 
main  body  of  the  river  being  forced 
through  a  channel  only  about  forty- 
five  rods  wide. 

There  are  in  the  harbor  a  number  of 


islands,  the  most  considerable  of  which 
is  Great  Island.  The  others  arc  Con- 
tinental Island,  on  which  is  the  Navy 
yard,  one  of  the  safest  and  most  con- 
venient on  the  coast ;  Badger's  Island, 
on  which  the  North  America  (the  first 
line  of  battle  ship  launched  in  the  wes- 
tern hemisphere)  was  built  during  the 
revolutionary  war. 

Few  towns  in  New  England  have 
suflTered  so  much  from  fires  as  Ports- 
mouth. On  Dec.  2G,  1802,  102  build- 
ings were  burnt.  Dec.  24,  1806,  four- 
teen buildings,  including  St.  John's 
Church,  were  destroyed.  But  the  most 
calamitous  fire  broke  out  Dec.  22, 1813, 
when  397  buildings  were  burnt,  of 
which  more  than  100  were  dwelling 
houses.  The  ravages  extended  over 
about  fifteen  acres. 

The  United  States  Navy  Yard  is 
admirably  located  for  its  object.  There 
are  at  present  three  ship  hou.ses  in  the 
yard,  in  which  are  a  seventy-four  and 
a  forty  gun  ship.  One  of  the  houses  is 
240  feet  long  and  131  feet  wide : — the 
roof  is  covered  -with  130  tons  of  slate. 
In  this  building  the  keel  of  the  frigate 
Congress  was  laid  in  1837.  The  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  has  been 
liberal  in  its  appropriations  for  this  ex- 
cellent naval  depot,  at  which  a  dry 
dock  is  constructed.  Portsmouth  has 
ever  been  celebrated  for  its  fine  white 
oak  timber,  and  its  naval  architects. 

Ship  building  for  the  merchant  ser- 
vice is  extensively  pursued,  and  other 
manufactures  flourish.  There  are  a 
very  large  number  of  vessels  owned  at 
this  place  constantly  engaged  in  the 
freighting  business,  principally  from 
other  parts ;  also  a  large  number  of 
vessels  engaged  in  the  cod  and  macke- 
rel fisheries,  and  in  the  coasting  trade  ; 
also  some  engaged  in  the  whale  fishery. 
As  much  of  the  capital  of  this  wealthy 
town  has  been  employed  abroad,  and 
much  of  the  inland  trade  passes  on  the 
river,  there  is  but  little  show  of  busi- 
ness in  the  streets,  compared  with 
some  other  commercial  places. 

Portsmouth  has  always  been  noted 
for  its  enterprise  and  commercial  spirit ; 
the  railroad  now  constnicting  into  the 
interior,  cannot  fail  to  render  it  an  im- 
portant mart    of  foreign    commerce. 


118 


GAZETTEER   OP   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


The  proximity  of  Portsmouth  to  the  | 
ocean,  its  neatness,  quietness  and  beau-  j 
ty,  render  it  an  agreeable  residence,  j 
and  a  fashionable  resort.  j 

Among  the  citizens  of  Portsmouth 
distinguished  for  their  talents  or  public  j 
services,  we  may  mention  William  i 
Vaughan,  the  original  ])rojector  of 
the  expedition  against  Louisbourg,  who 
was  born  at  Portsmouth,  Sept.  12, 1703, 
and  died  in  London,  in  Dec.  1746. 

JoHX  AVentworth,  the  first  gover- 
nor of  that  name  in  New  Hampshire. 
He  died  Dec.  12,  1730,  aged  fifty-nine. 

Benxikg  Wentworth,  who  died 
Oct.  14,  1770,  aged  seventy-five. 

Dr.  Joshua  Brackett,  a  distin- 
guished physician  and  founder  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Medical  Society,  died 
July  17,  1802,  aged  sixty-nine. 

Hon.  Samuel  Hale,  a  native  of 
Newbury,  Mass.,  who  for  more  than 
thirtv  years,  taught  a  public  school  in 
Portsmouth.  He  died  July  10,  1807, 
aged  eighty-nine. 

Rev.  Samuel  Haven,  D.  D.  was 
bom  at  Framingham,  Mass.,  Aug.  4, 
1727;  settled  at  Portsmouth  in  1752; 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  the 
University  of  Edinburgh  in  1772;  and 
died  March  3, 1806,  aged  seventy-nine. 
He  was  eminently  useful. 

Dr.  Ammi  R.  Cutter,  was  bom  at 
North  Yarmouth,  Me.,  in  March,  1735. 
For  sixty  years  he  was  an  eminent 
practitioner  in  this  town,  and  during 
life  a  firm  supporter  of  his  country.  He 
died  Dec.  8,  1820,  aged  eighty-six. 

Hon.  John  Pickering,  LL.  D.,  was 
a  native  of  Newington.  He  was  ap- 
pointed chief  justice  of  the  superior 
court  in  1790,  and  continued  in  ofiice 
five  years.  He  was  afterwards  district 
judge  of  the  United  States,  and  died 
April  11,  1805,  aged  sixty-seven. 

Hon.  John  Langdon,  LL.  D.  was 
born  at  Portsmouth  in  1740.  In  1785 
he  was  chosen  president  of  the  State. 
He  was  elected  to  the  same  office  in 
1788,  and  after  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution was  governor  six  years.  He 
ever  discharged  the  duties  of  the  offices 
to  which  he  was  elected  faithfully  and 
acceptably.  Unlike  many  elevated  to 
office,  he  remembered  that  the  people 
clothed  him  with  authoritv,  and  his  on- 


ly studv  was  to  serve  them  honestly 
and  faithfully.  He  died  Sept,  18,  1819, 
aged  seventy-nine. 

Hon.  Woodbury  Langdon,  a  firm 
patriot  and  useful  citizen. 

Hon.  Richard  Evans  was  bom  at 
Portsmouth,  May  13,  1777.  He  died 
July  18,  1816,  aged  thirty-nine. 

Jonathan  M.  Sewall,  Esq.,  coun- 
sellor at  law,  and  a  respectable  poet, 
was  born  at  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1 748,  and 
died  at  Portsmouth,  March  29,  1808. 

Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster,  D.  D., 
a  native  of  Rutland,  IMass.,  settled  at 
Portsmouth,  1779,  and  died  at  Reeds- 
borough,  Vt.,  June  10,  1812,  aged  six- 
ty-one. Dr.  B.  was  a  distinguished 
scholar  and  an  eminent  divine. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Newing- 
ton, north-east  by  Piscataqua  River, 
which  separates  it  from  Maine,  south- 
east and  south  by  Rye,  and  west  by 
Greenland  and  Newington. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Joshua  Moody, 
settled  in  1671;  died  in  1697.  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Rogers,  settled  in  1699  ;  died 
in  1723.  Rev.  Jabez  Pitch,  settled  in 
1725  ;  died  in  1746.  Rev.  S.  Langdon, 
D.  D.,  settled  in  1747;  dismissed  in 
1777.  Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster, D.  D., 
settled  in  1779;  died  in  1812. — Second 
Church.  Rev.  John  Emerson,  settled  in 
1715;  died  in  1732.  Rev!  William 
Shurtleff,  settled  in  17.33  ;  died  in  1747. 
Rev.  Job  Strong,  settled  in  1 749 ;  died 
in  1751.  Rev.  Samuel  Haven,  D.  D., 
settled  in  1752;  died  in  1806. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,369  bushels;  potatoes,  28,830  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,549  tons. 

Manujfactures.  The  Portsmouth  Ma- 
chine Shop,  owned  by  Gookin  and 
Stearns,  has  a  large  machine  shop, 
blacksmith's  shop,  and  car  factory,  in 
successful  operation.  About  sixt}'  men 
are  employed  in  the  building  of  cotton 
machinery  of  every  description.  The 
blacksmith's  shop  with  five  forges,  trip 
hammer,  &c.,  has  the  use  of  power  from 
the  engine  in  the  machine  shop,  which 
is  sixteen  horse  power.  The  car  fac- 
tory has  just  commenced  operation. 
The  cars  for  the  Concord  and  Ports- 
mouth Railroad  are  now  being  built 
there;  engine, seven  horse  power-,  about 
200  tons  coal  consumed  yearly.     This 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA5IPSHIRE. 


119 


establishment  has  every  convenience : 
for  the  prosecution  of  its  several  de- 
partments, is  very  pleasantly  situated,  I 
being  bounded  by  the  Piscataqua  Riv- ' 
er,  on  the  east,  with  ample  wharf  ac- 
commodations. 

The  Portsmouth  Iron  Foundry,  own- 
ed by  Phinehas  Drake  &  Co.,  manu- 
facture stove  and  machinery  castings 
of  all  kinds ;  employs  about  twenty 
men ;  engine,  eight  horse  power ;  con- 
sumes 100  tons  coal,  and  400  tons  iron, 
yearly. 

The  Portsmouth  Steam  Hosiery  Fac- 
tory work  sixty  stocking  frames  by 
hand,  seven  do.  by  steam ;  one  warp 
frame  by  hand,  two  do.  by  power ;  six 
jacks  for  spinning;  1,100  spindles; 
three  sections  of  cards ;  about  50,000 
pounds  of  wool  manufactured,  or  about 
$75,000  worth  of  manufactured  goods ; 
eighty  hands  are  employed  at  the  mill, 
and  about  150  hands  are  employed  for 
a  part  of  the  time  at  the  houses,  finish- 
ing and  framing.  The  establishment 
with  its  present  machinery,  when  in 
full  operation,  is  capable  of  manufac- 
turing 75,000  pounds,  and  turning  out 
$150,000  worth  of  manufactured  goods. 

The  Portsmouth  Steam  Factory  was 
erected  in  1846-7.  This  establishment 
was  erected  for  the  production  of  the 
finer  class  of  cotton  fabrics,  as  jaconets, 
plain  and  figured  muslins  and  lawns. 
The  present  building  is  200  feet  long 
by  70  wide,  and  six  stories  high,  with 
two  L's  100  by  30  feet,  two  stories  high 
each.  It  contains  21,250  spindles  and 
420  looms,  and  is  at  the  present  time 
appropriated  entirely  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  lawns,  made  from  yarns  No.  70 
and  90.  Of  this  description  of  goods, 
which  in  dark  grounds  are  becoming  a 
staple  article,  they  are  manufacturing 
some  200,000  yards  a  month,  Mith  as 
little  difficulty  as  is  met  with  in  the 
coarse  fabrics.  The  machinery  is  dri- 
ven by  a  high  pressure  steam  engine  of 
200  horse  power,  and  some  400  hands 
are  employed.  The  mill  is  located  in 
a  central  part  of  the  town,  on  the  bank 
of  the  north  mill  pond,  has  spacious 
grounds  around  it,  and  the  Boston  and 
Portland  and  the  Portsmouth  and  Con- 
cord Railroads  pass  immediately  in  the 
rear.    For  location,  and  architectural 


character  of  the  mill  without,  as  well 
as  for  general  arrangement  and  appear- 
ance of  the  rooms  and  machinery  with- 
in, this  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
manufacturing  establishments  in  the 
country. 

The  Sagamore  Mill  contains  3,400 
spindles,  adapted  and  appropriated  to 
the  manufacture  of  fine  twist  or  doubled 
warps  used  in  the  manufacture  of  stuff 
goods  and  woollenets.  Some  fifty 
hands  are  employed,  and  the  mill  is 
driven  by  a  steam  engine  of  some  fifty 
horse  power. 

Distances.  The  Eastern  Railroad 
passes  through  this  toum,  and  is  fifty- 
one  miles  south  of  Portland,  and  fifty- 
four  north  from  Boston.  The  railroad 
from  Portsmouth  to  Concord  is  forty- 
two  miles  in  length,  and  -will  be  a  chan- 
nel of  great  trade  between  the  interior 
country  and  the  seaboard  at  this  place. 

RANDOLPH, 

Coos  Co.  Until  1824  this  town 
was  called  Durand.  It  is  situated  di- 
rectly under  the  north  end  of  the  White 
Mountains,  its  south-east  comer  bound- 
ing on  the  base  of  Mount  Madison,  the 
east  peak  of  the  range.  BraAches  of 
Israel's  and  Moose  Rivers  pass  through 
it.  The  soil  is  in  some  parts  good,  but 
the  town  increases  ^owly  in  its  settle- 
ments. 

Boundaries.  It  has  Berlin  on  the 
north,  Shelbume  on  the  east,  Kilkenny 
on  the  west,  and  its  south-east  corner 
is  bounded  by  the  base  of  Mount  Madi- 
son. 

First  Settlers.  This  town  was  grant- 
ed in  1772  to  John  Durand  and  others 
of  London.  Joseph  Wilder  and  Ste- 
phen Jillson  were  the  first  settlers. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
304  bushels;  potatoes,  5,110  bushels; 
hay,  317  tons;  wool,  511  pounds;  ma- 
ple sugar,  1,540  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  north  of  Concord,  and  about 
twenty  miles  south-east  from  Lancaster. 

RAYMOND. 

Rockingham  Co.  Two  branches 
of  the  Lamprey  River,  from  Deerfield 
and  Candia,  unite  in  Raymond ;  and 


120 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


the  waters  of  two  ponds  also  fall  into 
this  river,  as  it  passes  through  the 
town.  The  Patuckaway,  from  Notting- 
ham, crosses  the  north-east  corner  into 
Eppmg.  The  soil  is  various  ;  that  of 
the  meadows  bordering  on  the  river  is 
productive. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  town,  about 
100  rods  from  the  principal  road  lead- 
ing to  Deerfield.  near  the  summit  of  a 
liill  about  100  feet  high,  is  a  natural 
excavation  in  a  lodge,  called  the  Oven. 
from  the  appearance  of  its  mouth.  It 
is  a  regular  arch  about  five  feet  high 
and  of  the  same  width,  extending  into 
the  hill  about  fifteen  feet,  and  termina- 
ting in  a  number  of  fissures. 

The  names  of  twenty-four  inhabi- 
tants of  RajTnond  are  found  enrolled 
among  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution, 
beside  numbers  of  the  militia  engaged 
for  short  periods.  Four  were  killed  or 
died  in  service. 

Hon.  John  Dudley,  a  distinguished 
patriot  of  the  Revolution,  member  of 
the  committee  of  safety,  speaker  of  the 
house,  and  judge  of  the  superior  court, 
died  here  May  21,  1805,  aged  eighty. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Deerfield  and 
Nottingham,  east  by  Epping  and  Pop- 
lin, south  by  Chester,  and  west  and 
north-west  by  Chester  and  Candia. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Jonathan  Stick- 
ney  was  ordained'in  1 800. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,885  bushels  f  potatoes,  15,236  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,577  tons ;  wool,  2,140  lbs. 

Distances.  Twenty-five  miles  west 
by  south  from  Portsmouth,  twenty- 
eight  south-east  from  Concord,  and 
thirteen  west  by  north  from  Exeter. 

RICHMOND. 

Cheshire  Co.  Richmond  is  water- 
ed by  branches  of  Ashuelot  and  Mil- 
ler's Rivers,  which  fall  into  the  Con- 
necticut. The  ponds  are  three  in  num- 
ber, one  of  which  is  one  of  the  sources 
of  Miller's  River.  The  soil  here  is  fa- 
vorable for  yielding  rye.  wheat,  Indian 
corn,  and  most  of  the  productions  found 
in  this  section  of  New  England.  The 
land  is  generally  level.  There  are  no 
remarkable  elevations. 

Boundaries.    North  by  Swanzey,  east 


by  Fitzwilliam,  south  by  Royalston,  and 
Wanvick,  Mass.,  and  west  by  Win- 
chester. 

First  Settlers.  People  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  Rhode  Island,  about  1758. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Maturin  Bal- 
lou,  ordained  in  1770:  died  in  1804. 
Rev.  Isaac  Kenny,  settled  in  1792. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,018  bushels:  potatoes,  22,786  bush- 
els :  hay,  2,054  tons :  wool,  3,S85  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  13.302  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  south  from 
Keene,  and  seventy  south-west  from 
Concord.  The  Cheshire  Railroad  pass- 
es tlirough  the  town. 

RINDGE. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  town  is  very 
rocky,  but  productive  of  butter  and 
cheese  of  an  exceeding  good  quality. 
Its  other  productions  are  numerous  and 
valuable. 

There  are  thirteen  ponds  in  this 
town,  the  largest  of  which  are  called 
Manomonack.  Emerson,  Perley,  Long, 
Grassy,  and  Bullet.  The  three  first 
discharge  their  waters  into  Miller's  Ri- 
ver in  Massachusetts,  thence  commu- 
nicating with  the  Connecticut ;  the 
three  last  discharge  themselves  into 
Contoocook  River,  and  from  thence  in- 
to the  Merrimac.  These  ponds  abound 
with  fish,  and  in  ancient  times  were 
much  frequented  by  the  Indians  for 
procuring  fish  and  furs.  Rindge  is  a 
favorite  resort  for  anglers  at  the  present 
day. 

There  is  a  small  elevation  of  land  in 
Rindge,  from  which  the  waters  that  is- 
sue on  one  side  descend  into  the  Mer- 
rimac, and  those  on  the  other  side,  into 
the  Connecticut. 

Rev.  Scth  Payson,  D.  D.  long  re- 
sided in  this  tovrn,  and  died  in  1820, 
aged  sixtv-two.  Dr.  Payson  was  the 
father  of  Rev.  Edward  Payson,  D.  D., 
who  died  at  Portland,  Me.,  Oct.  22, 
1827,  aged  fifty-six.  Both  the  father 
and  son  were  eminently  distinguished 
for  their  virtues  and  ministerial  la- 
bors. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Jaflfrey  and 
Sharon,  east  by  New  Ipswich,  south  by 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  ritzwilliam. 


GAZETTEER    OP   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


121 


First  Settlers.  Jonathan  Stanley, 
George  Hewitt,  and  Abel  Platts,  1752. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Setli  Deane, 
ordained  in  1765;  left  in  1780.  Rev. 
Seth  Pavson,  D.  D.,  ordained  in  1782; 
died  in  1820. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2,812  bushels;  potatoes,  30,894  bu^^h- 
els;  hay,  1,307  tons;  wool,  2,474  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  1,307  pounds. 

DistaiKes.  Twenty  miles  south-east 
from  Keene,  and  fifty  south-west  from 
Concord. 

ROCHESTER. 

Strafford  Co.  Besides  Salmon 
Fall  River,  which  divides  this  to^vn 
from  Berwick  and  Lebanon,  in  the 
State  of  Maine,  the  Cocheco  River  runs 
the  whole  length  of  the  town,  and  near- 
ly in  the  middle,  and  the  Isinglass  Ri- 
ver crosses  the  southerly  corner  of  the 
t«Avn  just  before  its  junction  with  Co- 
checo River,  at  a  place  called  Blind 
Will's  Neck.  Both  Salmon  Fall  and 
Cocheco  Rivers  afford  valuable  mill 
sites ;  on  the  latter  of  which,  near  the 
centre  of  the  to-rni,  stands  the  principal 
village,  called  Norway  Plains.  It  is  a 
place  of  considerable  trade,  and  a  great 
thoroughfare  from  the  upper  towns  in 
the  county  to  Dover  and  Portsmouth. 

There  is  another  village  about  two 
miles  south-west  from  this,  called 
Sqnamanagonnicl:.  the  Indian  name  of 
the  falls  in  the  Cocheco  at  that  place. 

Much  of  the  soil  in  Rochester  is 
good ;  the  surface  is  uneven,  with  seve- 
ral swells,  the  principal  of  which  is 
Squamanagonnick  Hill,  which  consti- 
tutes a  considerable  part  of  several 
valuable  farms.  In  the  west  part  of 
the  towm,  is  a  large  tract  of  oak  land, 
which  is  hard  and  stony ;  has  a  deep 
rich  soil,  and  is  very  productive  when 
well  cultivated. 

Until  Canada  was  taken  by  the  Brit- 
ish and  American  troops  in  1760, 
Rochester  remained  a  frontier  town; 
the  people  were  poor  and  distressed, 
but  not  discouraged.  Their  men  were 
bold,  hardy,  and  industrious ;  and  their 
sons  were'  trained  to  the  use  of  arms 
They  early  became  a  terror  to  their 
foes. 

11 


In  1748,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Hodg- 
don  was  killed  on  a  Sunday  morning- 
by  the  Indians,  on  refusing  to  be  taken 
to  Canada  with  the  jiarty.  Ilcr  hus- 
band mamed  again,  had  twenty-one 
children  in  all,  and  died  in  1815,  aged 
ninety  years. 

In  the  revolutionar}'  war,  many  of 
the  inhabitants  bore  a  part.  Captains 
David  Place  and  John  Brewster  led 
companies  to  Ticonderoga,  and  suffer- 
ed much  in  their  retreat  from  that 
place  in  1777.  Of  the  soldiers  from 
Rochester,  twenty-nine  were  killed  or 
died  in  that  contest. 

Albert  G.  Upiiam,  M.  D.,  who 
died  in  Boston,  June  16,  1847,  aged 
twenty-nine,  was  a  native  of  this  town. 
He  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  late 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Upham,  Avho  was  a 
member  of  Congress  from  New  Hamp- 
shire from  1817  to  1823. 

From  a  memoir  of  Dr.  Upham,  pub- 
lished in  the  "  New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Register,"  for  Oct. 
1847,  we  copy  the  following  extract,  to 
the  truth  of  which  we  heartily  respond : 
"  Dr.  Upham  was  distinguished  for  his 
high  aims  through  life,  for  the  enthu- 
siasm that  marks  the  man  of  genius, 
for  his  simplicity  of  character  and  con- 
fiding aff"ection,  for  his  strength  of  in- 
tellect, sound  judgment,  and  indomita- 
ble perseverance.  He  was  six  feet  in 
stature,  of  commanding  appearance, 
with  an  ingenuous  countenance,  and  a 
heart  strung  with  the  finest  chords  of 
sympathy  and  benevolence.  Each  year 
of  his  life  gave  assurance  of  a  man  con- 
stantly advancing  in  knowledge  and 
maturing  in  excellence,  to  whom  noth- 
ing within  the  range  of  his  efforts  seem- 
ed unattainable.  As  we  stand  by  his 
grave,  and  mark  the  poignant  grief  of 
friends,  and  the  blasting  of  such  prom- 
ise, the  providence  seems  inscrutible. 
It  is  only  as  we  look  upwards,  that  the 
eye  of  faith  discerns  gleams  of  hope, 
shining  from  another  world,  hid  from 
us  only  by  the  eff'ulgence  of  the  Divine 
glory,  as  stars  by  the  sunlight.  He  is 
not  "dead,  but  transferred  to  brighter 
realms,  where  his  pure  mind  may  ex- 
ult in  a  deeper  love,  and  soar  to  sub- 
limer  heights.  To  those  unacquainted 
I  with  him,  our  words  of  eulogy  may 


122  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

seem  strange,  but  it  has  rarely  entered  ;  settled  in  1737:  died  in  1760.  Eev. 
into  the  heart  of  a  sti-angerto  conceive  Samuel  Hill,  ordained  in  1760;  died 
of  such  a  man.  In  the  depth  of  our  [  in  1764.  Kev.  Avery  Hall,  settled  in 
affliction  words  are  powerless,  the  '  1766  ;  dismissed  in  1775.  Rev.  Joseph 
tongue  becomes  mute,  the  currents  of  i  Haven,  settled  in  1775:  dismissed  1825. 
the  heart  pause,  speaking  in  their  hush- j  Manvfactuns.  In  this  town  are  a 
ed  agony,  our  only  consolation,  the  '  number  of  mills,  among  Avhich  are  three 
voice  alike  of  inspiration  and  nature,  woollen  factories,  employing  about  250 
'  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God.'  "    '  operatives. 

Boundaries.  South-cast  by  Dover  Distances.  Ten  miles  north-west 
and  Somersworth,  south-west  by  Bar-  from  Dover,  and  about  forty  north-east 
rington  and  Strafford,  and  north-west  from  Concord.  A  railroad  is  contem- 
by  Farmington  and  Milton.  plated    passing    from    Dover     north 

First  Ministers.     Rev.  Ames  Main, !  tlirough  this  town. 


ROCKINGHAM   COUNTY. 

Portsmouth  and  Exeter  are  the  chief  towns.  The  county  of  Rocking- 
ham is  bounded  north  by  Strafford  County,  east  by  the  Atlantic,  from  the 
mouth  of  Piscatacj^ua  River  to  the  line  of  Massachusetts,  south  by  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  the  counties  of  Men-imac  and  Hillsborough.  Its 
greatest  length  is  about  thii-ty-four  miles  ;  its  greatest  breadth,  from  the  west 
corner  of  Chester  to  the  extremity  of  Rye,  is  about  thirty  miles.  There  are 
no  remarkable  elevations  in  this  count)- ;  the  surface,  however,  is  uneven,  and 
in  the  north  part,  from  the  higher  eminences,  there  are  some  very  fine  views  of 
the  surrounding  country.  The  highest  point  is  Saddleback  Mountain,  in  North- 
wood  and  Deerfield. 

The  rivers  are  the  Lamprey,  Exeter,  Beaver,  and  Spiggot.  which  water  the 
east  and  south-east  parts  of  the  county.  Great  Bay,  between  Newington  and 
New  Market,  and  connecting  with  the  Piscataqua,  is  the  largest  collection  of 
water.  Massabesick  Pond  or  Lak^is  principally  in  Chester,  and  is  picturesque 
from  its  numerous  islands  and  the  sun-ounding  elevations.  The  other  principal 
ponds  are  Islandy,  in  Hampstead,  Country,  in  Kingston,  and  Pleasant,  in 
Deerfield. 

The  soil  of  this  county  having  been  longer  cultivated  than  that  of  any  other 
county  in  the  State,  is  very  productive  ;  and  agricultural  pursuits  have  been 
very  successful. — See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  ROCKINGHAM  COUNTY. 

CiroMt  Court  of  the  United  States.  At  Portsmouth,  on  the  8th  of  May ;  at 
Exeter,  on  the  8th  of  October. 

District  Court  of  United  States.  At  Portsmouth,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of 
March  and  September ;  at  Exeter,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  January  and  De- 
cember. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


123 


Superior  Court,  First  District.  At  Exeter,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  Julv  • 
at  Dover,  on  the  tliird  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Portsmouth,  the  third  Tuesday  of  September; 
at  Exeter,  the  second  Tuesday  of  February. 

Probate  Court.  At  Exeter,  on  the  Wednesday  following  the  third  Tuesday 
of  Februajy,  March,  and  September,  and  on  the  Wednesday  following  the 
second  Tuesday  of  every  other  month ;  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  tliird  Tuesday 
of  March  and  September,  and  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January,  May,  July, 
and  November ;  at  Deny,  on  the  Wednesday  next  following  the  first  Tuesday 
of  April,  August,  and  December ;  at  Chester,  on  the  Thursday  next  following 
the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  August,  and  December ;  at  Deerficld,  on  the  Friday 
next  following  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  August,  and  December ;  at  Plais- 
tow,  on  tlic  first  Tuesday  of  April,  August,  and  December. 


ROXBLRY. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  north  branch 
of  Ashuelot  Kiver  forms  the  boundary 
between  this  town  and  Keene.  Roar- 
ing Brook,  on  which  are  several  small 
meadows,  waters  the  south  part,  and 
empties  into  the  Ashuelot  at  the  south- 
west comer.  On  tlie  east  side  of  the 
to%vnship  is  a  pond,  called  Roaring 
Brook  Pond,  at  the  outlet  of  which  are 
mills. 

Roxbury  presents  a  rough  and  un- 
even surface,  rising  into  considera- 
ble swells,  aftbrding  excellent  grazing 
land. 

This  town  v/as  formed  of  a  part  of 
Nelson,  Marlborougli,  and  Keene,  and 
is  the  native  place  of  Joseph  Ames, 
Esq.,  a  celeln-atcd  artist  and  portrait 
painter  to  the  pope  of  Rome. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Sullivan,  east 
by  Nelson  and  Dublin,  south  by  Marl- 
borough, and  west  by  Keene. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Christopher 
Page,  installed  in  1816;  dismissed  in 
1819. 

Productions  ofilie  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,095  bushels ;"  potatoes,  12,797  bush- 
els :  hay,  849  tons  ;  wool,  3,237  lbs. : 
maple  sugar,  3,10.5  pounds. 

Distances.  Five  miles  east  from 
Keene,  and  fifty  south-west  from  Con- 
cord. 

RU3INEY. 

Grafton  Co.  Rum.ney  is  watered 
by  Baker's  River,  of  which  a  consider- 


'  able  branch  flows  from  Stinson's  Pond, 
and  is  called   Stinson's  Brook.     The 
pond  is  400  rods  long,  and  280  rods 
wide.     Part  of  Loon  Pond  is  on  the 
j  east  line  of  this  town.     The  principal 
elevations  are  Stinson's  and  Webber's 
Mountains,   in   the   east   part,   and   a 
small  part  of  Carr's  Mountain,  which 
here  obtains  the  name  of  Rattlesnake 
Mountain,  on  its  north-west  border. 
j      It  Avas  in  this  to\\ai,  on  the  28th  of 
!  April,  1752,  that  the  late  Gen.  Stark, 
j  while   on   a   hunting   expedition,  was 
i  captured  by  a  party  of  ten  Indians, 
j  commanded  by  Francis  Titigaw.     lie 
was  in  company  with  Amos  Eastman, 
of  Concord,  David  Stinson,  of  London- 
derry, and  his  brother  William.     Stin- 
son was  slain.     This  event,  and  the 
I  name  of  Stinson  as  connected  with  it, 
will  long  be  pei-petuated  by  the  name 
of  the  pond,  mountain,  and  brook,  in 
the  to^m,  Avhere  the  unfortunate  man 
was  slain. 

In  this  town  thei-e  is  much  good 
land,  and  the  passage  of  the  Concord 
and  Montreal  Railroad  through  it  will 
add  much  to  its  value.  There  is  a 
great  variety  of  splendid  scenery  in  this 
section  of  tlie  country. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Ellsworth, 
east  by  Campton  and  Plymouth,  south 
by  Groron  and  Hebron,  and  north-west 
by  Wentworth. 

First  Sutlers.  Capt.  Jotham  Cum- 
mings,  Moses  Smart.  Daniel  Brainard, 
[James  Heath,  and  others,  in  1765. 


124 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


First  Ministers.  Rev.  Thomas  Niles, 
settled  in  1767;  dismissed  in  1788. 
Rev.  Ezi-a  Wilmartli,  settled  in  1799  : 
dismissed  in  1811. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn. 
4,522  bushels;  potatoes,  25,994  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2.363  tons  ;  wool,  4,650  lbs. : 
maple  sugar,  8,119  pounds. 

Distcinces.  Eight  miles  north  north- 
west from  PljTiiouth,  and  hfty-one  north 
by  west  from  Concord.  The  ''  Iron 
Horse,"  on  his  trips  between  Boston 
and  Montreal,  passes  through  this 
town. 

RYE. 

RocKiHGHAM  Co.  This  town  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  sea  coast. 
The  sea  coast  here  is  about  six  miles 
in  extent,  being  nearly  one-third  of  the 
coa£;t  in  the  State.  On  the  shore  there 
are  three  considerable  and  xery  pleas- 
ant beaches.  A'iz  :  Sandy,  Jenness',  and 
Wallis',  to  Avhich  many  persons  resort 
in  the  summer  season,  from  neighbor- 
ing to%A'ns  and  the  country,  both  for 
health  and  pleasure.  There  is  hei-e  a 
small  harbor,  near  Goss'  Mill,  into 
which  vessels  of  seventy  or  eighty  tons 
burden  may  conveniently  enter  at  high 
water. 

The  boat  fishery  is  carried  on  to 
considerable  advantage,  particularly  in 
the  fall  and  winter  seasons.  There 
was  formerly  a  large  fresh  water  ])ond, 
lying  contiguous  to  the  sand  bank,  or 
bounds  of  the  sea,  covering  a  surface 
of  about  300  acres.  Between  this  and 
the  sea  a  communication  was  opened 
by  the  inhabitants,  al)out  a  century 
since.  The  waters  Avere  dischargwl 
into  the  sea,  leaving  a  tract  of  marsh, 
which,  being  watered  by  the  regular 
flowing  of  the  tide,  yields  annually 
large  quantities  of  salt  liay. 

Breakfast  Hill,  between  this  town 
and  GiT-enland,  is  distinguished  as  the 
place  where  a  party  of  Indians  wei-e 
surprised  at  breakfast,  at  the  time  of 
their  incursion  in  1696.  There  are 
small  circular  holes  in  the  rocks  of 
which  this  hill  is  principally  composed, 
supposed  to  have  been  made  xise  of  by 
the  natives.  This  town  has  suffered 
considerablv  in  times  of  war^nd  dan- 


ger. In  the  American,  or  revolution- 
ary war,  thirty-eight  of  its  inhabitants 
lost  their  lives  by  sea  or  land,  most  of 
them  yoang  men. 

Rye  Avas  taken  from  Portsmouth, 
Greenland,  Hampton,  and  New  Castle, 
chiefly  the  latter. 

Boundaries.  North  and  north-west 
by  Portsmouth,  north-east  by  Little 
Harbor,  east  by  the  sea,  south  by  North 
Hampton,  and  west  by  Greenland. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Mor- 
rill, ordained  in  1726;  left  in  1733. 
Rev.  Samuel  Parsons,  ordained  iu 
1736  ;  died  in  1739.  Rev.  Huntington 
Porter,  D.  D.,  settled  in  1784. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
5,825  bushels;"  potatoes,  86,415  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,909  tons ;  wool,  2,169  lbs. 

Distances.  Six  miles  south  from 
Portsmouth,  and  fifty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord. 


SALEM. 

Rockingham  Co.  Policy  Pond, 
partly  in  this  town,  and  partly  in 
Windham,  is  the  largest  collection  of 
water.  World's  End  Pond  and  Cap- 
tain Pond  are  in  the  south-east  and 
east  parts  of  the  town ;  and  there  are 
other  small  ponds.  The  Spiggot  River, 
passing  from  north  to  south  through 
;  the  town,  receives  in  its  course  nume- 
!  rous  liranches,  and  waters  the  different 
]  portions  of  the  to^Yv^.  furnishing  also 
j  excellent  mill  privileges.  The  soil 
is  generally  fertile,  and  the  surface  un- 
I  even. 

!      The   Plon.    Silas   Betton,   a  distin- 
guished citizen,  died  here  in  1822. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Londonderiy, 
north-east  by  Atkinson,  east  by  Me- 
thuen,  Mass.,  south  by  Pelham,  and 
west  by  Windham. 

Firs't  Ministers.  Rev.  Aimer  Bay- 
ley,  ordained  in  1740:  died  in  1798. 
Rev.  John  Smith,  I).  D.,  ordained  in 
1797;  dismissed  in  1816. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
18,851  bushels  ;' potatoes,  17,980  bush- 
!els;  hay,  1,993  tons;  avooI,  925  lbs. 
j  Distances.  Eorty  miles  south  from 
Concord,  and  about  twenty-  miles  south- 
I  east  from  Exeter. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


125 


SALISBURY. 

Merrimac  Co.  Blackwater  Eiver 
passes  through  the  Avest  part  of  Salis- 
bury, There  are  five  bridges  across 
this  stream  in  this  town.  The  soil  of 
the  upland  is  strong,  deep,  and  loamy ; 
the  hilly  land  affords  some  fine  tracts 
of  tillage,  but  chiefly  abounds  in  ex- 
cellent pasturage.  On  Blackwater  River 
there  is  some  very  fertile  intervale, 
which,  united  ^vith  the  adjacent  hilly 
land,  composes  several  very  valuable 
farms.  A  considei-able  portion  of  Kear- 
sarge  Mountain  ranges  within  the 
bounds  of  Salisbury,  the  north-west 
corner  bound  of  which  extends  nearly 
to  the  summit.  There  are  two  very 
pleasant  villages  in  this  tOAvn,  situated 
on  the  Fourth  New  Hampshire  Turn- 
pike, about  a  mile  and  a  half  apart. 

The  first  inhabitants  experienced  the 
inroads  of  the  Indians.  On  the  16th 
of  May,  1753,  Nathaniel  Meloon,  liv- 
ing in  the  Avest  part  of  the  tOAVTi,  was 
captured,  together  with  his  wife  and 
three  children,  viz. :  Sarah,  Rachel,  and 
Daniel.  They  were  carried  to  Canada, 
where  he  and  his  wife  were  sold  to  the 
French  in  Montreal.  The  three  child- 
ren were  kept  by  the  Indians.  After 
the  parents  had  resided  in  Montreal 
about  a  year  and  a  half,  they  had  a 
son  born,  who  was  baptized  by  a 
French  friar,  by  the  name  of  Joseph 
Mary.  Mr.  Meloon  returned  from  cap- 
tivity, after  four  years  and  a  half,  to 
his  farm  in  Salisbury.  Sarah  died 
with  the  Indians.  Rachel,  who  was 
nine  years  old  when  captured,  returned 
after  nine  years.  She  had  become 
much  attached  to  the  Indians,  was 
about  to  be  married  to  Peter  Louis, 
son  of  Col.  Louis  of  Cognawaga.  She 
had  the  habits,  and  a'-ted  like  an  In- 
dian, understood  the  Indian  language, 
and  could  sing  their  songs. 

Hon.  Ebenezek  Webster  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  ;  a  patriot  of  the 
revolution  :  an  officer  of  the  militia ; 
jjfor  several  years  a  senator  in  the  leg- 
islature, and  a  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  till  his  death,  in  1806. 
He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Eze- 
K.IEL  and  Daxiel  Webster,  names 
well  known  throughout  the  country. 

11* 


Dr.  Joseph  Bartlett  was  the  first  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  the  first  j)hy- 
sician  in  town.  Captain  Matthew  PeV 
tengill  was  a  useful  and  respected  citi- 
zen. 

Boundaries.  The  Tcmigewasset  and 
Concord  Rivers  separate  it  from  San- 
bornton  and  Northfield,  on  the  east, 
south  by  Boscawcn,  west  by  Warner, 
and  north  bv  Andover. 

First  Settlers.  Phillip  Call,  Nathaniel 
Meloon,  Benjamin  Pettengill.  and  John 
and  Ebenezer  Webster,  in  1750. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jona.  Searle, 
ordained  in  1773;  dismissed  in  1791. 
Rev.  Thomas  Worcester,  ordained  in 
1791  ;  dismissed  in  1823. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
6,543  bushels  ;  potatoes,  24,268  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,039  tons  ;  wool,  4,544  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2.165  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixteen  miles  north  from 
Concord.  The  Concord  and  Montreal 
Railroad  passes  through  the  town. 

SAIVBORIVTON. 

Belkxap  Co.  The  bay  between 
Sanbornton  and  Meredith  is  three  miles 
in  width.  There  are  no  rivers  or  ponds 
of  magnitude  in  the  tOAvn.  Salmon 
Brook  Pond,  in  tlie  north  part,  and  a 
brook  of  the  same  name,  its  outlet,  are 
the  only  ones  worth  mentioning.  This 
brook  passes  through  the  north-west 
part  of  the  town,  and  affords  several 
mill  sites. 

Sanbornton  presents  an  uneven  sur- 
face, but  contains  no  mountains.  The 
highest  hills,  with  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, admit  of  cultivation.  The  soil 
is  almost  universally  good,  and  well 
rewards  the  labor  of  patient  industry. 
There  is  a  gulf  in  this  tOAvn,  extending 
nearly  a  mile,  through  very  hard  rocky 
ground,  thirty-eight  feet  in  depth,  the 
walls  from  eighty  to  100  feet  asunder, 
and  the  sides  so  nearly  corresponding, 
a.s  to  favor  an  opinion  that  they  were 
once  united.  There  is  also  a  cavern  on 
the  declivity  of  a  hill,  which  may  be 
entered  in  a  horizantal  direction,  to  the 
distance  of  twenty  feet. 

This  town  was  once  the  residence  of 
a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians,  or  at  least 
a  place  Vhere  they  resorted  for  de- 


126 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


fence.  On  the  "Winnipiseogee,  at  the  I 
•head  of  Little  Bay,  are  found  the  re- 
mains of  an  ancient  forlitication.  It 
consisted  of  six  walls,  one  extendino: 
along  the  river,  and  across  a  point  of 
land  into  the  bay,  and  the  others  in 
right  angles,  connected  by  a  circular 
wall  in  the  rear.  Traces  of  these  walls 
are  yet  to  be  seen,  though  most  of  the 
stones,  &c.,  of  Avhich  they  were  com- 
posed have  been  removed  to  the  dam 
thrown  across  the  river  at  this  place. 
Within  the  fort  have  been  fonnd  num- 
bers of  Indian  relics,  implements,  &c., 
and  also  on  an  island  in  the  bay.  When 
the  first  settlers  of  Sanbornton  arrived, 
these  walls  were  breast  high,  and  large 
oaks  were  growing  within  their  en- 
closure. 

Boundaries.  Meredith  is  on  the  north, 
Gilmanton  east  and  south-east,  North- 
field  south,  and  a  part  of  Salisbury  and 
of  Hill  and  Andover  on  the  west. 

First  Settlers.  John  Sanborn,  David 
Duston,  Andrew  Rowen,  and  others, 
settled  in  1765  and  17G6. 

First  Mitiiste):  Rev.  Joseph  Wood- 
man, ordained  in  1771  ;  died  in  1807. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
13,336  bushels';  potatoes,  56,230  bush- 
els ;  hay,  5,105  tons  :  wool,  12,348  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,394  pounds. 

Distances.  By  the  Concord  and 
Montreal  Railroad,  this  to^vn  lies  nine- 
ty-one miles  from  Concord,  and  eight 
miles  from  Gilford. 

SANDOAV]^. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  surface  of 
this  town  is  rather  uneven,  but  the  soil 
in  general  is  well  adapted  to  the  pro- 
duction of  grain  and  grass.  Phillip's 
Pond,  Ipng  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town,  is  the  largest,  being  about  340 
rods  long  and  200  Avide.  Angle  Pond, 
in  the  south-east  part  of  this  town,  is 
about  200  rods  long  and  ninety  or  100 
wide.  There  are  several  other  smaller 
ponds.  Squamscot  River  flows  from 
Phillip's  Pond,  and  pursues  a  nearly 
level  course  for  one  and  a  half  miles, 
where  another  stream  unites  -with  it ; 
from  this  junction,  whenever  the  waters 
are  high,  the  current  passes  back  with 
considerable  force  towards  tRe  pond. 


The   town  was   originally  a  part  of 
Kingston. 

Boundaries.  Korth  by  Chester  and 
Poplin,  east  by  Danville,  south  by 
Hampstead,  and  west  by  Chester  and 
Londonderry. 

First  Settfers.  Moses  Tucker,  Israel 
and  James  Huse,  and  others,  settled  in 
1796. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Josiah  Cotton, 
ordained  in  1759  ;  died  in  1780.  Rev. 
Samuel  Collins,  settled  in  1781  ;  left  in 
1788.  Rev.  John  Webber,  settled  in 
1795;  removed  in  1800. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,642  bushels ;  potatoes,  7,825  bushels ; 
hay,  882  tons  ;  wool,  1,203  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-two  miles  south- 
east from  Concord,  and  twenty-six 
south-west  from  Portsmouth. 


SANDWICH. 

Carroll  Co.  This  town  was  ori- 
ginally granted,  by  Governor  Benning 
Wentv\-orth,  in  1763,  and  comprised  six 
miles  square.  On  the  5th  Sept.,  1764, 
upon  the  representation  of  the  grantees 
that  the  north  and  west  sides  thereof 
were  "  so  loaded  with  inaccessible 
mountains  and  shelves  of  rocks,  as  to 
be  uninhabitable,"  an  additional  grant 
was  made  of  temtory  on  the  east  and 
south,  called  Sandu'ich  Addition.  Sand- 
wich mountains  are  a  lofty  range,  ex- 
tending north-east,  and  terminating  in 
Chocorua  Peak,  in  Albany.  Squam 
Mountain,  extending  from  Holdemess 
through  a  corner  of  Campton,  into 
Sandwich,  is  of  considerable  height. 
There  are  other  mountains. 

The  Bearcamp  River,  its  branches 
rising  in  the  mountains  north  and  west, 
passes  east  into  Tamworth.  The  west 
branch  passes  through  Bearcamp  Pond. 
There  is  another  pond,  not  far  distant 
from  this,  from  which  issues  Red  Hill 
River,  passing  south  into  the  Winni- 
piseogee Lake.  A  small  stream  passes 
west  into  the  Pemigewasset  River. 
About  one-fourth  of  Squam  Lake  lies 
in  the  south-west  comer  of  Sandwich. 
This  is  a  flourishing  town,  and  its 
productions  are  numerous  and  vriu- 
able. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


127 


From  Dr.  Jackson  we  copy  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  a  slide,  which  took 
place  from  "White  Face  Mountain,  in 
October,  1820: 

"  The  season  had  been  very  dry,  and 
the  soil  was  spongy  and  loose,  when 
heavy  rains  set  in,  and  continued  for  a 
number  of  days.  The  obstruction  of 
the  mountain  stream  made  a  dam,  and 
flowed  its  banks  so  as  to  fonn  a  pond, 
which,  bursting  its  barrier,  ruslied  down 
the  mountain's  sides,  swcej)ing  iij  its 
impetuous  course  rocks  and  trees,  in 
promiscuous  confusion,  and  cutting  a 
deep  ravine  in  the  side  of  the  mountain 
several  miles  in  extent.  In  its  course 
the  slide  struck  against  a  l)arn,  ])ut  did 
no  harm  to  the  animals  within,  they 
escaping  from  the  door  as  it  burst 
open.  The  fine  alluvion  brought  down 
by  the  ton-ent,  covered  an  extensive 
meadow  at  its  base,  and  rendered  it 
more  fertile  for  gi*ass, — white  clover 
springing  up  where  only  coarse  wild 
grasses  grew  before.  Some  parts  of 
this  meadow  were  covered  with  a  fine 
sediment  four  or  five  feet  in  depth. 
At  the  upper  part,  where  the  coarse 
gravel  covers  it,  there  is  but  little  vege- 
tation." 

Hon.  Daniel  Beecher,  a  useful  citi- 
zen, resided  in  this  town  many  years. 

Boundaries.  Xorth  by  Ungranted 
Lands,  east  by  Albany  and  Tamworth, 
south  by  Moultonborough,  and  west  by 
Campton,  Holdemess,  and  Thornton. 

First  Mnister.  Rev.  David  P.  Smith, 
settled  in  1827  :  dismissed  in  1832. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
9,176  bushels  f  potatoes.  67,459  bush- 
els ;  hay,  5,797  tons  ;  wool,  12,444  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  51,989  poiinds. 

Distances.  Fifty-two  miles  north  from 
Concord,  and  about  twenty-two  miles 
north-west  from  Ossipee. 

SBABROdKl. 

Rockixoham:  Co.  Seabrook  was 
formerly  a  part  of  Hampton  Falls. 
The  rivers  are  Black,  Bro^\^^'s,  and 
Walton's  Rivers.  Many  of  the  rivulets 
abound  with  bog  ore  of  iron. 

This  town  derives  its  name  from  the 
number  of  rivers  and  riA'ulcts  mean- 
derins:  through  it. 


Whale-boat  building  is  the  most 
important  manufacture,  and  is  carried 
on  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  any 
other  tovm  in  New  England.  The 
larger  part  of  the  male  inhabitants  are 
mechanics  and  seamen.  Perhaps  no 
town  in  the  State  is  better  situated  for 
carrying  on  the  Bay  and  Labrador  fish- 
eries than  this. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Hampton 
Falls,  east  by  the  Atlantic,  south  by 
Massachusetts,  and  west  by  South 
Hampton  and  Kensington. 

Fir.st  Settlers.  Christopher  Hussy, 
Joseph  Dow,  and  Thos.  Philbrick.  16.38. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Samuel  Perley, 
ordained  in  1765;  removed  in  1775. 
Rev.  Elias  Hull,  settled  in  1779  ;  died 
in  1822. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3.201  bushels  ;' potatoes,  18,690  bush- 
els; hay,  1,002  tons;  wool.  668  lbs. 

Distances.  Seventeen  miles  south- 
west from  Portsmouth  by  railroad,  and 
fifty  miles  south-east  from  Concord  by 
stage. 

SHARON. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  streams 
in  Sharon  are  small  branches  of  Con- 
toocook  River,  and  rise  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  town.  Boundary 
Mountain  lies  on  the  line  between  this 
town  and  Temple,  and  has  an  elevation 
of  200  feet  above  the  surrounding 
country.  Sharon  is  better  calculated 
for  grazing  than  grain. 

The  productions  of  the  soil  of  Sha- 
ron, are  butter,  cheese,  beef,  wool,  and 
all  the  varieties  common  to  a  grazing 
countrt^.  There  are  some  excellent 
farmers  in  this  town. 

Boundaries,  North  by  Peterborough, 
east  by  Temple,  south  by  New  Ips- 
wich and  Rindge,  and  west  by  Jef- 
frey. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  west  by 
south  from  Amherst,  and  forty-eight 
south  south-west  from  Concord. 

SHELBURNE. 

Coos  Co.  Androscoggin  River 
passes  through  the  centre  of  this  town, 
into  which  fall   the  waters  of  Rattle 


128 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Kiver,  and  some  smaller  sti*eams.  The 
soil  on  each  bank  of  the  river  is  very 
good,  producing  in  abundance  grain 
and  grass ;  but,  as  we  rise  from  the 
river,  the  tracts  are  mountainous,  and 
unfit  for  cultivation. 

Mount  Moriah.  an  elevated  peak  of 
the  "VVTiite  Mountains,  lies  in  the  south 
part  of  Shelburne.  Moses'  Rock,  so 
called  from  the  first  man  known  to 
have  ascended  it  (Moses  Ingalls),  is 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  near  the 
centre  of  the  toAvn.  It  is  about  sixty 
feet  high  and  ninety  feet  long,  very 
smooth,  and  rising  in  an  angle  of  near- 
ly 50°. 

In  August,  1781,  a  party  of  Indians 
visited  this  town,  killed  one  man,  made 
another  prisoner,  plundered  the  houses, 
and  returned  to  Canada  in  savage  tri- 
umph. 

Shelburne,  in  common  with  most  of 
the  towns  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, presents  much  wild  and  beautiful 
scenery. 

In  this  town  is  an  extensive  and 
highly  valuable  mine  of  lead.  This 
mine  was  discovered  a  few  years  since, 
and  is  now  worked  with  great  success, 
by  a  large  party  of  enterprising  and 
intelligent  miners.  Dr.  Jackson  says  : 
"  The  zinc  ore  of  Shelburne  is  the  rich- 
est cadmium  ore  known  in  this  coun- 
try, and  is  equal  to  the  richest  in  Eu- 
rope."— See  Jacksoris  Geology  of  New 
Hampshire,  pp.  104,  105,  231. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Success  and 
Berlin,  east  by  Maine,  south  by  Unlo- 
cated  Lands,  and  west  by  Randoljih. 

First  Settlers.  David  and  Benjamin 
Ingalls,  settled  in  1775. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
683  bushels  ;  potatoes.  21.505  bushels  ; 
hay,  1,058  tons;  wool,  2,545  pounds: 
maple  sugar,  5,250  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  miles  north-east  from  Concord, 
and  about  thirty  miles  south-east  from 
Lancaster.  The  mode  of  transporta- 
tion from  Shelburne  to  the  seacoast,  at 
present,  is  down  the  Androscoggin 
River,  and  through  Sebago  Lake,  to 
Portland.  The  distance  by  this  route 
is  about  eighty-three  miles.  Should 
the  mine  continue  to  be  as  productive 
as  at  the  present  time,  a  brancli  rail- 


road will  doul)tless  be  constnicted  from 
this  place,  connecting  with  some  of  the 
great  northern  railroads. 

SOMERS^ORTH. 

Strafford  Co.  The  White  Moun- 
tains may  be  seen  from  the  summit  of 
Otis  Hill ;  also  the  steeples  of  the 
meeting-houses  in  Portsmouth,  and 
the  masts  of  the  shipping  in  the  har- 
bor. 

^  The  soil  of  this  town  is  well  adapted 
to  Indian  com,  and  almost  all  kinds 
of  grain  and  grass.  The  tide  flows  on 
the  east  side  of  this  town,  four  miles, 
to  Quamphegan  Falls.  The  river  is 
of  sufficient  depth,  till  within  a  mile 
of  said  falls,  for  vessels  of  250  tons. 
The  south  part  of  this  toi\Ti  is  bound- 
ed on  Cocheco  River,  from  its  conflu- 
ence with  the  Piscataqua  to  the  mouth 
of  French  Creek,  near  a  mile  ;  and  from 
thence  by  said  creek  to  its  head,  nearly 
a  mile  and  a  half. 

There  are  but  two  ponds  of  note  in 
this  to^\'n :  Humphrey's  Pond,  on  the 
line  of  Dover,  200  rods  long  and  120 
rods  wide  :  and  Cole's  Pond,  150  rods 
long  and  seventy-five  Avide. 

Red  and  yellow  ochre,  also  iron  ore, 
have  been  foimd  in  this  to^vn.  The 
ochre  has  been  used  in  painting  houses, 
and  has  been  found  to  make  a  durable 
paint. 

At  Great  Falls,  on  Salmon  River, 
the  most  important  part  of  Somers- 
worth.  are  extensive  manufoctories,  and 
a  large  and  flourishing  village. 

This  village  is  located  in  a  remark- 
ably romantic  and  beautiful  part  of 
the  country.  The  air  is  exceedingly 
pure  and  healthy,  and  it  is  admirably 
calculated  for  manufacturing  opera- 
tions. The  Avater  falls  100  feet,  and 
produces  a  power  of  great  value. 

The  village  contained,  in  1848,  a 
population  of  about  5,000. 

Many  of  the  first  settlers  were  killed 
or  taken  captive,  and  carried  to  Can- 
ada. Ebenezer  Downs,  who  was  a 
Quaker,  was  taken  by  the  Indians  at 
Indigo  Hill,  in  1724,  and  earned  to 
Canada.  He  was  grossly  insulted  and 
abused  by  them,  because  he  refused 
to  dance,  as  the  other  prisoners   did, 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIKE. 


129 


for  the  diversion  of  their  savage  cap 
tors. 

Nicholas  Pike,  author  of  a  popular 
system  of  arithmetic,  was  born  in  this 
town,  Oct.  6,  1743. 

Joiix  Wentworth,  son  of  the  Hon. 
John  Wentworth,  vras  born  in  this 
town,  July  14, 1745,  and  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  College,  1768.  He  entered 
on  the  study  of  tlie  law,  and  settled  at 
Dover.  When  application  was  made 
to  him  to  put  an  action  in  suit,  it  was 
his  practice  to  see  the  parties,  or  to 
write  to  them,  stating  tlie  consequences 
of  a  legal  process,  and  advising  them 
to  settle  their  differences  between  them- 
selves. By  tins  mode  of  i)rocedure  he 
was  instrumental  in  preventing  many 
vexatious  lawsuits,  and  was  entitled  to 
the  appellation  of  peace  maker.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress in  the  revolution,  and  died  Jan. 
10,  1787. 

Hon.  Thomas  Wallingford  was 
born  at  Bradford,  Mass.,  in  1697.  He 
came  to  this  town  in  the  early  part  of 
his  life,  and,  by  a  diligent  application 
to  business,  from  a  small  beginning 
became  one  of  the  richest  men  in  the 
province. 

IcHABOD  Rollins  was  born  in  So- 
mersworth,  in  1721.  He  was  a  judge 
of  probate  for  the  county  of  Strafford, 
and  died  Jan.  31,  1800. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Salmon 
Falls  River,  which  divides  it  from  Ber- 
wick, south-west  by  Dover,  north-west 
by  Rochester. 

First  Settlers.  William  Wentworth, 
John  Hall,  William  Stiles,  and  others. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  James  Pike, 
ordained  in  1730  ;  died  in  1792.  Rev. 
Pearson  Thurston,  ordained  in  1792; 
removed  in  1812. 

Mnnnfactures.  At  Great  Falls  are 
the  following  mills  and  manufactures  : 
The  Great  Falls  Manufticturing  Com- 
pany has  six  large  mills,  five  of  which 
are  at  present  in  full  and  successful  op- 
eration, with  65,000  spindles,  and  1,680 
looms.  They  manufacture  drills,  sheet- 
ings, shirtings,  and  prints,  and  produce 
annually  16.000,000  yards  of  cloth: 
they  consume  annually  4,400.000  lbs. 
of  cotton,  5,000  bushels  of  charcoal, 
5,000  gallons  of  soap,  6,000  pounds  of 


tallow,  140,000  pounds  of  starch,  which 
is  equal  to  17,500  bushels  of  potatoes, 
10,000  gallons  of  sperm  oil,  5.000  gal- 
lons of  whale  oil,  300  tons  of  coal, 
3,500  cords  of  wood,  50,000  pounds  of 
wrought  iron  and  steel,  100,000  pounds 
of  castings.  They  employ  1,500  fe- 
males, whose  average  pay  weeklv,  clear 
of  board,  ia  $2.30 ;  and  200  men  and 
boys.  They  pay  out  monthly  to  those 
in  their  employ,  and  for  articles  pur- 
chased in  tlie  village,  exclusive  of  sup- 
plies received  from  Boston,  $35,000; 
which,  going  into  circulation  in  the 
place  and  immediate  neighborhood, 
gives  life  and  activity  to  a  large  busi- 
ness. Besides  the  cotton,  there  are 
other  mills  and  workshops  in  the  place. 
A  machine  shop,  employing  fifty  hands ; 
a  large  steam  planing  mill,  sash  and 
wagon  factory,  an  iron  foundry,  grist 
and  saw  mill,  and  reed  manufactory. 
This  company  has  a  large  and  valua- 
ble unoccupied  Avater  power. 

Distances.  About  twelve  miles  north 
by  west  from  Portsmouth,  and  forty- 
five  east  from  Concord.  The  Boston 
and  Maine  Railroad  passes  through 
this  town,  three  miles  north  of  Dover, 
and  forty-one  miles  from  Portland.  A 
branch  railroad,  of  about  a  mile  in 
length,  connects  Great  Palls  with 
the  main  branch. 


SOUTH  HAMPTON. 

Rockingham  Co.  The  surface  of 
this  town  is  generally  even,  and  the 
soil  of  a  good  quality.  Powow  River 
passes  through  it,  affording  valuable 
mill  sites. 

Hon.  Phillips  White,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  old  congress,  a  counsel- 
lor in  1792  and  1793,  and  for  many 
years  judge  of  probate,  died  June  24, 
1811,  aged  eighty- two. 

Boundaries.  North  by  East  Eangs- 
ton  and  Kensington,  east  by  Seabrook, 
south  by  Amesbury,  Mass.,  and  west 
by  NewtOAvn. 

First  Ministers.  Rev,  William  Par- 
sons, ordained  in  1743;  dismissed  in 
1 762.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Noyes,  settled  in 
1763;  dismissed  in  1800. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.    Indian  com. 


130 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


3,940  bushels;  potatoes,  13,145  bush- 
els ;  hay,  874  tons ;  wool,  1,375  pounds. 
Distances.  Fifty  miles  south-east 
from  Concord,  eighteen  south  south- 
west from  Portsmouth,  and  about  nine 
miles  south-east  from  Exeter.  Tlie 
Eastern  Railroad  passes  near  this  town. 

SPRINGFIELD. 

Sullivan  Co.  A  branch  of  Sugar 
River  has  its  source  in  this  toAvn  ;  and 
also  a  branch  of  the  Blackwater  River. 
The  former  empties  into  the  Connecti- 
cut, the  latter  into  the  Merrimac. 
There  are  several  ponds,  viz.  Station 
Pond,  about  250  rods  long,  140  wide ; 
Cilley  Pond,  240  rods  long,  and  altout 
eighty  wide;  Star,  Stony,  and  Mor- 
gan's Ponds.  The  land  is  rough  and 
stony,  but  good  for  grazing. 

Boundaries.  ISToi-th  by  Grafton,  east 
by  Wilmot,  south-east  by  New  London, 
south  by  Wendell  and  Croydon,  and 
west  by  Croydon  and  Grantham. 

First  Settlers.  Israel  Clifford,  Israel 
Clifford,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Clark,  and  Sam- 
uel Stevens,  in  1772. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Job  Cushman, 
settled  in  1825;  dismissed  in  1828. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,861  bushels ;  potatoes,  34.845  bush- 
els;  hay,  1,961  tons;  wool,  14,184  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  5,773  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-eight  miles  north- 
west from  Concord,  and  thirteen  north- 
east from  NcM-port. 

STARK. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  was  formerly 
named  Piercy.  It  was  altered  to  com- 
pliment the  memory  of  Gen.  vStark.  It 
contains  about  20,000  acres,  most  of 
which  is  broken  and  extremely  uneven. 

In  the  north-east  part  of  tlie  town 
the  north  and  soutli  branches  of  the 
Amonoosuck  form  a  junction.  Nash's 
Stream,  flowing  from  Stratford,  fiiU  in- 
to this  river  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town.  Piercy's  Pond,  lies  on  the  east 
side  of  the  town,  tlie  Avatcrs  of  wliich 
fall  into  the  Upper  Amonoosuck  in 
Milan.  The  soil  of  Stark  is  extremely 
broken,  thougli  in  tlie  valleys  there  are 
some  tolerable  farms.  Mill  Mountain 
is  in  Stark,  and  a  part  of  Pilot  Moun- 


tain. There  is  also  a  singular  ledge 
opposite  Mill  Mountain,  called  the 
DeviPs  Slidinij-pJace.  On  the  south  it 
breaks  abruptly  into  a  precipice  of 
nearly  300  feet,  while  on  the  north  cat- 
tle may  be  driven  to  the  top.  The 
scenery  of  this  town  is  well  worth  vis- 
iting. 

The  venerable  general  John  Stark 
had  his  residence  in  this  toAm,  where 
he  died  May  8,  1 822,  at  the  great  age 
of  ninety-three  years,  eight  months  and 
twenty-four  days.  H-e  was  born  at 
Londonderry,  August  28,  1728;  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  while 
hunting  near  Baker's  River,  in  Rum- 
ncy,  April  28.  1752.  In  1775,  he  was 
appointed  a  colonel  of  one  of  the  three 
regiments  raised  in  NeAv  Hampshire ; 
was  engaged  on  the  heights  of  Charles- 
town,  June  17.  1775;  was  at  the  battle 
of  Trenton,  in  1776;  captured  Col. 
Baum  and  1,000  of  the  British  at  Ben- 
nington, August  16, 1777.  This  event, 
in  tlie  language  of  president  Jefferson, 
was  "  the  first  link  in  the  chain  of  suc- 
cesses which  issued  in  the  surrender  of 
Saratoga."  He  was  soon  after  appoint- 
ed a  brigadier- general  of  the  United 
States  army,  and,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  was  the  only  surviving  Ameri- 
can general  officer  of  the  Revolution. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Stratford  and 
ungranted  lands,  east  and  south  by 
Kilkenny,  and  west  by  Northumber- 
land. 

First  Settlers.  Caleb  and  Benjamin 
Smith  settled  in  1788. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
894  bushels;  potatoes,  18,449  bushels; 
hay,  1,000  tons;  wool,  1,785  pounds; 
maple  sugar.  13,298  pounds. 

Distances.  Ten  miles  north-east 
from  Lancaster,  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  miles  north  of  Concord. 

STEWARTSTOWX. 

Coos  Co.  The  Connecticut  River 
is  about  fifteen  rods  in  width  at  this 
place.  Bishop's  Brook,  a  considerable 
stream,  rises  in  this  town,  and  falls  in- 
to the  Connecticut  at  the  north-west 
corner.  Dead  water  and  Mohawk  Ri- 
vers have  their  sources  here.  Hall's 
Stream,  also,  unites  with  the  Connecti- 
cut in  Stewartstown.     There  are  two 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW  HAJIPSHIRE. 


131 


ponds  in  the  east  part  of  this  town, 
called  Little  and  Great  Diamond  Ponds, 
both  well  stocked  with  salmon  trout. 
There  are  no  large  mountains  in  Stew- 
artstOAVTi,  although  there  are  many  ele- 
vations. The  soil  of  the  intervale  is 
rich,  and  the  uplands  productive. 

During  the  late  Avar  a  block  house 
or  fort  was  erected  in  this  town  for  de- 
fence by  a  company  of  militia,  and  oc- 
cupied until  August,  1814,  when  it  was 
destroyed. 

Boundaries.  North  by  College  Lands, 
east  by  Dixville,  south  by  Colebrook, 
and  west  by  the  Connecticut  River. 

First  Settlers.  The  first  settlements 
were  made  under  grants  from  Col.  Da- 
\\6.  Webster,  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
revolutionary  war. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
5,283  bushels;  potatoes,  33,.595  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,000  tons ;  wool,  4,064  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  17,500  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  north  from  Concord,  and  about 
forty  north-east  from  Lancaster. 


STODDARD. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  town  is  situa- 
ted on  the  height  of  land  between  Mer- 
rimac  and  Connecticut  Elvers.  It  is 
mountainous  and  very  rocky.  The 
soil  is  better  adapted  to  grazing  than 
tillage.  The  south  branch  of  Ashuelot 
River  has  its  source  near  the  centre  of 
the  town.  The  streams  in  the  east  sec- 
tion, fall  into  the  Merrimac ;  those  on 
the  west,  into  the  Connecticut.  There 
are  fourteen  ponds  in  the  towTi,  some 
of  which  are  of  considerable  magni- 
tude. 

The  first  family  was  that  of  John 
Taggard,  whose  privations  and  hard- 
ships were  very  great.  Their  grain 
was  procured  at  Peterborough,  at  the 
distance  of  twenty  miles,  which  was 
conveyed  by  him  on  his  back  through 
the  pathless  wilderness.  At  one  time, 
they  had  nothing,  for  six  days,  on 
which  to  subsist,  but  the  flesh  of  the 
moose. 

This  town  was  formerly  called  Lim- 
erick. It  was  incorporated  in  1774, 
when  it  received  the  name  of  Stod- 


dard, from  Colonel  Samson  Stoddard, 
of  Chelmsford,  to  whom,  with  several 
others,  it  was  granted. 

Boundaries.  North  l)y  Washington, 
east  by  Windsor  and  Antrim,  south  by 
Nelson  and  Sullivan,  and  west  by  Gil- 
sum  and  Mario w. 

First  Settlers.  John  Taggard,  Reu- 
ben Walton,  Alexander  Scott,  James 
Mitchell,  and  others,  in  1769. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Abishai  Col- 
ton,  settled  in  1793 ;  dismissed  in  1795. 
Rev.  Isaac  Robinson,  settled  in  1803. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,555  bushels;  potatoes,  52,680  bush- 
els; hay,  2,973  tons;  wool,  11,037  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  10.105  pounds. 

Distances.  Fourteen  miles  north 
north-east  from  Keene,  and  forty-five 
west  south-west  from  Concord. 


STR.\JPFORD. 

Strafford  Co.  This  town  is  about 
seven  miles  in  length,  six  and  a  half 
wide.  Bow  Pond  is  in  the  south-west 
part  of  the  town,  and  is  about  650  rods 
long,  400  wide ;  its  waters  form  one  of 
the  principal  branches  of  the  Isinglass 
River.  Trout  Pond  Hes  west  of  the 
Blue  Hills,  and  Wild  Goose  Pond  be- 
tween this  town  and  Pittsfield. 

There  is  a  great  variety  of  scenery 
in  this  and  the  neighboring  towns ; 
and  those  who  love  country  sports 
will  find  in  this  region  a  great  variety 
to  please  them. 

The  range  of  Blue  Hills  crosses  the 
north-west  part  of  the  tOAvn.  The 
soil  here  is  generally  of  a  good  qual- 
ity. Strafford  was  formerly  a  part 
of  Barrington. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Farming- 
ton,  south-east  by  Barrington,  south- 
west by  Northwood,  west  by  Pittsfield, 
and  north-west  by  Bamstead. 

First  Minister. "  Elder  William  San- 
ders was  ordained  in  1822. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
10,190  bushels  ;  potatoes,  47,670  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,266  tons  ;  wool,  5,339  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  550  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  north-west 
from  Dover,  and  thirty  east  north-east 
from  Concord, 


132  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


STRAFFORD    COUNTY. 

Dover  is  its  chief  town.  Strafford  County  is  bounded  north  by  the  county 
of  Belknap,  east  by  the  State  of  Maine,  south  and  south-Avest  by  Rockingham 
and  Men-imac  Counties.  The  larger  rivers  are  the  Piscataqua,  Salmon  Falls, 
and  Cocheco.  The  soil  of  Strafford  County,  though  presenting  a  great  variety, 
is  generally  good.  The  lands  are  generally  hard  of  cultivation,  but  the  patient 
laborer  finds  an  ample  reward  for  his  industry.  This  county  possesses  a  large 
hydraulic  power,  and  manufacturing  establishments  are  constantly  increasing 
on  its  streams. 

Although  this  county  has  recently  lost  a  large  share  of  its  territory,  by  the 
formation  of  the  counties  of  Belknap  and  Can-oil,  it  still  retains,  in  conse- 
quence of  its  rapid  increase  in  population  and  wealth,  its  foi-mer  independence 
and  power. — See  County  Table. 


COUETS  m  STRAFFORD  COUNTY. 

Superior  Courts  First  District.  At  Exeter,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  July ; 
and  at  Dover,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Dover,  the  third  Tuesday  of  January  and  first 
Tuesday  o    August. 

Probate  Courts.  At  Dover,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  January,  February, 
March,  April,  June,  September,  November,  and  on  Thursday  next  preced- 
ing the  first  Tuesday  of  August :  at  Rochester,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  July 
and  December ;  at  Farmington,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  May  and  October ;  at 
Strafford,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  June. 


STRATFORD. 

Coos  Co.  This  town  lies  on  the 
east  bank  of  Connecticut  River.  The 
towu  is  large,  extending  ten  miles  on 
the  river,  with  a  fertile  intervale  of  a 
quarter  to  one  mile  wide.  This  mea- 
dow is  skirted,  in  many  places,  by  a 


below,  and  stand  as  landmarks  in 
front,  or  to  the  right,  till,  on  nearer 
approach,  they  are  lost  behind  the  in- 
tervening hills.  Bog  Brook,  and  seve- 
ral smaller  streams,  here  fall  into  the 
Connecticut ;  and  Nash's  Stream  cross- 
es the  south-east  part  of  the  town, 
into    the   Amonoosuck.      There   is   a 


narrow  plain,  succeeded  by  the  moun-  \  pond  in  the  south-east  part  of  the  town, 
tainous   regions,   covering    the   whole  I  the  waters  of  which  pass  into  the  same 


east  and  north  divisions  of  the  town. 
The  soil,  except  along  the  river,  is 
rocky,  gravelly,  and  cold. 

The  Peaks,  two  mountains  of  a 
conical  form,  situated  in  the  south-east 
part  of  the  town,  are  seen  at  a  great 
distance.     Thev  are  discovered  imme- 


river. 

Thomas  Bumside,  of  this  \o\\x\^  was 
one  of  Rogers'  Rangers  in  the  French 
War.  Some  years  aftenvards  he  was 
desirous  of  becoming  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  procured  Col.  Barr  to  assist 
his  views  :  and  carrving  with  him,  by 


diately  on  entering  Dalton,  thirty  miles  i  his  direction,  as  a  present,  a  firkin  of 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


133 


butter  and  a  piece  of  linen,  waited 
upon  Governor  Wentworth,  at  Ports- 
mouth. Pie  stated  to  the  governor 
that  the  inhabitants  of  his  town  could 
not  live  peaceably  any  longer  Avithout 
a  magistrate.  The  governor  inquired 
how  many  inhabitants  belonged  to  the 
town,  and  who  was  the  fittest  man  for 
the  office.  Thomas  answered  that 
himself  and  his  ncHjltbor  were  tlie  only 
inhabitants,  and  liimself  the  only  man 
qualified  for  the  appointment :  for  his 
neighbor  was  no  more  fit  for  a  justice 

of  the  peace  than  the  d 1  was.     Tlie 

governor  gave  him  his  commission,  and 
was  highly  amused  with  the  singularity 
of  the  application. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Columbia,  east 
by  Ungranted  Lands,  south  by  Stark 
and  Northumberland,  and  west  by  Ver- 
mont. 

First  Settlers.  Isaac  Johnston,  James 
Curtis,  James  Bro^vm,  Josiah  Lampkin, 
and  A.  Blodgett. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,162  bushels;  potatoes,  23,270  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,240  tons  ;  wool,  2,814  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  20,505  pounds. 

Distances.  Eighteen  miles  north  of 
Lancaster,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  miles  north  of  Concord. 

STRATHAM. 

EocKiNGHAM  Co.  Stratham  is  dis- 
tant about  eight  miles  from  the  sea. 
The  land  is  even,  and  well  calculated 
for  agricultural  purposes.  Farming  is 
so  exclusively  the  emplo^mient  of  the 
people,  that,  although  a  navigable  river 
adjoins  it,  there  is  little  attention  given 
to  any  other  pursuit.  In  the  east  part 
of  the  town,  in  a  swamp,  is  perhaps 


the  largest  repository  of  peat  in  the 
State.  This  town  was  a  part  of  tlie 
Squamscot  Patent,  or  Hilton's  Pur- 
chase. 

Phinehas  Monill,  Esq.,  an  eminent 
surveyor,  was  a  native  of  this  to\vn, 
and  died  here  December  31,1818,  aged 
forty-seven. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Green- 
land, east  by  Greenland  and  North 
Hampton,  south-west  by  Exeter,  west 
and  north-west  by  the  Piscataqual  liver. 

First  Ministers.  Ilev.  Henry  Kust, 
ordained  in  1718  ;  died  in  1749.  Kev. 
Jose]ih  Adams,  settled  in  1756;  died 
in  1783.  Rev.  James  ]Miltemore,  set- 
led  in  1786;  left  in  1807. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,648  bushels  ;  potatoes,  27,735  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1,637  tons  ;  wool,  2,834  lbs. 

Distances.  Forty-three  miles  south- 
east by  east  from  Concord,  and  three 
east  north-east  from  Exeter. 


SUCCESS. 

Coos  Co.  There  are  several  con- 
siderable mountains  in  this  to-svn,  and 
two  or  three  ponds.  Narmarcunga- 
wack  and  Live  Rivers  rise  here,  and 
pass  westerly  into  the  Androscoggin. 
This  town  is  exceedingly  rough  and 
hard  to  cultivate. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Cambridge, 
east  by  Maine,  south  by  Shelbume,  and 
west  by  Shelburne,  Berlin,  and  Milan. 

First  Settlers.  Success  was  granted, 
in  1773,  to  Benjamin  Mackay,  and 
others. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  forty- 
three  miles  north  by  east  from  Con- 
cord, and  about  thirty  miles  east  from 
Lancaster. 


SULLIVAN  COUNTY. 

Newport  is  the  chief  town.  This  county  is  bounded  north  by  Grafton 
County,  east  by  Merrimac  and  a  part  of  Hillsborough  Counties,  south  by  Chesh- 
ire County,  and  west  by  Connecticut  River,  or  the  State  of  Vermont.  It  was 
taken  from  Cheshire  County  in  1827.  The  surface  of  the  county  is  elevated, 
but  not  mountainous ;  Croydon  Mountain  is  the  highest. 

Along  the  streams,  particularly  on  Connecticut  River,  the  soil  is  rich  and 
12 


134 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


exceedingly  productive.  The  uplands  produce  good  grain,  and  aiford  excel- 
lent pasturage  for  cattle,  of  which  many  are  reared  for  mai-ket.  There  is  a 
^•eat  variety  of  delightful  scenery  in  this  county. 

Besides  the  Connecticut,  which  waters  its  whole  westera  fiontier,  the  Ashue- 
lot,  Cold,  Sugar,  Little  Sugar  Rivers,  and  other  streams,  furnish  the  county 
•with  an  abundant  water  power,  and  Sunapee  Lake  and  numerous  ponds  give 
beauty  to  its  othenvise  varied  and  picturesque  sceneiy. — See  County  Table. 

COURTS  IN  SLXLIVAN  COL^'TY. 

Superior  Court,  Third  District.  At  Newport,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  July 
and  at  Keene,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  December. 

Court  of  Common  Pleas.  At  Newport,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Febniaiy,  and 
third  Tuesday  of  August. 

Probate  Courts.  At  Newport,  on  the  Wednesday  next  after  the  third  Tues- 
day of  April  and  October,  and  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  February,  June,  Au- 
gust, and  December ;  at  Claremont,  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  January,  March, 
May,  July,  September,  and  November. 


SUIililVAN. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  south-east  part 
of  this  town  is  watered  by  Ashuelot 
River.  Sullivan  received  its  name 
from  President  Sullivan,  the  former 
governor  of  the  State. 

The  soil  produces  grain  and  good 
pasturage.  There  are  no  considerable 
ponds,  no  elevations  worthy  of  particu- 
lar notice. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Gilsum  and 
Stoddard,  east  by  Stoddard  and  Nel- 
son, south  by  Roxbury  and  Keene,  and 
west  by  Keene  and  Gilsum. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  William  Muz- 
zy, ordained  in  1798:  dismissed  in  1827. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,414  bushels :' potatoes,  24,938  bush- 
els; hay,  1,793  tons;  wool,  5,104  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  5,29.5  pounds. 

Distances.  Six  miles  north  from 
Keene,  and  forty-eight  west  south-west 
from  Concord. 

SURRY. 

Cheshire  Co.  Surry  is  watered 
by  Ashuelot  River,  on  which  there  is  a 
tract  of  valuable  meadow  land,  extend- 


ing almost  the  whole  length  of  the 
town.  On  the  east  side  of  Ashuelot 
River  is  a  steep  and  high  mountain,  on 
the  summit  of  which  is  a  pond  of  about 
three  acres  in  extent,  and  about  twenty- 
five  feet  depth  of  waier.  VicAving  its 
elevated  height  and  situation  above  the 
river,  it  may  be  esteemed  as  a  natural 
curiosity. 

Surry  was  originally  a  part  of  Gil- 
sum and  Westmoreland,  and  derived 
its  name  from  Surry,  in  England.  The 
Hon.  L.  Holmes  resided  in  this  to^vn. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Alstead,  east 
by  Gilsum,  south  by  Keene,  and  west 
by  Westmoreland  and  Walpole. 

'First  Settler.  Settled  in  1764,  by 
Peter  Harvard. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  David  Dar- 
ling, ordained  in  1779;  dismissed  in 
1783.  Rev.  Perley  Howe,  ordained  in 
1795. 

Productio)}s  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,346  bushels:  potatoes,  15.840  bush- 
els; hay,  1,295  tons;  wool,  3,774  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  5.350  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty-two  miles  south- 
west from  Concord,  and  six  north-west 
from  Keene. 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


135 


SUTTON. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  southerly  and 
largest  branch  of  AVarner  River  enters 
this  town  on  tlie  south,  inins  a  short 
distance,  and  passes  oft"  into  AVarner 
again.  The  northerly  branch  of  this 
river  runs  nearly  through  tiie  centre  of 
the  town  from  north  to  south,  and  af- 
fords several  good  mill  sites.  Stevens' 
]]rook,  another  considerable  branch  of 
AVarner  IJiver,  has  its  source  on  the 
west  side  of  Kearsarge,  and  runs  about 
four  miles  in  this  town,  in  a  south-east 
direction.  There  is  also  a  large  branch 
of  Blackwater  River,  which  has  its 
source  about  the  western  confines  of 
Kearsarge,  and  flows  througli  this  town 
in  a  north-east  course  about  three 
miles.  On  the  margin  of  this  stream, 
there  is  some  rich  meadow  and  inter- 
vale land.  There  are  several  ponds, 
the  most  important  of  which  are  Ke- 
zar's  Pond,  situated  towards  the  north 
part  of  the  to\vn,  which  is  about  190 
rods  square  ;  and  Long  Pond,  situated 
at  the  south  part  of  tlie  town. 

Kearsarge  MouJitain  extends  more 
than  half  the  length  of  Sutton  on  the 
east  side.  King's  Hill  is  situated  on 
the  west  part  of  Sutton.  On  the  most 
elevated  part  of  this  hill,  which  rises 
within  a  few  feet  as  high  as  Kearsarge, 
there  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  land- 
scape views  in  the  country.  On  the 
west  is  seen  the  Sunapee  Lake,  the 
Ascutney,  and  highlands  in  Vermont 
to  the  Green  ]\Iountains  ;  on  the  south 
the  Sunapee  and  Monadnock ;  on  the 
east  you  almost  overlook  Kearsarge, 
and  on  the  north  the  Cardigan  and 
White  Hills. 

Sutton  Avas  called  Perrya-toum,  from 
Obadiah  Perr^'.  one  of  its  original  and 
principal  proprietors. 

On  the  west  bank  of  Kezar's  Pond, 
were  several  acres  of  land,  which  ap- 
peared to  have  been  cleared  of  their 
original  forests.  Here  were  found 
several  Indian  hearths,  laid  with  stone, 
and  with  much  skill  and  ingenuity. 
Here  was  found  an  Indian  Iturial  place. 
Gun  barrels  and  arrows  have  been 
found  in  this  sacred  rej^ository.  Near 
the  pond,  have  been  found  stone  pes- 
tles, mortai-s,  and  tomahawks. 

Inhere  are  in  this  town  almost  every 


variety  of  soil ;  and  although  the  sur- 
face is  very  uneven,  it  produces  all  the 
varieties  of  grahi  and  grasses  common 
to  tlie  country. 

Boundaries.  New  London  is  on  the 
north,  AVilmot  and  AA''arner  on  the  east, 
\A^arner  and  Bradford  on  the  south, 
and  Newbury  on  the  west. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Samuel  Am- 
brose, ordained  in  1782;  dismissed  in 
1795. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
7.018  bushels ;' potatoes,  29.482  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,40.3  tons  ;  wool,  13,549  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  6.1 12  pounds. 

JJisfances.  Twenty-three  miles  west 
north-west  from  Concord. 


SWAWZEY. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  principal 
streams  in  this  town  are  the  Ashuelot 
and  the  South  Branch  Rivers.  The 
former  passes  through  Swanzey  in  a 
south-west  direction,  and  empties  into 
the  Connecticut  at  Hinsdale.  This  is 
a  stream  of  much  importance,  and  is 
made  navigable  for  boats  as  far  up  as 
Keene,  excepting  a  carrying  place 
aliout  the  rapids  at  AVinch'ester.  The 
South  Branch  unites  with  the  Ashuelot 
about  one  mile  north  from  the  centre 
of  the  town. 

The  surface  hero  is  somewhat  diver- 
sified with  hills,  valleys,  and  swells  of 
upland.  There  is  one  pond  m  the 
south-west  part  of  the  town,  the  source 
of  the  South  Branch.  There  is  a  min- 
eral spring,  the  water  of  which  is  im- 
pregnated with  sulphate  of  iron. 

From  1741  to  1747.  this  to^vn  suff*er- 
ed  much  from  Indian  depredations. 
Several  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed 
and  many  were  made  prisoners.  After 
Massachusetts  withdrew  her  protection, 
the  settlers  collected  togetlier  their 
household  furniture,  such  as  chests,  ta- 
bles, iron  and  brass  ware,  and  conceal- 
ed it  in  the  ground,  covering  the  place 
of  concealment  with  leaves,  trees.  &c., 
and  left  their  plantation  to  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  Indians,  who  were  not  tardv 
in  setting  fire  to  their  forts,  which,  witli 
every  house  except  one,  they  reduced 
to  ashes.  Most  of  the  people  went  to 
their  former  places    of   residence   in 


136 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


Massacluijjctts.  They  returned  ahout 
three  years  aftenvards,  and  nothing 
about  their  former  habitation  was  to  be 
seen.  Imt  ruin  and  desohition. 

Boundaries.  North  hy  Keene,  east 
by  ^Marlborough  and  Troy,  south  by 
Richmond,  and  Avest  by  AVinchcster 
and  ChesteiTield. 

First  Ministers.  EeA-.  Timothy  Har- 
rington, settled  in  1741;  left  in  1747. 
Eev.  Ezra  Carpenter,  settled  in  1753: 
dismissed  in  1 769.  Eev.  Edward  God- 
dard,  settled  in  1 769 :  dismissed  in  1 798. ! 
Eev.' Clarke  Browne,  settled  in  1810;  I 
dismissed  in  1815.  j 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn,  i 
8,785  bushels;  potatoes,  34,520  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,269  tons  ;  avooI,  6,374  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  12,200  pounds. 

Distances.  Six  miles  south  from 
Keene,  and  sixty  south-Avest  from  Con- 
cord. 


Jonathan  Choate,  DaAid  Philbrick, and 
AVilliam  Eastman,  in  1771. 

First  Minister.  EcA".  Samuel  Hid- 
den, settled  in  1792. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6,501  bushels;  potatoes,  35,790  bush- 
els :  hay,  2.835  tons ;  avooI,  4,935  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  21,470  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  seA-enteen 
north-Avest  from  Ossipee. 

TEMPIiE. 


TAMWORTH. 

Carroll  Co.  The  surface  of  this 
town  is  uncA-en,  but  not  mountainous. 
On  the  north  are  the  mountains  of  Al- 
bany, at  the  south  the  line  crosses  a 
part  of  Ossipee  Mountain.  The  moun- 
tains to  the  north  haAC  a  romantic  and 
picturesque  appearance.  The  toAvn 
lies  in  ridges  and  A-alleys,  generally 
rocky  and  fertile. 

The  principal  riAcrs  are  Bearcamp. 
which  passes  through  the  tOAvn  in  an 
easterly  direction,  and  discharges  its 
Avaters  into  Ossipee  Lake :  SAAift  EiA-er, 
which  rises  near  the  north-AA-est  corner 
of  the  toAA-n,  and  passing  through  its ; 
centre,  mingles  its  Avaters  Avith  the 
Bearcamp :  and  CouAvay  EiAcr,  pro-  i 
ceeding  from  ConAvay  Pond,  near  Al- 
bany :  and  crossing  the  south  line  of  ! 
TamAvorth,  near  the  south-east  corner , 
of  the  toAA-n.  near  Avhich  it  empties  into 
Bearcamp  Eiver.  By  these  riA-ers.  and 
other  small  streams,  the  tOA\n  is  un- ; 
commonly  avcII  Avatered.  On  these 
sti-cams  is  a  great  number  of  excellent ; 
mill  priAileges.  Fish  are  found  here . 
in  great  variety  and  abundance.  j 

Boundaries.     Xorth  l)y  Albany,  east; 
by  Eaton,  south  by  Ossipee,  and  AA-est  \ 
by  SandAvich. 
'  First   Settlers.       Eiehard    Jackman,  1 


Hillsborough  Co.  The  seA-eral 
streams  which  empty  into  Souhegan 
Eiver  at  Wilton,  rise  among  the  moun- 
tainous tracts  on  the  AACst,  and  gene- 
rally from  sources  AAithin  the  limits  of 
Temple.  This  tOAvn  is  of  considerable 
elevation.  The  prospect  towards  the 
east  and  south  is  very  extensive,  and 
presents  a  rich  and  diversified  scenery. 
From  the  highest  point  of  elevation,  in 

!  a  clear  atmosphere,  about  tAventy  meet- 
ing-houses may  be  seen  by  the  naked 

!  eye.     The  surface  is  uneven  and  pleas- 

I  ant.     The  soil  is  tolerably  good.    Tem- 

i  pie  is  the  easterly  part  of  Avhat  Avas 
called  Peierhoroucjh  Slip. 

Hon.  Francis  JBlood.  a  distinguished 
citizen,  resided  in  this  toAA-n. 

j      In  Temple,  Avhere  there  is  a  popula- 

[  tion  of  less  than  600,  forty,  or  one- 
tAvelfth  of  the  inhabitants,  are  seventy 
years  old  or  upAvards.  The  tOAA'n  has 
had    but   four   ministers.     The   eccle- 

I  siastical  society  never  Avas  a  dollar 
in  an-ears  to  its  minister,  no  one  ever 

;  refused  to  pay  his  tax,  and  no  church 
or  society  matter  was  ever  acted  on  but 

I  Avith  ]ierfect  unanimity. 

Boundaries.      North    by    Greenfield 

!  and   Lyndeborough.   east    by  Lynde- 

,  borough,  south  by  Xcav  IpsAvich  and 
]\Iason,  and  AACSt  by  Sharon  and  Peter- 
borough. 

;  First  ^finist(rs.  Eev.  Samuel  Web- 
ster, ordained  in  1771  :   died  in   1778. 

:  EcA".  Noah  Miles,  ordained  in  1782; 
died  in  1831. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2.999  bushels;'  potatoes,  12,960  bush- 
els: hay,  1,011  tons:  avooI,  1,530  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  2,755  pounds. 

Distances.      Twelve  miles  west  by 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


137 


south    from  Amhers-t,   and   forty-five '      Dish 


south  south-west  from  Concord. 

THORNTON. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  is  water- 
ed by  Pemigewasset  River,  passing 
through  the  town  from  north  to  south, 
by  Mad  River,  at  the  south-east  extre- 
mity, and  by  several  small  brooks. 
On  Mill  Brook  there  is  a  cascade,  at 
which  the  water  falls  seven  feet  in  two 
rods,  and  then  falls  over  a  rock  forty- 
two  feet  perpendicular.  The  inter- 
vales on  the  Pemigewasset  are  pro- 
ductive. There  are  many  elevations, 
but  none  distinguished  for  a  remarka- 
ble height. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Woodstock  and 
Lincoln,  east  by  Ungranted  Land,  south 
by  Campton.  and  west  by  Ellsworth 
and  Woodstock. 

First  Settler.  Benjamin  Hoit,  settled 
in  1770. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Experience 
Esterbrooks,  settled  in  1780:  dismiss- 
ed in  1781.  Rev.  Noah  Worcester, 
D.  D.,  ordained  in  1787  ;  dismissed  in 
1810. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,706  bushels;  potatoes,  33,864  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,603  tons  :  wool,  4,648  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  19,754  pounds. 

Distances.  Twelve  miles  north  from 
Plymouth,  and  fifty-five  north  by  west 
S-om  Concord. 

TROY. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  inhabitants  of 
Troy  are  principally  agiiculturists. 
The  soil  and  productions  of  this  town 
are  similar  to  those  of  Fitzwilliam. 
Possessing  but  few  water  privileges,  its 
advantages  for  mills  and  factories  are 
limited.  This  town  was  taken  from 
Marlborough  and  Fitzwilliam. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Marlborough, 
east  by  Jaflfrey,  south  by  Fitzwilliam, 
and  west  by  Richmond  and  Swanzey. 

First  Afinister.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Rich, 
installed  in  1815  :  dismissed  in  1818. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,418  bushels  ;  potatoes,  21,530  bush- 
els;  hay,  1,336  tons;  wool,  1,351  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  3,335  pounds. 

12* 


Fiftv-four  miles   south- 


west from  Concord,  and  twelve  south- 
east from  Keene. 

TUFTONBOROUGH. 

Carroll  Co.  There  are  several 
ponds  in  this  town,  together  with  many 
small  streams,  running  into  Winnipis- 
eogce  Lake.  The  soil  is  various.  There 
are  several  arms  of  the  lake  stretching 
far  into  the  town,  and  presenting  to 
the  spectator,  from  the  elevated  parts 
of  the  town,  a  succession  of  beautiful 
views. 

Tuftonborough  was  originally  grant- 
ed to  J.  Tufton  Mason,  and  took  its 
name  from  him. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Ossipee, 
south-east  by  Wolfeborough,  south- 
west and  west  by  the  Lake,  north-west 
by  Moultonborough. 

First  Settlers.  Benjamin  Bean,  Phi- 
nehas  Graves,  and  Joseph  Peavey,  set- 
tled about  1780. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Joseph  Kel- 
lum. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com. 
8,289  bushels;  potatoes,  38,700  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,814  tons  ;  wool,  4,089  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  5,589  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  east  by  north 
from  Concord,  and  about  eight  miles 
west  from  Ossipee. 

UNITY. 

SuLLiVAX  Co.  Little  Sugar  River 
has  its  source  in  Whortlebcn-y  Pond 
and  Beaver  Meadow,  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  passes  through  its  centre, 
and  empties  itself  into  the  Connecticut 
at  Charlestown.  Cold  Pond,  the  head 
of  Cold  River,  is  partly  in  this  to%vn. 
From  Oilman's  Pond,  in  the  east  part 
of  Unity,  proceeds  a  branch  of  Sugar 
River,  flowing  through  NeA\'port.  Per- 
ry's Mountain  is  in  the  south-west  part, 
and  partly  in  Charlestown. 

Unity  is  an  uneven  tOAVTiship,  but 
the  soil  is  highly  favorable  for  graz- 
ing. It  is  excellent  for  flax,  few 
towns  in  the  State  producing  a  greater 
quantity. 

The  town  Avas  called  Unity,  from 
the  happy  termination   of  a    dispute 


138 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA:\IPSHIRE. 


which  had  long  subsisted,  between 
certain  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kingston 
and  Hampstead,  claiming  the  same 
tracts  of  land,  under  two  different 
grants. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Claremont 
and  Newport,  east  by  Goshen,  south 
by  Lempster  and  Acworth,  and  -west 
by  Charlestown. 

First  Settlers.  John  Ladd  and  Moses 
Thiirston,  settled  in  1769. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
3,455  bushels  :  potatoes,  38,220  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,183  tons  ;  wool,  8,952  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  10.276  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  west  by  north 
from  Concord,  and  nine  south  from 
Newport. 

WAKEFIELD. 

Carroll  Co.  Lovewell's  Pond,  in 
the  south  part  of  this  town,  is  about 
700  rods  long  and  275  wide.  Province 
Pond  lies  between  Wakefield  and  Ef- 
fingham, and  is  450  rods  long  and  400 
wide.  Pine  River  Pond  is  the  source 
of  the  river  of  that  name,  flowing 
north-west  into  Ossipee  Lake.  The 
principal  branch  of  the  Piscataqua  has 
its  rise  in  East  Pond,  between  Wake- 
field and  Newfield,  Me. 

The  soil  of  this  towm  is  generally 
good :  here  are  some  excellent  farms. 
Wakefield  is  a  very  pleasant  town,  and 
its  waters  aftbrd  a  great  variety  of 
fish.  It  possesses  an  excellent  water 
power. 

LoA''eweirs  Pond,  in  this  town,  de- 
rived its  name  from  Capt.  John  Love- 
well,  of  Dunstable,  who,  on  the  20th 
Feb.  1725,  surprised  and  destroyed  a 
party  of  Indians  encamped  on  the  side 
of  the  pond. 

Robert  Macklin,  distinguished  for 
longevity,  died  here  in  1787,  at  the 
age  of  115.  He  was  born  in  Scot- 
land. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Ossipee 
and  Efiingham,  east  by  Maine,  south- 
east by  Milton,  west  by  Middleton  and 
Brookfield. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Asa  Piper,  or- 
dained in  1785  ;  dismissed  in  1810. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
6^55  bushels/  potatoes,  39,235  bush- 


els ;  hay,  2,545  tons  :  wool,  3,545  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  1,890  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifty  miles  north-east 
from  Concord,  and  about  ten  miles 
south-east  from  Ossipee. 

WALPOLE. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  face  of  this 
town  is  beautifully  diversified  by  hills 
and  vales.  The  soil  is  similar  to  that 
of  other  towns  on  Connecticut  River. 
The  intervales  aftbrd  excellent  tillage  ; 
the  uplands  are  inferior  to  none  in  the 
State.  Cold  River  passes  through  the 
north  part,  and  forms  a  junction  with 
the  Connecticut.  There  is  a  lofty  hill, 
called  Fall  ISIountain,  a  part  of  the 
range  of  Mount  Toby ;  the  highest 
parts  of  which  are  about  750  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  river.  The  vil- 
lage of  Walpole  is  situated  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  on  a  plain  ;  the  margin  of 
the  intervales.  The  principal  street 
runs  north  and  south,  and  is  bordered 
on  both  sides  with  dwelling  houses, 
stores,  and  shops. 

Dremsville^  in  this  towTi,  is  a  pleasant 
village,  romantically  situated  near  the 
falls  ;  it  is  a  place  of  some  trade,  and 
considerable  manufacture. 

Bellows'  Falls,  on  Connecticut  River, 
separates  this  town  from  Rockingham, 
Vt.  At  the  bridge,  Avhich  crosses  the 
river  at  this  place,  built  in  1785,  and 
365  feet  in  length,  the  traveller  is  pre- 
sented with  a  most  interesting  and 
sublime  view.  The  river  here  is  com- 
pressed into  a  narrow  strait,  between 
steep  rocks,  and,  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  is  hurried  on  with  great 
rapidity  and  loud  roaring.  In  no  place 
is  the  fall  pei-jjendicular,  to  any  consi- 
derable extent ;  but,  in  the  distance  of 
half  a  mile,  the  Avaters  descend  forty- 
two  feet.  A  canal,  with  nine  locks, 
passes  round  these  falls,  on  the  west 
side. 

Col.  Benjamin  Bellows  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  this  town,  in  1749. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and 
bravery.  His  descendants  are  nume- 
rous, and  highly  respectable. 

Bellows'  Falls  Village  is  in  Rocking- 
ham, Vt.,  opposite  to  Drewsville. 

Boundaries.    North  by  Charlestown 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


139 


and  Langdon,  east  by  Alstead  and 
Surry,  and  south  by  Westmoreland 
and  Westminster,  Vt. 

First  Settler.  Col.  Benjamin  Bellows, 
settled  in  1749. 

First  Mimsters.  Rev.  Jonathan  Lea- 
vitt,  settled  in  1761  ;  dismissed  in 
1763.  Rev.  Thomas  Fessenden,  settled 
in  1767  ;  died  in  181.3. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
18,512  bushels";  potatoes,  48.279  busli- 
els  ;  hay,  5,073  tons  ;  wool,  38,150  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  4,715  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty  miles  south-west 
by  west  from  Concord,  and  thirteen 
north-west  from  Kecnc.  A  railroad 
passes  through  this  town. 

WARNER. 

Mekrimac  Co.  Warner  is  watered 
by  Warner  River,  a  handsome  stream, 
which  rises  in  the  Sunapee  MouJitain, 
in  Newbury.  It  passes  through  Brad- 
ford, enters  Warner  at  the  north-west 
comer,  and  running  in  an  east  and  south- 
east direction,  divides  the  towu  into 
nearly  two  equal  parts,  and  falls  into 
Contoocook  River  in  Hopkinton.  This 
stream  produces  a  good  water  power. 

The  lands,  though  broken,  have,  in 
general,  a  good  soil.  Mink  Hills  lie 
in  the  west  part,  and  furnish  hne  or- 
chards and  good  pasturage.  There  are 
four  ponds  in  the  town,  viz. :  Tom,  Bear, 
Bagley,  and  Pleasant  Ponds.  Pleasant 
Pond,  the  waters  of  which  are  clear 
and  cold,  deep,  and  of  a  greenish  cast, 
has  no  visible  outlet  or  inlet,  and  over- 
flows its  banks  in  the  driest  seasons. 
There  is  a  great  variety  of  fish. 

The  following  account  of  a  terrible 
tornado,  in  this  section  of  country,  is 
by  the  Rev.  John  Woods,  published  in 
Professor  Silliman's  Journal,  Volume 
XXXV.— No.  2.— Jan.,  1839. 

Mr.  Woods  says  :  '"  The  event  oc- 
curred about  half  past  five  o'clock. 
Sunday  evening,  September  9th,  1821. 
The  wind,  I  suppose,  was  a  proper 
whirlwind,  precisely  such  as  occasions 
water-spouts  at  sea.  A  very  intelli- 
gent woman  in  Warner,  who,  at  a  dis- 
tance of  two  or  three  miles,  observed 
its  progress,  compared  its  appearance 
to  a  tin  trumpet,  the  small  end  do^^'n- 


ward  ;  also  to  a  great  elephant's  trunk, 
let  down  out  of  heaven,  and  nujving 
majestically  along.  She  remarked, 
that  its  appearance  and  motion  gave 
her  a  strong  impression  of  life.  When 
it  had  reached  the  easterly  part  of  the 
town,  she  said  the  lower  end  appeared 
to  be  taken  up  from  the  earth,  and  to 
l)end  around  in  a  serpentine  form,  un- 
til it  passed  behind  a  black  cloud,  and 
disappeared.  Its  course  was  south- 
easterly. It  was  attended  with  but 
little  rain  in  some  parts  of  its  course, 
more  in  others.  The  rain,  or  what 
appeared  like  it,  was,  in  my  opinion, 
taken  from  bodies  of  water,  Avhich  it 
passed  over.  It  was  said,  that  it  low- 
ered the  water  in  a  small  pond  in 
Warner,  about  three  feet.  To  people 
near  Sunapee  Lake,  in  New  London, 
I  was  told  it  appeared  as  if  the  lake 
Avas  rushing  up  towards  heaven.  The 
appearance  of  the  cloud,  to  beholders 
at  a  little  distance,  was  awfully  terri 
fie.  It  commenced  its  desolating  pro 
gress  east  of  Grantham  Mountain,  in 
Croydon.  In  Wendell,  beside  other 
buildings,  it  demolished  a  dwelling- 
house,  and  carried  a  child,  who  was 
asleep  upon  a  bed,  into  Sunapee  Lake. 
In  New  London  and  Sutton  it  did 
considerable  damage,  but  met  with  few 
dwelling-houses,  and  destroyed  no  lives. 
From  Sutton  it  passed  over  the  south- 
west branch,  or  spur,  of  Kearsarge 
Mountain,  with  a  gore  of  land  belong- 
ing to  Warner,  called  Kearsarge  Gore. 
At  the  foot  of  this  mountain  it  entirely 
demolished  five  barns,  unroofed  another, 
and  utterly  destroyed  two  dwelling- 
houses,  and  so  rent  another  as  to  ren- 
der it  in-eparable. 

"  The  houses  wliolly  destroyed  be- 
longed to  two  brothers,  Robert  and 
Daniel  Savary.  They  contained  four- 
teen persons.  In  the  house  of  the 
latter  were  their  aged  parents,  seventy 
years  old,  I  should  think,  or  upwards. 
The  old  gentleman,  as  he  saw  the 
cloud  coming,  went  into  a  chamber  to 
close  a  window,  and  was  there  when 
the  wind  struck  the  house.  He  was 
earned  four  or  five  rods,  dashed  upon 
the  rock,  and  instantly  killed.  A  part 
of  his  brain  was  left  upon  the  rock 
where  he  fell.     His  wife  was  very  badly 


140 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


wounded,  and  it  was  thought  would 
not  recover.  A  child  of  Daniel  Sava- 
ry,  in  the  same  house,  was  also  killed. 
In  the  house  of  Robert  Savarv,  several 
were  much  wounded  and  bruised,  but  no 
lives  lost.  The  houses  and  barns,  and 
other  buildings  at  this  place,  Avere  not 
only  levelled  'with  the  foundation,  but 
the  materials  and  contents  were  dashed 
into  ten  thousand  pieces,  and  scattered 
in  every  direction.  Carts,  wagons, 
sleighs,  ploughs,  and  sleds  which  were 
new  and  strong,  (one  ox-sled,  I  recol- 
lect, was  entirely  new.)  M'cre  earned  to 
a  considerable  distance — from  twenty 
to  sixty  rods — and  so  broken  and  shat- 
tered as  to  be  fit  only  for  fuel.  Stone 
walls  were  levelled,  and  rocks,  weigh 
ing  two,  three,  or  four  hundred  pounds, 
were  turned  out  of  their  beds,  appa- 
rently by  the  bare  force  of  the  wind. 
Large  logs,  also,  two  feet  or  more  in 
diameter,  which  were  bedded  into  the 
ground,  and  were  fifty  or  sixty  feet 
long,  were  not  sufficiently  weighty  to 
retain  their  location.  In  one  instance, 
I  recollect  to  have  seen  one  large  log, 
lying  upon  another  in  such  a  condition, 
that  it  was  thought,  by  good  judges, 
that  ten  yoke  of  oxen  could  not  have 
moved  the  lower  one  from  its  bed  : 
but  both  were  removed  by  the  wind 
several  feet.  An  elm  tree,  near  where 
old  Mr.  Savary  fell,  which  was  one 
foot,  at  least,  in  diameter,  and  too 
strongly  rooted  to  yield,  was  tA^isted 
like  a  withe  to  the  ground,  and  lay 
prostrate  across  the  path  like  a  wilted 
weed.  Not  an  apple  or  forest  tree  was 
left  standing.  One  bam  was  seen  to 
be  taken  up  whole,  with  its  contents, 
of  hay,  grain,  &c.  After  being  car- 
ried several  rods,  it  came  to  pieces, 
and  flew  like  feathers  in  every  direc- 
tion. 

"  From  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Savary's  it  passed  over  another  spur 
of  the  mountain,  and  fell,  with  great 
violence,  on  the  buildings  of  Peter 
Flanders  and  Joseph  True.  Their 
houses,  which  were  but  a  few  rods  dis- 
tant— one  in  Warner,  the  other  in 
Salisbury — were  utterly  demolished. 
In  Mr.  Flanders'  house  were  nine  per- 
sons, two  of  whom  were  instantly  kill- 
ed.   Mr.  Flanders  and  wife  were  very 


badly  wounded,  but  at  length  recov- 
ered. In  Mr.  True's  house  were  seven, 
all  of  whom  were  most  wonderfully 
preserved,  excepting  two  children,  ten 
or  twelve  years  old,  who  were  badly 
burnt  by  hot  bricks,  the  oven  having 
been  heated,  and  the  bread  then  in  it ; 
one  of  whom  lingered  several  weeks  in 
extreme  suffering,  and  then  died.  The 
father  and  mother  of  ]Mrs.  True,  who 
lived  about  half  a  mile  distant,  were 
visiting  there.  They  had  just  left  the 
tea  table.  Mr.  True  and  his  fother-in- 
law  went  out  at  the  door,  and  saw  the 
cloud,  but  thought  at  first  they  were 
so  under  the  hill,  it  would  pass  harm- 
less over  them.  But  they  were  soon 
convinced  that  its  track  was  marked 
with  desolation.  Mr.  True  just  gave 
an  alarm  to  his  family,  then  ran  under 
i  the  end  of  his  shop,  which  happened 
to  stand  beyond  the  violence  of  the 
Avind,  so  as  not  to  be  demolished.  His 
father-in-law,  (Jones.)  stood  his  ground, 
until  the  wind  struck  the  bam,  a  few 
rods  to  the  north-west  of  him,  and  he 
saw  the  fragments  of  it  flying  in  the 
air,  over  his  head.  He  then  threw 
himself  flat  upon  the  ground,  by  a 
heavy  pile  of  M'ood.  Instantly  a  rafter 
fell  endwise,  close  by  him,  entering  the 
ground  a  foot  or  two  in  depth,  and  im- 
I  mediately  a  beam  grazed  down  upon  the 
I  rafter,  and  lay  at  his  feet.  He  and 
I  Mr.  True  were  entirely  unbanned.  In 
I  a  moment  they  saw,  instead  of  a  new 
,  and  strong  and  very  comfortable  dwel- 
\  ling-house,  a  pcifect  desolation.  Not 
'  even  a  sill  remained  upon  its  founda- 
tion. Even  the  cellar  stairs,  and  the 
hearths,  which  were  of  tile  or  brick, 
eight  inches  square,  were  taken  up,  and 
removed.  The  bricks  of  the  chimney 
lay  scattered  along,  partly  covering 
Mrs.  True,  and  covering,  to  a  consider- 
able depth,  two  of  the  children.  Mrs. 
True  was  soon  taken  up,  with  but  little 
injury.  The  shrieks  and  cries  of  the 
two  children,  under  a  weight  of  hot 
bricks,  next  pierced  the  heart  of  their 
I  father.  In  removing  them  he  burnt 
!  his  hands  to  the  bone.  They  were  at 
i  length  taken  out  alive,  but  in  a  state 
of  great  suffering,  one  of  whom,  as  I 
I  have  mentioned,  after  a  few  weeks, 
1  died.    All  were  now  found  but  the 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


141 


babe,  about  one  year  old.  Supposing 
it  to  be  under  the  bricks,  Mr.  True 
renewed  his  labor ;  but  soon  it  was 
heard  to  cry  in  the  direction  of  the 
wind.  Such  as  could  run,  ran  in 
searcli  of  it,  and  soon  found  it  lying 
safe  upon  the  ground,  beneath  a  sleigh 
bottom,  ten  or  fifteen  rods  from  where 
the  house  had  stood.  When  the  wind 
came,  the  sleigh  was  in  the  barn,  six 
or  eight  rods  north  or  north-westerly 
from  the  house.  The  two  last  men- 
tioned houses  Avere  one  story,  well 
built,  and  well  furnished  dwellings. 
Their  materials  were  not  merelv  sepa- 
rated, but  broken,  splintered,  reduced 
to  kindling  wood,  and  scattered  like 
the  chaff  of  the  summer  thrasliing 
floors.  It  was  the  same  with  furni- 
ture, beds,  bedding,  bureaus,  chairs, 
tables,  and  the  like.  A  loom  was,  to 
appearance,  carried  whole  about  forty 
rods,  and  then  dashed  in  pieces.  The 
width  of  the  desolation  here  was  about 
twenty  or  twenty-five  rods.  On  the 
higher  grounds  over  which  it  passed, 
it  was  forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  rods.  The 
deeper  the  valley,  the  narrower  and 
more  violent  was  the  current.  From 
the  last  mentioned  neighborhood,  it 
passed  on  to  the  east  part  of  Warner, 
but  met  with  no  other  dwelling-houses, 
and  did  but  little  damage,  except  to 
fences  and  forests.  The  appearance 
of  the  ground  where  it  passed,  was  as 
if  a  mighty  torrent  had  swept  over  it, 
up  hill  as  well  as  down.  Near  the 
boundary  between  Warner  and  Bos- 
cawen  the  desolation  ceased.  It  was 
taken  up  from  the  earth,  but  spruce 
floor  boards,  which  were  taken  from 
New  London,  were  borne  upon  its 
bosom,  and  dropped  in  the  Shaker 
Village,  in  Canterbuiy,  a  distance  of 
about  thirty  miles.  In  followibg  its 
track  in  Kearsarge  Gore,  I  came  to  a 
considerable  stixam  of  Avater,  across 
which  had  been  a  bridge,  covered  with 
large  oak  logs,  split  in  the  middle,  in- 
stead of  planks.  These  half  logs  were 
scattered  in  every  direction  ;  some  car- 
ried, I  should  think,  ten  rods  in  the 
direction  from  which  the  wind  came, 
others  sixty  rods  in  the  direction  it 
went,  and  others  were  dropped  near 
the  margin,  at  the  right  and  left. 


"  One  remarkable  fact  is,  that  the 
same  day,  and  about  the  same  time  in 
the  day,  two  other  similar  whirlwinds 
were  experienced,  which  moved  in 
nearly  parallel  lines ;  one  passing 
through  Warwick,  Mass.,  and  the  other 
about  the  same  distance  to  the  north- 
east." 

Boundaries.  North  by  Sutton  and 
Salisbury,  east  by  Boscawen,  south  by 
Hopkinton  and  Henniker,  and  west  by 
Bradford. 

First  Settlers.  David  Annis  and  Reu- 
ben Kimball,  in  1762. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  William  Kelley, 
ordained  in  1772:  dismissed  in  1801. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
10,831  bushels  ;  potatoes,  35,986  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,976  tons  :  wool  12,862  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,526  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  west  from 
Concord.  A  railroad  will  soon  pass 
through  tliis  pleasant  town. 

WARREN. 

Graftox  Co.  This  to-wn  is  water- 
ed by  the  north  branch  of  Baker's  Ri- 
ver, which  has  its  source  on  the  east 
side  of  Moosehillock  Mountain.  It 
passes  in  a  northern  direction  to  Went- 
worth,  and,  near  the  south  line  of  War- 
ren, furnishes  several  valuable  mill 
sites.  The  south-east  part  presents  a 
mountainous  aspect,  having  a  large 
portion  of  Carr's  Mountain  on  its 
south-eastern  border.  Copper  ore  is 
found  here. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Benton,  east 
by  AVoodstock,  south  by  Wentworth, 
and  west  by  Piermont. 

First  Settlers.  Warren  was  granted 
by  charter,  July  14,  1763. 

"  Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
2,121  bushels;  potatoes,  38,394  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,333  tons :  wool,  4,057  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  41,745  ])ounds. 

Distances.  About  fourteen  miles 
south-east  from  Haverhill,  and  sixty- 
five  north  by  west  from  Concord. 

WASHINGTON. 

ScLLiVAX  Co.  This  tOTvn  is  hilly, 
but  not  mountainous.  Love  well's 
Mountain,  so  called  from  Capt.  Love- 


142 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


wells's  killing  seven  Indians  near  it,  is 
of  a  conical  shape,  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  in  diameter,  and  may  be  seen 
at  a  considerable  distance.  Washing- 
ton abounds  with  springs,  rivulets,  and 
natural  ponds,  of  the  last  of  which, 
there  are  no  less  than  sixteen,  and 
some  of  them  of  considerable  magni- 
tude. 

Island  Pond,  so  called  from  its  being 
full  of  islands,  is  two  miles  long,  and 
one  and  a  half  wide.  Half  Moon  Pond 
is  one  and  a  half  miles  in  length.  As- 
huelot  Pond  is  one  and  a  half  miles 
long,  and  one  mile  wide,  and  is  tlie 
source  of  one  of  the  principal  branches 
of  Ashuelot  River.  Brockway's  Pond, 
a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  lying  on 
a  white  sand,  is  one  mile  long,  and 
half  a  mile  wide.  Long  Pond,  lying  in 
this  town  and  Stoddard,  is  five  miles  in 
length.  These  ponds  abound  Avith  a 
variety  of  fish.  The  borders  of  these 
ponds  present  delightful  scenery.  A 
branch  of  Contoocook  River  has  its 
source  from  several  small  ponds  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town. 

The  soil  is  generally  deep  and  moist,  i 
better  for  grass  than  tillage.  The  first 
settlers  had  150  acres  of  land  each  for 
settling. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Goshen,  east 
by  Bradford,  Hillsborough  and  Wind- 
sor, south  by  Stoddard,  and  west  by 
Marlow  and  Lempster. 

First  Settler.  Reuben  Kidder,  Es(i., 
settled  in  1768. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  George  Lcsslic, 
installed  in  1780;  died  in  1800. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
2,351  bushels;  potatoes,  31.158  bush- 
els; hay,  2,574  tons;  wool,  7,15-1  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  10,330  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty-five  miles  west  i 
from  Concord,  and  about  sixteen  miles 
south-east  from  Newport. 

"WATERVILIiE. 

Grafton  Co.  This  town  com- 
prises the  territory  called  GiUis  and 
Foss''  Grant,  until  its  incor]ioration.  in 
1829.  It  is  bounded  north  i)y  ungrant- 
ed  land,  east  by  Albany,  south  by 
SandAvi(;h,  and  west  by  Thornton.  It 
was  granted  June  29,^1819,  to  Josiah 


Gillis,  Moses  Foss,  jr.,  and  others.  It 
is  watered  by  Mad  River,  which  rises 
among  the  mountainous  tracts  on  the 
north;  runs  south-west  about  twenty 
miles,  and  tails  into  Pemigewasset  Ri- 
ver in  Campton.  SNvift  River  has  its 
source  in  this  town,  pursues  an  east 
course  thi-ough  Albany,  into  Conway, 
where  it  unites  with  Saco  River. 
Tliere  are  two  ponds,  and  several  con- 
siderable elevations.  INIoses  Foss,  jr., 
commenced  the  settlement  some  years 
since. 

M'EARE. 

Hillsborough  Co.  The  only  Ri- 
ver in  Weare  is  the  north-west  branch 
of  Piscataquog.  which  enters  the  west 
boundary  from  Deering,  and  meander.s 
through  the  north  and  east  sections  of 
the  town,  and  passes  the  south  line 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  south-east 
corner.  This  river  affords  the  best  mill 
sites  in  the  town.  Here  are  three  ponds. 

Rattlesnake  Hill,  nearly  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  north  line  of  the  town,  abounds 
with  shelving  rocks,  abrupt  precipices, 
forming  dens  and  caves.  During  the 
summer  season,  the  reptile  from  which 
the  hill  takes  its  name,  is  frequently 
found.  The  town,  though  rather  bro- 
ken, is  not  mountainous.  It  has  small 
swamps,  and  some  good  meadows.  It 
is  now  settled  and  cultivated  to  its  ex- 
treme limits  by  industrious  and  wealthy 
husbandmen.  It  received  its  name  in 
honor  of  Meshech  Weare,  chief  justice 
of  the  province   of  New  Hampshire. 

The  manufactures  of  this  town  are 
im]>ortant  and  increasing. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Henniker  and 
Ho])kinton,  east  by  Duiibarton  and 
Goff'stown.  south  by  New  Boston,  and 
west  by  Franccstown  and  Deering. 

First  Settlers.  Emigrants  from  Mas- 
sachusetts, about  tlie  year  1749. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  John  Cavford, 
settled  in  1802;  dismissed  in  1808. 

Productions  of  the.  Soil.  Indian  com, 
13,035  bushels';  potatoes.  39,975  bush- 
els; hay,  4,330  tons  ;  wooh  14,548  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  2,951  pounds. 

Distances.  Foui-tcen  miles  south- 
west from  Concord,  and  seventeen 
north  north-west  from  Amherst. 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


143 


Sullivan  Co.  A  considerable  part 
of  Lake  Sunapce,  a  noble  sheet  of  wa- 
ter, lies  in  this  town.  The  surface  of 
this  lake  is  said  to  contain  4,095  acres, 
of  which  2,720  acres  are  in  Wendell. 
Here  is  the  principal  source  of  Sugar 
River,  which  flows  from  the  lake  near 
its'  centre  from  north  to  south ;  passes 
through  the  centre  of  the  town  into 
Newport,  from  thence  into  Claremont, 
where  it  unites  with  the  Connecticut. 
There  are  three  small  ponds,  contain- 
ing an  ai'ea  of  about  300  acres.  The 
town  received  its  name  from  John  Wen- 
dell, one  of  the  principal  proprietors. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Springfield, 
east  by  Sunapee  Lake,  separating  it 
from  New  London  and  Newbury,  and 
west  by  Newport  and  Croydon. 

First  Settlers.  In  1772,  emigrants 
from  Rhode  Island  settled  laere. 

First  Minister.     Rev.  N.  Woodward. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
1,006  bushels;  potatoes,  34,842  bush- 
els; hay,  1,599  tons;  wool,  5,319  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  8,513  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty  miles  north-west 
from  Concord,  and  seven  east  from 
Newport. 

WENTIVORTH. 

Grafton"  Co.  This  to\\n  is  water- 
ed by  Baker's  River,  on  which  is  a  fall 
of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet,  affording  a 
valuable  hydraulic  power.  The  south 
branch  of  Baker's  River  passes  through 
the  southerly  part  of  tliis  town  and  joins 
the  main  branch  near  Rumney  line. 
Here  are  but  few  ponds.  Bakers,  sit- 
uated on  Orford  line,  is  the  most  con- 
siderable ;  the  outlet  of  which  is  called 
Pond  Brook,  and  affords  water  suffi- 
cient for  several  valuable  mill  sites. 

In  the  east  part  of  the  town,  lies  part 
of  Carr's  Mountain,  covered  in  its  nat- 
ural state  with  a  heavy  growth  of  for- 
est trees.  A  part  of  the  elevation  call- 
ed Mount  Cuba  lies  in  the  west  part 
of  Wentworth.  This  mountain  con- 
tains inexhaustible  quantities  of  the 
best  limestone,  of  which  a  constant  sup- 
ply of  good  lime  is  made,  and  sold  at  a 
low  price.    Iron  ore  is  found  in  -v-urious 


parts.  The  soil  is  generally  good ;  the 
lands  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers  are 
of  the  first  quaHty. 

The  town  received  its  name  from 
Governor  Benning  Wentworth.  The 
first  settlement  commenced  a  few  years 
before  the  revolutionary  war.  Articles 
of  subsistence,  potatoes  and  seeds  for 
the  propagation  of  vegetables,  were 
transported  thither  from  the  lower  part 
of  the  State  on  pack  horses,  hand- 
sleighs,  and  in  knapsacks. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Warren,  east 
by  Rumney,  south  by  Dorchester,  and 
west  by  Orford, 

First  Settlers.  The  first  settlement 
commenced  a  few  years  before  the  revo- 
lutionary war. 

First  Minister.  Rev.  Increase  S.  Da- 
vis, settled  in  1833. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
3,190  busliels;  potatoes,  30,678  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,483  tons ;  wool,  5,321  lbs. ; 
maple  sugar,  20,733  pounds. 

Distances.  Fifteen  miles  north-west 
from  Plymouth,  and  about  fifty  north 
north-west  from  Concord. 

■WESTMORELAND. 

Cheshire  Co.  This  to^vn  is  wa- 
tered by  several  small  streams  which 
empty  into  the  Connecticut.  The  one 
issuing  from  Spafford's  Lake  in  Ches- 
terfield is  the  largest,  and  affords  some 
of  the  best  water  privileges  in  town. 

The  early  settlers  were  several  times 
attacked  by  the  Indians.  In  one  of 
their  excursions,  they  killed  William 
Phips,  the  first  husband  of  Jemima 
How;  and  in  another,  earned  Nehe- 
miah  How,  the  father  of  her  second 
husband,  a  captive  to  Canada,  where 
he  died. 

This  to^\^l  lies  on  the  east  side  of 
Connecticut  River,  and  the  surface  is 
less  varied  by  mountains,  vales,  rivers, 
and  ponds,  than  the  neighboring  towns. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Walpole,  east 
by  Surry  and  Keene,  south  by  Chester- 
field, and  west  by  Dummerston  and 
Putney,  Vt. 

First  Settlers.  Four  families  settled 
in  1741. 

Fii'st  Ministers.  Rev.  William  God- 
dard,  ordained  in  1764;   dismissed  in 


144 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


1775.  Rev.  Allen  Pratt,  settled  in 
1790;  dismissed  in  1827. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
11,979  bushels:  potatoes,  33,547  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,629  'tons  ;  wool  11 ,279  lbs. : 
maple  sugar,  15,304  pounds. 

Distances.  Sixty-tive  miles  south- 
west from  Concord,  and  about  ten 
miles  west  of  Keene.  A  raih-oad  pass- 
es through  this  town. 

"WHITE  FIELD. 

Coos  Co.  The  soil  of  this  town  is 
generally  thin  and  light,  of  easy  culti- 
vation and  tolerably  good ;  though  in 
the  north  part  low  spruce  swamps 
abound.  Here  lie  part  of  Blake's,  Long, 
Round,  and  Little  River  Ponds,  beside 
two  other  small  ponds.  The  second  of 
these  is  a  beautifid.  sheet  of  water,  of 
considerable  size,  abounding  with  fish. 
John's  River  passes  through  this  town. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lancaster, 
east  by  Jefferson,  south  by  Carroll, 
and  west  by  Dalton. 

First  Settlers.  Maj.  Burns  and  others 
settled  soon  after  1774. 

First  Ministei-.     See  Bethlehem. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Buckwheat, 
1,045  bushels;  potatoes,  29,925  bush- 
els; hay,  1,400  tons;  wool,  2,339  lbs.; 
m^le  sugar,  15,880  pounds. 

Distances.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  north  from  Concord,  and  about 
twelve  miles  south-east  from  Lancaster. 

■WILMOT. 

Merrimac  Co.  The  streams  fonn- 
ing  Blackwater  River,  have  their  ori- 
gin in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmot.  They 
afford  a  good  number  of  mill  sites. 
The  Fourth  New  Hampshire  Turnpike 
from  Concord  to  Hanover,  passes 
through  this  town.  It  was  made  in 
1803,  through  an  entire  forest,  without 
any  inhabitants  for  fourteen  miles 
above,  and  about  six  miles  below  Vril- 1 
mot.  The  land  near  the  Turnpike  ap- 
pears rude  and  barren  ;  but  the  accliv- 
ities on  either  side  are  susceptible  of 
cultivation.  The  town  is  composed  of 
hills  and  valleys,  presenting  a  rough 
stirface.  There  are  no  large  collections 
of  water,  nor  any  mountains,  except- 
ing Kearsarge,  whose   summit  fonns 


the  southern  boundary.  It  received 
its  name  from  Dr.  Wilmot,  an  Eng- 
lishman, who,  at  one  time,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  the  author  of  the  celebrated 
letters  of  Junius. 

Boundaries.  North-west  by  Spring- 
field, north-east  by  Danbury,  New 
Chester,  and  Andover,  south-east  by 
Warner,  and  south-west  by  New  Lon- 
don. 

First  Settlers.  In  1775  this  towTi  was 
granted  to  Joseph  Minot,  Matthew 
Thornton,  and  others. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
4,234  bushels ;' potatoes,  30,167  bush- 
els ;  hay,  2,676  tons  ;  avooI,  9,077  lbs. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  north-west 
from  Concord. 

"IVIIiTOX. 

Hillsborough  Co.  Souhegan  is 
the  principal  river  in  this  town.  Its 
main  branch  enters  Wilton  near  the 
south-west  corner,  and  proceeds  in  a 
north-east  course  till  it  forms  a  junc- 
tion with  several  branches,  running 
from  Lyndeborough  and  Temple. — 
These  flow  through  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  and  produce  a  valuable  wa- 
ter power.  Here  are  valuable  manu- 
factures, and  a  pleasant  village. 

This  town  has  neither  mountains, 
ponds,  or  SAvamps.  It  is,  in  general, 
of  strong  and  excellent  soil.  Good 
clay  is  found  in  plenty,  near  the 
streams.  There  are  several  quarries 
of  excellent  stone,  for  splitting  and 
hcAving.  The  town  derived  its  name 
from  Wilton,  an  ancient  borough  in 
Wiltshire,  England. 

A  distressing  accident  occuiTed  in 
raising  the  second  meeting-house,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1779.  The  frame  fell,  and 
three  men  were  instantly  killed ;  two 
died  of  their  wounds,  soon  afterward, 
and  a  number  of  others  were  badly 
injured.  On  July  20,  1804,  the  same 
meeting-house  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  considerably  shattered. 

Boundimes:  North  by  Lyndeborough, 
east  by  Lyndeborough  and  Milford, 
south  by  Mason,  and  west  by  Temple. 

First  Settlers.  The  first  settlement 
was  made  in  1738,  by  three  families 
from    Danvers,  Mass. ;    tAVO    by  the 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


145 


name  of  Putnam,  and  one  by  the  name 
of  Dale.  Hannah,  the  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Putnam,  was  the  first  child 
bom  in  town. 

First  Ministers.  Rev.  Jonathan  Liv- 
ermore,  ordained  in  1763;  dismissed 
in  1777;  died  in  1809.  Rev.  Abel 
Fiske,  settled  in  1778;  died  in  1802. 
Rev.  Thomas  Bccde,  settled  in  1 803  ; 
dismissed  in  1829. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,474  bushels  ;"  potatoes,  20.063  bush- 
els ;  hay,  1.728  tons;  wool,  1,500  lbs.; 
wheat,  1,800  bushels. 

Distances.  Nine  miles  west  by  south 
from  Amherst,  and  forty  south  by  west 
from  Concord.  This  town  is  accom- 
modated with  a  railroad,  and  is  but  a 
short  ride  from  Boston. 

WINCHESTER. 

Cheshire  Co.  The  face  of  this 
town  is  diversified  ^vith  hills  and  val- 
leys. The  soil  is  of  an  excellent  qual- 
ity, furnishing  in  abundance  all  the 
agricultural  products  natural  to  this 
section  of  the  country.  Ashuelot  River 
passes  through  the  centre  of  this  town, 
affording  a  great  hydraulic  power ;  it 
is  bordered  on  each  bank  by  exten- 
sive intervales,  of  a  fertility  rarely  ex- 
celled. 

There  are  other  small  streams  run- 
ning in  various  directions,  through 
the  town,  affording  facilities  for  water 
power. 

The  centre  village  is  on  the  south- 
east bank  of  the  Ashuelot,  and  the 
principal  street,  running  parallel  with 
its  border,  has  a  number  of  dwelling- 
houses,  meeting-houses,  an  elegant 
district  school  house,  and  various  man- 
ufactures. At  the  lower  end  of  the  vil- 
lage, the  street  is  adorned  with  a  beau- 
tiful row  of  native  ever-green  trees, 
which  extend  nearly  half  a  mile.  This 
village  is  very  handsome. 

Two  miles  west  is  another  manufac- 
turing village,  containing  one  large 
woollen  factory,  one  cotton  factory,  one 
•satinet  factory,  &c. 

In  the  south-east  part  of  the  town  is 
another  manufacturing  village.  There 
are  other  manufacturing  villages  in  the 
town. 

13 


This  town  was  sacked  by  the  In- 
dians, and  the  inhabitants  taken  pris- 
oners, or  driven  off,  in  1745  or  1746, 
and  did  not  return  under  about  five 
years,  to  resume  the  settlement  of  the 
place. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Chesterfield 
and  Swanze'y,  east  by  Richmond,  south 
by  Warwick  and  Northfield,  in  Mass., 
and  west  by  Hinsdale. 

First  Settlers.  Josiah  Willard  and 
others,  settled  about  the  year  1 732. 

First  Ministers.  ]{ev.  Joso[>h  Ash- 
ley, ordained  in  1736  ;  removed  in 
1 747.  Rev.  Micah  Lawrence,  onlain- 
ed  in  1764;  dismissed  in  1777.  Rev. 
Ezra  Conant,  settled  in  1788  ;  dismiss- 
ed in  1806. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
9.899  bushels;  potatoes,  28,618  bush- 
els ;  hay,  3,440  tons  ;  wool,  9,175  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  10,615  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirteen  miles  south- 
west from  Keene,  sixty-five  south-west 
from  Concord.  This  town  will  soon 
be  accommodated  with  a  railroad. 

WINDHAM. 

Rockingham  Co.  Policy  Pond 
lies  in  this  town  and  Salem,  about  one 
half  in  each.  Cabot's  Pond  lies  east 
of  the  centre  of  the  town.  Golden 
Pond  is  in  the  south,  and  Mitchel's  in 
the  north-east  part  of  the  town.  Bea- 
ver River  or  Bi'ook  forms  the  western 
boundary,  upon  which  are  some  mead- 
ow lands.  The  town  is  also  well  sup- 
plied with  small  streams.  These  wa- 
ters affoi-d  fine  fish, 

"Windham  was  originally  a  part  of 
Londonderry.  The  inhabitants,  princi- 
pally derived  from  the  first  settlei-s  of 
Londonderry,  have  firmly  adhered  to 
the  religious  principles  of  their  fathers, 
to  the  doctrines  and  forms  of  the  pres- 
byterian  church  as  originally  establish- 
ed in  Scotland,  and  administered  in 
this  country. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Londonderry, 
east  by  Salem,  south  by  Pelham,  and 
west  by  Hudson  and  Londonderry. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  corn, 
5,561  bushels;'  potatoes,  16,588  bush- 
els;  hay,  1,659  tons;   wool,  1,936  lbs. 

Distances.     Thirty-three  miles  south 


146 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


by  east    from    Concord,   and   twenty 
south-east  from  Exeter. 


AVEVDSOR. 

Hillsborough  Co.  This  town 
contains  only  .5,.335  acres.  It  is  diver- 
sified with  hills:  its  soil  is  strong,  good 
for  grazing,  and  for  bread  stuff's,  of 
which  quantities  sufficient  for  use  at 
home,  and  some  for  the  markets  are 
raised.  Black  Pond,  near  the  centre, 
is  said  to  be  1 60  rods  long  and  80  broad ; 
and  a  poud  near  the  south-east  corner 
of  the  town,  is  about  80  rods  long  and 
40  wide. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Washington, 
east  by  Hillsborough,  south  by  Antrim, 
and  west  by  Stodrlard. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
824  bushels,  potatoes,  7,515  bushels; 
hay,  654  tons:  avooI,  1,176  pounds; 
maple  sugar,  725  pounds. 

Distances.  Thirty  miles  south-west 
from  Concord,  and  about  twenty-seven 
north-west  from  Amherst. 

WOIiFEBOROU  GH. 

Carroll  Co.  The  soil  of  this  town 
is  rocky,  but  productive,  and  the  face 
of  the  country  level.  The  wood  is 
principally  oak  and  other  hard  timber. 
The  only  river  is  Smith's,  so  called 
from  a  hunter  of  that  name ;  it  issues 
from  a  large  pond  of  the  same  name  in 
the  south-east  part  of  the  town,  and  dis- 
charges its  waters  into  the  lake.  There 
are  four  other  ponds  of  considerable 
magnitude,  called  Crooked,  Rust's,  Bar- 
ton's, and  Sargent's  Ponds.  There  is 
a  bridge  over  Smith's  River  about  sixty 
feet  long,  near  its  entrance  into  the 
Winnipiseogee.  Near  this  bridge  is  a 
pleasant  village. 

The  charter  of  Wolfeborough  was 
granted  in  1770,  to  Gov.  John  Went- 
worth,  Mark  H.  Wentworth  and  others. 
Gov.  Wentworth,  distinguished  for  his 
enterprise  and  taste,  and  a  fondness 
for  agricultural  improvements,  erected 
a  splendid  mansion  about  five  miles 
east  of  the  bridge,  and  made  it  his  sum- 
mer residence. 

At  the  foot  of  a  hill,  near  one  of  the 
ponds  in  this  town,  is  a  mineral  spring. 


The  scenery  in  this  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  bordering  on  the  beauti- 
ful Winnipiseogee,  is  splendid. 

Boundaries.  North-east  by  Ossipee, 
south-east  by  Brookfield,  south-west  by 
Winnipiseogee  Lake  and  Alton,  and 
north-west  by  Tuftonbo rough. 

First  Settlers.  B.  Blake^  J.  Lucas, 
James  Lary,  J.  Fullerton,  and  others. 

Fii-st  ]\finister.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Al- 
len, settled  in  1792;  died  in  1806. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
9,578  bushels ;  potatoes,  55,369  bush- 
els;  hay,  3,711  tons;  wool,  5,801  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  8,925  pounds. 

Distances.  Forty-five  miles  north- 
east from  Concord,  and  about  eight 
miles  south-west  from  Ossipee. 


^VOODSTOCK. 

Grafton  Co.  The  Pemigewasset 
passes  throxxgh  the  eastern  section  of 
this  to^v^l.  The  three  branches  of  this 
river  unite  in  the  north  part  of  Wood- 
stock. There  are  several  brooks  and 
rivulets  which  supply  this  place  with  a 
number  of  mill  privileges.  The  ponds 
are  numerous. 

Cushman's  Mountain,  in  the  south- 
west. Black  Mountain,  in  the  north- 
west, and  Blue  Mountain,  in  the  west, 
are  the  highest  elevations.  Among 
these  mountains,  branches  of  the  Wild 
Amonoosuck  and  Baker's  Rivers,  and 
Moosehillock  Brook,  have  their  sources. 
On  the  last  stream  there  is  a  beautiful 
cascade. 

There  are  here  two  springs  which 
have  been  termed  medicinal.  This 
town  has  some  very  fine  scenert'. 

Boundaries.  North  by  Lincoln,  east 
by  Thornton,  south  by  Thornton  and 
Ellsworth,  and  west  by  Warren.  Ben- 
ton, and  Landaff. 

First  Settlers.  John  Riant  and  others, 
settled  in  1773. 

Productions  of  the  Soil.  Indian  com, 
1,594  bushels ;"  potatoes,  18,623  bush- 
els; hay,  878  tons;  wool,  1,213  lbs.; 
maple  sugar,  4,660  pounds. 

Distances.  Twenty  miles  north  from 
Plymouth,  and  sixty-two  north  from 
Concord. 


POPULATION   TABLES 


BY    COUNTIES. 


BELIvNAP  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  December  23,  1840. 


'J'owns. 
Alton,  .... 
Barnstead,  .  .  . 
Centre  Harbor,  . 
Gilford,  .  .  . 
Gilmanton,  .  . 
Meredith,  .  .  . 
New  Hampton,  . 
Sanbomton,  .  . 
TotaL       .     . 


Inc. 

1790. 

1800. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

1796 

445 

721 

1,279 

2,058 

1,993 

2,002 

1727 

807 

1,161 

1,477 

1,805 

2,047 

1,945 

1797 

263 

349 

486 

577 

584 

1812 

1,816 

1,872 

2,072 

1727 

2,613 

3,752 

4,338 

3,752 

3,816 

3,485 

1768 

881 

1,609 

1,940 

2,416 

2,683 

3,344 

1777 

652 

1,095 

1,293 

1,500 

1,904 

1,812 

1770 

1,587 
6,985 

2,695 

2,884 

3,329 

2,866 

2,745 

11,296 

13,560 

17,162 

17,758 

17,989 

CAEKOLL  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  December  23,  1840. 


Towns. 

Albany,  .     .     .  . 

Broolviield,  .     .  . 

Chatham,    .     .  . 

Conway,      .     .  . 

Eaton,     .     .     .  . 

Effingham^  .     .  . 

Freedom,     .     .  . 
Moultonborough, 

OssiPEE,     .     .  . 

Sandwich,    .     .  . 

Tamworth,  .     .  . 

Tiiftonborough,  . 

Wakefield,  .     .  . 

Wolfeborough,  . 

Total,  .     .  . 


Inc. 

1790. 

1800. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

1766 

406 

1794 

504 

657 

690 

679 

553 

1767 

58 

183 

201 

298 

419 

523 

1765 

574 

705 

1,080 

1,365 

1,601 

1,811 

1766 

253 

381 

535 

1,071 

1,432 

1,710 

1788 

154 

451 

876 

1,368 

1,911 

1,195 

1831 

926 

1777 

565 

857 

994 

1,279 

1,422 

1,752 

1785 

339 

1,143 

1,330 

1.988 

1,935 

2,170 

1768 

905 

1,413 

2,232 

2,368 

2,743 

2,625 

1766 

266 

757 

1,134 

1,442 

1,554 

1,716 

1795 

109 

357 

709 

1.232 

1,375 

1.281 

1774 

646 

835 

1,166 

1,518 

1,470 

1.596 

1770 

447 

941 

1.376 

1,794 

1,929 

1,918 

4,316    8,527  12,290  16.413  18,470  20,182 


148 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


CHESHIRE  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 


Towns. 


Alstead,  .     .  . 

Chesterfield,  . 

Dublin,  .  .  . 
FitzAvilliam, 

Gilsum,  .     .  . 

Hinsdale,     .  . 

JafFrey,    .     .  . 

Reene,  .     .  . 

Marlborough,  . 

Marlow,  .     .  . 

Nelson,    .     .  . 

Richmond,  .  . 

Rindge,  .     .  . 

Roxbury,     .  . 

Stoddard,     .  . 

Sullivan,     .  . 

Surry,      .     .  . 

Swanzey,     .  . 

Troy,.     .     .  . 

Walpole,  .  . 
Westmoreland, 
Winchester, 


Total, 


inc.       1790.  I    1800.  .    1810.  I    1820.  I  1830.    •    1840. 


1763 
1752 

I77l!i 
1773! 
1763i 
17531 

1773i| 
1753' 
1776!i 
1761j 
1774:| 
1752; 
1768|; 
I8I2II 


1774 
1787 
1769 
1753 
1815 
1752 
1752 
1753 


1,111 

1.905 

901 

1.038 

298 

522 

1,235 

1,314 

786 

313 

721 

1,380 

1,143 

701 

220 

448 

1,157 

1,245 
2,018 
1,209 


1,666 

2,161 

1,188 

1,240 

484 

634 

1,341 

1,645 

1,185 

543 

977 

1,390 

1,196 

1,148 

488 
569 

l,27l| 

1,743' 
2,066 
1,413 


1,694 
1,839 
1,184| 
1,301 

513; 

740: 
1,336{ 
1,646' 
1,142' 

5661 
l,076i 
1,290] 
1,226, 

1,132; 
516 
5641 

l,400j 

1,894! 
1,9371 

1,478! 


1,611 

2.110 

1,620 

1,167 

601 

890 

1,339 

1,895 

766 

597 

907 

1,391 

1,298 

366 

1,203 

582 

570 

1,716 

676 

2,020 

2,029 

1.849 


1,552 
2,040 
1,218 
1,229 

412 

9371 
1,354 
2,574 

822; 

645! 


875 
1,301 
1,269 

322 
1,159 

555 

539 
1,816 

676 
1,974 
1,647 
2,051 


1,454 

1,765 

1,075 

1,366 

656 

1,141 

1,411 

2,611 

831 

626 

835 

1,165 

1,161 

286 

1,006 

496 

481 

1,755 

683 

2,015 

1,546 

2,065 


19,665|24,348  24,474  27,203126,967|26,430 


COOS  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  Dec.  24,  1803. 


Towns. 

BartlettT^    '.  ~ 

Berlin,     .     .  . 
Cambridge, 

Carroll,    .     .  . 
Clarksville, 

Colel)rook,  .  . 

Columbia,   .  . 

Dalton,   .     .  . 

Dixville,      .  . 

Dummer,     .  . 

Errol,      .    .  . 

Gorham,      .  . 

Jackson,       .  . 

Jefi'erson,     .  . 

Kilkenny,    .  . 

Lancaster,  . 

Milan,     .     .  . 

Millsfield,    .  . 
Northumberland, 

Pittsburg,     .  . 

Randolph,   .  . 


Inc. 


1790 
1829 
1773 
1832 
1832 
1790 
1797 
1784 
1805 
1773 
1836 
1836 
1800 
1796 
1774 
1763 
1824 
1774 
1779 
1840 
1824 


790. 

1800. 

1810. 

248 

548 

436 

29 

160 

325 

26 

109 

142 

14 

62 

235 
12 

7 
38 

112 

197 

18 

28 

.6. 

440 

717 

117 

205 

281 

511 


469 

249 

347 

2 

27 

26 


252 

24 

844| 


205; 


1830.   1840. 


644 
73 

108 

542 

442 

532 

2 

65 

82 

515 
492 

27 
,187 
243 

33 
342 

143 


706 

116 

5 

218 

88 

743 

620 

664 

4 

57 
104 
156 
584 
575 

1,316 
386 
12 
399 
315 
115 


POPULATION    TABLES. 


140 


COOS  COUNTY— Continued. 


Towns. 
Stark,      .     . 
Stratford,     . 
Shelburne,  . 
Stewartstown, 
Success, 
Whitefield  . 

Total, 


Inc.  1 
1832} 

1790. 

1800. 

1810. 

18-20. 

1830. 

1 

1773 

146 

281 

339 

335 

443 

1820 

31 

45 

176 

205 

312 

1799 

99 

186 

363 

129 

1773 

14 

1774 

51 

281 

685 

772 

2,079 

3,170 

4,140 

7,045 

GRAPTON  COUNTY. 
Incorporated,  March  19,  1771. 


Towns. 

Inc. 
1782 

1790. 

igoo.  1 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

Alexandria, 

298 

303 

409 

707 

1,083 

1,284 

Bath,.     .     .     . 

1761 

498 

825 

1,316 

1,498 

1,627 

1,591 

Benton,  .     .     . 

1764 

413 

Bethlehem, 

1799 

171 

422 

467 

665 

779 

Bridgewater,    . 

1788 

281 

664 

1,104 

727 

783 

747 

Bristol,    .     .     . 

1819 

675 

799 

1.153 

Campton,    .    . 

1761 

395 

635 

873 

1,047 

1,313 

1.513 

Canaan,  .     . 

1761 

483 

835 

1,094 

1,198 

1,428 

1,576 

Danbury,     .     . 

1795 

111 

165 

345 

467 

786 

800 

Dame's  Gore, 

54 

Dorchester, 

1761 

175 

349 

537 

584 

702 

769 

EUsAvorth,    . 

1802 

47 

142 

213 

234 

300 

Enfield,   .    . 

1761 

724 

1,121 

1.291 

1,370 

1.492 

1,514 

Franconia,  . 

1764 

72 

129 

358 

373 

443 

523 

Grafton,  .     . 

1778 

403 

682 

931 

1.094 

1,207 

1,201 

Groton,   .     . 

1796 

373 

391 

549 

686 

669 

870 

Hanover,     . 

1761 

1,380 

1,912 

2.135 

2.222 

2,361 

2,613 

Haverhill, 

1763 

552 

805 

1,105 

1,609 

2,183 

2,675 

Hebron, 

1792 

281 

563 

572 

538 

508 

Hill,   .    .    . 

1778 

999 

Holdemess, 

1761 

329 

531 

835 

1,160 

1,429 

1,528 

Landaff, 

1764 

292 

461 

650 

769 

951 

957 

Lebanon,     . 

1761 

1,180 

1,574 

1,808 

1,710 

1,868 

1,754 

Lisbon,    .     . 

1768 

1,485 

1,682 

Lincoln,  .    . 

1764 

22 

41 

100 

32 

50 

76 

Littleton,     . 

1784 

96 

381 

873 

1,096 

1.435 

1,778 

Lvman,   .    . 

11761 

202 

534 

948 

1.270 

1.321 

1,496 

Lyme,      .    . 

1761 

816 

1,318 

1,670 

1,824 

1.804 

1,785 

Orange,  .    . 

1780 

131 

203 

229 

298 

405 

463 

Orford,    .    . 

1761 

540 

988 

1,265 

1,568 

1,829 

1,707 

Piermont,    . 

1764 

426 

670 

877 

1,016 

,   1.042 

1,057 

Plymouth, 

1763 

625 

743 

937 

983 

1,175 

1,282 

Rumney,     . 

1761 

411 

624 

765 

864:      993 

1,110 

Thornton,    . 

1781 

385 

535 

794 

857    1,049 

1,045 

"Warren, 

1763 

206 

336 

506 

544[      702 

1      938 

Watervdile, 

1829 

1        96 

1        63 

"Went^N'orth, 

1766 

241 

488 

645 

807]      924|   1,119 

Woodstock, 

1786 

1             1      472 

Total, 

1 

111,647 

18,742 

24,306 

'30,367  36,844  42,1.94 

13* 


150 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


HILLSBOROUGH  COLTs'TY. 
Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 


Towns. 


A>IHERST,    .      , 

Antrim,  .  .  . 
Bedford,  .  . 
Bennington,  . 
Brookline,  .  . 
Deering,  .  . 
Francestown,  . 
Goffstown,  .  . 
Greenfield,  .  . 
Hancock,  .  . 
Hillsborough,  . 
Hollis,  .  .  . 
Hudson,  .  . 
Litchfield,  .  . 
Lyndeborough. 
Manchester, 
Mason,  .  .  . 
Merrimac,  .  . 
Milford,  .  .  . 
Mount  Vernon, 
Nashua,  .  .  . 
Nashville,  .  . 
New  Ipswich,  . 
New  Boston,  . 
Pelham,  .  .  . 
Feterboi'ough,  . 
Sharon,  .  .  . 
Temple,  .  .  . 
Weare,  .  .  . 
Wilton,  .  .  . 
Windsor,     .     . 


Total, 


Inc.  [  ]79;j.  !  ISO).  I  1810.  ]    1820.  |  1830.  |  1840. 
17fiO~2,369' 1,470  i  1,554  1,622  1,6571  1,56J 


1760 
1777 
1780 
1842 
1769 
1774 
1772 
1761 
1791 
1779 
1772 
1746 
1746 
1749 
1764 
1751 
1768 
1745 
1794 
1803 
1746 
1842 
1762 
1763 
1746 
17601 
179l| 
1769; 
1764 
1762 
1798' 


528  1,059|  1.277  1,330 
898  1,182  1,296,  1,375 


338; 

928 

982| 

1,275| 

I 

634j 

798i 

1,441 

357 
1,280 
362 
922 
819 


1,241 

1,202 

791 

861 

259 

747, 

1,924' 

1,105 

120 


454 
1.244 
1,355 
1.612 

934 
1,120 
1,311 
1,557 

372 
976 
557 
1,179 
926 
939 
680 


538 
1.363 
1.451 
2,000 

980i 
1,184' 
1.592 
1,529 


592 
1,415 
1.479 
2.173 

974 
1,178 
1.982 
1.543 


382j   465 
1,074|  1,168 


1,266] 

1,491  j 

918; 

1,333: 

428 

867j 

2,5  I7i 

1,010 

249 


615 
1,077 
1,048 
1,117 

762 


1,895 
1.619 

998 
1,537 

446 

941 
2.634 
1.017 

238 


,565 

1,309;  1,225 

1,554  1,549 

6271  652 

1,227!  1,124 

1,540|  1,308 

2,218  2,366 


r6I 
1,313 
1,162 
1,243 

729 


1,278 

1,686 

1,040 

1,500 

391 

752 

2,781 

1,070^^ 

237l 


946 
1,316 
1,792, 
l,501j 
1,282, 

505 
1,147 

877 
1,403; 
1,191 
1,803 

763 


834 
1.345 
1,808 
1,333 
1,144 

481 
1,033 
3,235 
1,275 
1,113 
1,455 

720 
3,600 
2,454 
1,578 
1,570 
1,003 
2,163 

251 

576 
2,375 
1,033 

, 177 

122,181  29,006  31,664  33,239  35,18542,345 


1,673 

1,680 

1,078 

1,984 

271 

647 

2,430 

1,041 

226 


MERRIMAC  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  July  3,  1823. 


Towns. 
Allenstown, 
Andover,     . 
Bradford,     . 
Bow,  .    .     . 
Boscawen,   . 
Canterbury, 
Chichester,  . 
Concord,  . 
Dunbarton, 
Epsom,   .     . 
Franklin,     . 
Henniker,    . 


Inc. 

179). 

1800. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

1831, 

254 

315 

346 

433 

421 

455 

1779, 

645 

1,133 

1,259 

1,642 

1,324 

1,169 

1787 

217 

740 

1,034 

1,318 

1,285 

1,331 

1727 

568 

719 

729 

935 

1,065 

1,001 

1760 

1,108 

1,414 

1,829 

2,113 

2,093 

1,965 

1727 

1,038 

1,114 

1,526 

1,696 

1,663 

1,643 

1727 

491 

775 

951 

1.010 

1,084 

1,028 

1765 

1,747 

2,052 

2,393 

2,838 

3,727 

4,903 

1765 

917 

1,222 

1,256 

1,450 

1,067 

950 

1727 

799 

1,034 

1,156 

1,336 

1,408 

1,205 

1828 

1,370 

1,281 

1768 

1,127 

1,476 

1,608 

1,900 

1,725 

1,715 

POPULATION   TABLES. 


151 


MERRIMAC  COUNTY— Continued. 


Towns. 
Hooksett,  .  .  . 
Hopkinton,  .  . 
Loudon,  .... 
Newbury,  .  .  . 
New  London,  .  . 
Northfield,  .  .  . 
Pembroke,  .  .  . 
Pittsfield,  .  .  . 
Salisbury,  .  .  . 
Sutton,  .... 
Warner,  .  .  . 
Wilmot,  .  .  . 
Total,     . 


Inc. 


1822 
1765 
1773 
1778 
1779 
1780 
1759 
1782 
1768 
1784 
1774 
1807 


1790. 


1,715 
1,084 

311 
606 
956 
888 
1,372 
520 
863 


2,015 
1,279 

617 
925 
982 
987 

1,767 
878 

1,569 


.7,216  23,013 


1810.       1820.       1830.      1840. 


2,216 
1,472 

692 
1,057 
1,153 
1,050 
1,913 
1,328 
1,838 

298 


2,437 
1,694 

924 
1,304 
1,256 
1,178 
2,016 
1,573 
2,246 

670 

27,1043X969 


880 
2,474 
1,642 

913 
1,169 
1,312 
1,271 
1,379 
1,424 
2,222 

834 


1,175 
2,454 
1,640 
816 
1,019 
1,413 
1,336 
1,719 
1,332 
1,361 
2,159 
1,212 


33,752  36,282 


ROCKINGIIAM  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 


Towns. 

Atkinson, 

Auburn, 

Brentwood, 

Candia, 

Chester, 

Danville, 

Deerfield, 

Derry, 

East  Kingston,     .... 

Epping, ^ 

Exeter, 

Gosport, 

Greenland, 

Hampstead, 

Hampton, 

Hampton  Falls,    .... 

Kensington, 

Kingston, 

Londonderry, 

New  Castle,'     ..... 
Newington,      ... 

New  INIarket, 

NcAvtown, 

North  Hampton,  .... 

Northwood, 

Nottingham, 

Plaistow, 

Poplin, 

Portsmouth,     .... 
Raymond, 

Rye, 

Salem, 


Inc.  I  1790. 


1767 
1845 
1742 
1763 
1722 
1760 
1766 
1827 
1738 
1741 
1638 
1715 

1749 
1638 
1712 
1737 
1694 
1722 
1692 
1764 
1727 
1749 
1742 
1773 
1722 
1749 
1764 
1653 
1765 
1726 
1750 


479 

976! 
1,040 
1,902 

1,619 

358 

1,233 

1,722 
93 
634 
724 
853 
541 
800 
906 

2,622 
534 
542 

1,137 
530 
657 
744 

1,068 
521 
493 

4,720 
727 
865 

1,218 


1800 
474 

899 
1,186 
2,046 

1,878 

392 

1,121 

1,727 

85 

548 

790 

875 

519 

776 

785 

2,650 

524 

481 

1,027 

450 

653 

950 

964 

459 

408 

5,339 

808 

890 

1,0771 


1810. 


[).  I  1830. 


556 

905 
1,290 
2,030 

1,851 

442 

1,182 

1,759 

72 

592 

738 

990 

570 

781 

746 

2,766 

592 

508 

1,061 

454 

651 

1,095 

1,063 

424 

462 

6.934 

898 

1,020 

1,179 


563 

892 
1.273 
2,262 

2,133 

443 

1,158 

2,114 

66 

634 

751 

1,098 

572 

709 

847 

3,127 

932 

541 

1,083 

477 

764 

1,260 

1,126 

492 

453 

7,327 

961 

1,127 

1,311 


555 

891 
1,362 
2,039 

2,086 

2,178 

442 

1,263 

2,759 

103 

681 

913 

1,103 

582 

717 

929 

1,469 

850 

549 

2,013 

510 

767 

1,342 

1.157 

591 

429 

8,082 

1.000 

1,172 

1,310 


1840. 


567 

869 

888 

1,430 

1,304 

538 

1,953 

2,034 

551 

1,234 

2,925 

115 

726 

890 

1,320 

656 

647 

1,032 

1,556 

742 

543 

2,746 

541 

885 

1,182 

1.193 

626 

428 

7.887 

989 

1,205 

1,408 


152 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


EOCKINGHAIVI  COUNTY— Coktinued. 


Towns. 

Inc.  1 

1790. 

1800. 

1810.  ,  1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

Sandown, 

Seabrook,  

South  Hampton, 

Stratham, 

Windham, 

1756 
1763 
1742| 
1716! 
1742 

561 
715 
448 
882 
663 

501 

628 
387 
890 
751 

504;   527 
774   885 
427   416 
874   892 
742   889 

553 
1,096 

487 

838 

1,006 

525 

1,392 
462 

875 
926 

Total, 

33,527 

33,938 

36,932  40,105 

43,814i45,790 

STRATFORD  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  March  19,  1771. 


Tovyns. 

Barrington, 
Dover,  .    . 
Durham, 
Farmington, 
Lee,    .    .    .    , 
Madbury,     .    , 
Middleton,  .    , 
Milton,    .    .    , 
New  Durham, 
Rochester,   .    , 
Somersworth,  , 
Strafford,    .     , 
Total, 


Inc. 

1790. 

1800. 
2,773 

[  1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

1722 

2,470 

3,564 

L610 

1,895  1,845 

1623 

1,998 

2.062  2,228 

2,871 

5,449  6,458 

1732 

1,247 

1,126!  1,449 

1,538 

1,606  1,498 

1798 

1,029 

1,272 

1,716 

1,464  1,380 

1766 

1,029 

978 

1,329 

1,224 

1,009   906 

1755 

592 

544 

582 

559 

510   489 

1778 

617 

431 

439 

482 

562   483 

1802 

1,005 

1,232 

1.273 

1,322 

1762 

554 

742 

888 

1,168 

1,162 

1,032 

1722 

2,857 

2,646 

2,118 

2,471 

2,155 

2,431 

1754 

943 

932 

878 

841 

3,090 

3,283 

1820 

2,144 

2,200 

2,021 

12,307 

13,263 

15,752 

17,856 

22,375 

23,148 

SULLIVAN  COUNTY. 
Incorporated  July  5,  1827. 


Towns. 

Ac  worth,  . 
Charlestown, 
Claremont, . 
Cornish,  .  . 
Croydon,  . 
Goshen,  .  . 
Grantham,  . 
Langdon,  . 
Lempster,  . 
Ne"wport,  . 
Plainfield,  . 
Springfield, 
Unity,  .  . 
Washington, 
Wendell,  . 
Total, 


Inc. 

1790. 

1800. 

1810. 

1820. 

1830. 

1840. 

1766 

704 

1.376 

1,523 

1,479 

1,401 

1,450 

1753 

1,093 

1,364 

1,501 

1,702 

1,773 

1,722 

1764 

1,435 

1,889 

2.094 

2,290 

2,526 

3,217 

1763 

982 

1,268 

1,606 

1,701 

1,687 

1,726 

1763 

537 

984 

864 

1,060 

1,057 

956 

1791 

383 

563 

687 

772 

779 

1761 

333 

713 

864 

1,032 

1,079 

1,034 

1787 

244 

484 

632 

654 

667 

615 

1761 

415 

729 

854 

950 

999 

941 

1761 

780 

1,266 

1,427 

1,679 

1,913 

1,958 

1761 

1,024 

1,435 

1,463 

1,460 

1,581 

1,552 

1794 

210 

570 

614 

967 

1,202 

1,252 

1764 

538 

902 

1,044 

1.277 

1,258 

1,218 

1776 

545 

819 

820 

992 

1.135 

1,103 

1731 

267 

355 

447 

603 

637 

795 

9,107 

14,.537 

16,316 

18,533 

19,687 

20,318 

POPULATION   TABLES. 


153 


RECAPITULATION. 


Counties. 

1790. 

1800.    ,     1810.         1820.     1     1830.          J  840. 

Belkkap,      .     .     . 
Carroll,      .    .    . 
Cheshire,    .     .    . 
Coos,    .     .     .    .    , 
Grafton,      .    .    . 
Hillsborough,     . 
Merrimac,   .     .     . 

llOCKINGHAAI,    .       . 

Strafford,       .     . 

SCLLIVAN,      .      .      . 

6,985 
4,316 
19,465 
772 
10,831 
22,181 
17,226 
33,721 
12,307 
19,107 

11,296    13,560    17,162;   17,758    17,989 
8,527    12,290    16,413    18,470    20,182 
24.348    24,474    27,203    26.242    26.430 
2.079      3.180      4,140      7,055      9,704 
17,424    24,406    28,483    36,741    42^94 
29,006    31,664    33,239    35,185    42,345 
23,013    27.104    31.969    33,782    36,282 
33.938    36.942    40.205    44,725    45,760 
13.263    15,752    17.856    22.375    23,148 
14,537    16,316    18.533    19.687    20,318 

Total,    .     .     . 

146,911  177,431  205,688  235,203  262,020  284,352 

CLASSIFICATION 


of  the  population  of  new  HAMP8HIEE. 


Number  of  White  Males,    . 
Do.  do.     Females, 

Colored  persons,  ^  ^^^^^^' 


139,004 
145,032 
248 
Females,   .          290 
Males  over  100  years  of  age,  2 

Females  do.  7 

Males  between  90  and  100,     .  94 

Females  do.  167 

Engaged  in 

Agriculture,       67,935 

Commerce, 1,382 

Manufactures  and  Trades,  .  17,706 
Nav-igating  the  Ocean,  .  .  497 
Navigating  Lakes  and  Rivers,       209 


I     Learned  Professions,      .    .  1,422 

[Pensioners, 1,421 

Deaf  and  Dumb, 179 

Blind, 154 

Insane  and  Idiots, 

At  public  charge,  ....  177 

At  private  charge,      .     .     .  308 
Universities  and  Colleges  two, 

with  students, 430 

Academies  68,  with  Scholars,  5,746 

Common  Schools,     ....  2,110 

!  Scholars  in  Common  Schools,  81,890 
Persons  over  20  years  of  age, 

I     unable  to  read  or  write,      .  927 


154 


GAZETTEER   OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


COUNTY    TABLES. 

The  following  County  Tables  comprise  the  county  towns,  their  latitudes  and 
distances  from  Boston ;  the  number  of  towTis  in  each  county :  their  area  in 
square  miles,  and  the  amount  of  inventory  in  1848.  This  inventory  comprises 
the  number  of  horses,  asses  and  mules  ;  number  of  cows,  oxen,  and  other  neat 
stock  ;  number  of  sheeji ;  with  the  value  of  buildings  not  specially  designated  ; 
value  of  improved  and  unimproved  lands  ;  value  of  carnages  ;  value  of  shares 
in  banks,  and  other  corporations  ;  value  of  stock  in  public  funds  ;  amount  of 
money  on  hand,  at  interest,  or  on  depositc  ;  value  of  stock  in  trade  ;  value  of 
mills  and  carding  machines  ;  value  of  wharves  ;  value  of  femes  ;  value  of  toll 
bridges ;  value  of  factories  and  their  machiuery ;  and  value  of  locks  and 
canals. 

In  Table  No.  II.  will  be  found  the  number  of  horses  and  cattle,  also  the 
value  of  lands,  mills,  machinery,  &c.  The  value  of  all  the  items  specified 
in  both  Tables  is  comprised  in  the  amount  of  the  inventory  for  each  county 
inserted  in  Table  No.  I.  The  aforesaid  inventories  of  the  property  specified 
in  each  county,  was  made  by  order  of  the  legislature  in  the  year  1848. 

[CP^For  the  amount  of  some  of  the  most  important  items  in  each  town  con- 
tained in  the  aforesaid  inventory,  see  lown  Table. — See  Tables  of  Population. 


COUNTY  TABLE  No.  I. 


a 

_    0? 

.!-• 

'S.S 
1*^ 

Counties. 

County  Towns. 

Uistanc 

Numbe 
Town 

°.-= 

ctf  S 

< 

Belknap, 

Gilford, 

43°  32' 

100         8 

352    4,864,921 

Carroll,  .... 

Ossipee, 

43°  42' 

111 

14 

628    4.137,639 

Cheshire,    .    .    . 

Keene, 

42°  57' 

92 

22 

727  10.348,528 

Coos,      .... 

Lancaster, 

44°  29' 

170 

27!l600l  2,437,257 

Grafton,      .     .     . 

j  Haverhill  and 
\    Ph-mouth, 

44°  3' 
43°  44' 

JJgl  |37Jl45ljll,221,007 

Hillsborough,  .     . 

Amherst, 

42°  .51' 

54  i     31    840  21,154,402 

MeiTimac,    .     .     . 

Concord, 

43°12'29" 

75!     24    800  12,134,900 

Rockingham,  .     . 

(  Portsmouth 
(   and  Exeter, 

43°4'  35" 
52°  58' 

11^37    698  17,927,494 

Straff'ord,     .     .     . 

Dover, 

43°  13' 

661     12    364,  9,184,501 

Sullivan,      .     .     . 

Newport, 

43°  21' 

1151     15    527  i  7,074,384 

COUNTY   TABLES. 


155 


COUNTY  TABLE  No.  H. 


Ill 


Counties. 


Belknap, 
Can-oil,  .  . 
Cheshire,  . 
Coos,  ,  .  . 
Grafton,  .  . 
Hillsborough, 
Merrimac,  . 
Rockingham, 
Strafford,  . 
Sullivan, 


Ei: 


3,442 
3,360 
4,696 
368 
6,994 
8,208 
6,835 
6,807 
5,555 
4,124 


■1^ 


$50,39 

42,51 

103,78 

24,10 

118.96 

184,37 

126,76 

187,94 

89.83 

70^67 


o    . 


2,337 
2,389 
4,252 
1,665 


15,778 
19,290 
19,980 
,       ,11,200 
6,840136,914 
5,716  28,019 


4,877 
4,111 
2,215 
3,442 


28,325 
23,329 
12,972 
16,236 


3 


22,144 

21.683 
60,358 
22.979 
140,007 
27,091 
67,572 
18,121 
11,612 
80,798 


$258,585 
2,099,780 
536,936 
1,175,469 
6.163,127 
9.202,961 
6,392,051 
6,720,287 
4,089,337 
3.713,220 


§S 


£11 


$35,740 

1,400 

71,875 

1,800 

50,540 

2,828,900 

159,050 

1,522,350 

719,180 

125,466 


$56,622 
46,794 

109,390 
38,820 

143,888 

184,163 
99,422 

127,099 
36,787 
42,008 


156 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


TOWN    TABLE. 

This  Table  exhibits  the  number  of  polls,  and  proportion  of  tax,  for  each 
town  in  the  State  ; — also  the  value  of  improved  and  unimproved  lands  ;  value 
of  mills  and  carding  machines  ;  the  number  of  sheep,  and  the  total  amount  of 
inventory  for  the  year  1848. — See  County  Table,  Xo.  I;  also,  see  Tables  of  Pop- 
ulation. 


Towns. 


Acworth, 

Albany, 

Alexandria, 

Allenstown 

Alstead, 

Alton, 

Amherst, 

Andover, 

Antrim, 

Atkinson, 

Aubmn, 

Bamstead, 

Barrington, 

Bartlett, 

Bath,    . 

Bedford, 

Bennington, 

Benton, 

Berlin, 

Bethlehem, 

Boscawen, 

Bow,    . 

Bradford, 

Brentwood 

Bridgewater, 

Bristol, 

Brookfield, 

Brookline, 

Cambridge 

Campton, 

Candia, 

Canaan, 

Canterbury 

Carroll, 

Centre  Harbor, 

CharlestoAvn, 

Chatham,  . 


260 

268 
101 
331 
414 
340 
291 
254 
139 
196 

374 

315 
405 
125 

92 
33 

188 
484 
196 
253 

145 
295 
107 


309 


370 
314 


121 
366 


4,35 
,50 
2,83 
1,33 
5,21 
5,85 
5,69 
3,61 
4,13 
2,30 
2,26 
5,04 
5,47 
1,50 
5,18 
5,81 
1,92 
,92 
,40 
1,97 
7,75 
3,47 
4,01 
3,66 
1,57 
2,57 
1,35 
2^3 
,20 
3,52 
4,00 
4,32 
6,03 

;7o 

1,41 
8,22 
1,00 


££•1 


230,259 

33,161 

148,534 

111,397 

301.665 

223,251 

201,974 

209,526 

226,138 

140,640 

154^900 

291  a  73 

330,283 

53,695 

241,510 

468,528 

64,782 

50,266 

15,603 

52,248 

449,509 

218,064 

230,688 

166,811 

79.436 

105.700 

80,363 

153,289 

183,108 

222,469 

185,970 

385,126 

54,348 

76,414 

426,910 

58,333 


W  tl) 

=  C 

—  -  CS 


210 
3,120 

10,150 

11,650 
2.700 
2,100 
5,200 
525 
6,960 

10,020 
2,495 
1,310 
9,500 
7,650 

14,100 

820 
1.875 
10,265 
4,318 
4,550 
6,568 

425 
6.800 
1,160 
8,700 

4,050 
5,107 
5,300 
3,100 


4,000 


c  £• 

«-l 

o 

o  'S 

-1^ 

i  >^ 

•2  =^ 

'^  c2^ 

«c;  s 

^ 

^e£ 

6,175 

391,509 

319 

74,112 

2,266 

272,951 

320 

158,084 

6,331 

517,232 

2,318 

564,566 

607 

575,064 

3,374 

356,450 

1,893 

389,164 

101 

206,935 

399 

247,808 

2,145 

484,325 

502,076 

141,410 

7,513 

474,291 

359 

700,264 

506 

177,069 

1,127 

92,602 

292 

34,818 

1,256 

7,091 

754,126 

873 

325,271 

4,506 

381.619 

812 

328,206 

1,969 

150,032 

1,186 

306.215 

474 

133,389 

108 

256,100 

3,770 

340,144 

622 

382,663 

5,240 

455,564 

3,488 

.594,317 

452 

77,251 

809 

134,678 

7,825 

817,477 

707 

87,337 

TOWN   TABLE. 


157 


S 

Val.  of  impro- 
ved it  unim- 
proved lands 
in  1848. 

"o 

II. 

Towns. 

i 

It 

Chester 

292 

4,02 

226.519 

6,900|      857 

376,498 

Chesterfield, 

6,25 

358,672 

5,870    1,626 

578,022 

Chichester, 

204 

2,73 

90.875 

1..550    1.028 

249,813 

Claremont, 

808 

15.25 

796,346 

14,300    7,649 

1,823,735 

Clarksville, 

40 

,26 

12,904 

361 

31,198 

Colebrook, 

178 

1,75 

72.978 

2,400 

2.376 

181,872 

Cohimbia, 

161 

1,26 

66^287 

1,774 

135,806 

Concord, 

1,591 

22.00 

016.185 

12,200 

1.884 

2.293,890 

Conway,     . 

355 

4.00 

138.100 

1,895 

422,795 

Cornish,      . 

369 

6,18 

274,269 

5,500 

8,105 

592,273 

Croydon,    . 

2,83 

89.026 

4.439 

166,600 

Dalton, 

135 

L47 

81,635 

7.200    L581 

167,237 

D  anbury,    . 

1,95 

119.176 

3,650!  2,287 

234,115 

Danville,    . 

131 

2.06 

9.411 

1,361 

293 

200,266 

Deerfield,   . 

455 

6,25 

362,414 

1,855 

564,406 

Deering,     . 

4,22 

274,140 

1,401 

412,311 

Derrv, 

245 

7,84 

443,268 

5,850 

562 

662,605 

Dixville,     . 

,12 

Dorchester, 

149 

1,58 

94,600 

2.609 

166,643 

Dover, 

1,406 

31,53  1,384,850 

494 

2,917,598 
424,547 

Dublin,       . 

244 

4,46 

251,732 

4,670 

2,917 

Dummer,    . 

,24 

Dunbarton, 

204 

3,69 

227,130 

700 

1,731 

359,859 

Durham,     . 

296 

5,46 

330,837 

2,522 

528 

476,357 

East  Kingston, 

113 

2.81 

140.619 

4,900       299 

258,794 

Eaton, 

316 

2,75 

101.297 

850 

1,877 

271,516 

Effingham, 

247 

2,58 

104.230 

3.240 

999 

264,393 

Ellsworth,  . 

60 

,44 

16,201 

1,350 

650 

42,785 

Enfield,       . 

5,27 

282,922 

10.400 

9,171 

544,934 

Epping,       . 

282 

5,90 

308.910 

5.670 

1,480 

483,360 

Epsom, 

3,44 

15i;512 

4,269 

1.497 

333,055 

ErroU, 

28 

,35 

22.375 

382 

34,836 

Exeter, 

651 

12,04 

275,707 

30.800 

375 

1,215,000 

Farmington, 

377 

5,05 

306,163 

4.100 

1.334 

556,796 

Fitzwilliam, 

355 

5,04 

286,850 

9.550 

292 

475,754 

Francestown, 

5,64 

319.960 

3.600 

2,789 

491,769 

Franconia, 

111 

1,61 

70,215 

3,000 

998 

130,534 

Franklin, 

307 

4,94 

313,294 

1,470 

2,473 

499,790 

Freedom,    . 

193 

1,90 

129.802 

550 

1.328 

228,258 

Gilford,       . 

490 

5,66 

324.883 

7.250 

3.228 

563,915 

Gilmanton, 

759 

10,31 

416,256 

7,352 

4,434 

980,508 

Gilsiim 

1,95 

85,980 

2.600 

2,179 

210,004 

Goffstowti, . 

7,63 

450.211 

9.391 

909 

730,950 

Gorham, 

37 

,28 

19,113 

1,950 

265 

35,908 

Goshen, 
Gosport,     . 
Grafton,      . 

149 

1,75 

89,108 

1,450 

2,681 

168,757 

2,88 

153,790 

4,100 

3,133 

301,003 

Grantham, 

170 

2,69 

144.460 

6,681 

242,514 

Greenfield, 

2,84 

128,612 

6,050 

258,382 

14 


158 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Towns. 


Ol-H 

e.,3 


STc  a! 


.3  C 


Greenland, 
Groton,     . 
Hampstead, 
Hampton,  . 
Hampton  Falls, 
Hancock,    . 
Hanover,    . 
Haverhill,  . 
Hebron, 
Henniker,   . 
Hill,     .      .      . 
Hillsborough,    . 
Hinsdale,     . 
Holdemess, 
HoUis,        .      . 
Hooksett,    .. 
Hopkinton, 
Hudson, 
Jackson, 
Jaffrey, 
Jefferson,    . 
Keene, 
Kensington, 
Kingston,    . 
Kilkenny,  , 
Lancaster, 
LandaiF, 
Langdon,    . 
Lebanon,    . 
Lee, 

Lempster,  . 
Lincoln, 
Lisbon, 
Litchfield,  . 
Littleton,    . 
Londonderry,    . 
Loudon, 
Lyman, 
Lyme, 

Lyndeborough, 
Madbury, 
Manchester, 
Marlborough,    . 
Marlow, 
Mason, 
Meredith,    . 
Merrimac,  . 
Middleton, 
Milan,  . 


176 
192 


235 

593 
126 

220 
341 
268 
367 
315 
302 
486 
266 
107 


757 
150 
257 


3,28 
1,69 
3.55 
5,00 
4,03 
4,54 
8,06 
8,09 
1,35| 
6,98! 
2,54 
6,42 
3,94 
4.11 
5,69 
4.20 
7,76 
4,33 
1,08 
6,20 
1,13 
13,65 
3,20 
3,75 


3,90 
2.54 
3.07 
8.48 
3.33 
2,85 
,24 
4,48 
2,28 
4,49 
5,14 
6,00 
3,89 
6,20 
3,51 
97  2,45 
2,518  22,00 


209 
132 
506 
294 
190 

316 
108 
425 

326 
307 
338 


214.008  1,650 

100,384' 

203.743' 


146,035 
252,240 
445,494 
381.676 
65,552! 
393.1781 


137,812 


2.450 
9!634 


4.500 
2,870 


373,328 
246.471 1  4,675 
233^252  20.070 
349^61 7; 
243.2841 
397,3691 
291.568i 
38.9151 
326.86810,242 


9.000 
8,955 


48.467 
712.859 
129  382 
234,488 

201,734 
131,071 
169.711 
440.525 
199.858 
173,906 
11.704 
216,105 
111,709 
238,880 
252,666 
260,118 
210,864 
337.297 
195.384 
119,305 
1,670.539 


178 

2.47 

153.021 

185 

2.44 

140,848 

300 

4,22 

250,815 

676 

8,95 

489,795 

4,79 

293,392 

106 

1,09 

69,921 

102 

,67 

45,871 

1.650 

7,250 

150 

2,935 

7,830 
2,450 
1.444 
10,500 
4.130 
2.000 

100 
5.250 
1,800 
6,900 
3.850 
5.150 
6,350 
5,475 
2.825 

400 
14.500 
4.720 
3,000 
4,637 
9,900 
6,400 

500 

750 


490 

2,394 

99 

498 
2,083 
12,369 
8,810 
1,985 
2.496; 
1,693 
1.824 

971 
1,872 

5.55 

229 
3,691 

575 
1,386 
2.081 

903 
2,273 

446 

386 

3,724 

3,338 

2,129 

14,431 

1,120 

2,781 

115 

3,779 

336 

3,585 

665 

2.360 

5.491 

12,557 

804 

409 

360 

878 

2.351 

421 

2.749 

548 

460 

788 


311,975 
183.070 
303,735 

301,844 
425,555 
687,307 
714,630 
136,938 
616.514 
247,852 
584,776 
419,212 
428.522 
569,518 
453,231 
647,183 
443,606 
107,835 
588,266 
139.545 
1.478,928 
248,152 
354,723 

384,646 
253.863 
290.249 
889,696 
312,184 
295,081 
21,056 
389,542 
238,661 
460,299 
524,308 
541.736 
380,608 
506.560 
364.906 
165,654 
4,664,957 
258,214 

479,340 
866,783 
483,980 , 
117,232 
90,227 


TOWN    TABLE. 


159 


Towns 

k 

—  =    . 

=2  = 

ill 

"t 

do 

^^  c^ 

1^1 

£  -c 

~--Z 

o 

cc: 

rt  ?  i:  S 

"«  —  "r 

=  C/i 

c"-  o 

^ 

CU 

>"-- 

j5«^ 

S^ 

5:oci 

Milford, 1    406 

6,02 

409,335 

3,200 

344 

710,223 

Millsfield,    .       . 

.     1 

,12 

Milton, 

330 

3.65 

216.852 

10,075 

1,068 

383,023 

Mount  Vernon, 

168 

2.41 

159,146 

209 

253,707 

Moultonl  )orough, 

321 

3.52 

192,150 

2,975 

2,176 

335,744 

Nashua, 

20,42 

205,838 

4,000 

254 

2,190,917 

Nashville,   , 

671 

14.98 

83,088 

11,100 

81 

1,347,492 

Nelson, 

163 

2.91 

150,152 

2,160 

4,300 

265,658 

New  Boston, 

328 

5.78 

386,245 

11,200 

1,560 

698,190 

Newbury,    . 

179 

2,45 

136,604 

2,728 

174,819 

NeAV  Castle, 

177 

1,72 

14,435 

163,313 

New  Durham,  . 

207 

2,78 

115,813 

3,900 

830 

267,381 

New  Hampton, 

307 

4.47 

253,223 

2,900 

2.112 

416,261 

Newington. 

103 

1,95 

123,953 

433 

174,867 

New  Ipswich,    . 

406 

6,75 

225.446 

5,600 

298 

759,043 

New  London,    . 

3,38 

189,562 

3,183 

305,372 

New  Market,     . 

9,33 

424,928 

1,652 

607 

971.746 

Newport,    . 

479 

6,70 

357,670 

5,600 

4,279 

623,058 

Newtown,   . 

2,21 

115,312 

140 

212 

221,559 

Northficld, 

280 

4,43 

276,690 

2,700 

2,338 

428.452 

North  Hampton, 

179 

3.69 

234.542 

1.400 

472 

313,260 

Northumberland, 

86 

1.27 

51.939 

1,900 

1,176 

114,270 

Northwood, 

272 

4,43 

183,875 

905 

949 

387,942 

Nottingham, 

245 

4,10 

246.571 

10,709 

1,082 

370,376 

Orange, 

99 

,76 

49,200 

1.700 

1,555 

92,948 

Orford, 

6,75 

372.574 

4,000 

6,673 

624,316 

Ossipee, 

392 

4,12 

205,674 

4,795 

1,689 

388,754 

Pelham,      . 

5,13 

361,796 

5,400 

350 

541,572 

Pembroke, 

302 

5,10 

277.989 

7,720 

953 

485,044 

Peterborough, 

436 

8,60 

417.617 

15,470 

1.339 

906,280 

Piermont,    . 

198 

3,56 

213.180 

2,600 

5,961 

327.143 

Pittsburg.    . 

,50 

15.640 

850 

1,397 

47,190 

Pittsfield,    . 

5,47 

293.056 

4,450 

924 

536,267 

Plainfield,  . 

314 

5,48 

314.535 

2.050 

11,862 

530.533 

PlaistoAv,     . 

2.80 

168,673 

800 

158 

275.696 

Plymouth,  . 

253 

3,53 

165.405 

324 

1,617 

279.687 

Poplin, 

95 

2.16 

119.600 

2.308 

492 

179.028 

Portsmouth, 

1,664 

47.50 

115,898 

6,000 

156 

5,257.358 

Randolph,  . 

23 

,28 

17,401 

400 

242 

28,067 

Ra\'Tnond,  . 

221 

2,94 

130.097 

985 

692 

308.316 

Richmond, 

283 

3.44 

199,031 

5,650 

1.030 

265.f)58 

Rindge, 

281 

4.75 

310:766 

570 

503.173 

Rochester,  . 

624 

9,06 

463,330 

6,950 

1,754 

907.610 

Roxbury,    . 

58 

1.02 

60.579       650! 

1,498 

95.150 

Rumnev,     . 

2,98 

189,512    2.700 

2.117 

277. 7G6 

Rye,     :      . 

267 

3,80 

4,692    1.645 

393 

377.304 

Salem, 

4,64 

285,236    1.950; 

270 

447,159 

Salishu^A^   . 

264 

5,06 

281.608    2,000 

6.025 

448.931 

Sanbom'ton, 

. 

675i 

8,70 

513,590 

7,550: 

4,349 

853.885 

160 


GAZETTEER  OF  NEA7  HAMPSHIRE. 


» 

3 

ill 

"3 

Towns. 

d 

c2 

1' 

JJii 

111 

II 

i      ^ 

lis 

Sando\\Ti, 

1-iO 

2,30 

126.440 

1  4,305i      332 

241,920 

Sandwich,  . 

498 

5.70 

1    253,548 

4,350^  3,868 

1    490,721 

Seabrook,  . 

287 

;   3.22 

134,869 

500i       108 

312,429 

Sharon, 

58 

1,38 

81.176 

3,064]       126 

146,003 

Shelburne, 

80 

,95 

58,718 

700 

720 

105,278 

Somersworth, 

1,017 

14.50 

330.512 

600 

226 

2,071,739 

South  Hampto 

a, 

113 

2,78 

181,721 

150 

255 

253,074 

Sprino^field, 

239 

2.75 

141,104 

2,600 

5.323 

264.369 

Stark,         . 

73 

,72 

38,290 

1,535 

1,076 

74,242 

Stewartstowti, 

179 

1,42 

73.202 

2,000 

1.900 

167.696 

Stoddard,   . 

232 

4.09 

220,630 

4,306 

5,175 

370,220 

Strafford.    . 

427 

5,46 

221.613 

1,715 

1,893 

506.851 

Sti-atford,    . 

lOG 

1,35 

90,946 

725 

1,052 

141.294 

Stratham,  . 

4.15 

196,654 

763 

325,029 

Success, 

,18 

Sullivan,     . 

100 

2,31 

134,432 

2,675 

3,039 

218,946 

Surrv,  . 

114 

1,89 

91,365 

900 

1,897 

180,814 

Sutton, 

4.11 

206,997 

3.775 

5,154 

364,122 

Swanzey,    . 

409 

5.68 

312,255 

8,200 

2,339 

557.980 

Tamworth, 

3'l7 

2,925 

1,845 

294.995 

Temple,      . 

115 

2,42 

600 

802 

226,894 

Thornton,  . 

2,47 

130,890 

150 

1,917 

229.352 

Troy,    . 

2,42 

13,930 

398 

279.987 

Tuftonborough 

250 

3.60 

5,352 

1.599 

353.407 

Unitv.  . 

225 

3,40 

190.469 

500 

6,492 

319.372 

Wakefield, 

280 

3^17 

177,431 

3,450 

1.175 

309,515 

Walpole,    . 

429 

10.94 

400,088 

3,000 

13,825 

1,054,912 

Warner,      . 

461 

6,28 

315.705 

5,250 

4,879 

568,758 

Warren,      . 

193 

1,97 

95.665 

2.500 

1,844 

193.272 

Washincrton, 

240 

3,15 

192,580 

2,564 

2,326 

340,613 

Waterville, 

16 

17,352 

500 

89 

23.548 

Weare,        .       . 

534 

7,51 

404,676 

7,326 

5,108 

720,026 

Wendell,     .       . 

183 

2,00 

122.867 

2.051 

208,244 

Wcntvvorth, 

244 

2,83 

148.079 

3,525 

2,133 

266,367 

Westmoreland, 

309 

5.62 

324.080 

3.300 

2,399 

550.792 

Whitcfield, 

1.90 

95.408 

6,800 

1,192 

196.601 

Wilmot.      .       . 

290' 

2,54 

116.585 

1.400 

4,347 

258.197 

Wilton,       .       . 

242 

4.38 

191,722 

9,975 

541 

429.565 

Winchester, 

7,10 

261,592 

5,950 

1,989 

709.979 

Windliam, 

186 

3.13 

196.204 

2,950 

508 

275.839 

Windsor,    . 

371 

,70 

43.968 

317 

68.118 

Wolfcl>orough  . 

1 

401] 

5,15 

266.815 

9,006 

1,732 

482.703 

Woodstock, 

1 
1 

106i 

,88 

46,976 

270| 

507i 

94,852 

MOUNTAINS. 


161 


MOUNTAINS  ^VND  HILLS. 


Bald  Face  Mountain  is  situated 
between  the  rocky  branch  of  the  Saco 
and  Ellis  Rivers,  in  Bartlett,  at  an  ele- 
vation of  1 ,404  feet. 

Bean  Hill.— See  Noithfield.      0 

Blue  Hills,  the  name  generally 
appropriated  to  the  first  range  of 
mountains  in  the  State,  commencing 
in  Nottingham,  and  extending  through 
Stratibrd,  Farmington,  and  Milton  ; 
the  several  summits  arc  distinguished 
by  different  names,  as  Teneritfe,  Sad- 
dleback, Tuckaway,  &c. 

BowBACK  Mountain. — See  Strut- 
fiyrd. 

Breakfast  Hill. — See  Rye. 

Cape  Horn  Mountain.— See  North- 
umberland. 

Cardigan  Mountain.— See  Orange. 

Carr'8  Mountain. — See  Ellsworth. 

Carter's  Mountain.  This  moun- 
tain lies  between  Adams  and  Chatham. 

Catamount  Mountain. — See  Pitts- 
Jield.  There  is  also  a  hill  of  this  name 
in  AUenstoicn. 

Conway  Peak,  or  Chocorua  Moun- 
tain.— See  Albany. 

Kearsarge  Mountain  is  situated 
between  the  towns  of  Sutton  and  Sal- 
isbury, extending  into  both  towns.  Kear- 
sarge^ is  elevated  2,461  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  and  is  the  highest 
mountain  in  Hillsborough  County.  Its 
summits  are  now  a  bare  mass  of  gran- 
ite, presenting  an  irregular  and  broken 
surface :  the  sides  ai-e  covered  with  a 
thick  growth  of  wood.  The  prospect 
from  this  mountain  is,  in  a  clear  sky, 
yery  wide  and  beautiful. 


MoNADNocK  Mountain,  usually 
called  the  Grand  Monadnoch.,  is  situated 
in  the  towns  of  JatiVey  and  Dublin, 
in  Cheshire  Coimty.  The  direction  of 
the  ridge  is  north-east  and  south-west. 
The  mountain  is  about  five  miles  long, 
from  north  to  south,  and  three  miles 
from  east  to  west.  Its  base  is  1.-395 
feet,  and  its  summit  3,718  feet,  altove 
the  level  of  the  sea.  The  mountain  is 
composed  of  talc,  mica  slate,  distinctly 
stratified.  Garnet,  schorl,  feldspar, 
and  quartz,  occur  in  various  parts.  On 
the  east  side,  plumbago  is  found  in 
large  quantities.  Cru(il)lcs  and  pencils 
have  been  manufactured  from  it,  but 
for  the  latter  it  proves  not  very  good. 
The  summit,  when  seen  at  a  distance 
of  four  or  five  miles,  appears  rounded, 
and  destitute  of  those  nigh  cliffs  and 
mural  precipices,  belonging  to  granitic 
mountains.  The  prospect  from  the 
pinnacle  is  very  extensive.  Thirty 
ponds  of  fresh  water,  some  of  which 
are  so  large  as  to  contain  islands  of 
eight  or  ten  acres,  may  be  seen  from  it, 
in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Near  the 
base  of  the  mountain  is  the  "  Monad- 
nock  Mineral  Spring." — See  Jaffrey. 

The  Monadnock  is  thus  beautifully 
described  by  B.  0.  Peabody : 

I  Ve  seen  him,  when  the  rising  sun 

Shone  Uke  a  watch  fire  on  tlie  height ; 
I  've  seen  him,  when  the  day  is-as  done, 

Bathed  in  the  evening'.^  crim.«on  light ; 
I  "ve  seen  him,  in  the  midnight  hour, 

Allien  all  around  was  calmly  sleeping, 
Like  some  lone  sentr\',  in  \i\»  tower, 

His  patient  wa*:ch  in  silence  keeping. 
And  there,  as  ever,  steep  and  clear, 

That  pyramid  of  nature  springs  I 
He  owns  no  rival  turret  near. 

No  sovereign  but  the  King  of  kinga. 
■\Miile  many  a  nation  hath  p;u«s<.Hl  by. 

And  many  an  age,  unknown  in  story, 
His  walls  and  battlements  on  high 

He  rears,  in  melancholy  glory. 

j  MoosEHiLLOCK  is  a  noble  and  lofty 
eminence,  in  the  south-east  part  of 
Benton,  and  ranks  among  the  highest 
I  mountains  in  New  England.  Bakers 
i  River  has  its  source  on  its  eastern  side 


162 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


Moose,  the  name  of  a  mountain 
situated  between  ]\Iiddleton  and  Brook- 
field,  and  also  of  a  mountain  in  Hano- 
ver.— See  Brookfield  and  Hanover. 

MoKiAH,  an  elevated  peak  of  the 
White  Mountains,  situated  in  the  south 
part  of  Shelburne. 

OssiPEE  Mountain. — See  Ossipee. 

Pilot  a  Mouxtain. — See  Kilkenny. 

POXDICHERRY   A  MOUKTAIX. — See 

Jefferson. 

Profile  Mountain.  Dr.  Jackson, 
in  his  celebrated  work  on  the  Geology 
of  New  Hampshire,  thus  describes  one 
of  the  most  curious  specimens  of  the 
works  of  nature  : 

"  The  profile  is*produced  by  the  irre- 
gular jutting  out  of  five  blocks  of 
granite,  giving  the  effect  of  the  stern 
visage  of  an  old  man,  looking  over  the 
deep  valley  below,  and  having  so 
strong  a  likeness  to  a  human  face,  as 
to  be  regarded  as  an  object  of  wonder 
and  admiration,  worthy  of  a  visit  from 
travellers.  It  has  been  declared  to  be 
'  one  of  the  greatest  natural  curiosities 
of  the  State.' 

"  It  is  said  that  the  view  of  the  pro- 
file is  lost  when  the  mountain  is  ap- 
proached, as  it  is  also  by  a  considera- 
ble change  in  the  point  of  view  on 
the  road ;  the  best  spot  to  see  it  to 
advantage    being,  where    the    guide- 


board  directs  the  traveller's  attention 
to  it. 

'•  Various  traditionary  tales,  evident- 
ly of  recent  origin,  are  related,  respect- 
ing the  superstitious  awe  with  which 
the  a])original  inhabitants  viewed  this 
collossal  profile.  It  is  a  proper  object 
for  romantic  legends,  but  there  is  no 
proof  that  it  was  knoAATi  more  than 
forty  or  fifty  years  ago  to  die  white 
men  ;  nor  does  history  inform  us  that 
it  had  been  obsen^ed  by  the  Indians." 

Ragged  Mountains,  so  called 
from  their  rough  appearance,  lie  be- 
tween Andover  and  Hill,  extending  in 
a  chain  about  ten  miles,  from  the  Pem- 
igewasset  to  the  vicinity  of  Kearsarge. 
It  is  a  bleak  and  precipitous  range,  and 
is  nearly  2,000  feet  high  in  its  norther- 
ly points. 

Red  Hill. — See  Moultonborough  and 
Centre  Harbor. 

RoYSE.  This  mountain  lies  north 
of  Chatham. 

Saddleback  Mountain.  This  is 
one  of  the  range  of  the  Blue  Hill 
Mountains. 

Teneriffe. — See  Milton. 

Unconoonock  Mountain. — See 
Goffstown. 

West  River  Mountain, — F'3 
Chesterjidd  and  Hinsdale. 


White   Mountains. 

These  mountains  are  situated  in  the  county  of  Coos,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  State.  They  extend  about  twenty  miles,  from  south-west  to  north-east, 
and  are  the  more  elevated  parts  of  a  range  extending  many  miles  in  that 
direction.     Their  base  is  about  ten  miles  broad. 

The  Indian  name  of  these  mountains,  according  to  Dr.  Belknap,  was 
Agiocochook.  An  ancient  tradition  prevailed  among  the  savages,  that  a  deluge 
once  overspread  the  land,  and  destroyed  every  human  being,  except  a  single 
powow  and  his  wife,  who  sheltered  themselves  in  these  elevated  regions,  and 
thus  preserved  the  race  from  extermination.  The  fancy  of  the  natives  peopled 
these  mountains  -with  beings  of  a(s  uperior  rank,  who  were  invisible  to  the  human 
eye,  but  sometimes  indicated  their  presence  by  tempests,  which  they  were 


JakM 


/JI^V '//, 


■  i'Wi 


MOUNTAINS.  163 

believed  to  control  with  absolute  authority.  The  savages,  thcr^lurc.  never 
attempted  to  ascend  the  summit,  deeming  the  attempt  perilous,  and  success 
impossible.  But  they  frequented  the  deliles  and  environs  of  tlic  mountains, 
and  of  course  propagated  many  extravagant  descriptions  of  their  appearance  ; 
declaring,  among  other  things  etjually  credible,  that  they  had  seen  carbuncles 
at  immense  heights,  which,  in  the  dai-kness  of  night,  shone  with  tlie  most  bril- 
liant and  dazzling  splendor. 

President  i\Jden  states,  that  the  White  Mountains  were  called,  by  one  of 
the  eastem  tribes,  Wauinbtkketinethmi ;  Waumbekkct  signifies  white,  and  meth- 
na,  mountains. 

For  directions  from  the  east,  the  south,  and  the  west,  to  this  magnificent 
exhibition  of  Almighty  power,  see  Ilayicard' s  Book  of  Reference. 

These  mountains  are  the  highest  in  New  England ;  arid,  if  we  except  the 
Rocky  oMountains,  whose  height  has  not  been  ascertained,  they  are  the  most 
lofty  of  any  in  the  United  States.  Their  great  elevation  has  always  rendered 
them  exceedingly  interesting,  both  to  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  and  to  our 
ancestors.  They  were  visited  by  Neal,  Jocelni,  and  Field,  as  early  as  1632: 
they  gave  romantic  accounts  of  their  adventures,  and  of  the  extent  and  sub- 
limity of  the  mountains.     They  called  them  the  Crystal  Hills. 

Since  that  time  this  mountainous  region  has  been  repeatedly  explored,  by 
hunters  and  men  of  science. 

Although  these  mountains  are  sixty-five  miles  distant  from  the  ocean,  their 
snow  white  summits  are  distinctly  visible,  in  good  weather,  more  than  fifty 
miles  from  shore.  Their  appearance,  at  that  distance,  is  that  of  a  silvery  cloud 
skirting  the  horizon. 

The  names  here  given  are  those  generally  appropriated  to  the  different 
summits.  Mount  Washington  is  known  by  ita  superior  elevation,  and  by  its 
being  the  southern  of  the  three  highest  peaks.  Mount  Adams  is  kno-w-n  by  its 
sharp  terminating  peak,  and  being  the  second  north  of  Washington.  Jeffhrson 
is  situated  betAveen  these  two.  Madison  is  the  eastern  peak  of  the  range. 
Monroe  is  the  first  to  the  south  of  Washington.  Franklin  is  the  second  south, 
and  is  knoAATi  by  its  level  surface^  La  Fayette  is  knoAvn  by  its  conical  shape, 
and  being  the  thii-d  south  of  Washington.  The  ascent  to  the  summits  of 
these  mountains,  though  fotiguing,  is  not  dangerous  ;  and  the  visitant  is  richly 
rewarded  for  his  labor  and  curiosity.  In  passing  from  the  Notch  to  the 
liighest  summit,  the  traveller  crosses  the  summits  of  IMounts  La  Fayette, 
Franklin,  and  Monroe.  In  accomplishing  this,  he  must  pass  through  a  forest, 
and  cross  several  ravines.  These  are  neither  wide  nor  deep,  nor  are  they 
discovered  at  a  great  distance ;  for  the  trees  fill  them  up  exactly  even  with 
the  mountain  on  each  side ;  and  their  branches  interlock  \\\i\v  each  other  in 
such  a  manner,  that  it  is  ver\'  difficult  to  pass  through  them,  and  they  are  so 
stiff"  and  thick  as  almost  to  support  a  man's  weight.  Mount  Lafayette  is 
easily  ascended.  Its  top,  to  the  extent  of  five  or  six  acres,  is  smooth,  and 
gradually  slopes  away  in  every  direction  from  its  centre.  It  even  has  a 
verdant  appearance,  as  it  is  ever}nvhere  covered  with  short  grass,  which  grows 
in  little  txxl'ts,  to  the  height  of  four  or  five  inches.    Among  these  tufts,  moon- 


164  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

tain  flowers  are  tliinly  scattei-ed,  Avhich  add  life  and  beauty  to  the  scene.  The 
prospect  from  this  summit  is  beautiful.  To  the  north,  the  eye  is  dazzled  with 
the  splendor  of  Mount  Washington ;  north-west  are  seen  the  settlement.«J  in 
Jefferson ;  west,  the  courses  of  the  Amonoosuck,  as  though  delineated  on  a 
map ;  south-Avest,  the  Moosehillock  and  Haystack  are  discovered ;  south, 
Chocorua  Peak  ;  south-east,  the  settlements  and  mountains  in  Bartlett ;  east, 
only  dark  mountains  and  forests.  On  descending  tliis  mountain,  a  small 
patch  of  water  is  found  at  its  base ;  from  which  the  ascent  is  gradual  to  the 
summit  of  Mount  Franklin.  After  crossing  this  mountain,  you  pass  over  the 
east  pinnacle  of  Mount  Monroe,  and  soon  find  yourself  on  a  plain  of  some 
extent,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Washington,  Here  is  a  fine  resting  place,  on 
the  margin  of  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  of  an  oval  form,  covering  about  three 
fourths  of  an  acre.  wThe  watei^s  are  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  deep.  Not  a 
living  creature  is  to  be  seen  in  the  waters,  at  this  height  on  the  hills  ;  nor  do 
vegetables  of  any  kind  grow  in  or  around  them,  to  obscure  the  clear  rocky  or 
gravelly  bottom  on  which  they  rest.  A  small  spring  discharges  itself  into 
this  pond,  at  its  south-east  angle.  Another  pond,  of  about  two-thirds  its  size, 
lies  north-west  of  this.  Directly  before  you,  the  pinnacle  of  Mount  Wash- 
ington rises  with  majestic  grandeur,  like  an  immense  pyramid,  or  some  vast 
Kremlin,  in  this  magnificent  city  of  mountains.  The  pinnacle  is  elevated 
about  1,500  feet  above  the  plain  ;  and  is  composed,  principally,  of  huge 
rocks  of  granite  and  gneiss,  piled  together,  presenting  a  variety  of  colors  and 
forms. 

In  ascending,  you  must  pass  enormous  masses  of  loose  stone :  but  a  ride 
of  half  an  hour  will  generally  cany  you  to  the  summit.  The  view  from  {.> 
point  is  wonderfully  grand  and  picturesque.  Innumerable  mountains,  lakes, 
ponds,  rivers,  towns,  and  villages,  meet  the  delighted  eye,  and  the  dim  Atlantic 
stretches  its  waters  along  the  eastern  horizon.  To  the  north  is  seen  the  lofty 
summits  of  Adams  and  Jefferson ;  and  to  the  east,  a  little  detached  from  the 
range,  stands  Mount  Madison.  Mount  Washington  is  supported  on  the  north 
by  a  high  ridge,  which  extends  to  Mount  Jefferson ;  on  the  north-cast,  by  a 
large  grassy  plain,  terminating  in  a  vast  spur,  extending  far  away  in  that 
direction  :  east,  by  a  promontory,  which  breaks  off  abruptly  at  St.  Anthony's 
Nose  ;  south  and  south-east,  by  a  grassy  plain,  in  summer,  of  more  than  forty 
acres.  At  the  south-eastern  extremity  of  this  plain  a  ridge  commences,  which 
slopes  gracefully  away  towards  the  vale  of  the  Saco ;  upon  which,  at  short 
distances,  from  each  other,  arise  rocks,  resembling,  in  some  places,  towers  ;  in 
others,  representing  the  various  orders  of  architecture. 

It  would  be  vain  in  us  to  attempt  a  description  of  the  varied  wonders,  which 
here  astonish  and  delight  the  beholder.  To  those  who  have  -visited  these 
mountains,  our  description  would  be  tame  and  uninteresting  ;  and  he  who  has 
never  ascended  their  hoary  summits,  cannot  realize  the  extent  and  magnificence 
of  the  scene.  These  mountains  are  decidedly  of  primitive  formation.  Nothing 
of  volcanic  origin  has  ever  yet  been  discovered,  on  the  most  diligent  research. 
They  have  for  ages,  probably,  exhibited  the  same  unvarj-ing  aspect.  No 
minerals  are  here  found,  of  much  rarity  or  value.     The   rock  which  most 


MOUNTAINS.  165 

abounds  is  schistus,  intemiixcd  with  greenstone,  mica,  granite,  and  gneiss. 
The  three  highest  peaks  are  composed  entirely  of  fragments  of  rocks,  heaped 
together  in  confusion,  but  pretty  tirmly  fixed  in  their  situations.  These  rocks 
are  an  intermediate  substance  between  gneiss  and  micaceous  schistus ;  they 
are  excessively  rough  and  coarse,  and  grey,  almost  black,  with  lichens.  The 
mica  in  them  is  abundant,  of  different  colors — red,  black,  and  limpid  ;  and, 
though  sometimes  several  inches  in  diameter,  yet  most  often  irregularly  strati- 
fied. The  granite  contains  emerald,  tourmaline,  of  which  are  found  some 
beautiful  specimens,  and  garnets,  besides  its  proper  constituents.  Crystals  of 
quartz,  pyrites,  actinote,  jasper,  porphyry,  liuate  of  lime,  and  magnetic  iron  ore, 
are  sometimes  obtained. 

During  nine  or  ten  months  of  the  year,  the  summits  of  the  mountains  are 
covered  Avith  snov/  and  ice,  giving  them  a  bright  and  dazzling  appearance.  On 
every  side  are  long  and  winding  gullies,  deepening  in  their  descent  to  the 
plains  below. 

Here  some  of  the  finest  rivers  of  New  England  originate.  The  Saco  flows 
from  the  east  side  of  the  mountains ;  the  branches  of  the  Androscoggin  from 
the  north ;  the  Amonoosuck,  and  other  tributaries  of  the  Connecticut,  from 
the  west ;  and  the  Pemigewasset  from  the  south,  its  fountain  being  near  that 
of  the  Saco.  The  sides  of  the  hills  are,  in  many  parts,  covered  with  soil :  but 
this  is  very  superficial  in  all  cases,  and  every  spot,  that  can  be  reached  by 
running  water,  is  left  destitute  of  everything  but  rocks  and  pebbles,  of  which, 
likewise,  the  river  bottoms  are  exclusively  composed.  In  these  cold  and 
elevated  regions,  the  period  for  the  growth  of  vegetables  is  extremely  brief ; 
the  mountains  must  be  forever  sterile.  Moss  and  lichens  may  be  foimd 
near  the  summits,  but  of  a  meagre  and  scanty  growth ;  looking  as  if  they 
had  wandered  from  their  proper  zone  below,  into  those  realms  of  barren 
desolation. 

A  visit  of  Mr.  Vines  to  the  White  Mountains,  described  by  Winthrop,  is 
worthy  of  notice.  It  was  performed  in  the  month  of  August,  1642,  by  him, 
in  company  with  Thomas  Gorges,  the  deputy-governor.  Darby  Field,  who 
was  living  at  Exeter,  1 639,  has  the  credit  of  being  the  first  traveller  to  these 
mountains.  His  journey,  also,  is  described  by  Winthrop,  who  says  it  was 
performed  in  the  year  1632.  He  appears  to  have  returned  by  the  way  of 
Saco.  "  The  report  he  brought,"  says  Winthrop,  "  of  shining  stones,  &c., 
caused  divers  others  to  travel  thither,  but  they  found  nothing  worth  their 
pains.  IVIr.  Gorges  and  Mr.  Vines,  two  of  the  magistrates  of  Sir  F.  Gorges' 
province,  went  thither  about  the  end  of  this  month,"  (August.)  They  set 
out,  probably,  a  few  days  after  the  return  of  Field,  dazzled  by  the  visions  of 
diamonds,  and  other  precious  minerals,  with  which  the  fancy  of  this  man  had 
garnished  his  story.  "  They  Avent  up  Saco  River  in  birch  canoes :  and  that 
way  they  found  it  ninety  miles  to  Pegwagget,  an  Indian  tOA\Ti,  but  by  land  it 
is  but  sixty.  Upon  Saco  River  they  foxmd  many  thousand  acres  of  rich 
meadow,  but  there  are  ten  falls,  which  hinder  boats,  &c.  From  the  Indian 
town  they  went  up  hill,  (for  the  most  part,)  about  thirty  miles  in  woody  lands 
then  they  went  about  seven  or  eight  miles  upon  shattered  rocks,  without  tree 


166  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

or  grass,  very  steep  all  the  way.  At  the  top  is  a  plain,  about  thi-ee  or  four 
miles  over,  all  shattered  stones  ;  and  upon  that  is  another  rock,  or  spire,  about 
a  mile  in  height,  and  about  an  acre  of  ground  at  the  top.  At  the  top  of  the 
plain  arise  four  great  rivers,  each  of  them  so  much  water  at  the  first  issue  as 
would  drive  a  mill :  Connecticut  River  from  two  heads,  at  the  north-west  and 
south-west,  which  join  in  one  about  sixty  miles  off;  Saco  River  on  the  south- 
east ;  Amascoggin,  which  runs  into  Casco  Bay,  at  the  north-east ;  and  the 
Kennebec,  at  the  north  by  east.  The  mountain  runs  east  and  west,  thirty  or 
forty  miles,  but  the  peak  is  above  all  the  rest.  They  went  and  returned  in 
fifteen  days."  This  description  of  the  mountains  was  probably  communicated 
by  Mr.  Vines  to  Gov.  Winthrop.  It  conveys  a  very  accurate  idea  of  them,  as 
they  now  strike  the  traveller. 

The  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains,  is  a  phrase  appropriated  to  a  ver\-  nar- 
row defile,  extending  two  miles  in  lengtli,  between  two  huge  cliffs,  appa- 
rently rent  asunder  by  some  A'ast  convulsion  of  nature  ;  probably  that  of  the 
deluge.  The  entrance  of  the  chasm  on  the  east  side  is  foi-mcd  by  two  rocks, 
standing  perpendicular,  at  the  distance  of  twenty-two  feet  from  each  other ; 
one  about  twenty  feet  in  height,  the  other  about  twelve.  The  road  from  Lan- 
caster to  Portland  passes  thi-ough  this  notch,  following  the  course  of  the  head 
stream  of  the  Saco. 

The  scenery  at  this  place  is  exceedingly  beautiful  and  grand.  The  moun- 
tain, otherwise  a  continued  range,  is  here  cloven  quite  down  to  its  base,  open- 
ing a  passage  for  the  waters  of  the  Saco.  The  gap  is  so  narrow,  that  space 
has  with  difficulty  been  found  for  the  road.  About  half  a  mile  fiom  the 
entrance  of  the  chasm  is  seen  a  most  beautiful  cascade,  issuing  from  a  moun- 
tain on  the  right,  about  800  feet  above  the  subjacent  valley,  and  about  two 
miles  distant.  The  stream  passes  over  a  scries  of  rocks,  almost  perpendicular, 
with  a  course  so  little  broken,  as  to  preserve  the  appearance  of  a  uniform  cur- 
rent, and  yet  so  far  disturbed  as  to  be  perfectly  white.  This  beautiful  stream, 
which  passes  down  a  stupendous  precipice,  is  called  by  Dwight  the  Silver  Cas- 
cade.    It  is  probably  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  world. 

At  the  distance  of  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  entrance  of  the  chasm 
is  a  brook,  called  the  Flume,  which  falls  from  a  height  of  240  or  250  feet,  over 
three  precipices  ;  down  the  first  two  in  a  single  current,  and  over  the  last  in 
three,  which  unite  again  at  the  bottom,  in  a  small  basin,  formed  by  the  hand  of 
nature  in  the  rocks.  The  water  is  pure  and  transparent,  and  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  a  brook  of  its  size  to  be  modelled  into  more  diversified  or  delight- 
ful forms. 

It  is  by  no  means  strange  that  the  unlettered  Indian  fancied  these  regions 
to  be  the  abodes  of  celestial  beings  ;  while  the  scholar,  without  a  stretch  of 
fancy,  in  calling  to  mind  the  mythology  of  Greece,  might  find  here  a  fit  place 
for  the  assemblies  and  sports  of  the  Dryads,  Naiads,  and  Oreads. 

Avalanches,  or  slides,  from  the  mountains.  On  the  28th  of  August,  1826, 
there  occurred  one  of  tlie  most  remarkable  floods  ever  known  in  this 
mountainous  region,  and  which  was  attended  by  the  a^\■fu\  calamity  of  the 
destruction  of  a  whole  family,  by  an  avalanche,  or  slide,  from  the  moun- 
tains. 


MOUNTAINS.  167 

These  avalanches,  as  they  are  termed  in  Switzerland,  are  produced  by  heavy 
rains ;  they  commence,  generally,  near  the  highest  limits  of  vegetation  on  the 
mountains,  which,  on  some  of  them,  is  near  their  summits ;  the  slides  widen- 
ing and  deepening  in  their  downward  course,  carrying  along  all  the  trees, 
shrubbery,  loose  rocks  and  earth,  from  their  granite  foundations.  At  this  time 
there  were  probably  thousands  of  acres  reft  from  the  sides  of  the  mountain  and 
carried  to  the  valley  in  the  Notch  below. 

The  house  inhabited  by  Capt.  Samuel  Willey  and  his  family  stood  on  the 
•westerly  side  of  the  road,  in  the  Notch,  and  a  few  rods  distant  from  the  high 
bluff  which  rises  with  fearful  rapidity  to  the  height  of  2,000  feet.  Ad- 
joining was  a  barn  and  wood  house;  in  front  was  a  beautiful  little  mea- 
dow, covered  with  crops  ;  and  the  Saco  passed  along  at  the  foot  of  the  easterly 
precipice. 

Nearly  in  range  of  the  house,  a  slide  from  the  extreme  point  of  the  west- 
erly hill  came  down,  in  a  deep  and  horrible  mass,  to  Avithin  about  five  rods  of 
the  dwelling,  where  its  course  appears  to  have  been  checked  by  a  large  block 
of  granite,  which,  falling  on  a  flat  surface,  backed  the  rolling  mass  for  a 
moment,  until  it  separated  into  two  streams,  one  of  which  rushed  down  by 
the  north  end  of  the  house,  crushing  the  barn,  and  spreading  itself  over  the 
meadow ;  the  other  passing  down  on  the  south  side,  and  swallowing  up  the 
unfortunate  beings,  who  probably  attempted  to  fly  to  a  shelter,  Avhich,  it  is 
said,  had  been  erected  a  few  rods  distant.  This  shelter,  whatever  it  might 
have  been,  was  completely  ovei-whelmed :  rocks,  weighing  ten  to  fifty  tons, 
being  scattered  about  the  place,  and  indeed  in  every  direction,  rendering  escape 
utterly  impossible.  The  house  remained  untouched,  though  large  stones  and 
trunks  of  trees  made  fearful  approaches  to  its  walls  ;  and  the  moving  mass, 
which  separated  behind  the  building,  again  united  in  its  front  I  The  house 
alone  could  have  been  their  refuge  from  the  horrible  uproar  around — 
the  only  spot  untouched,  by  the  crumbling  and  consuming  power  of  the 
storm. 

The  family  consisted  of  nine  persons  :  Capt.  Willey,  his  wife,  five  children, 
and  two  men,  by  the  names  of  Nickerson  and  Allen. 

Travellers  visiting  this  section  of  country,  in  autumn,  will  be  gratified 
with  the  rich  and  varied  beauties  of  autumnal  foliage^  common  in  this  coun- 
try, but  more  particufarly  so  at  the  north  ;  and  which  is  thus  described  by  Dr. 
Dwight : 

"  The  bosom  of  both  ranges  of  mountains  was  overspread,  in  all  the  inferior 
regions,  by  a  mixture  of  evergreens,  ^^^th  trees,  whose  -  leaves  are  deciduous. 
The  annual  foliage  had  been  already  changed  by  the  frosts.  Of  the  efi^ects  of 
this  change  it  is,  perhaps,  impossible  for  an  inhabitant  of  Great  Britain,  as  I 
have  been  assured  by  several  foreigners,  to  form  an  adequate  conception,  with- 
out visiting  an  American  forest.  When  I  was  a  youth,  I  remarked  that 
Thomson  had  entirely  omitted,  in  his  Seasons,  this  fine  part  of  autumnal 
imagery.  Upon  inquiring  of  an  English  gentleman  the  probable  cause  of  the 
omission,  he  informed  me,  that  no  such  scenery  existed  in  Great  Britain. 
In  this  country  it  is  often  among  the  most  splendid  beauties  of  natvure.    All 


168  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHTEE. 

the  leaves  of  trees,  -vvhich  are  not  evergreens,  are,  by  the  first  severe  frost, 
changed  from  their  verdure  towards  the  perfection  of  that  color,  which  they 
are  capable  of  ultimately  assuming,  through  yellow,  orange,  and  red,  to  a 
pretty  deep  bro^vn.  As  the  frost  affects  different  trees,  and  the  different  leaves 
of  the  same  tree,  in  very  different  degrees  ;  a  vast  multitude  of  tinctures  are 
commonly  found  on  those  of  a  single  ti-ee,  and  always  on  those  of  a  grove  or 
forest.  These  colors,  also,  in  all  their  A^arieties,  are  generally  full ;  and,  in 
many  instances,  are  among  the  most  exquisite  which  are  to  be  found  in  the 
regions  of  nature.  Different  sorts  of  ti-ees  are  susceptible  of  different  degrees 
of  this  beauty.  Among  them  the  maple  is  pre-eminently  distinguished,  by 
the  prodigious  varieties,  the  finish,  beauty,  and  the  intense  lustre,  of  its  hues ; 
varying  through  all  the  dyes,  between  a  rich  green  and  the  most  perfect  crim 
son ;  or  more  definitely,  the  red  of  the  prismatic  image." 

Visits  to  these  mountains  are  annually  increasing.  The  roads  and  public 
houses  on  the  various  routes  to  them  are  excellent :  and  the  scenery,  in  extent 
and  variet}',  is  of  surpassing  beauty  and  grandeur. 

The  following  apostrophe  to  Mount  Washington,  was  -sATitten  by  an  Amer- 
ican poet : 

"  Thine  is  the  summit  where  the  clouds  repose, 
Or,  eddjing  Trildly,  round  thy  cUffs  are  borne  ; 
When  Tempest  mounts  his  rushing  car,  and  throws 
His  billowy  mist  amid  the  thunder's  home  I 
Far  down  the  deep  ravines  the  whirlwinds  come, 
And  bow  the  forests  a^  they  sweep  along  ; 
While,  roaring  deeply  from  their  rocky  womb, 
The  storm  comes  forth,  and,  hurrying  darkly  on. 
Amid  the  echoing  peaks  the  revelry  prolong  I 
#*♦*♦* 
Mount  of  the  clouds  I  when  winter  round  thee  throws 

The  hoarj-  mantle  of  the  dying  year, 
Sublime,  amid  thy  canopy  of  snows. 

Thy  towers  in  bright  magnificence  appear ! 
'T  is  then  we  view  thee  with  a  chilling  fear, 

Till  summer  robes  thee  in  her  tints  of  blue  ; 
When  lo  !  in  softened  grandeur,  far,  yet  clear. 

Thy  battlements  stand  clothed  in  heaven's  own  hue, 
To  swell,  as  Freedom's  home,  on  man's  unbounded  view '." 


HEIGHTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  MOUNTAINS  IN  NEW  HAMPSHHIE,  ABOVE  THE 
LEVEL  OF  THE  SEA. 


Adams, 5,383 

Blue, 1,151 

Carr's, 1,381 

Chocorua, 3,358 

Franklin, 4.470 

Jefferson, 5.281 


Madison. 5,039 

Monadnock, 3,718 

Monroe, 4,132 

Moose, 1,000 

Patuckaway, 892 

Pequagnet, 3,367 


Kearsarge, 3,067 1  Snddlcback, 1,032 

Lafayette, 5,067 1  Washington, 6,226 


RIVERS. 


169 


RIVERS. 


Amonoosuck  River.  Upper  and] 
Lower.  The  Upper  Amonoosuck  rises 
at  the  north  of  the  White  Mountains, ' 
and  passing  north-east  into  Dummer,  I 
approaches  to  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
Androscoggin ;  thence  turning  abrupt- 1 
ly  to  the  south-Avest  it  pursues  that  di- 
rection and  falls  into  Connecticut  River ' 
near  the  centre  of  Northumberland.  Its  \ 
whole  length  is  about  fifty  miles.  The 
valley  of  the  Upper  Amonoosuck  is 
seven  or  eight  miles  in  breadth,  and 
more  than  twenty  in  length  ;  it  is  scoop- 
ed out  with  great  beauty,  the  surface 
gently  rising  to  the  summits  of  the 
mountains  on  the  north. 

The  Lower  Amonoosuck  rises  on  the 
west  side  of  the  White  Mountains,  and 
after  running  a  course  of  fifty  miles, 
falls  into  the  Connecticut  just  above 
Haverhill,  by  a  mouth  100  yards  wide. 
At  the  distance  of  two  miles  from  its 
mouth,  it  receives  the  Wild  Amonoo- 
suck, a  stream  forty  yards  wide,  and, 
when  raised  by  freshets,  very  swift  and 
furious  in  its  course. 

The  waters  of  the  Amonoosuck  are 
pure,  and  its  bed  clean ;  the  current 
lively,  and  in  some  places  rapid.  The 
valley  of  the  Lower  Amonoosuck  is 
about  half  a  mile  in  width,  and  was 
probably  once  the  bed  of  a  lake,  its 
south-west  limit  being  the  rise  of 
ground  at  its  foot,  over  which  the  wa- 
ters descended  in  their  course  to  the 
Connecticut.  There  is  a  fine  fall  in  this 
river  about  six  and  a  ha.lf  miles  from 
the  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains, 
where  the  descent  is  fifty  feet,  cut 
through  a  mass  of  stratified  granite. 

Androscoggin  River,  or  Ameris- 
coggin.  Its  most  northerly  branch  is 
the  Margallaway  River  which  receives 
the  waters  of  Dead  and  Diamond  Ri- : 
vers,  and  unites  with  those  flowing  from 
Umbagog  Lake,  about  a  mile  distant 
from  its  outlet.  From  this  junction,  the 
confluent  stream  pursues  a  southerly 
course  till  it  approaches  near  the  White 


Mountains,  where  it  receives  several 
considerable  tributaries,  and  passes  in- 
to Maine,  north  of  Mount  Moriah.  It 
there  bends  to  the  east  and  south-east ; 
in  which  course,  through  a  fertile  coun- 
try, it  passes  near  the  sea-coast,  and 
turning  north  runs  over  the  falls  at 
Brunswick,  not  far  from  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege,^  into  Merrymeeting  Bay,  forming 
a  junction  with  the  Kennebec,  twenty 
miles  from  the  sea. — See  Maine  Gazet- 
teer. 

AsHUELOT  River,  or  AshwiUit,  a 
river  in  Cheshire  County,  which  has 
its  source  in  a  pond  in  Washington. 
It  runs  in  a  southerly  course  through 
Marlow  and  Gilsum,  to  Keene,  where 
it  receives  a  considerable  branch  issu- 
ing from  ponds  in  Stoddard.  From 
Keene  it  proceeds  to  Swanzey,  where 
it  receives  another  considerable  branch 
which  originates  in  Jaifrey  and  Fitzwil- 
liam.  It  pursues  its  course  southerly 
and  westerly  through  Winchester  into 
Hinsdale,  where,  at  the  distance  of 
about  three  miles  from  the  south  line 
of  the  State,  it  empties  into  the  Con- 
necticut. 

Back  River.  Bellamy  Bank,  a 
river,  one  branch  of  which  issues  from 
Chesley's  Pond  in  Barrington,  and  the 
other  from  low  and  marshy  lands  in 
the  vicinity ;  these  unite  in  Madbury, 
and  after  meandering  through  the  town, 
the  waters  fall  into  the  Piscataqua,  on 
the  west  side  of  Dover  Neck,  where 
the  stream  is  called  Back  River. 

Baker's  River.  Baker's  River,  a 
considerable  stream  in  Grafton  County, 
is  formed  of  two  branches.  The  north 
branch  has  its  source  near  Moosehil- 
lock  Mountain  in  Benton.  It  runs 
southerly  through  Warren  into  Went- 
worth,  where  it  unites  with  the  south 
branch  which  originates  in  Orange. 
After  the  union  of  these  branches,  the 
river  pursues  a  south-east  and  an  east- 


170 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


erly  course  through  the  south  part  of 
Rumney  and  the  north  part  of  Ply- 
mouth, where  it  forms  a  junction  with 
Pemigewasset  River  just  above  Ply- 
mouth village.  It  was  on  this  river,  in 
the  township  of  Rumney,  that  General 
Stark  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  on 
the  28th  of  April,  1752. 

Beaver  Brook  is  the  name  of  seve- 
ral streams  in  this  State.  The  largest 
has  its  source  in  a  small  pond  in  Unit}-, 
and  running  west  falls  into  the  Con- 
necticut in  Charlestown.  One  other 
stream  rises  in  Mount  Veraon,  and  falls 
into  the  Souhegan ;  and  another  pass- 
es from  Stewartstown  through  Cole- 
brook. 

Beaver  River  has  its  principal 
source  in  Beaver  Pond,  a  beautiful  body 
of  water  in  Londonderry.  It  passes 
south  through  Pelham,  and  falls  into 
the  Mcmmae  in  Dracut,  Mass.,  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  Concord  River 
in  that  State. 

Bear  Camp  River,  is  formed  of 
several  branches  rising  on  the  south 
side  of  Sandwich  and  Albany  Moun- 
tains. The  two  principal  branches 
unite  in  Ossipee,  and  fall  into  Ossipee 
Lake  on  its  western  border. 

Bellamy  Bank. — See  Bach  River. 

Bishop's  Brook  rises  in  the  south- 
east part  of  Stewartstown,  and  passes 
through  the  town,  and  falls  into  Con- 
necticut River. 

Blackwater  River.  Blackwater 
River,  so  called  from  its  dark  appear- 
ance, is  formed  by  two  small  streams, 
one  of  which  rises  in  Danbury.  and  the 
other  issues  from  Pleasant  Pond,  in 
New  London.  These  branches  unite 
soon  after  crossing  the  west  line  of  An- 
dover,  and  form  the  Blackwater,  which 
passes  through  the  south-west  part  of 
that  town :  from  thence  through  the 
west  part  of  the  towns  of  Salisbury  and 
Boscawen  into  Ilopkinton,  where  it 
empties  into  Contoocook  River. 

Burnham's  River. — See  Lyman. 


Clear  Stream  River,  rises  in  the 
mountains  in  the  Iomti  of  Dixville  and 
north  of  Millsfield,  passing  through  the 
centre  of  Errol  into  the  Androscoggin 
River,  about  three  miles  west  of  tJm- 
bagog  Lake. 

CocHECO  River. — See  Dover. 

Cold  River. — See  Acu-oiih. 

CoNKECTicuT  RivER.  This  bcau- 
I  tiful  river,  the  Quonektacut  of  the  In- 
dians, and  the  pride  of  the  Yankees, 
I  has  it  sources  in  New  Hampshire  and 
the  mountainous  tracts  in  LoAver  Can- 
ada. Its  name  in  the  Indian  language 
is  said  to  si^nif\'  Long  River,  or,  as 
some  render  it,  Rii'er  of  Pines.  Its 
general  course  is  north  and  south. 
After  forming  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
it  crosses  the  western  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts, passes  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, nearly  in  its  centre ;  and,  after  a 
fall  of  1,600  feet,  from  its  head,  north 
of  latitude  45°.  it  falls  into  Long  Is- 
land Sound,  in  latitude  41°  16'.  The 
breadth  of  this  river,  at  its  entrance 
into  Vermont,  is  about  150  feet,  and  in 
its  course  of  sixty  miles  it  increa.'^es  to 
about  390  feet.  In  Massacliusetts  and 
Connecticut,  its  breadth  may  be  esti- 
mated from  450  to  1.050  feet.  It  is 
navigable  to  Hartford,  forty-five  miles, 
for  vessels  of  considerable  burthen,  and 
to  Middletown,  thirty  miles  from  the 
sea,  for  vessels  drawing  twelve  feet  of 
water.  By  means  of  canals  and  other 
improvements,  it  has  been  made  navi- 
gable for  boats  to  Fifteen  Mile  Palls, 
neai-ly  250  miles  above  Hartford. 

The  most  considerable  rapids  in  this 
river,  are  Bellows'  Falls,  the  falls  of 
Queechy,  just  below  the  mouth  of 
Waterq'ueechy  River :  the  AVhite  River 
Falls,  below  Hanover,  and  the  Fifteen 
Mile  Falls,  in  New  Hampshire  and  Ver- 
mont;— the  falls  at  Montague  and 
South  Had  ley,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
the  falls  at  Enfield,  in  Connecticut, 
where  it  meets  the  tide  water.  The 
perpendicular  height  of  the  falls  which 
have  been  overcome  by  dams  and  locks 
between  Springfield,  in  Massachusetts, 
and  Hanover,  in  New  Hampshire,  a 


RIVERS. 


171 


distiiuce  of  130  miles,  is  nearly  300 
feet. 

The  most  important  tributaries  to 
the  Connecticut,  in  New  Hampshire, 
are  Upper  and  Lower  Amonoosuck, 
Israel's,  John's,  Mascomy,  Sugar,  and 
Ashuelot  Eivers  ;  in  Vermont,  Nulhe- 
gan,  Fassumpsic,  Wells,  AVait's,  Om- 
pomponoosuck,  AV'hite,  Waterqueechy, 
Black,  Williams,  Sexton's,  and  West 
llivers  ;  in  Massachusetts,  Miller's, 
Deerfield,  Agawam,  Chickopee,  and 
Westfield  Rivers  ;  and  the  Farming- 
ton,  in  Connecticut. 

The  intervales  arc  generally  spread 
upon  one  or  both  sides  of  the  river, 
nearly  on  a  level  with  its  banks,  and 
extending  from  half  a  mile  to  five  miles 
in  breadth  ;  but  its  })orders  are  in  some 
places  high,  rocky  and  precipitous.  In 
the  spring  it  overflows  its  banks,  and, 
through  its  winding  course  of  nearly 
400  miles,  forms  and  fertilizes  a  vast 
tract  of  rich  meadow.  In  point  of 
length,  utility,  and  beauty,  this  river 
foi-ms  a  distinguished  feature  of  New 
England. 

Large  quantities  of  shad  are  taken 
in  this  river,  l)ut  the  salmon,  which  for- 
merly were  very  plenty,  have  entirely 
disappeared. 

Connecticut  River  passes  through  a 
basin  or  valley  of  about  12,000  square 
miles;  it  is  decorated,  on  each  side, 
with  towns  and  villages  of  superior 
beauty,  and  presents  to  the  eye  a  won- 
derful variety  of  enchanting  scenery. 

For  the  distances  on  both  sides  of 
this  beautiful  river,  from  Long  Island 
Sound  to  the  Canada  Line,  sec  Hay- 
ward's  Booh  of  Rpfererice, 

CoxTOocooK  RiYER,  a  stream  of 

considerable  length  and  importance, 
waters  most  of  the  towns  in  the  Avest 
part  of  the  county  of  Hillsborough. 
It  has  its  origin  from  several  ponds  in 
Jaftrey  and  Rindge,  and  in  its  course 
north  receives  numerous  streams  from 
Dublin,  Peterborough.  Sharon,  Nelson, 
Stoddard,  Washington,  Antrim,  Deer- 
ing,  and  Hillsborough. 

In  Hillsborough  it  takes  a  north- 
east and  easterly  direction,  and  pro- 
ceeds through  Henniker  to  Hopkinton, 
where  it  receives  Warner  and  Black- 


water  Rivers.  From  Hopkinton,  it  pur- 
sues a  meandering  course  through  Con- 
cord, and  discharges  itself  into  the 
MeiTimac  between  Concord  and  Bos- 
cawen.  This  is  a  river  of  uncommon 
beauty.  Near  the  mouth  of  this  river 
is  Duston''s  Island,  celebrated  as  the  spot 
where  Mi-s.  Duston  destroyed  several 
Indians,  in  1698.  The  Northern  Rail- 
road now  passes  over  this  island. 

Dead  River  rises  in  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  State,  in  Coos  County, 
and  after  receiving  several  tributaries 
it  falls  into  the  Margallaway. 

Diamond  River.  Diamond  River 
has  its  principal  source  in  Diamond 
Pond,  in  Stewartstown.  From  thence 
it  passes  througli  Dixville,  and  after 
receiving  several  tril)utaries,  falls  into 
Dead  River  near  its  junction  with  the 
Margallaway. 

Ellis'  River  rises  on  the  east  side 
of  the  White  ^lountains,  in  several 
small  streams  near  the  sources  of  Pea- 
body  River ;  and  separating  into  two 
streams  which  unite  in  the  town  of 
Jackson,  it  falls  into  the  Saco  River  at 
Bartlett. 

Hall's  Stream  rises  in  the  high- 
lands which  separate  this  State  from 
the  British  dominions,  and  forms  the 
north-west  boundar\  between  New 
Hampshire  and  Canada,  from  its 
source  to  its  junction  with  the  Con- 
necticut, at  Stewartstown. 

IxDiAX  Stream,  in  the  county  of 
Coos,  is  the  principal  and  most  north- 
erly source  of  Connecticut  River,  ris- 
ing in  the  highlands,  near  the  north 
limit  of  the  State,  and  pursuing  almost 
a  direct  south-west  course  to  its  junc- 
tion with  the  east  branch,  flowing  from 
Lake  Connecticut. 

Isinglass  River  takes  its  rise  from 
Long  Pond,  in  Barrington,  and  Bow 
Pond,  in  Straff'ord ;  and,  after  receiv- 
ing the  waters  of  several  other  ponds, 
unites  Mdth  Cocheco,  near  the  south 
part  of  Rochester. 


172 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


Israel's  Kiver,  Coos  County,  is 
formed  by  the  waters  which  descend 
in  cataracts  from  the  summits  of 
Mounts  Adams  and  Jefferson,  and, 
running  north-west,  it  passes  through 
Randolph  and  Jefferson,  discharging 
itself  into  the  Connecticut,  near  the 
centre  of  Lancaster.  It  is  a  beautiful 
stream,  and  received  its  name  from  Is- 
rael Glines,  a  hunter,  who,  Avith  his 
brother,  frequented  tliese  regions,  long 
before  the  settlement  of  the  country. 

John's  River  has  its  princijial 
source  in  Pondicheny  Pond,  in  the 
tOAvn  of  Jefferson.  Its  most  southerly 
branches  lise  in  Carroll,  Whitefield, 
and  Dalton.  and  its  northerly  branch 
in  Lancaster. 

Lamprey  River  rises  on  the  west 
of  Saddleback  Mountain,  in  the  town 
of  Northwood.  In  its  course  it  re- 
ceives the  waters  of  Jones'  Pond,  in 
Raymond  and  Ep])ing  :  the  waters  of 
the'Pautuckaway  River  also  unite  with 
it,  and  in  its  course,  in  passing  through 
Lee  and  Durham,  it  receives  the  waters 
of  North,  Little,  and  Piscassick  Rivers, 
and  meets  the  tide  two  miles  above 
the  Great  Bay. 

Lovewell's  Pond — See  Walcejield. 

Mad  River  rises  among  the  moun- 
tains in  the  north-east  part  of  Grafton 
County  :  it  crosses  the  south-east  part 
of  Thornton,  and  falls  into  the  Pemi- 
gewasset  at  Campton. 

Margallaway  River  has  its 
source  among  the  highlands,  which 
separate  Maine  from  Canada,  in  the 
north-east  extremity  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, about  thirty  miles  north  from 
Errol.  After  a  southerly  course  of 
nearly  twenty  miles,  on  the  western 
border  of  Maine,  it  enters  New  Hamp- 
shire, where  it  forms  a  junction  with 
the  united  streams  of  Dead  and  Dia- 
mond Rivers.  Thence,  after  a  south- 
erly course  of  about  six  miles  to  Er- 
rol, it  receives  the  waters  of  Umba- 
gog  Lake.  After  this  junction,  the 
main  stream  is  the  Androscoggin 
River. 


I  Mascomy  River  has  its  sotirce 
I  south  of  Smart's  ^lountain,  lying  in 
I  the  towns  of  Lyme  and  Dorchester, 
;  and,  running  through  Canaan,  empties 
j  itself  into  Mascomy  Pond,  in  the  town 
I  of  Enfield.— See  Enfield. 
I 

I      Merrimac  River.     This  is  one  of 
[  the  principal  rivers  of  New  England, 
i  and  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
j  PemigCAvasset  and  Winnipiseogee  Ri- 
vers, which   unite    at  Franklin.     The 
confluent  stream  bears   the   name   of 
Merrimac,    and    pursues    a    southerly 
course  seventy-eight  miles,  to  Chelms- 
ford, Mass. ;  thence  an  easterly  course, 
thirty-five  miles,  to  the  sea,  at  New- 
buryport.     On  the  north  line  of  Con- 
cord,  the    Contoocook   discharges   its 
Avaters  into  the  Merrimac.     The  Sou- 
cook    becomes    a   tributary  in    Pem- 
broke, and  the  Suncook  bctAveen  Pem- 
[  broke  and  Allenstown.     The  Piscata- 
1  (piog  unites  in  Bedford,  the  Souhegan 
I  in   Merrimac,   and   a  beautiful    river, 
I  called  Nashua,  in  Nashua  and  Nash- 
j  ville.     In  Massachusetts,  the  Concord, 
t  Spiggot.  Shawsheen,  and  Poavow,  be- 
1  come   tributaries   to   this  noble  river. 
The   principal  tributaries  are  on   the 
Avestcrn  side  of  the  riAcr,  mostly  rising 
in  the  highlands,  between  the  Connec- 
ticut and  ^Merrimac. 

There  are  numerous  falls  in  this 
river,  the  most  noted  of  Avhich  are  Gar- 
A-cn's,  in  Concord,  the  falls  in  Hooksett, 
and  Amoskeag,  in  GoffstOAvn  and  Man- 
chester. These  falls  are  all  rendered 
passable  by  locks,  and  boat  navigation 
has,  for  .several  years,  been  extended 
as  far  as  Concord.  There  are  several 
bridges '  over  the  Merrimac  and  its 
l)rincipal  branches,  besides  a  number  of 
ferries. 

The  MeiTimac,  A\'hose  fountains  are 
nearly  on  a  level  Avith  the  Connecti- 
cut, being  much  shorter  in  its  course, 
has  a  far  more  rapid  descent  to  the 
sea  than  the  latter  river.  Hence  the 
intervales  on  its  borders  are  less  ex- 
tensive, and  the  scenery  less  beautiful, 
than  on  the  Connecticut.  It  is,  how- 
ever, a  majestic  river ;  its  Avatcrs  are 
generally  pure  and  healthy  ;  and  on 
its  borders  are  situated  some  of  the 
most  flourishing  toA\Tis  in  the  State. 


RIVERS. 


173 


The  name  of  tliis  river  wsis  originally 
written  Merramacke  and  Motinomake, 
which,  in  the  Indian  language,  signi- 
fied a  sturgeon.  Its  width  varies  from 
fifty  to  150  rods;  and  at  its  moutli  it 
presents  a  beautiful  sheet  of  half  a  mile 
in  width. 

This  river  produces  an  immense  wa- 
ter power,  and  the  manufacturing  cities 
and  villages  already  erected  on  its  banks 
are  the  delight  and  boast  of  Americans, 
and  the  admiration  of  people  in  distant 
countries. 

"  Sweet  Merrimac  1  thy  gentle  stream 
Is  fit  for  better  poet's  theme  : 
For  rich  thy  waves,  and  gentle  too, 
As  Rome's  proud  Tyber  ever  knew  ; 
And  thy  fair  current's  placid  swell 
Would  flow  in  classic  song  as  well. 

*  *  *  # 

Here  bounteous  spring  profusely  showers 
A  wilderness  of  sweets  and  flowers. 
The  stately  oak,  of  royal  line. 
The  spreading  elm,  and  towering  pine, 
Here  cast  a  purer,  happier  shade, 
Than  blood  stained  laurels  ever  made." 

Mohawk  River  has  its  source 
among  the  mountains  of  Dixville,  and, 
in  its  course  through  Colebrook,  re- 
ceives some  considerable  branches  from 
StewartstowTi.  It  passes  into  the  Con- 
necticut River,  below  the  centre  of  the 
town  of  Colebrook. 

Moose  River  rises  on  the  north 
side  of  the  White  Mountains,  near  the 
to\vn  of  Randolph,  through  which  it 
passes,  and  unites  with  the  Androscog- 
gin in  Shelbume.  Its  course  is  very 
near  that  of  Israel's  River,  which  passes 
west  into  the  Connecticut. 

Narmarcungawack  River,  a 
branch  of  tlie  Androscoggin,  rises  in 
the  town  of  Success,  anil  unites  with 
the  main  stream,  in  the  town  of  Mi- 
lan. 

Nash's   Stream,  a  branch  of  the 

Upper  Amo;joosuck,  has  its  source  in 

^the  town  of  Stratford  and   the  lands 

feast,  and  unites  with  the  Amonoosuck 

'in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town  of 

Stark. 

Nashua  River,  a  beautiful  stream  1 
15* 


on  the  south  part  of  Hillsborough 
County,  N.  Hampshire,  has  its  source 
in  Worcester  County,  Massachusetts. 
It  is  formed  of  two"  branches,  called 
the  north  and  south  branches.  The 
north  branch  is  formed  of  two  streams  ; 
one  from  Ashburnham,  the  other  from 
Wachuset  Ponds.  The  south  branch 
is  composed  of  Still  River,  issuing  from 
the  east  side  of  Wachuset  Mountain, 
and  a  small  stream  from  Quinepoxet 
Pond,  in  Holden.  These  branches  are 
united  in  Lancaster,  from  which  the 
main  river  proceeds  in  a  north-easterly 
course,  to  Harvard,  Shirley,  Groton,  and 
Pepperell,  in  Mass. ;  and  from  thence 
into  New  Hampshire,  through  HoUis, 
and  nearly  the  centre  of  the  town  of 
Nashua,  where  it  falls  into  the  Merri- 
mac River. 

Newfound  River. — See  Bristol. 

Newichawannock  River. — See 
Piscataqua. 

Oliverian  River  is  formed  of 
two  branches,  both  having  their  sources 
in  the  town  of  Benton  ;  the  east 
branch  from  the  west  side  of  Moose- 
hillock  Mountain,  and  the  north  branch 
from  Owl's  Head  Mountain.  These 
branches  unite  near  the  east  line  of 
the  toAvn  of  Haverhill,  and  the  main 
stream  passes  through  the  south  part 
of  the  town,  and  falls  into  the  Con- 
necticut River  above  Bedel's  Bridge,  so 
called. 

Oyster  River. — See  Durham. 

Peabody  River  has  its  source  in 
the  east  pass  of  the  White  Mountains, 
near  the  head  of  Ellis's  River,  a  branch 
of  the  Saco,  and  passes  north  into  the 
Androscoggin.5e^  Note  1 2. 

Pequawkett  River.  Pequaw- 
kett,  -vvi-itten  by  Belknap  Pigwacket, 
and  by  Sullivan  Pickwocket,  but  the 
true  orthography  is  found  to  be  Pe- 
quaw-kett;  an  Indian  name,  applied 
to  a  considerable  tract  of  country,  now 
including  Conway,  N.  H.,  Fryeburgh, 
Me.,  and  some  of  the  adjacent  towns. 
It  is  also  the  name  of  a  river  flowing 


174 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


into  the  Saco,  from  two  ponds  in 
Eaton ;  and  of  a  mountain  between 
Bartlett  and  Chatham,  formerly  called 
Kearsarge. 

PemigeavassetKivek.  This  stream 
and  the  Winnipiseogee  constitute  the 
Merrimac.  The  Pemigewasset  is 
formed  of  three  principal  branches, 
having  their  sources  in  Woodstock, 
Franconia,  and  the  Ungi-anted  Lands 
south-west  of  the  White  Mountains. 
These  branches  unite  in  Woodstock, 
from  whence  the  main  stream  passes  in 
a  southerly  direction,  through  Thoni- 
ton,  Campton,  between  Plymouth  and 
Holderness  ;  Bridgewater,  Bristol,  and 
New  Hampton  ;  Hill  and  Franklin  ;  at 
which  latter  tOA\Ti  it  unites  with  the 
Winnipiseogce.  and  the  main  sti-eam 
becomes  the  Merrimac. 

Phillips  River  is  a  branch  of  the 
Upper  Amonoosuck,  rises  in  the  towns 
of  Dixville  and  Columbia,  and,  after 
passing  through  Millsfield  and  Dum- 
mer,  unites  with  the  main  stream,  in  the 
town  of  Stark. 

Pike  River,  a  small  stream  issuing 
from  a  pond  in  the  town  of  Wake- 
field, and  passing  north-west  into  Ossi- 
pee  Lake. 

PiscATAQUA  River,  the  only  large 
River  whose  entire  course  is  in  New 
Hampshire,  is  formed  by  the  junction 
of  several  small  streams  in  a  wide 
and  deep  bed ;  hollowed  out  partly 
by  them,  and  partly  by  the  tide.  The 
names  of  these  streams,  beginning 
at  the  north-east,  are  Salmon  Fall, 
Cocheco,  Bellamy  Bank.  Oyster,  Lam- 
prey, Squamscot.  and  Winnicut  Rivers. 
The  fiA-e  last  unite  their  Avaters  in  a 
large  and  irregular  bay,  between  Dur- 
ham and  Greenland,  more  resembling 
a  lake  than  a  river.  The  waters  of 
this  bay  meet  those  of  Salmon  Fall 
and  Cocheco  RiA'ers,  coming  from  the 
north-west,  at  Hilton's  Point,  a  fcAv 
miles  below  Dover.  After  this  junc- 
tion, they  proceed  in  a  direct  line  to 
the  south-east,  and  join  the  ocean,  two 
or  three  miles  below  Portsmouth :  em- 
bosoming several  islands,  and  forming 


one  of  the  best  harbors  on  the  conti- 
nent. 

Few  rivers  make  a  more  magnifi- 
cent appearance  than  this ;  yet  the 
streams  by  Avhich  it  is  supplied  are 
small.  Salmon  Fall  furnishes  more 
than  all  the  rest.  This  stream  is  called 
Neicichaiccmnoch,  from  the  falls  in  Ber- 
AA'ick  till  it  receives  the  waters  of  the 
Cocheco  ;  but  the  name  of  Piscataqna 
ought  to  be  applied  to  the  whole  of 
Salmon  Fall  River. 

PiscATAQuoG  RivER  is  formed  of 
two  principal  branches  ;  one  from 
Francestown,  the  other  from  Henni- 
ker  and  Deering,  AAhich  unite,  and 
form  the  main  stream,  near  the  west 
line  of  GoffstOA\-n.  It  pursues  a  south- 
easterly course  through  Goff"stOA\m  and 
the  north-east  corner  of  Bedford, 
where  it  falls  into  the  Merrimac 
River. 

PiscASSiCK  River  rises  in  the 
north-east  part  of  the  tOAvn  of  Brent- 
wood, and  passes  through  New  Mar- 
ket into  the  Lamprey  River,  at  Dur- 
ham. 

PoAvoAv  River  has  its  principal 
source  in  Great  and  Country  Ponds, 
in  Kingston,  N.  H.,  and  passes  OA'er 
the  south-Avest  part  of  East  King- 
ston into  South  Hampton  ;  thence  into 
Amesburv^  Massachusetts,  where  it 
turns  east  into  South  Hampton  again, 
and  returns  into  Amesbury,  falling  into 
the  MeiTimac  between  Salisbury  and 
Amesbury. 

There  are  seA'eral  falls  in  this  river ; 
those  in  Amesbury  being  the  most 
remarkable,  the  water  falling  100  feet 
in  the  distance  of  fifty  rods,  and  pre- 
senting, Avith  the  variety  of  machinery 
and  dams,  houses,  and  scenery  on  the 
falls,  one  of  the  most  interesting  views 
in  the  country. 

Red  Hill  River  ha^  its  source 
in  a  pond  in  the  toAvn  of  SandAAnch,  and 
falls  into  the  Winnipiseogee,  in  Marl- 
borough. 

Saco  River  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
New  England  ;  yet  being  much  broken 


RIVERS. 


175 


in  its  course  by  falls,  is  not  navigable 
to  any  considerable  extent.  It  springs 
from  three  sources  in  the  White 
Mountains ;  the  branch  issuing  from 
the  south-west  side  of  the  mountain, 
near  the  Notch,  is  considered  the 
main  stream  ;  next  to  this  is  the  mid- 
dle branch,  which  is  the  smallest ;  and 
beyond  is  the  branch  called  Ellis's 
River,  which  rises  on  the  north-east 
side  of  the  mountains,  and,  after  a 
course  of  about  eighteen  miles,  unites 
with  the  main  branch,  in  the  town  of 
Bartlctt.  Cutler's  and  New  Rivers 
are  mountain  torrents,  that  discharge 
into  the  Ellis.  The  Amonoosuck,  a 
branch  of  the  Connecticut,  rises  within 
about  two  rods  of  the  Saco.  flowing  in 
an  opposite  direction.  The  whole 
length  of  Saco  River  is  estimated  to 
be  160  miles.  The  principal  falls  are, 
the  Great  Falls,  at  Hiram,  where  the 
water  descends  seventy-two  feet ;  Steep 
Falls,  at  Lymington,  twenty  feet :  Sal- 
mon Falls,  at  Mollis  and  Buxton, 
thirty  feet ;  and  Saco  Falls,  forty-two 
feet.  These  very  important  falls  are 
in  the  State  of  Maine.  The  ordinary 
rise  of  the  water  in  the  spring,  is 
from  ten  to  fifteen  feet ;  but  in  great 
freshets  it  has  been  known  greatly  to 
exceed  that  number.  A  long  storm 
which  occurred  in  October,  1785,  rais- 
ed the  river  to  an  immense  height, 
sweeping  away  mills  and  bridges,  and 
inundating  houses  that  stood  in  its 
vicinity.  In  1814,  there  was  the  great- 
est freshet  known  since  that  of  1785. 
At  such  seasons  the  appearance  of 
Saco  Falls  is  truly  sublime. 

Salmon  Fall  River. — See  Piscat- 
aqua. 

SiNOOGAWNOCK  RiVER. — See  Is- 
rael's River. 

Sims'  Stream  rises  in  tin!  moun- 
tains, in  the  town  of  Columbia,  from 
several  ponds  and  springs,  and  falls 
into  the  Connecticxit  River,  near  the 
north-west  extremity  of  the  town. 

Smith's  River,  Grafton  County. 
This  river  rises  from  several  ponds  in 


Grafton  and  Orange,  and  after  pur- 
suing a  winding,  but  generally  an  east 
course,  of  from  twelve  to  eighteen  miles, 
through  Danbury  and  Alexandria,  faDs 
into  the  Pemigewasset,  between  Bristol 
and  Hill. 

SoucooK  River  has  its  source  in 
three  ponds,  in  the  south  part  of  Gil- 
manton,  lying  near  each  other,  called 
Loon,  Rocky,  and  Shellcamp  Ponds. 
It  passes  through  Loudon,  receiving 
several  branches,  and  forms  the  bound- 
ary between  Concord  and  Pembroke, 
failing  into  the  Merrimac,  below  Gar- 
vin's Falls. 

SouHEGAN  River,  originally  Sou- 
he(/€iKick,  the  name  of  a  river  in  Hills- 
borough County,  and  the  former  name 
of  Amherst  and  Merrimac.  The  prin- 
cipal branch  of  this  river  originates 
from  a  pond  in  Ashbumliam,  Mass. 
It  passes  north  through  Ashby,  at  the 
north-west  angle  of  the  county  of  Mid- 
dlesex, into  New  Ips\Wch,  and  through 
Mason,  Milford.  Amherst,  into  the  town 
of  Merrimac,  where  it  unites  with  Mer- 
rimac River.  In  its  course  it  receives 
several  streams  from  Temple,  Lynde- 
borough,  and  Mount  Vernon,  and  just 
before  it  falls  into  the  Merrimac,  re- 
ceives Babboosuck  Brook,  a  considera- 
ble stream  issuing  from  Babboosuck 
Pond. — See  Amherst. 

Spiggot  River  rises  in  Hampstead, 
and  passes  through  Salem,  and  into 
the  Merrimac,  between  Methuen  and 
Dracut,  Mass.,  nearly  opposite  Shaw- 
sheen  River,  which  comes  from  the 
south,  through  Andover. 

Squam  River. — See  Hddemess. 

Squamscot  River,  or  Swamscat, 
called  also  Great,  or  Exeter  River. — 

See  Exeter. 

Sugar  River.  This  River  ori- 
ginates from  Sunapee  Lake  ;  it 
passes  through  part  of  Wendell,  the 
whole  of  Newport,  and  nearly  through 
the  centre  of  Claremont,  where  it  meets 
the  Connecticut.    Red  Water  Brook, 


176 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


in  Claremont,  is  a   tributary  of  Sugar 
River. 

SuNCOOK  River.  This  river  rises 
in  a  pond  between  Gilmanton  and  Gil- 
ford, near  the  summit  of  one  of  the 
Suncook  mountains,  elevated  900  feet 
above  its  base.  The  water  from  this 
pond  jjasses  through  two  others  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountains,  and  thence 
through  a  flourishing  village  in  the 
south-east  part  of  Gilmanton,  into 
Bamstead,  where  it  receives  several 
tributaries ;  thence  through  Pittsfield 
and  Epsom,  and  between  Aliens- 
town  and  Pembroke,  into  the  Merri- 
mac. 

Swift  Rivek  rises  in  the  moun- 
tains, north-west  of  the  town  of  Al- 
bany, passes  through  it  with  great 
rapidity,  and  falls  into  the  Saco  River 
in  the  town  of  Conway.  Its  Avhole 
course  is  rapid,  and  in  one  place  it  falls 
thirty  feet  in  the  distance  of  six  rods, 
through  a  channel  in  the  solid  rock  of 
about  twelve  feet  wide — the  sides  be- 
ing from  ten  to  thirty  feet  perpendi- 
cular height.  At  the  upper  part  of 
these  falls  are  found  several  holes, 
worn  perpendicularly  into  the  rock, 
several  feet  in  depth,  and  from  six 
inches  to  two  feet  diameter.      There 


is  another  small  sti-eam  of  the  same 
name  in  the  town  of  Tamworth. 

"Warner  River. — See  Warner, 

"VYiXNicuT  River,  or  the  Winnico- 
nett,  a  tributary  of  the  Piscataqua,  rises 
in  a  swamp  between  Hampton  and 
New  Hampton,  and  passes  north  into 
the  Great  Bay,  at  Greenland. 

WiNNiPiSEOGEE  RivER  is  the  great 
outlet  to  the  lake  of  that  name ;  and 
issues  from  the  south-west  arm  of 
the  lake.  It  thence  passes  through 
two  bays,  between  Meredith  and  Gil- 
ford, entering  the  Great  Bay  in  the 
north-east  part  of  Sanbornton.  From 
thence  it  passes  through  two  other 
bays,  fonning  the  boundary  between 
Sanbornton  on  the  north-west,  and 
Gilmanton  and  Northfield  on  the  south- 
east ;  and  unites  with  the  Pemigewas- 
set  in  the  town  of  Franklin.  The 
stream  is  rapid  in  its  course,  and  has 
a  fall  of  232  feet  from  the  lake  to  its 
junction  with  the  other  branch  of  the 
Merrimac ;  this  name  being  given  to 
the  confluent  stream.  There  are  nu- 
merous bridges  over  the  Winnipiseo- 
gee,  which  also  furnishes  many  ex- 
cellent privileges  for  factories,  or  other 
machinery. — See  Merrimac  River. 


LAKES  Am)  PONDS. 


Connecticut  Lake.  The  source 
of  one  of  the  principal  branches  of  Con- 
necticut River,  is  situated  in  latitude 
45°  2' ;  and  is  five  and  a  half  miles  in 
length,  and  two  and  a  half  in  width. 
It  is  supplied  by  several  small  streams, 
rising  in  the  highlands  north  of  the 
lake.  The  waters  of  this  lake  are  re- 
markably clear.  The  lake  contains  an 
abundance  of  fish,  and  the  scenery  on 
its  banks  is  very  beautiful. 

LovEw ell's  Pond. — SeeWakeJield. 

Mascomy  Pond.  A  brief  descrip- 
tion of  this  lovely  sheet  of  water,  the 
admiration  of  travellers  on  the  North- 
em  Railroad,  is  given  under  Enfidd. 


Massabesick  Pond. — See  Chester. 

Merrymeeting  Pond. — See  New 
Durham. 

Newfound  Pond. — See  Bristol. 

Ossipee  Lake. — See  Ossipee. 

Spafford's  Lake. — See  Chester- 
field. 

Squam  Lake.  This  lake  lies  on 
the  borders  of  Holdemess,  Sandwich, 
Moultonborough  and  Centre  Harbor. 
This  is  "  a  splendid  sheet  of  water,  in- 
dented by  points,  arched  with  coves, 
and  studded  with  a  succession  of  ro- 


LAKES    AND    PONDS. 


177 


mantic  islands."  It  is  about  six  miles 
lon;^:,  and  in  its  widest  part,  three  miles 
in  width.  It  covers  a  surface  of  be- 
tween 6,000  and  7,000  acres,  and  is  well 
stored  Avith  trout  and  other  fish.  This 
charming  lake  is  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  celebrated  "  Senter  House " 
at  Centre  Harbor. 

SuNAPEE  Lake  is  situated  in  the 
north-west  part  of  Hillsborough  Coun- 
ty and  the  north-east  part  of  Cheshire, 
in  the  towns  of  WeHdcU,  Xew  London, 
and  Newbury.  It  is  twelve  miles 
long  and  about  one  and  a  half  miles  in 
width.  Its  outlet  is  on  the  west  side 
through  Sugar  River. 

In  1816,  Loammi  Baldwin,  Escp  and 
Professor  John  Farrar,  were  appointed 
a  committee  by  the  government  of 
Massachusetts,  with  whom  was  asso- 
ciated Henry  B.  Chase,  Esq.,  appointed 
by  the  government  of  this  State,  to  ex- 
plore and  survey  a  route  for  a  naviga- 
ble canal  from  the  Connecticut  to  the 
Men-imac.  The  contemplated  line  of 
communication  was  from  the  mouth  of 
Sugar  Iliver,  which  empties  into  the 
Connecticut,  to  the  mouth  of  tho  Con- 
toocook  River,  which  empties  into  the 
Merrimac.  The  survey  comprehended 
the  shores  of  Sunapee  Lake,  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  lake  above  the  waters  of  the 
rivers,  the  highest  of  the  falls  in  either 
of  the  rivers,  and  of  the  land  adjoining, 


so  that  it  might  serve  as  the  ba^is  of  a 
calculation  of  the  expense  of  such  -wa- 
ter communication.  By  the  report  of 
this  committee,  it  appears  that  the  fall, 
each  way  from  the  lake  to  these  rivers 
was  so  great  as  to  show  the  impracti- 
cability of  a  project  which,  before  the 
survey  was  made,  was  thought  to  be 
feasible. 

Dr.  Jackson  in  his  geological  report 
says  that  this  lake  is  so  near  the  sum- 
mit level,  that  a  slight  excavation 
would  turn  its  waters  either  into  the 
Connecticut  or  the  Merrimac.  It  is 
elevated  about  1080  feet  aVjove  the  sea 
level,  and  the  descent  of  its  outlet.  Su- 
gar River,  to  the  Connecticut,  is  very 
rapid. 

Umbagog  Lake  is  a  large  body  of 
water,  situated  mostly  in  the  State 
of  Maine,  and  extending  about  300 
rods  in  width  along  the  east  of  the 
townships  of  EiTol  and  Cambridge,  in 
New  Hampshire.  This  lake  is  very 
imperfectly  known ;  is  said  to  be  about 
eighteen  miles  long,  and  in  some  parts 
ten  wide ;  being  but  little  inferior  to 
the  "Winnipiseogee,  in  extent  and  beau-, 
ty.  Its  outlet  is  on  the  west  side,  in 
Errol,  its  waters  flowing  into  th©  All' 
droscoggin, 

Wheei^wrigst's  Pond.— See  Lee* 


Winnipiseogee  Lake. 

This  lake  possesses  singular  charms.  However  romantic  and  beautiful  Lake 
George,  the  charmer  of  all  travellers,  appears  in  its  elevation,  the  purity  of  its 
waters,  its  depth,  its  rapid  outlet,  its  365  islands  which  bespangle  its  bosom,  its 
mountain  scenery,  its  fish,  its  mineralogy ;  still  in  all,  but  its  historic  fame,  it 
has  a  rival  at  the  east,  in  the  Winnipiseogee  of  New  Hampshire. 

There  are  more  than  forty  different  ways  of  spelling  the  name  of  this  lake. 
It  was  formerly  written  as  though  it  had  six  syllables ;  but  the  pronunciation 
which  has  generally  obtained  with  those  best  acquainted  with  the  region  of  the 
lake,  and  the  Indian  pronunciation  of  the  name,  was  Win^ne-pe'sock-e.  The 
following  authorities  show  this  : 

Winnapnsseakit :  Sherman  and  Ince's  Report,  1652.  Winnipesocket :  Bart- 
lett's  Narrative,  1708.  Winnipissocay :  Penhallow's  Wars,  1726.  WinaposaW' 
gtie:  Canterbury  charter,  1727.  TFm«epssoca^ :  Petition,  1 733.  Winnipeshoky : 
Petition,  1744.     Winnepesocket :  Stevens'  Journal,  1746.     Winepesocky:  Sur- 


178  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA^HPSIIIRE. 

veyor  Clement,  1746.  Winnipiseoce :  Theodore  Atkinson,  1746.  Winnepe- 
socket:  Governor  Shirley,  1747.  Winnipesockee :  Br^^int's  Journal,  1747. 
Winnapessocket :  Map  of  New  Hampshire,  1750.  Winipisoky :  Hon.  George 
Boyd,  1785.  Winnipiseogee :  The  present  mode  of  spelling,  pronounced  Wini- 
pisoky, or  Win-ne-pc-soch-e. 

This  lake  is  in  the  counties  of  Belknap  and  Carrol.  Its  form  is  veiy  irregu- 
lar. At  the  west  end  it  is  divided  into  three  large  hays ;  on  the  north  is  a 
fourth ;  and  at  the  east  end  there  are  three  others.  Its  general  course  is  from 
north-west  to  south-east ;  its  length  is  about  twenty-five  miles,  and  it  varies  ia 
width  from  one  to  ten  miles.  This  lake  is  environed  by  the  pleasant  towns  of 
Moultonborough,  Tuftonborough,  Wolfeborough,  Centre  .Harbor,  Meredith, 
Gilford,  and  Alton,  and  overlooked  by  other  delightful  towns. 

The  waters  of  the  Winnipiseogee  are  remarkably  pure,  and  its  depth  in  some 
places  is  said  to  be  nnfathomable.  Its  sources  are  principally  from  springs 
within  its  bosom.  Its  outlet  is  the  rapid  river  of  its  own  name.  Its  height 
above  the  level  of  the  sea  is  472  feet.  It  is  stored  with  a  great  variety  of  ex- 
cellent fish ;  in  the  summer  season,  steam  boats,  sloops  and  smaller  vessels 
ply  on  its  waters,  and  in  the  winter  season  it  presents  an  icy  expansion  of 
great  usefulness  and  beauty. 

Like  Casco  Bay  and  Lake  George,  this  lake  is  said  to  contain  365  islands. 
Without  supposing  the  days  of  the  year  to  have  been  consulted  on  the  subject, 
the  number  is  very  great ;  several  of  which  comi)rise  farms  of  from  200  to  500 
acres. 

Dr.  Jackson  in  his  geological  report  of  the  State,  gives  the  following  account 
of  the  product  of  one  of  the  islands  in  the  Winnipiseogee : 

"Landing  upon  the  shores  of  Cow  Island,  Sept.  21,  1840,  we  met  Capt 
Pillsbury,  the  skilful  farmer  who  had  charge  of  the  estate  known  as  the  Derby 
Farm  located  on  this  island  in  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and  Avith  him  A'isited  the 
cornfield  then  laden  with  a  rich  harvest,  and  he  fully  explained  his  improve- 
ments, both  in  the  field  and  the  dairy. 

"  The  natural  soil  of  this  island  is  rocky,  but  strong,  sweet,  and  retentive  of 
manures.  The  top  soil  is  a  brown  loam,  and  the  subsoil  bright  yellow,  with  a 
hard  pan  at  some  depth, 

"  Capt.  Pillsbury's  method  of  cultivation  is  to  manure  heavily,  broadcast, 
and  to  raise  first  a  crop  of  potatoes,  which  is  followed  the  next  year  by  a  crop 
of  com ;  then  he  sows  wheat,  and  lays  the  land  down  to  grass.  He  puts  on 
twenty-eight  waggon  loads  (of  forty-five  bushels  to  the  load)  to  the  acre.  His 
com  crops  are  very  large,  and  the  yield  is  so  much  greater  than  is  usual  in  the 
State,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  persuade  farmers  generally  of  the  fact,  if  it 
had  not  been  fully  proved  by  a  committee,  that  he  had  raised  during  the  pre- 
vious year  130  bushels  of  good  sound  com  to  the  acre.  This  has  been  fully 
substantiated,  and  extraordinary  as  was  this  crop,  he  lost  the  premium,  being 
surpassed  by  his  neighbor  on  Long  Island,  who  raised  131  bushels  and  seven 
quarts  to  the  acre,  and  obtained  the  agricultural  prize  for  the  largest  crop."— — ^ 
See  Center  Harbor, 


BATS,    HARBORS,    AND    ISLANDS. 


170 


WATER  FALLS. 


The  sources  of  most  of  the  rivers  in 
New  England  being  in  the  high  hinds 
of  New  Hampshire,  a  vast  number  of 
water  falls,  some  of  them  of  superior 
beauty,  are  produced  on  their  passage 
to  the  ocean.  A  lai-ge  number  of  these 
are  found  in  New  Hampshire,  produc- 
ing an  hydraulic  power  of  immense 
magnitude  and  value.      There  is  no 


to^vn  in  the  State,  destitute  of  the 
cheering  influence  of  a  lovely  stream, 
most  of  which  are  described  under  the 
head  of  the  towns  through  which  they 
pass. — See  Amoskeag,  under  Manches- 
ter;  Bellows'  Falls,  under  Walpole; 
and  also  Cocheco,  under  Dover.  Many 
of  the  water  falls  in  Ncav  Hampshire 
are  described  under  the  head  of  Rivers. 


BAYS  AND  HARBORS. 


Great   Bay,  between   Sanboni ton  '  and  Meredith.    The  waters  of  the  Lake 


and  Meredith,  is  a  body  of  water,  con 
nected  Avith  Winnipiseogee  Lake,  and 
discharging  its  waters  into  Winnipis- 
eogee River. 

Long  Bay,  at  the  head  of  Winni- 
piseogee River,  lies  between  Gilford 


Winnipiseogee  pass  through  this  bay 
into  the  river  of  that  name. 

Merrymeetixg  Bay. — See  Alton. 

Little  Harbor  and  Piscataqua 
Harbor. — See  Portsmouth. 


ISLANDS. 


Barron's  Island.  A  small  island 
in  Connecticut  River  attached  to  the 
town  of  Piermont. 

Deer  Islands.  These  islands,  five 
in  number,  lie  in  Connecticut  River, 
between  the  towns  of  Lyman  and  Bar- 
net,  Vt.  The  largest  of  these  islands 
contains  thirty-eight  acres  of  land. 

Duston's  Island.  This  small  island 
in  the  Merrimac  at  the  mouth  of  Con- 
toocook  River,  between  Concord  and 
Boscawen,  has  become  celebrated  on 
account  of  an  exploit  of  a  lady  whose 
name  it  bears.  On  the  15th  March, 
1698,  the  Indians  made  a  descent  on 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  where  they  took  Mrs. 
Hannah  Duston,  who  was  confined  to 
her  bed  with  an  infant  only  six  days 
old,  and  attended  by  her  nurse,  Mar}^ 
Niff.    The  Indians  "took  IMrs.  Duston 


from  her  bed  and  carried  her  away  with 
the  nurse  and  infant.  They  soon  de- 
spatched the  latter  by  dashing  its  head 
against  a  tree.  When  they  had  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  this  island,  which  has 
been  justly  called  Duston's  Island,  on 
their  way  to  an  Indian  town  situated  a 
considerable  distance  above,  the  In- 
dians informed  the  Avomen  that  they 
must  be  stripped  and  run  the  gauntlet 
through  the  village  on  their  arrival. 
Mrs.  Duston  and  her  nurse  had  been 
assigned  to  a  family  consisting  of  two 
stout  men,  three  women,  and  seven 
children,  or  young  Indians,  besides  an 
English  boy  who  had  been  taken  from 
Worcester.  Mrs.  Duston,  aware  of  the 
cruelties  that  awaited  her,  formed  the 
design  of  exterminating  the  whole  fam- 
ily, and  pi-evailed  upon  the  nurse  and 
the  boy  to  assist  her  in  their  destruc- 
tion.   A  little  before  day,  finding  the 


180 


GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


whole  company  in  a  sound  sleep,  she 
awoke  her  confederates,  and  Avith  the 
Indian  hatchets  despatched  ten  of  the 
twelve.  One  of  the  women  whom  they 
thought  they  had  killed  made  her  es- 
cape, and  a  favorite  boy  they  design- 
edly left.  Mrs.  Duston  and  her  com- 
panions arrived  safe  home  with  the 
scalps,  though  their  danger  from  tlic 
enemy  and  from  famine  in  travelling 
so  far,  must  have  been  great.      The 

general  court  of  Massachusetts  made 
er  a  grant  of  £50,  and  she  received 
many  other  valuable  presents. 

Geese  Islands,  in  Connecticut  Ri- 
ver, in  the  town  of  Haverhill,  five  in 
number,  the  largest  of  which  contains 
about  foi-ty-nine  acres.  The  others 
contain  in  all  about  fifteen  acres.  They 
were  granted  to  Benjamin  Whiting  of 
Charlestown,  Jan.  3,  1769. 

Grant's  Island,  in  Connecticut 
River,  opposite  Lyme,  contains  twenty- 
four  acres,  and  was  granted  to  Benja- 
min Grant  of  Lyme,  April  5,  1767. 

Great  Island. — See  New  Castle. 

Isles  of  Shoals.  These  islands, 
eight  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Ports- 
mouth Harbor,  are  seven  in  numl)cr, 
\'iz.  Hog,  Smutty  Nose,  Star,  Duck, 
Wljite,  Malaga,  and  Londonner  Islands. 
Hog  contains  350  acres  of  rock,  and  its 
greatest  elevation  is  fifty-seven  feet 
above  high  Avater  mark.  Smutty  Nose 
contains  about  250  acres  of  rock  and 
soil — greatest  elevation  forty-five  feet. 
Star  Island  contains  about  180  acres 
of  rock  and  soil,  and  its  height  is  fifty- 
five  feet.  These  islands,  as  a  town,  are 
called  Gosport.  Star  and  Smutty  Nose 
are  inhabited  by  fishermen,  wlio  carry 
on  considerable  business  in  their  way ; 
supplying  Portsmouth  and  tlic  neigh- 
boring towns  with  fresh  fish,  and  send- 
ing large  quantities  of  cured  fish  to 
Boston  and  other  places.  The  celc-  1 
brated  dun  fish  are  found  here,  Avhich  \ 
have  heretofore  been  considered  a  dis- 
tinct species  of  the  cod.  They  differ 
however  from  the  common  cod  only  in 
the  circumstance  of  their  being  caught 
and  cured  in  winter.     Star  Island  and 


Smutty  Nose  are  connected  by  a  sea 
wall,  built  at  the  expense  of  govern- 
ment, for  the  purpose  of  breaking  n 
strong  south-east  current  passing  be- 
tween them,  and  forming  a  safe  an- 
chorage on  the  north-Avest  side  of  it. 
These  objects  have  been  attained,  and 
the  miniature  fleet  of  the  Shoalers,  rid- 
ing at  anchor  in  this  artificial  harbor, 
is  no  unpleasant  sight.  Smutty  Nose 
and  MaUiga  are  connected  by  a  sea 
Avail,  built  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Haley. 
"  the  King  of  the  Shoals."  This  Avail, 
fourteen  rods  in  length,  thirteen  feet  in 
height,  and  from  tAventy  to  thirty  feet 
in  Avidth,  effectually  secures  Haley's  in- 
let and  Avharf  from  tbe  easterly  storms, 
although  the  Avaves  not  unfrcquently 
break  over  it  in  a  severe  stoiTn.  These 
islands  are  composed  of  ledges  of 
gneiss,  bearing  evidence  of  their  igneous 
origin,  as  they  are  often  traversed  by 
veins  of  quartz,  trap,  and  iron  stone. 

There  are  a  fcAv  spots  of  dry  soil  up- 
on them  under  cultiA-ation.  The  Shoals 
are  a  pleasant  resort  for  Avater  parties, 
and  their  delightful  bracing  air,  cannot 
be  otherAvise  than  advantageous  to 
those  Avho  are  in  want  of  pure  sea 
breezes.  The  present  population  is 
about  100. 

These  islands  Avere  discoA^red  by 
the  celebrated  John  Smith,  in  1614. 
and  Avere  named  hy  him  Smith's  Isles. 
The  line  betAveen  Maine  and  New 
Hampshire  passes  through  these  is- 
lands, leaving  the  largest  on  the  side 
of  Maine.  Upon  all  of  them  are  chasms 
in  the  rocks,  having  the  appearance  of 
being  caused  by  earthquakes.  The 
most  remarkable  is  on  Star  Island 
(Gosport),  in  Avhich  one  Betty  Moody 
secreted  herself  Avhen  the  Indians  A'is- 
ited  the  island  and  took  aAvay  many 
female  captives ;  and  thence  called  to 
this  day  "^  Betty  Moody's  hole.'''  For 
more  than  a  centurj-  previous  to  the 
rcAolution,  these  islands  were  populous, 
containing  from  300  to  600  souls. 
Tliey  had  a  court-house  on  Haley's  Is- 
land ;  a  meeting-house,  first  on  Hog 
Island,  and  afterAvards  on  Star  Island. 
From  three  to  four  thousand  -quintals 
fish  Avere  annually  caught  and  cured 
here,  and  seven  or  eight  schooners,  be- 
sides numerous  boats,  Avere  employed 


SCENERY. 


ISl 


in  the  business.  The  business  has 
since  very  greatly  decreased. 

William  Pepperell  and  a  Mr.  Gib- 
bons, from  Topsham,  England,  were 
among  the  first  settlers  at  the  Shoals  ; 
the  former  an  ancestor  of  the  celebrated 
Sir  William  Pepperell. 

A  woman,  of  the  name  of  Pulsey, 
died  in  Gosport,  in  1795,  aged  ninety. 
In  her  life  time  she  kept  two  cows. 
The  hay  on  which  they  fed  in  winter, 
she  used  to  cut  in  summer,  among  the 
rocks,  with  a  knife,  with  her  own  hands. 
Her  cows,  it  was  said,  were  always  in 


good  order.  They  were  taken  from 
her,  but  paid  for,  by  the  British,  in  1 775, 
and  killed,  to  the  no  small  grief  of  the 
good  old  woman. — See  Note  5. 

Hart's  Islaxd,  in  Connecticut  Ri- 
ver, in  the  town  of  Plainfield,  contains 
nineteen  acres. 

Parker's  Islands. — See  Hanover. 

WiNxipisEOGEE  Islands.  —  See 
Lake  Winnipiseogee. 


SCENERY  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

New  Hampshire  has  been  called  the  Switzerland  of  America.  In  its  scenery 
it  undoubtedly  resembles  that  country.  In  the  wild  sublimity  of  its  towering 
hills,  the  rural  simplicity  of  its  fertile  vales,  the  loveliness  of  its  sunny  lakes, 
studded  with  isles,  the  gloomy  grandeur  of  its  deep  and  extensive  forests,  it  is 
rarely  surpassed.  Other  countries  may  have  a  richer  soil,  and  a  more  genial 
sky,  but  "  where  shall  we  find  the  rude  magnificence  of  nature  so  blended  with 
scenes  of  enchanting  beauty  as  among  her  mountains  and  lakes  1" 

New  Hampshire  presents  to  the  traveller  almost  every  variety  of  scenery ; 
lakes  that  might  vie,  in  beauty,  with  Loch  Lomond  or  the  Lake  of  Geneva ; 
rivers,  though  destitute  of  classic  associations,  more  lovely  than  the  "  blue 
Rhone  "  or  the  "  yellow  Tiber ;"  and  mountains,  which,  in  some  of  their  bold 
features,  are  not  inferior  to  the  Alps. 

The  surface  of  the  country  is  remarkably  diversified.  It  has  every  degree 
of  elevation,  from  the  gently  undulating  surface  near  the  sea  coast  to  the  lofty 
mountain  range  whose  summits  are  blended  vdth  the  clouds.  The  landscape 
is  also  enlivened  by  its  numerous  streams ;  some  of  them  leaping  and  foaming 
down  the  mountain's  side,  as  though,  in  hot  haste,  to  greet  the  "  father  of  wa- 
ters ;"  others  lingering  in  her  quiet  valleys,  playing  in  the  sunshine,  and  im- 
parting freshness  and  verdure  to  their  banks. 

Throughout  the  State,  we  find  the  rude  sublimity  of  nature  blended  with 
scenes  of  surpassing  beauty.  The  bold  and  commanding  scenery  of  New 
Hampshire  stamps  its  own  features  upon  the  character  of  her  sons.  They  are 
characterized  by  manly  energy  and  generosity.  A  spirit  of  cowardice  or  ser- 
vility can  no  more  find  a  resting  place  in  the  "  Granite  State,"  than  among  the 
green  hills  of  Scotland  or  the  towering  mountains  of  Switzerland.  The  sons 
of  New  Hampshdre,  like  the  "  Green  Mountain  boys,"  stood  in  the  front  ranks 
in  "  freedom's  holy  war. 

"  Why  turn  we  to  our  mountain  homes 
With  more  than  filial  feeling  ? 
16 


182 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMTSHIRE. 

Tis  here  that  Freedom's  altar's  rise, 
And  Freedom's  sons  are  kneeling. 
Wiiy  sigh  we  not  for  softer  climes, 
■\Vhy  cling  to  that  which  bore  us  ? 
'Tis  here  we  tread  on  Freedom's  soil 
With  Freedom's  sunshine  o'er  us." 


POST  VILLAGES. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Post  Offices  in  this  State  other  than 
those  having  the  names  of  towns.  Most  of  the  towns  mNew  Hampshire  have 
Post  Offices  bearing  their  own  names. 

Alton,  New. 

Paper  Mill  Village. 
East. 
West. 
South. 
Antrim,  North  Branch. 
Bamstead,  North, 

Centre. 

Bartlett,  Lower. 
Boscawen,  "West. 

Pisherville. 

Bradford,  South, 

Campton,  Village. 

Canterbury,  Shaker  Village. 

Carroll  House. 

Charlesto^vn,  North. 

Chester,  East. 

Chesterfield  Factory. 

Chichester,  North. 

Claremont,  West. 

Conway,  North, 

Centre. 

Cornish,  Flat. 
Croydon,  Flat. 
Deerfield,  South. 

West, 

Deering,  West. 
Dunbarton,  North. 
Enfield,  North. 
Gilford  Village. 
Gilmanton,  Lower. 

Upper. 
Iron  Works. 
Goffstown,  Amoskeag. 

Centre. 

Hanover,  Centre. 
Haverhill,  East. 

North, 

Hillsborough,  Centre. 


Hillsborough  Bridge. 
Holdemess,  Centre, 
Hopkinton,  Contoocookville, 
Jaffrey,  East. 
Jefferson,  East, 
Kingston,  South. 
Landaff,  East. 
Lebanon,  East, 

West, 

Lee,  Wadley's  Falls, 
Lisbon,  Sugar  Hill, 
Littleton,  North. 
Londonderry,  North. 
Loudon,  Centre, 
Lyman,  East, 

North. 

Lyndeborough,  South. 
Marlow,  North. 
Mason  Village, 
Meredith,  Centre. 

Village, 

Lake  Village. 

Merrimac,  South. 

Thornton's  Ferry. 

Milton,  Chesnut  Hills. 

Mills. 

Moultonborough,  East. 
Nelson,  Factory. 

Harrisville. 

New  Durham,  South, 
New  Market,  South. 
Northwood,  East. 

West, 

Nottingham,  Turnpike. 
Orford,  Orfordville. 
Ossipee,  Centre, 

Leighton's  Comer. 

Pembroke,  Suncook, 
Plainfield,  East. 


GRANTS    IN    COOS    COUNTY. 


183 


Plainfield,  Meriden. 
Pljinouth,  West. 
Rumney,  West. 
Salem,  North. 
Sanbomton  Bridge. 

East. 

Sandwich,  North. 

Centre. 

Springfield,  West. 
Stewartstown,  West. 
Stoddard,  South. 
Strafford,  Centre. 

North. 

Swanzey,  West  Port, 
Tamworth,  South, 


Thornton,  West. 
Tuftonborough,  Meh-in  Village. 
Unity,  East. 
Wakefield,  rnioiiv 

■"■""  Korthv 

Walpole,  Drewsville. 
Washington,  East. 
Weare,  East. 

South. 

Westmoreland,  East. 
Wilton,  East. 
Winchester,  WesL 
Windham,  West, 
Wolf  borough,  North, 

South. 


GRANTS,  ETC.  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  COOS. 

Popula.  Prop.taxj 

1840.  1844. 

Bean's  Purchase,        ...»        4        4        »  0,06 

Chandler's  Purchase,           »        4        ♦        4        .        .  0,01 

Crawford's  Purchase,         4        4        44        4        *  0,01 

Carlisle's  Grant, 9  0,10 

Dix's  Grant, 0,06 

Erviu's  Location, 6  0,02 

Green's  Grant,             0,01 

Grant  to  Gilmanton  and  Atkinson  Academies,          .  0,06 

Hart's  Location, ,        ,         44  0,06 

Hale's  Location, 6  0,03 

Low  and  Burbank's  Grant, 0,05 

Martin's  Location, 0,02 

Nash  and  Sawyer's  Location, 0,06 

Odell's  Township, 0,07 

Pinkham's  Grant, .39  0,04 

Sargeant's  Purchase, 0,02 

Second  College  Grant, 3  0,05 

Thompson  and  Meserve's  Purchase,           .        ,        .  0,01 

WentAVorth's  Location, 25  0,05 

132  $0,69 

Pame's  Gore  in  the  County  of  Grafton,      ...        54  0,23 

186  $0,98 


184 


GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


FORMER  NAMES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  TOA^^^S  IN 
NT:W  HAMPSHIRE. 


Albany, 

Alstead, 

Alton, 

Amherst, 

Andovcr, 

Antrim, 

Bedford, 

Benton, 

Berlin, 

Boseawcn, 

Bradford, 

Brookline, 

Candia, 

Carroll, 

Charlestown, 

Chester, 

Chesterfield, 

Colebrook, 

Columbia, 

Concord, 

Conway, 

Dalton^ 

Danville, 

Deering, 

Dover, 

Dublin, 

Dunbarton, 

Durham, 

Effingham, 

Ellsworth, 

Enfield, 

Exeter, 

FitzAviliiam, 

Franconia, 

Freedom, 

Gilsum, 

Gosport, 

Grantham, 

Groton, 

Hampstead, 

Hampton, 

Haverhill, 

Hebron, 

Henniker, 

Hilk 

Hillsborough, 

Hinsdhle, 

Holdcrness, 

HolUs, 


Burton. 

Newtown. 

New  Durham  Gore. 

Souheqan  ^Vest. 

New  Breion. 

Society  Ixmd. 

SouJiegan  East. 

Coventry. 

Maynesboro\ 

Contoocook. 

New  Bradford. 

Baby. 

Cliarmingfare. 

Bretton  Wood. 

Number  4. 

Cheshire. 

Nujnber  1. 

Colburne. 

CocJdmrne. 

Penacook,  and  after- 
wards Rumford. 

Peqtiawkett. 

Apthorp. 

liawke. 

Society  Land. 

Cocheco,  and  after- 
wards Northam. 

Monadnock,  No.  2. 

Stark^s  Town. 

Oyster  Rii'cr. 

Leavitfs  Town. 

Trecothick. 

Rethan. 

Sux'.mscott  Falls. 

Monadnock.  No.  4. 

Morristoum. 

Noiih  Effingham. 

Boyle. 

Appledore. 

New  Grantham. 

Cockennouth, 

Timber  Lane,  ^c. 

Winnictnntt. 

Lower  Cohos. 

Cockennoiiih. 

Number  6. 

Neiv  Chester. 

Nunber  7. 

Fori  Dmnmer. 

New  Holderness. 

Nissitissit. 


Hooksett, 

Hopkinton, 

Hudson, 

Jaffrey, 

Jefferson, 

Keene, 

Lancaster, 

Lempster, 

Lisbon, 

Litchfield, 

Littleton, 

Londonderry, 

Lvndeborough, 

Manchester, 

Marlborough, 

Mason, 

Meredith, 

Merriraac, 

Milan, 

Milford, 

Nelson, 

New  Boston, 

Newbury, 

New  Castle, 
New  Hampton, 

New  Ipswich, 

New  London, 

Orange, 

Ossipee, 

Pembroke, 

Pittsburg, 

Portsmouth, 

Randolph, 

Raymond, 

Rindge, 

Rye, 

Salisburi', 

Springfield, 

Stark, 

Stewartsto-vvn, 

Stoddard, 

Stratham, 

Sutton, 

Swanzey, 

Temple, 

Wakefield, 

Walpole, 


Isle  of  Hooksett. 

New  Hopkinton. 

Nottinaliam  West. 

Monadnock,  No.  3. 

Dartmouth. 

Upper  Ashuelot. 

Upper  Cohos. 

Dupplin. 

Concord. 

Brenion^s  Farm. 

Chiswick. 

Nuffield. 

Salem  Canada. 

Harrytown,  and  after 
wards  Derryfield. 

Monadnock,  Ao.  5. 

Number  1. 

New  Salem. 

Souhegan  East. 

Paxdshurqh. 

Mile  Slip. 

Packersfield. 

Lane's  New  Boston. 

Dantzick,   and   after- 
wards Fishersfield. 

Great  Island. 

Moultonborough  addi- 
tion. 

Ipswich  Canada. 

Dantzick. 

Cardigan. 

New  Garden. 

Suncook. 

Indian  Stream. 

Pascataquack,    and 
Strawberry  Bank. 

Durand. 

Freetoum. 

Rowley  Canada. 

Sandy  Beach. 

Steven's  Town. 

Protectworth. 

Percy. 

Stewa-rt.. 

Limerick. 

Winnicot. 

Perry^s  Toivru 

Loiccr  Ashuelot. 

Peterborough  Slip, 

East  To>cn. 

Bellows  Town. 


CLIMATE. 


185 


Warner, 

Washington, 

Weare, 

Wendell, 

Westmoreland, 

Whitefield, 


New  Amesbury. 

Camden. 

HaWs  Town. 

Savilie. 

Great  Meadow. 

Whitejields. 


Wilraot, 
Winchester, 
Windsor, 
Woodstock, 


Kear surge. 
Arlington. 
Campbell's  Gore. 
Fairjield,   and  after- 
wards Peeling. 


OUTLINES  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  New  Hampshire,  as  of  other  States  in  New  England,  is 
exceedingly  various ;  the  temperature  ranges  from  15°  below  the  zero  of 
Fahrenheit  to  95°  above.  The  mercury  has  been  known  to  descend  from 
20°  to  30°  below,  and  to  102°  above  ;  but  such  cases  rarely  occur. 

European  philosophers  have  imagined,  that  the  coldness  of  this  part  of 
America  was  caused  by  our  north-west  winds,  proceeding,  as  they  have 
thought, /ram  the  great  lakes,  which  are  situated  in  the  interior  of  North  Amer- 
ica ;  but  since  it  has  been  discovered  that  the  great  lakes  lie  westward  of  the 
true  north-west  point,  that  opinion  has  been  exploded. 

A  second  cause  to  wliich  the  coldness  of  these  winds  has  been  attributed,  is 
a  chain  of  high  mountains  running  from  south-west  to  north-east,  in  Canada  and 
New  Britain,  at  a  great  distance  beyond  the  St.  Lawrence.  A  third  opinion  is 
that  of  the  venerated  Dr.  Holyoke,  of  Salem,  who  supposed  that  tfie  numerous 
evergreens  in  this  country  are  the  source  of  the  peculiar  cold  which  it  expe- 
riences. A  fourth  opinion  is,  that  the  coldness  of  these  winds  proceeds  from 
the  forested  state  of  the  country.  Dr.  Dwight  entertained  an  opinion  different 
from  all  those  we  have  mentioned,  viz.,  that  the  winds  which  generate  the 
peculiar  cold  of  this  country  descend,  in  most  cases,  ym/n  the  superior  regions  of 
the  atmosphere.  The  north-west  wind  rarely  brings  snow,  but  when  it  does,  the 
degree  of  cold  is  increased.  The  deepest  snows  fall  with  a  north-east  wind, 
and  storms  from  that  quarter  are  most  violent,  and  of  longest  duration.  On 
the  mountains,  the  snow  falls  earlier,  and  remains  later,  than  in  the  low 
grounds.  On  those  elevated  summits,  the  winds  have  greater  force  in  driving 
the  snow  into  the  long  and  deep  gullies  of  the  mountains,  where  it  is  so  con- 
solidated, as  not  to  be  dissolved  by  the  vernal  sun.  Spots  of  snow  are  seen  on 
the  south  sides  of  mountains  as  late  as  May,  and  on  the  highest  till  July.  A 
"south-east  storm  is  often  as  violent,  but  commonly  shorter,  than  one  from  the 
'north-east.  If  it  begins  >\-ith  snow,  it  soon  changes  to  rain.  A  brisk  wind 
from  the  west  or  south-west,  with  snow  or  rain,  sometimes  happens,  but  its 
duration  is  very  short.    Squalls  of  this  kind  are  common  in  March. 

16* 


186  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

One  of  the  greatest  inconveniences  suffered  by  the  inhabitants  of  our  coun- 
try, is  derived  from  the  frequent  changes  in  the  state  of  the  atmosphere.  The 
temperature  has  been  known  to  change  44°  in  twenty-four  hours.  Changes 
are  frequent,  though  seldom  in  the  same  degree.  Changes  from  wet  to  dry, 
and  from  dry  to  wet,  are  at  times  unpleasant,  and  probably  unhealthy.  There 
is  no  month  in  the  year  which  is  not  sometimes  very  pleasant,  and  sometimes 
disagreeable.  In  a  series  of  years,  our  most  pleasant  months  are  June,  Sep- 
tember, and  October.  Often  the  first  two,  and  not  unfrequently  the  first  three 
weeks  in  September,  are,  however,  very  warm.  From  the  20th  of  September 
to  the  20th  of  October,  the  weather  is  delightful.  The  temperature  is  mild, 
the  air  is  sweet,  and  the  sky  singularly  bright  and  beautiful.  This  is  the 
period  denominated  the  Indian  Summer.  Some  persons  think  June  to  be  a 
more  pleasant  month  than  either  September  or  October.  In  June,  there  are 
usually  a  few  days  of  intense  heat.  In  all  other  respects,  except  the  brilliancy 
and  beauty  of  the  heavens,  this  month  must  be  confessed  to  have  the  supe- 
riority over  all  others.  The  progress  of  vegetation  is  wonderful ;  and  it  seems 
as  if  the  creative  hand  was,  in  a  literal  sense,  renewing  its  original  plastic 
efforts,  to  adorn  the  world  with  richness  and  splendor.  All  things  are  alive 
and  gay.  "  The  little  hills  rejoice  on  every  side.  The  pastures  are  clothed 
with  flocks.  The  valleys  are  also  covered  with  corn,  and  shout  for  joy." 
Health  at  the  same  time  prevails  in  a  peculiar  degree.  The  spring  is  often 
chilled  by  easterly  Avinds,  and  rendered  uncomfortable  by  rains.  The  Winter 
months,  when  the  earth  is  clad  with  its  mantle  of  snow,  is  the  season  for  relax- 
ation and  pleasure. 

The  number  of  fair  days  in  a  year  compared  with  the  cloudy,  is  as  three  to 
one.  We  have  had  but  few  meteorological  journals  kept.  For  several  years 
past  they  have  become  more  frequent,  and  it  is  hoped  that,  from  tlie  in- 
creasing attention  to  the  subject,  comparative  results  of  the  weather  will 
become  more  numerous  and  exact. 


COMMERCE  AOT)  NAVIGATION. 

The  connection  of  this  State  with  the  ocean  is  so  limited,  and  the  inter- 
course of  its  only  seaport  being  almost  shut  out  from  the  trade  of  the  interior 
country,  has  rendered  its  commerce  but  small,  in  comparison  to  that  of  the 
neighboring  States  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts.  Some  of  the  largest  vessels 
in  the  United  States  are  built  in  New  Hampshire,  and  a  large  amount  of  the 
capital  of  its  citizens  is  employed  in  commerce  at  other  ports.  The  railroad 
from  Portsmouth  to  Concord,  now  in  progress,  will  open  a  new  era  to  the 
foreign  and  domestic  commerce  of  New  Hampshire. — See  Portsmouth. 


RAILROADS.  187 


MANUFACTURES. 


It  will  readily  be  perceived,  by  the  readers  of  this  volume,  that  the  hydraulic 
power  of  New  Hampshire  is  immense  ;  and  those  who  are  acquainted  with 
the  character  of  the  people  of  the  State, — their  intelligence,  industry,  and 
perseverance, — cannot  doubt  that,  in  their  hands,  this  magnificent  power, 
united  to  that  of  steam,  cannot  fail  to  recompense  them,  in  more  than  a  four- 
fold ratio,  for  the  severity  of  the  climate  and  the  sterility  of  some  portions  of 
the  surface.  A  manufacturing  spirit  has  arisen  in  this  State,  which  can  only 
be  excelled  by  the  magnitude  and  beauty  of  innumerable  streams,  on  which 
it  is  seen  to  move. 

The  editor  has  assiduously  labored  to  obtain  all  the  statistical  information, 
in  regard  to  manufactures,  in  his  power.  He  has  succeeded  in  part,  but  not  so 
satisfactorily  as  ho  hopes  to  do  at  a  future  time.  All  the  accounts  we  could 
obtain,  will  be  found  under  the  several  towns  where  they  could  exist.  The 
value  of  manufacturing  establishments  will  be  found  in  the  Tables. 


RAILROADS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  railroads  in  New  Hampshire,  to  January,  1849  : 

Nashua  and  Lowell.  Incorporated  June,  1835.  This  road  was  opened  to 
tiie  public  use  October,  1838.     Its  length  is  about  fifteen  miles. 

Boston  and  Maine.  Incorporated  June,  1835.  This  road  runs  from  Bos- 
ton to  the  Line  of  New  Hampshire,  where  it  enters  Plaistow ;  thence  to  Ex- 
eter, Durham,  Dover,  Somersworth,  and  unites  with  the  Boston  and  Portland 
road. 

Concord.  Incorporated  June,  1835.  Length  of  road,  thirty-four  miles; 
running  from  Nashua  to  Concord.     Opened  to  public  use  September,  1842. 

Eastern.  Incorporated  June,  1836.  This  road  was  opened  to  the  public 
use,  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth,  in  1840. 

Cheshire.  Incorporated  December,  1844.  This  road  is  a  continuation  of 
the  Fitchburg  road  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  opened  to  the  public  use,  as  far 
as  Keene,  July,  1848,  and  the  directors  expect  to  open  the  road  to  its  terminus, 
Bellows  Falls,  where  it  unites  with  the  Rutland  Railroad,  Vermont,  and  the 
Sullivan  Railroad  in  New  Hampshire. 

Northern.  Incorporated  December,  1844.  This  road  commences  at  Con- 
cord, where  it  unites  with  the  Concord  road,  running  upon,  or  near  the  bank 
of  the  Merrimac,  to  Franklin,  and  thence  leaving  the  river,  and  passing 
through  Andover,  Grafton,  Canaan,  and  Lebanon,  to  the  west  bank  of  Con- 
necticut River,  where  it  unites  with  the  Vermont  Central  road.  The  road  was 
opened  to  the  public  use  December,  1847. 

Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal.    Incorporated  December,  1844.    This 


188  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

road  was  opened  for  public  use,  as  far  as  Sanbornton  Bridge,  eighteen  miles 
from  where  it  connects  with  the  Concord  road,  in  May,  1848  ;  and  as  far  as 
Meredith  Bridge,  twenty-seven  miles,  in  August. 

Portsmouth  and  Concord.  Incorporated  June,  1845.  This  road  is 
located  from  Concord  to  Portsmouth,  and  is  in  a  great  state  of  forwardness, 
and  will  be  opened  some  twenty  miles  further  in  the  spring  of  1849. 

Sullivan.  Incorporated  1846.  This  road  is  a  continuation  of  the  Cheshire, 
and  connects  it  with  the  Vermont  Central  Railroad,  at  Windsor.  The  road  is 
rapidly  progressing  to  completion,  and  was  opened  January  4,  1849,  as  far 
as  Charlestown. 

Franklin  AND  Bristol.  This  road  was  incorporated  in  June,  1 846,  and 
very  soon  after  located  on  the  bank  of  the  Pemigewasset  River.  Its  length  is 
thirteen  miles,  running  from  Bristol  to  Franklin,  where  it  unites  with  the 
Northern  Railroad.  This  road  was  opened  to  public  use  July  1,  1848.  About 
the  same  time  the  corporation  leased  their  road  to  the  Northern  road  cor- 
poration, for  100  years. 

Manchester  and  Lawrence.  Incorporated  June,  1847.  This  road  will 
soon  be  in  operation. 

Concord  and  Claremont.    Incorporated  June,  1848. 

CoCHECO.    Incorporated  1847. — See  Hayward's  Book  of  Reference. 


CANALS. 

Middlesex.  This  canal  commences  at  Boston  harbor,  and  passes  in  a 
north-westerly  direction,  through  Charlestown,  Medford,  Wobum,  Wilming- 
ton, to  Lowell,  twenty-seven  miles,  on  the  Merrimac  River.  It  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1789,  and  completed  in  1808  ;  cost,  $528,000.  Summit  level,  104  feet 
above  tide  water,  and  thirty-two  above  the  Merrimac  at  Lowell.  Breadth  at 
the  surface,  thirty  feet ;  at  bottom,  twenty ;  depth  of  water,  three  feet.  Lock- 
age, 136  feet ;  twenty  locks.  This,  and  other  short  canals  on  the  Merrimac, 
open  a  navigable  communication  between  Boston  and  Concord. 

Bellows  Falls,  of  about  880  yards  in  length,  with  nine  locks,  in  Rock- 
ingham, Vermont,  overcomes  a  fall  on  the  Connecticut  of  forty-two  feet.  This 
with  White  River  and  Waterquechy  Canals,  renders  the  Connecticut  River 
navigable  for  about  120  miles  above  Walpole. 


MILITIA. 

The  old  militia  system  in  New  Hampshire  was  abolished,  in  its  leading 
features,  in  1846;  that  is,  of  trainings  and  musters,  except  the  annual  enrol 
ment  of  all  persons  liable  to  do  nailitary  duty,  and  Ae  annual  meeting  by  com- 
panies, for  inspection. 


INSURANCE   COMPANIES.  189 

In  1847  the  law  of  1846  was  repealed,  and  the  old  system  revived,  with 
some  amendments. 

The  principal  amendment  is  that  of  requiring  the  hrigadier-general  of  each 
brigade  to  select  a  suitable  person,  well  versed  in  military  drills,  and  the  seve- 
ral drill  masters  so  selected  shall  each  receive  a  commission  from  the  Gov- 
enior,  with  the  rank  of  major ;  and  shall  receive  $5  per  day  for  his  services, 
during  the  time  required  for  drill. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  brigadier-general  of  each  brigade  to  issue  orders 
to  his  commanders  of  the  several  regiments  in  his  brigade,  to  notify  their 
commissioned  officers  to  appear  at  some  suitable  place,  named  by  the  said 
general,  between  the  1st  and  15th  of  September,  annually;  and  at  such  place 
designated,  when  assembled,  shall,  under  the  drill  master,  perform  drill  three 
successive  days,  but  not  more  than  five  at  one  time.  The  musicians  and  com- 
missioned officers  shall  each  receive  three  dollars  per  annum,  and  be  allowed 
four  cents  per  mile  for  travel. 

The  militia  of  New  Hampshire,  according  to  the  returns  made  to  the  adju- 
tant-general, is  organized  in  four  divisions,  eight  brigades,  and  forty-two  regi- 
ments ;  the  41st  regiment  has  never  been  organized.  The  number  of  division 
and  brigade  officers,  June  7,  1848,  was  sixty-five ;  field  and  staflf  officers,  453 ; 
cavalry,  576;  artjller>',  1715;  infantry,  22,726;  riflemen,  1788.  Grand  total 
of  the  enrolled  military  force  of  the  State,  according  to  the  returns,  is  27,592. 


INSUEANCE  COMPANIES. 

Names. 
New  Hampshire  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Merrimac  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Rockingham  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Rockingham  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Portsmouth  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Strafford  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Cocheco  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Hillsborough  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Cheshire  County  Mutual  Insurance  Co., 
Grafton  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Coos  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Granite  INIutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Carroll  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Rockingham  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Co., 
New  Boston  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
New  England  ^lutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Equitable  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Union  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
Columbian  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Co., 


Places. 

Incorp. 

Concord, 

1825. 

Concord, 

1825. 

Exeter, 

1832. 

Exeter, 

1833. 

Portsmouth, 

1839. 

Meredith, 

1836, 

Dover, 

1839. 

Amherst, 

1833. 

Walpole. 

Orford. 

Lancaster, 

1837. 

Boscawen, 

1839. 

Sandwich, 

1846. 

Epping. 

Gilmanton, 

1839. 

New  Boston, 

1841. 

Concord, 

1844. 

Concord, 

1846. 

Concord, 

1848. 

Concord, 

1847. 

190 


GAZETTEER   OF   NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


BANiCS  IN  m,W  ttAiVlPSillM; 


Names. 

Places. 

Incorp 

Capital. 

Rockingham., 

Portsmouth, 

1833 

$100,000 

Piscaraqua  Exchange, 

Portsmouth,  . 

• 

1845 

200,000 

Mechanics  and  Traders, 

Portsmouth, 

1844 

150,000 

Dover, 

Dover,  . 

1845 

200,000 

Granite, 

Exeter, 

1830 

100,000 

Cheshire,  . 

Keene,  . 

1844 

50,000 

Ashuelot, 

Keene, 

1833 

100,000 

Merrimac  County, 

Concord, 

1845 

80,000 

Mechanics,     . 

Concord,    . 

1834 

100,000 

Derry, 

Derry,    . 

1848 

100,000 

Lebanon, 

Lebanon,    . 

1848 

100,000 

New  Ipswich,     . 

New  Ipswich, 

1848 

100,000 

Lancaster, 

Lancaster,  . 

1833 

50.000 

Manchester, 

Manchester,   . 

1844 

150,000 

Connecticut  River, 

Charlestown, 

1844 

100,000 

Rochester, 

Rochester, 

1834 

100,000 

Nashua, 

Nashua, 

1835 

100,000 

Belknap  County, 

Meredith  Bridge 

1846 

150,000 

Strafford, 

Dover, 

1846 

100,000 

Great  Falls,       . 

Somersworth, 

1846 

100,000 

Winchester,   . 

Winchester, 

1847 

100,000 

BANKS  FOR  SAVINGS. 

There  are  institutions  of  this  character  at  the  folio-wing  places  in  the  State: 
at  Concord,  Dover,  Portsmouth,  Keene,  New  Market,  Meredith  Bridge,  Charles- 
town,  Somersworth,  and  Manchester. 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

The  State  House,  State  Prison,  and  Court  House,  are  all  in  Concord.  The 
State  House  occupies  a  beautiful  site  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  and  is  con- 
structed  of  hewn  granite.  It  is  126  feet  In  length,  fortyrnine  in  width, — fifty 
feet  of  the  centre  of  the  building  having  a  projection  of  four  feet  on  each 
front.  It  rises  two  stories  above  the  basement.  The  height  from  the  ground 
to  the  eagle,  on  the  top  of  the  cupola,  is  120  feet.  The  cost  of  the  building 
and  appendages,  $80,000.  The  State  Prison  is  also  a  solid  structure  of  mas- 
sive granite, 


PUBLIC   rNSTITUTIONS,  19  X 


PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS. 

New  Hampshire  Asylum  for  the  Insane. — This  institution  was  incor- 
porated July  2,  1838,  and  the  asylum  was  opened  for  the  admittance  of  those 
Afflicted  with  insanity,  September,  1842, 

The  asylum  is  located  in  Concord,  on  Pleasant  Street,  on  an  eminence  over- 
looking the  \-illage,  the  rich  valley  of  the  Merrimac,  and  the  adjacent  country, 
for  several  miles  in  circuit.  Adjoining  the  asylum  are  more  than  120  acres 
of  valuable  land,  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  institution.  This  is  cul- 
tivated to  good  advantage,  mostly  by  the  labor  of  the  patients,  to  whom  it 
affords  the  best  of  exercise,  and  to  whose  recovery  it  essentially  contributes. 
The  improvements  which  are  in  progress  on  the  lands  of  the  asylum  lead  to 
the  belief,  that  it  -will  eventually  become  the  Model  Farm  for  the  State. 

With  a  single  exception,  this  is  beUeved  to  be  the  only  strictly  self-support' 
ing  asylum  in  the  country,  and  the  economy  of  its  management  entitles  its 
oflficers  to  commendation. 

Number  of  patients  admitted  up  to  June  1, 1848,            .        .  546 

Number  entirely  recovered, 179 

Nimiber  died,             31 

Number  admitted  from  May  31,  1847,  to  June  1,  1848,  .        .  .    92 

Number  of  inmates  June  1,  1848, 109 

The  price  of  board  for  patients  from  this  State  is  as  follows : 

For  the  first  thirteen  weeks, $2.25 

For  all  subsequent  time, 2.00 

For  these  terms  patients  are  supplied  with  board,  fuel  and  lights,  washing, 
medical  attendance,  use  of  horse,  carriage,  &c. 

The  sum  of  $1,500  was  granted  by  the  legislature,  June,  1848,  for  the  relief 
of  the  indigent  insane. 

The  friends  of  those  unfortunate  persons  needing  aid,  and  agreeable  to  the 
above  grant,  should  apply  therefor  by  petition,  addressed  to  his  Excellency  the 
Governor,  to  the  care  of  the  superintendent  of  the  asylum. 

State  Prison. — "We  gather  from  the  annual  report  made  to  the  legislature, 
June  1,  1848,  that  out  of  137  inmates,  who  have  left  within  the  last  five  years, 
four  only  have  been  recommitted  here,  and  but  one  is  known  to  have  been 
committed  to  the  prison  of  any  other  State.  The  same  course  of  discipline 
has  been  enforced  as  heretofore ;  that  is,  mild,  but  firm. 

In  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  instruction  has  been  given,  and  with  a 
good  degree  of  success ;  and  in  some  instances,  where  the  prisoners  could 
neither  read  nor  write  at  the  time  of  their  being  placed  at  the  prison,  now  read 
and  write  tolerably  well. 

The  physician,  in  his  report,  speaks  favorably  of  the  general  health  of  the 
prisoners,  and  he  further  says,  there  has  been  no  disease  of  a  severe  or  malig. 


192  GAZETTEER    OF    NETV    HA3IPSHmE. 

nant  chaa-acter.  He  gives  great  credit  to  the  warden  and  officers,  for  their 
strict  care  to  the  ventilation  and  cleanliness  in  all  of  the  departments.  The 
chaplain,  in  his  report,  speaks  of  there  having  been  considerable  attention  and 
apparent  interest  in  the  religious  exercises  on  the  Sabbath ;  most  of  the  con- 
victs having  attended  from  choice.  A  part  of  the  day  was  devoted  to  Bible 
class  instruction  and  sacred  music  ;  books  and  papers  have  been  furnished  the 
convicts  for  reading. 

All  the  con-vdcts  who  are  able  to  work  are  employed  in  the  different  branches 
of  manufacturing,  carried  on  within  the  outer  walls  of  the  prison.  For  the 
present,  the  work  carried  on  is  that  of  cabinet  work,  shoe  making,  and  smithing. 

Number  of  convicts,  May  31,  1847,       .  .  .        ■     61 

Received  since,  to  June  1,  1848,      ....      42—103 

Sentence  expired,  and  discharged,         .  .  .  11 

Discharged  by  pardon,         .  .  .  .  .14 

Escaped,  ......  1 

Now  in  prison,  June  1,  1848,  ....      77 — 103 


LIGHT  HOUSES. 

Portsmouth  or  Newcastle,  situated  on  the  south-west  side  of  inner  en- 
trance to  Portsmouth  Harbor ;  Lat.  43°  3'  30",  Lon.  70°  43' ;  fixed  light ; 
visible  18  miles  in  clear  weather ;  height  of  lantern  90  feet  above  the  sea  or 
high  water  mark. 

White  Island,  situated  on  the  south-western  island  of  the  Isles  of  Shoals — 
Ocean  Light ;  Lat.  42°  58',  Lon.  70°  37'  30" ;  revolving  light ;  visible  21 
miles ;  height  of  lantern,  87  feet. 

Whale's  Back,  situated  on  the  north  and  east  side  of  outer  entrance  to  Ports- 
mouth Harbor;  Lat.  43°  3',  Lon.  70°  41' 5  fixed  light;  visible  16  miles; 
height  of  lantern  48  feet. 


ANCIENT  RECORDS. 

We  are  permitted  by  the  learned  historian  and  antiquary,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
B.  Felt,  to  copy  from  his  valuable  "  Collections  "  for  the  "  American  Statistical 
Association,"  the  following  dates  of  Grants,  Settlement.^,  &c.,  of  some  parts  of 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

"Between  this  State  and  Massachusetts,  there  was  a  long  discussion  relative 
to  their  individual  boundaries.  Before  this  question  arose,  though  others  of  a 
similar  kind  had  been  agitated,  the  whole  being  chiefly  caused  by  the  Patents' 
largely  infringing  on  each  other,  all  the  settlements  of  New  Hampshire  had 
put  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  ]Massachusetts.  Portsmouth  and  Do- 
ver, by  their  own  request  and  previous  assignment  of  their  proprietors,  became 
thus  subject  October  9,  1641.    Exeter,  having  petitioned,  Sept.  8,  1642,  to  be 


ANCIENT   RECORDS.  193 

alike  privileged,  was  received  at  the  session  of  May  10, 1G43.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, Massachusetts  passed  the  ensuing  order  in  1652.  '  On  perusal  of 
our  Charter,  it  was  this  day  voted  by  the  whole  Court,  that  the  extent  of  the 
line  is  to  be  from  the  northernmost  part  of  ye  River  IMemmacke  and  three 
miles  more  North,  where  it  is  to  be  found,  be  it  an  hundred  miles  more  or  less 
from  the  sea,  and  thence  vppon  a  straight  line  east  and  west  to  each  sea,  and 
this  to  be  the  true  interpretation  of  the  terms  of  the  lymitte  Northward,  grant- 
ed in  the  Patent.'  Subsequent  to  this  action,  they  empowered  two  commis- 
sioners to  run  these  limits  with  assistance  of  two  surveyors.  The  report  of 
this  survey  is  as  follows.  '  At  Aquedahtan,  the  name  of  the  head  of  Merrimack, 
where  it  issues  out  of  the  Lake  called  AVinnapuscakit,  vppon  the  first  day  of 
August,  1652,  Avee  observed  and  by  observation  found,  that  the  lattitude  of  the 
place  was  43°,  40',  12",  besides  those  minutes  which  are  to  be  allowed  for  three 
miles  moi-e  North,  which  run  into  the  Lake.'  This  took  place  while  the  regal 
government  of  England  was  suspended,  while  there  was  no  probability  that 
Parliament  would  allow  the  patent  of  Mason,  which  was  of  doubtful  authority, 
and  while  our  colonists  were  clearing  themselves,  as  much  as  they  could  safely, 
from  subjection  to  the  mother  country.  It  was  done,  also,  when  the  popula- 
tion of  New  Hampshire  were  anxious  to  remain  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, as  a  security  against  misrule  among  themselves,  and  inroads  from 
expected  foes  without.  As  soon,  however,  as  Charles  IL  had  ascended  the 
throne,  and  began  to  show  his  dislike  of  the  Bay  Colony  for  their  anti-royal 
sentiments  and  practices,  Mr.  Mason  renewed  his  suit.  A  decision  was  made 
in  his  favor  1675,  when  New  England  were  exerting  their  greatest  energies  to 
escape  the  utter  extermination,  plotted  against  them  by  the  natives,  under  the 
guidance  of  Philip.  Edward  Randolph,  a  kinsman  of  the  claimant,  and  ever 
ready  to  visit  our  shores  with  unwelcome  messages,  came  over  the  next  year. 
He  went  to  New  Hampshire  and  published  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Mason  to  the 
people  there.  Some,  as  in  all  such  emergencies,  were  forward  to  denounce 
Massachusetts,  and  make  capital  of  the  change  for  the  pi'omotion  of  their  own 
interests.  But  the  far  greater  portion  regarded  his  tidings  with  no  emotions 
of  joy.  The  inhabitants  of  Dover  '  protested  against  the  claim  of  Mason ;  de- 
clared that  they  had  bona  fide  purchased  their  lands  of  the  Indians ;  recognized 
their  subjection  to  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  under  whom  they  had 
lived  long  and  happily,  and  by  whom  they  were  now  assisted  in  defending 
their  estates  and  families  against  the  savage  enemy.'  They  petitioned  the 
King  that  they  might  remain  unmolested.  Portsmouth  responded  in  similar 
thoughts,  and  sought  for  like  relief  from  his  majesty.  Still  the  political  foes 
of  Massachusetts,  whose  intrigues  were  favored  by  the  King,  succeeded  with 
him  in  council,  so  that  he  ordered  New  Hampshire  to  become  a  Colony  in 
1680.  Even  then  the  principal  inhabitants  there,  knowing  that  such  a  change 
was  to  compass  other  ends,  than  their  benefit,  reluctantly  withdrew  from  the 
care  of  Massachusetts. 

"  Such  an  alteration  trenched  of  course  upon  the  previous  limits  of  the  latter 
Colony,  by  withdrawing  from  them  the  following  Towns.     The  dates,  suffixed 

17 


194  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

to  the  towns,  denote  their  incoi-poration ;  italics  express  their  Indian  names ; 
and  Roman  letters  their  former  English  names. 

Portsmouth,  1633.  Piscataquach.  Strawbeny  Bank. — Settled  under  David 
Thompson,  1623,  patronized  by  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  Capt.  John 
Mason  and  others.  The  first  house  was  built  at  Little  Harbor,  called  Ma- 
son Hall.     It  was  incorporated  by  a  charter  of  1633. 

Dover,  Sept.  8,  1642.  Cochecho,  and  Winichahanat.  Hilton's  Point,  Northam. 
— Settled  under  Edward  and  William  Hilton,  1623,  by  order  of  an  asso- 
ciation in  Eng-'and,  denominated  the  '  Company  of  Laconia.'  The  pro- 
prietors of  Dover  and  Portsmouth  assigned  their  jurisdiction  over  these 
places  to  Massachusetts,  June  14,  1641. 

Exeter,  May  10,  1643.  Swamscot,  (Falls). — Settled  1638,  by  Rev.  John 
Wheelwright  and  others,  exiled  from  Massachusetts  for  professing  the  an- 
tinomian  principles  of  Anne  Hutchinson. 

Hampton,  Sept.  4,  1639.  Winnacimet  or  Winicowett. — By  order  of  Massachu- 
setts a  house  was  erected  here,  as  a  sign  of  possession,  1636,  by  Nicholas 
Easton,  commonly  called  the  'Bound  house.'     It  was  settled  in  1638. 

Oyster  River,  May  17,  1675. — Part  of  Dover.  It  is  now  Durham.  Its  in- 
habitants petitioned  to  be  a  to-wm  in  1669. 

Great  Island,*  Oct.  15,  1679. — Part  of  Portsmouth.     It  is  now  New  Castle. 

"When  New  Hampshire  thus  became  a  separate  jurisdiction,  Oyster  River 
appears  to  have  been  again  considered  as  a  part  of  Dover,  and  Great  Island 
again  as  part  of  Portsmouth.  In  addition,  Massachusetts,  October  16,  1672, 
granted  Portsmouth  a  village,  about  Dover  bounds,  which  seems  to  have  been 
Newington.  While  Charles  II.  allowed  Mason's  claim  to  New  Hampshire,  he 
also  allowed  his  claim  to  the  territory  which  was  between  Merrimac  River  and 
Naumkeag  River  in  Salem,  and  called  Mariana. 

"  A  large  tract  of  land,  subsequently  assigned  to  New  Hampshire,  was  sold 
by  Wanalanset,  chief  sachem  on  the  Merrimac  River.  This  was  done  Novem- 
ber 5,  1685.  The  purchasers  of  him  were  Joseph  Dudley,  Samuel  Shrimpton 
and  Richard  Wharton.  The  tract,  so  bought,  embraced  not  less  than  six 
miles  east  and  six  miles  west  of  the  Merrimac  River,  and  in  length,  from  Sou- 
hegan  River  on  the  one  side,  and  Brenton's  Farm,  or  Littleton  on  the  other,  up 
to  the  south  end  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake.  A  reservation  of  three  miles  square, 
laid  out  by  oi'der  of  Massachusetts  for  certain  Indians,  was  made.  The  title 
so  acquired  was  for  a  company  of  twenty  proprietors,  who  were  to  hold  equal 
shares.  For  this  purpose  they  obtained  of  Robert  T.  Mason,  April  15,  1686,  a 
relinquishment  of  the  claim  he  made  to  it,  and  entered  into  a  mutual  contract. 
May  12, 1686,  for  the  regulation  of  the  whole  concern.  This  was  denominated 
the  million  acre  purchase. 

"  After  protracted  consideration  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  the 
Council  agree,  June  14,  1728,  that  the  vote  of  the  House,  relative  to  town- 
ships in  New  Hampshire,  Dec.  13,  1727,  should  be  carried  into  effect.  The 
vote  was,  that  for  the  security  of  the  inhabitants,  and  to  lessen  the  charges  of 
defence  in  war.  Committees  lay  out  townships,  each  of  six  miles  square,  in  a 

*  These  six  Towns,  except  Portsmouth,  were  incorporated  by  Massachusetts. 


AJSCIENT    RECORDS.  195 

Straight  line  from  the  north-east  comer  of  Xorthfiekl,  to  the  north-west  comer 
of  Dunstable,  ten  miles  to  the  northward  of  said  line,  and  five  miles  to  the 
southward  of  it,  on  both  sides  of  Merrimac  Eiver,  three  miles  east  of  said 
river,  and  six  miles  west  of  it,  from  the  iiorth  part  of  Dunstable,. to  the  south 
part  of  Concord.  The  report  of  a  committe  to  the  Legislature  of  Massachu- 
setts was  accepted  January  15,  1736.  It  proposed,  as  m.eans  of  defence  and 
protection,  that  a  line  of  towns  be  laid  out  from  the  north-west  corner  of  Rum- 
ford  or  Concord,  to  the  Great  Falls  of  Connecticut  Kiver,  and  from  these  falls, 
on  th/3  cast  of  said  river,  to  Arlington,  and,  between  these  falls  and  the  equiva- 
lent land  on  tlie  Avest  side  of  this  river,  one  or  two  tOAN-ns. 

"For  the  further  prosecution  of  their  object,  demanded  by  the  necessity  of 
the  times,  the  Legislature,  on  Wednesday,  Feb.  2,  1737,  passed  the  ensuing  or- 
,Jer : — •  In  the  House  of  Representatives.  Whereas  several  Townships,  hereto- 
fore granted,  are  now  settling,  and  many  inhabitants  are  actually  got  on  As- 
hcuelot  River,  and  on  a  Township  granted  to  Josiah  Willard,  Esq.  and  others, 
lying  on  or  near  Connecticut  River,  and  also  other  people  are  settled  on  seve- 
ral ToAvnships,  on  or  near  Merrimac  River,  which  have  not  as  yet  been  laid  to 
or  declared  in  what  County  they  lye,  and  it  being  necessary  that  those  people 
know  in  wliat  County  they  be,  in  order  to  have  their  title  recorded,  the  King's 
peace  preserved,  and  common  justice  done  therin,  as  other  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects witliin  this  Province ;  wherefore.  Voted  that  the  said  Township,  gi'anted 
to  Josiah  Willard,  commonly  called  Arlington,  the  two  ToAvnsliips  on  As- 
heuelot  River,  the  Township  granted  to  Sylvester  and  Company,  the  several 
Townships  to  the  AVestward  of  Connecticut  River,  the  four  Townships  on  the 
East  side  and  adjoining  to  Connecticut  River,  and  also  number  three,  four, 
eight  and  nine  in  the  line  of  Towns,  and  the  Lands  lying  and  being  within 
the  same,  shall  and  hereby  are  declared  to  lie  within  and  be  accounted  part  of 
the  County  of  Hampshire,  and  that  the  several  Townships  following,  the  Nar- 
ragansett  Towns,  called  number  three  and  five,  the  Canada  Towns,  granted  to 
Capt.  Iving  and  Company,  the  ToAvnship  granted  to  Capt.  Hayment  and  Com- 
pany,  the  Tovv^nship  granted  to  the  late  Capt.  William  Tyng  and  Company, 
that  granted  to  John  Simpson  and  others,  that  granted  to  the  Inliabitants  of 
Ipswich,  the  Township  granted  to  Capt,  Gorham  and  Company,  Canada  sol- 
diers, the  Township  granted  to  the  late  Capt.  John  Lovewell  and  soldiers  at 
Suncook,  the  Tov.Tiship  granted  to  ^Ir.  John  Coffin  and  others,  and  number 
one,  two,  five,  six  and  seven  in  the  line  of  Toa\tis,  shall  be  and  hereby  are  de- 
clared  part  of  and  belonging  to  the  Count}'  of  Middlesex,  together  with  the 
lands  and  fanns,  lying  within  and  adjoining  to  any  or  either  of  the  said  Town- 
ships, and  that  the  Canada  Township*  granted  to  Capt.  Withington  and  Com- 
pany, and  the  Township  granted  to  Capt,  Tilton  and  Company,  that  were  in 
the  Canada  Expedition,  1690,  with  the  lands  between  these  Townships  and 


*  The  townships  granted  to  Captains  "Withington  and  Tilton  are  in  Massachusetts,  the  for- 
mer being  Ashbumham,  and  the  latter  Winchendon.  Note,  Concord  or  Rumford,  in  N,  H., 
was  taxed  in  Essex  County,  1730, 


196  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAilPSHIRE. 

Others,  belonging  to  "Worcester  County,  shall  be  and  hereby  are  declared  to  be- 
long to  the  County  of  "Worcester,  and  be  accounted  as  part  thereof  for  the  fu- 
ture. 

In  Council  Read  and  Concurred. 

Consented  to, 

J.  Belcher.' 

"  The  arrangement,  so  made,  was  soon  intemipted.  The  countenance  -which 
had  been  given,  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  to  Mason's  claim,  opened  the  way  for 
a  fuller  questioning  of  Massachusetts  temtory  on  Merrimac  River.  John 
Ringe,  agent  for  New  Hampshire,  Avhile  in  England,  made  the  following  state- 
ments. That  Massachusetts,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  taxed  the  people  of 
his  Colony,  who  resided  five  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac,  and,  in  1719,  claim- 
ed all  land  for  three  miles  on  the  same  side  of  this  river,  from  the  mouth  therof 
to  its  head,  Avhich  they  called  Winnipiseogee  Lake;  and,  in  1731,  declined  to 
relinquish  jurisdiction  over  the  to\ATiships  that  they  had  granted,  which  made 
their  hounds  eleven  miles  and  three  quarters  north  of  the  said  river.  The 
plea  made  on  these  grounds,  by  Commissioners  before  the  King  in  Council, 
with  his  own  dislike  for  the  political  policy  of  the  B.ay  Legislature,  led  him  to 
decide,  April  9th.  1740,  far  more  favorably  to  New  Hampshire,  than  they  had 
even  expected.  This  decision  was,  that  '  the  Northern  boundary  of  the  Pro- 
vince of  Massachusetts,  bee  a  similar  curve,  pursuing  the  course  of  Merrimac 
River  at  three  miles  distance  on  the  north  side  thereof,  begining  at  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean,  and  a  straight  line  from  thence  due  west,  until  it  meets  with  His 
Ma,iesties'  other  governments.'  By  such  a  determination,  expressly  contrary 
to  the  plainest  language  of  our  first  charter,  the  ensuing  towns,  which  had  been 
granted  by  our  Commonwealth,  were  assigned  to  New  Hampshire.  The  sub- 
sequent marks,  prefixed  to  the  dates  after  these  towns,  have  the  following  sig- 
nification, namely:  -  to  be  laid  out;  *  granted:  t  plat  excepted;  |  settled. 
No  mark,  so  placed,  indicates  incorporation.  The  Indian  names  of  towns  are 
printed  in  italics,  and  their  former  English  names  in  Roman  letters.  New 
Style  is  used  as  to  the  years. 

Amherst,  tDec.  18,  1 728.     Sonheyan^  ("West).     Salem  Narraganset  No.  3. — 

Granted  for  service  in  the  Narraganset  Expedition  of  1675,  and  confirmed 

1728. 
Bedford,  IFeb.  26,  17.34.     Souhegan,  (East).     Narraganset  No.  5. — Granted 

to  Benjamin  Smith  and  others,  June.  1732,  for  service  in  the  Narraganset 

Expedition  of  167.5.     Settled  about  1737. 
BoscAWEX,  *Dec.  8,  1 732.     Contoocook. — Granted  to  John  Coffin  and  others. 
Bow,  tFcb.  1,  1737.     Dantzick. — Granted  for  service  in  Canada  Expedition 

of  1690. 
Charlestowx,  tFeb.  27,  1734.     No.  4. — Took  its  name  from  the  first  one  of 

Sir  Charles  Knowles,  who  presented  a  sword  to  Capt.  Phinehas  Stevens,. 

for  his  brave  defence  of  its  fort  in  1747. 
Chesterfield,  jJan.  15.  1786.    No.  1. 


ANCIENT   RECORDS.  197 

CoxcoRD,  =*Jan.  17,  1726.     Pennicook.     Rumford. — Granted  to  Salem,  1663. 

Irish  settlers  were  here,  and  claimed  Pennicook  by  right  of  grant,  March 

22,   1724.      Purchased  of  Massachusetts  in   1725.     Settled  about   1727. 

Incorporated  March  4,  1 734. 
DuNBARTOx,  and  part  of  Wear,  tMarch  20,  1736.     Beverly  Canada,  or  Hale's 

Town,  Stark's  Town. — Granted  for  service  in  Canada  Expedition  of  1690. 
Dunstable,  *Oct.  15,  1673.— Settled  about  1672. 
Francestowx,  tJuly  18,  1740. — Granted  to  Joseph  Green,  Isaac  "Walker,  and 

others,  for  lands  in  Stockbridge.     Acceptance  of  plat  not  signed  by  the 

Governor. 
GoFFESTOWN,  fFcb.  26,  1734.     Narraganset  No.  4,  Amoskeag  Falls  Town- 
ship.— Granted  for  service  in  Narraganset  Expedition  of  1675.     A  com- 
mittee of  its  proprietors  dated  a  notice  for  their  meeting,  at  Dighton,  in 

1736. 
Henniker, -Jan.  15,  1736.     No.  6,  Todd's  To^vn. — Granted,  1735,  to  John 

Whitman  and  others. 
Hillsborough,  -Jan.  15,  1736.     No.  7. — Granted  to  people  of  Plymouth, 

who  sold  it  to  John  Hill  and  others. 
Hinsdale,*  jDec.  1,  1736.     Fort  Dummer,  Bridgman's  Fort. — Settled  before 

1683.     It  was  part  of  Northfield.     Resettled  1739. 
HoLLis,  J 1731.    Nisitisit. — West  Parish  of  Dunstable.    Peter  Powers,  bom  at 

Littleton,  Ms.  and  his  wife  Anna  Keyes,  bom  at  Chelmsford,  and  their 

two  children,  settled  at  HoUis,  Jan.  1731. 
HoPKiNTON,  -Jan.  15,  1736.     No.  5,  New  Hopkinton. 
Keene,  tJune  21,  1734.     (Upper)  Ashuelot. — Ordered  to  be  laid  out  June  24, 

1731. 
Lempster,  -Jan.  15,  1736.     No.  9,  Dupplin. — Granted  to  Samuel  Lyscom 

and  others. 
Litchfield,  July  4,  1734.     Natticott.     Brenton's  Farms. — Granted  about 

1656.     Regranted  July  9,  1729. 
Londonderry,  |1719.    Nutfield. — Settlers  warned  away  by  Massachusetts, 

Dec.  1,  1720. 
Ltndeborough,  tJune  17,  1736.     Salem  Canada. — Granted  to  Samuel  King 

and  others,  for  service  in  Canada  Expedition  of  1690. 
Merrimac,  JJune  6,  1733. — Part  of  Dunstable  and  Bedford. 
New  Boston,  tMarch  20,  1736.    Piscataquog.    Lane's  To^vn. — Granted  to 

Andrew  Lane,  John  Simpson,  and  others.     Had  sixty  houses,  and  a 

meeting-house,  etc.  1740. 
New  Ipswich,  *Jan.  15,  1736.     Ipswich  Canada. — Granted  for  service  in 

Canada  Expedition  of  1690  to  John  Wainwright  and  others.    Plat  ac- 
cepted March  20,  1736. 
Nottingham,  J1710. — Part  of  Dunstable.     Incorporated  Jan.  16,  1733. 
Pembroke,  *Aug.  6,  1728.     Suncooh.    Lovewell's  Town. — Granted  to  men 

for  service  under  Capt.  Jno.  Lovewell,  at  Pigwacket  fight. 
Peterborough,  tJune  16,  1738. — Granted  to  Samuel  Harwood  and  others, 

for  service  in  Canada  Expedition  of  1690. 

♦  Township,  above  Northfield,  was  granted  to  John  Pynchon  and  others,  June  18, 1685. 
His  petition  tV  r  it  says  that  he  proposed  the  request  to  prevent  "  ye  incroachments  of  ye  French 
vpon  T8  on  Connecticut  River,  above  Sqvakeag,  who  vndoubtedly,  according  to  what  intelli- 
gence I  have  met  with,  are  designed  to  possess  yt  place  at  Coassit." 

17* 


198  GAZETTEER   OP   NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Richmond,  tJuly  6,  1736.  Sylvester's  Canada. — Granted  for  service  in  Can- 
ada Expeditionv  1690. 

RiNDGB)  ^Feb.  3^  173?.  Rowley  Catiada.-=-Granted  to  John  Tyler,  Joseph 
Pike,  and  others,  for  service  in  Canada  Expedition  of  1690.  Plan  of  it 
laid  before  General  Court,  Jan.  23,  1739.  Appropriation  made  for  a 
meeting-hoiise,  1743. 

Salisbury,  *reb.  3,  1737.  Baker's  Town,  and  Steven's  Town. — Granted 
for  service  in  Canada  Expedition  of  1690,  under  Captains  John  March, 
Stephen  Greenleaf,  and  Philip  Nelson.     Plat  confirmed  Jan.  2,  1740. 

SwANZEY,  tFeb.  21,  1734.  (Lower)  Ashuelot. — Ordered  to  be  laid  out  June 
24,  1731. 

Ttng's  Town,  tMay  1, 1736.  '  Old  Harry  Town.'— East  of  Bow  and  Goffes- 
town.  Granted  in  1735  for  service  under  Capt.  Wm.  TyTig  in  1703,  by 
'  pursuing  the  Indian  enemy  into  their  own  country  on  snow  shoes,  the 
first  attempt  of  that  kind.'     Soon  settled  after  1736. 

Walpole, -Jan.  15,  1736.  No.  2,  Great  Fall,  Bellows  Town.— Granted  to 
John  Flint  and  others,  Nov.  1736.  Mai'ked  on  a  map  No.  2,  but  called 
No.  3  in  a  petition  of  its  proprietors. 

Warner,  *1735,    New  Amesbury. 

Washington,  -Jan.  15,  1736.    New  Concord,  Camden. 

Westmoreland,  -Jan.  15,  1736.    No.  1,  Great  Meadow. 

Winchester,  tJune  21,  1733.  Arlington,  to  its  incorporation. — Granted  to 
Josiah  Willard  and  others.    Incorporated  June  20,  1 739. 

"  Besides  these  towns,  Massachusetts  lost  by  the  decision  in  favor  of  New 
Hampshire,  Guildford,  granted  for  service  under  Capt.  Samuel  Gallop,  in 
Canada  Expedition  of  1690,  and  its  plat  accepted  Feb.  3,  1737,  and  other 
towns  subsequently  of  Vermont ;  Groton  Grant,  or  equivalent  of  10,800  acres 
for  what  was  included  by  Littleton,  Major  Willard  and  Reed's  Farms,  and  for 
loss  in  Indian  wars,  granted  April,  1735,  and  confirmed  June  15,  1736;  por- 
tioms  of  Salisbury,  Amesbury,  Haverhill,  Methuen,  Townsend,  Ashbumham, 
Bemardston,  Colerain,  Conway,  and  other  territory." 


CONSTITUTION.  199 


CONSTITUTION  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


The  Constitution  of  New  Hampshire,  as  altered  and  amended  by  a  convention  of 
delegates  held  at  Concord,  in  said  State,  by  adjournment,  on  the  second  Wednes- 
day of  February,  1792. 

PART  I. 

BILL  OF  RIGHTS. 

Article  1.  All  men  are  bom  equally  free  and  independent:  Therefore,  all 
government,  of  right,  originates  from  the  people,  is  founded  in  consent,  and  in- 
stituted for  the  general  good. 

2.  All  men  have  certain  natural,  essential,  and  inherent  rights — among 
which  are,  the  enjoying  and  defending  life  and  liberty,  acquiring,  possessing, 
and  protecting  property ;  and,  in  a  word,  of  seeking  and  obtaining  happiness. 

3.  When  men  enter  into  a  state  of  society,  they  surrender  up  some  of  their 
natural  rights  to  that  society,  in  order  to  ensure  the  protection  of  others ;  and 
without  such  an  equivalent  the  surrender  is  void. 

4.  Among  the  natural  rights,  some  are  in  their  very  nature  unalienable,  be- 
cause no  equivalent  can  be  given  or  received  for  them.  Of  this  kind  are  the 
rights  of  conscience. 

5.  Every  individual  has  a  natural  and  unalienable  right  to  worship  God  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience,  and  reason :  and  no  person  shall 
be  hurt,  molested,  or  restrained  in  his  person,  liberty,  or  estate,  for  worship- 
ping God  in  the  manner  most  agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  his  owti  conscience, 
or  for  his  religious  profession,  sentiments,  or  persuasion ;  provided  he  doth  not 
disturb  the  public  peace,  or  disturb  others  in  their  religious  worship. 

6.  As  morality  and  piety,  rightly  grounded  on  evangelical  principles,  ynl\ 
give  the  best  and  greatest  security  to  government,  and  will  lay,  in  the  hearts 
of  men,  the  strongest  obligations  to  due  subjection  ;  and  as  the  knowledge  of 
these  is  most  likely  to  'be  propagated  through  a  society  by  the  institution  of 
the  public  worship  of  the  Deity,  and  of  public  instruction  in  morality  and  reli- 
gion ;  therefore,  to  promote  these  important  purposes,  the  people  of  this  State 
have  a  right  to  empower,  and  do  hereby  fully  empower,  the  legislature,  to  au- 
thorize, from  time  to  time,  the  several  towns,  parishes,  bodies  corporate,  or  re 
ligious  societies,  within  this  State,  to  make  adequate  provision,  at  their  own 
expense,  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  public  protestant  teachers  of  piety, 
religion,  and  morality : 

.  Provided,  notwithstanding,  That  the  several  towns,  parishes,  bodies  corporate, 
or  religious  societies,  shall  at  all  times  have  the  exclusive  right  of  electing  their 
own  public  teachers,  and  of  contracting  with  them  for  their  support  and  main- 
tenance: And  no  person,  of  any  one  particular  religious  sect  or  denomination, 


200  GAZETTEER    OP   NEW   HA3IPSHIRE. 

shall  ever  be  compelled  to  pay  towards  the  support  of  the  teacher  or  teachers 
of  another  persuasion,  sect,  or  denomination. 

And  every  denomination  of  Christians,  demeaning  themselves  quietly,  and 
as  good  citizens  of  the  State,  shall  be  equally  under  the  protection  of  the  law : 
and  no  subordination  of  any  one  sect  or  denomination  to  another,  shall  ever  be 
established  by  law. 

And  nothing  herein  shall  be  understood  to  affect  any  former  contracts  made 
for  the  support  of  the  ministry ;  but  all  such  contracts  shall  remain,  and  be  in 
the  same  state,  as  if  this  constitution  had  not  been  made. 

7.  The  peoi3le  of  this  State  have  the  sole  and  exclusive  right  of  governing 
themselves  as  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  State ;  and  do,  and  for  ever 
hereafter  shall,  exercise  and  enjoy  every  power,  jurisdiction,  and  right,  per- 
taining thereto,  which  is  not,  or  may  not  hereafter  be,  by  them  expressly  dele- 
gated to  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled. 

8.  All  power  residing  originally  in,  and  being  derived  from  the  people,  all 
the  magistrates  and  officers  of  government  are  their  substitutes  and  agents,  and 
at  all  times  accountable  to  them. 

9.  No  office  or  place  whatsoever,  in  government,  shall  be  hereditary — the 
abilitv  and  integrity  requisite  in  all  not  being  transmissible  to  posterity  or  re- 
lations. 

10.  Government  being  instituted  for  the  common  benefit,  protection,  and 
security  of  the  whole  community,  and  not  for  the  private  interest  or  emolu- 
ment of  any  one  man,  family,  or  class  of  men ;  therefore,  whenever  the  ends  of 
the  government  are  perv^erted,  or  public  liberty  manifestly  endangered,  and  all 
other  means  of  rcdi-ess  are  ineffectual,  the  people  may,  and  of  right  ought  to, 
reform  the  old,  or  establish  a  new  government.  The  doctrine  of  non-resist- 
ance against  arbitrary  poAver  and  oppression,  is  absurd,  slavish,  and  destructive 
of  the  good  and  happiness  of  mankind. 

11.  All  elections  ought  to  be  free,  and  every  inhabitant  of  the  State,  having 
the  proper  qualifications,  has  an  equal  right  to  elect,  and  be  elected,  into  office. 

12.  Every  member  of  the  community  has  a  right  to  be  protected  by  it,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  his  life,  liberty,  and  property;  he  is  therefore  bound  to  con- 
tribute his  share  to  the  expense  of  such  protection,  and  to  yield  his  personal 
service  when  necessar}',  or  an  equivalent.  But  no  part  of  a  man's  property 
shall  be  taken  from  him,  or  applied  to  public  uses,  without  his  own  consent,  or 
that  of  the  representative  body  of  the  people.  Nor  are  the  inhabitants  of  this 
State  controllable  by  any  other  laws  than  those  to  which  they,  or  their  repre- 
sentative body,  have  given  their  consent. 

13.  No  person  who  is  conscientiously  scrupulous  about  the  lawfulness  of 
bearing  arms,  shall  be  compelled  thereto,  provided  he  will  pay  an  equivalent. 

14.  Every  citizen  of  this  State  is  entitled  to  a  certain  remedy,  by  having  re- 
course to  the  laws,  for  all  injuries  he  may  receive  in  his  person,  property,  or 
character ;  to  obtain  right  and  justice  freely,  without  being  obliged  to  purchase 
it ;  completely,  and  without  denial,  promptly,  and  without  delay,  conformable 
to  the  laws. 

15.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  any  crime  or  offence,  until  the 


CONSTITUTION.  201 

same  is  fully  and  plainly,  substantially,  and  formally,  described  to  him :  nor 
be  compelled  to  accuse  or  furnish  evidence  against  himself.  And  every  person 
shall  have  a  right  to  produce  all  proofs  that  may  be  favorable  to  himself ;  to 
meet  the  witnesses  against  him  face  to  face ;  and  to  be  fully  heard  in  his  de- 
fence, by  himself  and  counsel.  And  no  person  shall  be  arrested,  imprisoned, 
despoiled,  or  deprived  of  his  property,  immunities,  or  privileges,  put  out  of  the 
protection  of  the  law,  exiled,  or  deprived  of  his  life,  liberty,  or  estate,  but  by 
the  judgment  of  his  peers,  or  the  law  of  the  land. 

16.  No  person  shall  be  liable  to  be  tried,  after  an  acquittal,  for  the  same 
crime  or  offence.  Nor  shall  the  legislature  make  any  law  that  shall  subject 
any  person  to  a  capital  punishment,  (excepting  for  the  government  of  the  army 
and  navy,  and  the  militia  in  actual  service,)  without  trial  by  jury. 

17.  In  criminal  prosecutions,  the  trial  of  fticts,  in  the  vicinity  where  they 
happen,  is  so  essential  to  the  security  of  the  life,  liberty,  and  estate,  of  the  citi- 
zens, that  no  crime  or  offence  ought  to  be  tried  in  any  other  county  than  that 
in  which  it  is  committed,  except  in  cases  of  general  insurrection  in  any  partic- 
ular county,  when  it  shall  appear  to  the  judges  of  the  supei'ior  courts  that  an 
impartial  trial  cannot  be  had  in  the  county  where  the  offence  may  be  commit- 
ted, and  upon  their  report  the  legislature  shall  think  proper  to  direct  the  trial 
in  the  nearest  county  in  which  an  impartial  trial  can  be  obtained. 

18.  All  penalties  ought  to  be  proportioned  to  the  natm-e  of  the  offence.  No 
wise  legislature  Avill  affix  the  same  punishment  to  the  crimes  of  theft,  forgery, 
and  the  like,  which  they  do  to  those  of  miu'der  and  treason.  Where  the  same 
undistinguished  severity  is  exerted  against  all  offences,  the  people  are  led  to 
forget  the  real  distinction  in  the  crimes  themselves,  and  to  commit  the  most 
flagrant  with  as  little  compunction  as  they  do  the  lightest  offences.  For  the 
same  reason,  a  multitude  of  sanguinary  laws  is  both  impolitic  and  unjust.  The 
tnie  design  of  all  punishments  being  to  reform,  not  to  extenninate,  mankind. 

19.  Every  person  hath  a  right  to  be  secure  from  all  unreasonable  searches 
and  seizures  of  his  person,  his  houses,  his  papers,  and  all  his  possessions. 
Therefore,  all  warrants  to  search  suspected  places,  or  arrest  a  person  for  ex- 
amination or  trial,  in  prosecution  for  criminal  matters,  are  contrary  to  this 
right,  if  the  cause  or  foundation  of  them  be  not  previously  supported  by  oath 
or  affirmation ;  and  if  the  order  in  a  warrant  of  a  civil  officer,  to  make  search 
in  suspected  places,  or  to  arrest  one  or  more  suspected  persons,  or  to  seize 
their  property,  be  not  accompanied  with  a  special  designation  of  the  persons 
or  objects  of  search,  arrest,  or  seizure ;  and  no  warrant  ought  to  be  issued,  but 
in  cases,  and  with  the  formalities,  prescribed  by  law. 

20.  In  all  controversies  concerning  property,  and  in  all  suits  between  two  or 
more  persons,  excepting  in  cases  wherein  it  hath  been  heretofore  otherwise 
used  and  practised,  the  parties  have  a  right  to  a  trial  by  jury ;  and  this  right 
shall  be  deemed  sacred  and  inviolable ;  but  the  legislature  may,  by  the  consti- 
tutiop,  be  empowered  to  make  such  regulations  as  will  prevent  parties  from 
having  as  many  trials  by  jury,  in  the  same  suit  or  action,  as  hath  been  hereto- 
fore allowed  and  practised,  and  to  extend  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  justices  of 
the  peace  to  the  trials  of  suits  where  the  sum  demanded  in  damages  doth  not 


202  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

exceed  four  pounds,  saving  the  right  of  appeal  to  either  party.  But  no  such 
regulations  shall  take  away  the  right  of  trial  by  jury,  in  any  case  not  in  this  ar- 
ticle before  excepted,  unless  in  cases  respecting  mariners'  wages. 

21.  In  order  to  reap  the  fullest  advantage  of  the  inestimable  privilege  of  the 
trial  by  jury,  great  care  ought  to  be  taken  that  none  but  qualified  persons  should 
be  appointed  to  serve ;  and  such  ought  to  be  fully  compensated  for  their  travel, 
time,  and  attendance. 

22.  The  liberty  of  the  press  is  essential  to  the  security  of  freedom  in  a  state , 
it  ought,  therefore,  to  be  inviolably  preserved. 

23.  Retrospective  laws  are  highly  injurious,  oppressive,  and  unjust.  No 
such  laws,  therefore,  should  be  made,  eitlier  for  the  decision  of  civil  causes,  or 
the  punishment  of  offences. 

24.  A  well  regulated  militia  is  the  proper,  natural,  and  sure  defence  of  a 
State. 

25.  Standing  armies  are  dangerous  to  liberty,  and  ought  not  to  be  raised,  or 
kept  up,  without  the  consent  of  the  legislature. 

26.  In  all  cases,  and  at  all  times,  the  military  ought  to  be  under  sti-ict  sub- 
ordination to,  and  governed  by  the  civil  power. 

27.  No  soldier,  in  time  of  peace,  shall  be  quartered  in  any  house,  -without 
the  consent  of  the  owner ;  and  in  time  of  war,  such  quarters  ought  not  to  be 
made  but  by  the  civil  magistrate,  in  a  manner  ordained  by  the  legislature. 

28.  No  subsidy,  charge,  tax,  impost,  or  duty  shall  be  established,  fixed,  laid, 
or  le\'ied,  under  any  pretext  whatsoever,  without  the  consent  of  the  people,  or 
their  representatives  in  the  legislature,  or  authority  derived  from  that  body. 

29.  The  power  of  suspending  the  laws,  or  the  execution  of  them,  ought 
never  to  be  exercised  but  by  the  legislature,  or  by  authority  derived  therefrom, 
to  be  exercised  in  such  particular  cases  only  as  the  legislature  shall  expressly 
provide  for. 

30.  The  freedom  of  deliberation,  speech,  and  debate,  in  either  house  of  the 
legislature,  is  so  essential  to  the  rights  of  the  people,  that  it  cannot  be  the 
foundation  of  any  action,  complaint,  or  prosecution,  in  any  other  court  or  place 
whatsoever, 

31.  The  legislature  shall  assemble  for  the  redress  of  public  grievances,  and 
for  making  such  laws  as  the  public  good  may  require, 

32.  The  people  have  a  right,  in  an  orderly  and  peaceable  manner,  to  assem- 
ble and  consult  upon  the  public  good,  give  instructions  to  their  representatives, 
and  to  request  of  the  legislative  body,  by  way  of  petition  or  remonstrance,  re- 
dress of  the  ^vTongs  done  them,  and  of  the  grievances  they  suffer. 

33.  No  magistrate  or  court  of  law  shall  demand  excessive  bail  or  sureties, 
impose  excessive  fines,  or  inflict  cruel  or  unusual  punishments. 

34.  No  person  can,  in  any  case,  be  subjected  to  law  martial,  or  to  any  pains 
or  penalties  by  virtue  of  that  law,  except  those  employed  in  the  army  or  navy, 
and  except  the  militia  in  actual  service,  but  b^-  authority  of  the  legislature. 

35.  It  is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  every  individual,  his 
life,  liberty,  property,  and  character,  that  there  be  an  impartial  interpretation 
of  the  laws  and  administration  of  justice.     It  is  the  right  of  every  citizen  to  be 


CONSTITUTION.  203 

tried  by  judges  as  impartial  as  the  lot  of  humanity  will  admit.  It  is  therefore 
not  only  the  best  policy,  but  for  the  security  of  the  rights  of  the  people,  that 
the  judges  of  the  supreme  judicial  court  should  hold  their  offices  so  long  as 
they  behave  well ;  subject,  however,  to  such  limitations,  on  account  of  age,  as 
may  be  provided  by  the  constitution  of  the  State :  and  that  they  should  have 
honorable  salaries,  ascertained  and  established  by  standing  laws. 

36.  Economy  being  a  most  essential  virtue  in  all  States,  especially  in  a 
young  one,  no  pension  shall  be  granted  but  in  consideration  of  actual  services ; 
and  such  pensions  ought  to  be  granted  with  great  caution  by  the  legislature, 
and  never  for  more  than  one  year  at  a  time. 

37.  In  the  government  of  this  State,  the  three  essential  powers  thereof,  to 
Avit,  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial,  ought  to  be  kept  as  separate  from, 
and  independent  of,  each  other,  as  the  nature  of  a  fi-ee  government  will  admit, 
or  as  is  consistent  with  that  chain  of  connexion  that  binds  the  whole  fabric  of 
the  constitution  in  one  indissoluble  bond  of  unity  and  amity. 

38.  A  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  constitution, 
and  a  constant  adherence  to  justice,  moderation,  temperance,  industry,  frugal- 
ity, and  all  the  social  virtues,  are  indispensably  necessary  to  preserve  the  bless- 
ings of  liberty  and  good  government ;  the  people  ought,  therefore,  to  have  a 
particular  regard  to  all  those  principles  in  the  choice  of  their  officers  and  rep- 
resentatives :  And  they  have  a  right  to  require  of  their  lawgivers  and  magis- 
trates an  exact  and  constant  observance  of  them  in  the  formation  and  execu- 
tion of  the  laws  necessary  for  the  good  administration  of  the  government. 

PART  n. 

Fo7'm  of  Government. 
The  people  inhabiting  the  territory  formerly  called  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire,  do  hereby  solemnly  and  mutually  agree  with  each  other  to  form 
themselves  into  a  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  body  politic,  or  State,  by 
the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

General  Court. 

The  supreme  legislative  power,  within  this  State,  shall  be  vested  in  the  sen- 
ate and  house  of  representatives,  each  of  which  shall  have  a  negative  on  the 
other. 

The  senate  and  house  shall  assemble  every  year  on  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June — and  at  such  other  times  as  they  may  judge  necessary ;  and  shall  dis- 
solve, and  be  dissolved,  seven  days  next  preceding  the  said  first  Wednesday  in 
June;  and  shall  be  styled  The  General  Cowt  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  general  court  shall  for  ever  have  full  power  and  authority  to  erect  and 
constitute  judicatories  and  courts  of  record,  or  other  courts,  to  be  holden  in  the 
name  of  the  State,  for  the  hearing,  trying,  and  determining  all  manner  of 
crimes,  offences,  pleas,  processes,  plaints,  actions,  causes,  matters,  and  things 
whatsoever,  arising  or  happening  within  this  State,  or  between  or  concerning 
persons  inhabiting  or  residing,  or  brought  within  the  same,  whether  the  same 


204  GAZETTEER    OF   KEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

be  criminal  or  civil,  or  -whetlicr  the  crimes  be  capital  or  not  capital,  and 
whether  the  said  pleas  be  real,  personal,  or  mixed ;  and  for  awarding  and  is- 
suing execution  thereon.  To  which  courts  and  judicatories,  are  hereby  given 
and  granted,  full  power  and  authority,  from  time  to  time,  to  administer  oaths 
or  affirmations,  for  the  better  discovery  of  tnith  in  any  matter  in  controversy, 
or  depending  before  them. 

And  further,  full  power  and  authority  are  hereby  given  and  granted  to  the 
said  general  court,  from  time  to  time,  to  make,  ordain,  and  establish  all  marn- 
ner  of  wholesome  and  reasonable  orders,  laws,  statutes,  ordinances,  directions, 
and  instructions,  either  with  penalties  or  Avdthout,  so  as  the  same  be  not  re- 
pugnant or  contrary  to  this  constitution,  as  they  may  judge  for  the  benefit  and 
welfare  of  this  State,  and  for  the  governing  and  ordering  thereof,  and  of  the 
citizens  of  the  same,  for  the  necessary  support  anxl  defence  of  the  government 
thereof;  and  to  name  and  settle  annually,  or  provide  by  fixed  laws  for  the  nam- 
ing and  settling  all  civil  officers  within  this  State;  such  officers  excepted, 
the  election  and  appointment  of  whom  are  hereafter  in  this  form  of  govern- 
ment otherwise  provided  for ;  and  to  set  forth  the  several  duties,  powers,  and 
limits  of  the  several  civil  and  military  officers  of  this  State,  and  the  forms  of 
such  oaths  or  affirmations  as  shall  be  respectively  administered  unto  them,  for 
the  execution  of  their  several  offices  and  places,  so  as  the  same  be  not  repug- 
nant or  contrary  to  this  constitution :  and  also  to  impose  fines,  mulcts,  impri- 
sonments, and  other  punishments ;  and  to  impose  and  levy  proportional  and 
reasonable  assessments,  rates,  and  taxe^  upon  all  the  inhabitants  of,  and  resi- 
dents within,  the  said  State ;  and  upon  all  estates  within  the  same ;  to  be  is- 
sued and  disposed  of  by  warrant,  under  the  hand  of  the  governor  of  this  State 
for  the  time  being,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  council,  for  the  public 
service,  in  the  necessaiy  defence  and  support  of  the  government  of  this  State, 
and  the  protection  and  preservation  of  the  citizens  thereof,  according  to  such 
acts  as  are,  or  shall  be,  in  force  within  the  same. 

And  while  the  public  charges  of  government,  or  any  part  thereof,  .shall  be 
assessed  on  polls  and  estates  in  the  manner  that  has  been  heretofore  practised, 
in  order  that  such  assessments  may  be  made  with  equality,  there  shall  be  a 
valuation  of  the  estates,  within  the  State,  taken  anew  once  in  every  five  years 
at  least,  and  as  much  oftener  as  the  general  court  shall  order. 

No  member  of  the  general  court  shall  take  fees,  be  of  counsel  or  act  as  ad- 
vocate, in  any  cause  before  either  branch  of  the  legislature ;  and  upon  due 
proof  thereof,  such  member  shall  forfeit  his  seat  in  the  legislature. 

The  doors  of  the  galleries  of  each  house  of  the  legislature  shall  be  kept  open 
to  all  persons  who  behave  decently,  except  when  the  welfare  of  the  State,  in 
the  opinion  of  either  branch,  shall  require  secrecy. 

Senate. 

The  senate  shall  consist  of  twelve  members,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  for 
one  year,  from  the  first  Wednesday  in  June  next  ensuing  their  election. 

And  that  the  State  may  be  equally  represented  in  the  senate,  the  legislature 
shall,  from  time  to  time,  divide  the  State  into  t>vclve  districts,,  as  nearly  equal 


CONSTITUTION.  205 

tts  may  be  without  dividing  toAvns  and  unincorporated  places ;  and  in  making 
this  division,  they  shall  govern  themselves  by  the  proportion  of  public  taxes 
paid  by  the  said  districts,  and  timely  make  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
State  the  limits  of  each  district. 

The  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  each  district,  qualified  as  in  this 
constitution  is  provided,  shall  annually  give  in  their  votes  for  a  senator,  at  some 
meeting  holden  in  the  month  of  Mmxh. 

The  senate  shall  be  the  first  branch  of  the  legislature  :  and  the  senators  shall 
be  chosen  in  the  following  manner,  viz.  Ever}-  male  inhabitant  of  each  town, 
and  parish  with  town  privileges,  and  places  unincorporated,  in  this  State,  of 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  upwards,  excepting  paupers,  and  persons  excused 
from  paying  taxes  at  their  own  request,  shall  have  a  right  at  the  annual  or 
other  meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  towns  and  parishes,  to  be  duly  warn- 
ed and  holden  annually  for  ever  in  the  month  of  March,  to  vote  in  the  toAvn  or 
parish  wherein  he  dwells,  for  the  senators  of  the  county  or  district  whereof  he 
is  a  member. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  That  no  person  shall  be  capable  of  being  elected  a 
senator,  who  is  not  seized  of  a  freehold  estate,  in  his  own  right,  of  the  value  of 
two  hundred  pounds,  lying  within  this  State,  who  is  not  of  the  age  of  thirty 
years,  and  who  shall  not  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  this  State  for  seven  years 
immediately  preceding  his  election,  and  at  the  time  thereof  he  shall  be  an  in- 
habitant of  the  district  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

And  every  person,  qualified  as  the  constitution  provides,  shall  be  considered 
an  inhabitant  for  the  purpose  of  electing  and  being  ele6ted  into  any  office  or 
place  within  this  State,  in  the  town,  parish,  and  plantation  where  he  dwelleth, 
and  hath  his  home. 

And  the  inhabitants  of  plantations  and  places  unincorporated,  qualified  as 
this  constitution  provides,  who  are  or  shall  be  required  to  assess  taxes  upon 
themselves  towards  the  support  of  government,  or  shall  be  taxed  therefor,  shall 
have  the  same  privilege  of  voting  for  senators  in  the  plantations  and  places 
wherein  they  reside,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  respective  towns  and  parishes 
aforesaid  have.  And  the  meeting  of  such  plantations  and  places  for  that  pur- 
pose shall  be  holden  annually,  in  the  month  of  March,  at  such  places  respec- 
tively therein  as  the  assessors  thereof  shall  direct :  wiiich  assessors  shall  have 
like  authority  for  notifying  the  electors,  collecting  and  returning  the  votes,  as 
the  selectmen  and  town  clerks  have  in  their  several  towns  by  this  constitution. 

The  meetings  for  the  choice  of  governor,  council,  and  senators  shall  be 
■warned,  by  warrant,  from  the  selectmen,  and  governed  by  a  moderator,  who 
shall  in  the  presence  of  the  selectmen,  (whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  attend,)  in 
open  meeting,  receive  the  votes  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  such  towns  and  par- 
ishes present,  and  qualified  to  vote  for  senators ;  and  shall,  in  said  meetings,  in 
presence  of  the  said  selectmen,  and  of  the  towTi  clerk,  in  said  meeting,  sort  and 
count  the  said  votes,  and  make  a  public  declaration  thereof,  with  the  name  of 
every  person  voted  for,  and  the  number  of  votes  for  each  person :  and  the  town 
clerk  shall  make  a  fair  record  of  the  same  at  large,  in  the  town  book,  and  shall 
make  out  a  fair  attested  copy  thereof,  to  be  bv  him  sealed  up.  and  directed  to 
18 


206  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

the  secretaiy  of  the  State,  with  a  superscription,  expressing  the  purport  there- 
of: and  the  said  town  clerk  shall  cause  such  attested  copy  to  be  delivered  to 
the  sheriff  of  the  county  in  which  such  town  or  parish  shall  lie,  forty  days  at, 
least  before  the  first  Wednesday  in  June ;  or  to  the  secretary  of  the  State  at 
least  thirty  days  before  the  said  first  Wednesday  in  June,  and  the  sheriff  of 
each  county,  or  his  deputy,  shall  deliA-er  all  such  certificates  by  him  received, 
into  the  secretary's  office,  at  least  thirty  days  before  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June. 

And  that  there  may  be  a  due  meeting  of  senators  on  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June  annually,  the  goA^ernor  and  the  majority  of  the  council  for  the  time  being, 
shall,  as  soon  as  may  be,  examine  the  returned  copies  of  such  records,  and, 
fourteen  days  before  the  said  first  Wednesday  in  June,  he  shall  issue  his  sum- 
mons to  such  persons  as  appear  to  be  chosen  senators  by  a  majority  of  votes, 
to  attend  and  take  their  seats  on  that  day. 

Provided,  nevertheless.  That  for  the  first  year,  the  said  returned  copies  shall 
be  examined  by  the  president  and  a  majority  of  the  council  then  in  office : 
And  the  said  president  shall,  in  like  manner,  notify  the  persons  elected,  to  at- 
tend and  take  their  seats  accordingly. 

And  in  case  there  shall  not  appear  to  be  a  senator  elected  by  a  majority  of 
votes,  for  any  district,  the  deficiency  shall  be  supplied  in  the  following  manner, 
viz.  The  members  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  such  senators  as  shall 
be  declared  elected,  shall  take  the  names  of  the  two  persons  having  the  high- 
est number  of  votes  in  the  district,  and  out  of  them  shall  elect  by  joint  ballot 
the  senator  wanted  for  such  district ;  and  in  this  manner  all  such  vacancies 
shall  be  filled  up  in  every  district  of  the  State ;  and  in  like  manner  all  vacan- 
cies in  the  senate,  arising  by  death,  removal  out  of  the  State,  or  otherwise, 
shall  be  supplied  as  soon  as  may  be  after  such  vacancies  happen. 

The  senate  shall  be  final  judges  of  the  elections,  returns,  and  qualifications 
of  their  own  members,  as  pointed  out  in  this  constitution. 

The  senate  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  themselves,  provided  such  adjourn- 
ment do  not  exceed  two  days  at  a  time. 

Provided^  nevertheless,  That  whenever  they  shall  sit  on  the  trial  of  any  im- 
peachment, they  may  adjourn  to  such  time  and  place  as  they  may  think  pro- 
per, although  the  legislature  be  not  assembled  on  such  day  or  at  such  place. 

The  senate  shall  appoint  their  president  and  other  officers,  and  determine 
their  own  rules  of  proceedings  :  and  not  less  than  seven  members  of  this  sen 
ate  shall  make  a  quorum  for  doing  business :  and  when  less  than  eight  sena- 
tors shall  be  present,  the  assent  of  five  at  least  shall  be  necessary  to  render 
their  acts  and  proceedings  valid. 

The  senate  shall  be  a  court,  with  full  power  and  authority  to  hear,  try,  and 
determine,  all  impeachmentj?  made  by  the  house  of  representatives  against  any 
officer  or  officers  of  the  State,  for  bribery,  corruption,  malpractice,  or  malad- 
ministration, in  office :  Avith  full  power  to  issue  summons,  or  compulsory  pro- 
cess, for  convening  witnesses  before  them,  with  all  necessary  powers  incident 
to  a  court  of  trials :  but,  previous  to  the  trial  of  any  such  impeachment,  the 
members  of  the  senate  shall  be  respectively  sworn  truly  and  impartially  to  try 


CONSITUTION.  207 

and  determine  the  cliargc  and  question,  according  to  evidence.  And  every  of- 
ficer, impeached  for  bribery,  corruption,  malpractice,  or  maladministration  in 
office,  shall  be  served  with  an  attested  copy  of  the  impeachment,  and  order  of 
the  senate  thereon,  with  such  citation  as  the  senate  may  direct,  setting  forth 
the  time  and  place  of  their  sitting  to  try  the  impeachment ;  which  service  shall 
be  made  by  the  sheriff,  or  such  other  sworn  officer  as  the  senato  may  appoint, 
at  least  fom-teen  days  previous  to  the  time  of  trial ;  and  such  citation  being 
duly  served  and  returned,  the  senate  may  proceed  in  hearing  of  the  impeach- 
ment, giving  the  person  impeached,  if  he  shall  appear,  full  liberty  of  producing 
witnesses  and  proofs,  and  of  making  his  defence,  by  himself  and  counsel ;  and 
may,  also,  upon  his  refusing  or  neglecting  to  appear,  hear  the  proofs  in  sup- 
port of  the  impeachment,  and  render  judgment  thereon,  his  nonappearance 
notwithstanding;  and  such  judgment  shall  have  the  same  force  and  effect  as 
if  the  person  impeached  had  appeared  and  pleaded  in  the  trial.  Their  judg- 
ment, however,  shall  not  extend  further  than  removal  from  office,  disqualifica- 
tion to  hold  or  enjoy  an}^  place  of  honor,  trust,  or  profit  under  this  State ;  but 
the  party  so  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  to  indictment,  trial,  judg- 
ment, and  punishment  according  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

"Wlienever  the  governor  shall  be  impeached,  the  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
judicial  court  shall,  during  the  trial,  preside  in  the  senate,  but  have  no  vote 
therein. 

House  of  Representatives. 

There  shall  be,  in  the  legislature  of  this  State,  a  representation  of  the  peo- 
ple annually  elected,  and  founded  upon  principles  of  equality ;  and  in  order 
that  such  representation  may  be  as  equal  as  circumstances  will  admit,  every 
town,  parish,  or  place,  entitled  to  town  privileges,  having  one  hundred  and 
fifty  ratable  male  polls,  of  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  upwards,  may  elect 
one  representative :  if  four  hundred  and  fifty  ratable  male  polls,  may  elect  two 
representatives ;  and  so  proceeding,  in  that  proportion,  make  three  hundred 
such  ratable  polls  the  mean  of  increasing  number,  for  every  additional  repre- 
-sentative. 

Such  towns,  parishes,  or  places,  as  have  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
ratable  polls,  shall  be  classed  by  the  general  assembly,  for  the  purpose  of 
choosing  a  representative,  and  seasonably  notified  thereof.  And  in  every 
class  formed  for  the  above-mentioned  purpose,  the  first  annual  meeting  shall 
be  held  in  the  town,  parish,  or  place,  wherein  most  of  the  ratable  polls  re- 
side ;  and  afterwards  in  that  which  has  the  next  highest  number ;  and  so  on, 
annually,  by  rotation,  through  the  several  towns,  parishes,  or  places,  forming 
the  district. 

Whenever  any  to^\'n,  parish,  or  place,  entitled  to  to^Ti  privileges,  as  afore- 
said, shall  not  have  one  hundred  and  fifty  ratable  polls,  and  be  situated  as  to 
render  the  classing  thereof  with  any  other  town,  parish,  or  place,  very  incon- 
venient, the  general  assembly  may,  upon  application  of  a  majority  of  the  votes 
of  such  town,  parish,  or  place,  issue  a  writ  for  their  selecting  and  sending  a 
representative  to  the  general  court. 


208  GAZETTEIIR    OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

The  members  of  the  house  of  representatives  shall  be  chosen  annually,  in 
the  mouth  of  March,  and  shall  be  the  second  branch  of  the  legislature. 

All  persons  qualified  to  vote  in  the  election  of  senators  shall  be  entitled  to 
vote,  within  the  district  where  they  dwell,  in  the  choice  of  representatives. 
Every  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot ;  and 
for  two  years  at  least  next  preceding  his  election,  shall  have  been  an  inhabitant 
of  this  State  ;  shall  have  an  estate  within  the  district  which  he  may  be  chosen 
to  represent,  of  the  value  of  one  hundred  pounds,  one  half  of  which  to  be  a 
freehold,  whereof  he  is  seized  in  his  own  right:  shall  be,  at  the  time  of  his 
election,  an  inhalntant  of  the  district  he  may  be  chosen  to  represent,  and  shall 
cease  to  represent  such  district  immediately  on  his  ceasing  to  be  qualified  as 
aforesaid. 

The  members  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature  shall  be  compensated  for  their 
services  out  of  the  treasuiy  of  the  State,  by  a  law  made  for  that  purpose  :  such 
members  attending  seasonably,  and  not  departing  without  license.  All.  inter- 
mediate vacancies,  in  the  house  of  representatives,  may  be  filled  up  from  time 
to  time,  in  the  same  manner  as  annual  elections  are  made. 

The  house  of  representatives  shall  be  the  gi-and  inquest  of  the  State ;  and 
all  impeachments  made  by  them  shall  be  heard  and  tried  by  the  senate. 

All  money  bills  shall  originate  in  the  house  of  representatives ;  but  the 
senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments,  as  on  other  bills. 

The  house  of  representatives  shall  have  the  power  to  adjourn  themselves, 
but  no  longer  than  two  days  at  a  time. 

A  majority  of  the  memljers  of  the  house  of  representatives  shall  be  a  quorum 
for  doing  business  ;  but  when  less  than  two  thirds  of  the  house  of  representa- 
tives elected  shall  be  present,  the  assent  of  two  thirds  of  those  members  shall 
be  necessary,  to  render  their  acts  and  proceedings  valid. 

No  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  or  senate  shall  be  arrested,  or 
held  to  bail,  on  mesne  process,  during  his  going  to,  return  from,  or  attendance 
upon  the  court. 

The  house  of  representatives  shall  choose  their  own  speaker,  appoint  their 
own  officers,  and  settle  the  rules  of  proceedings  in  their  o^vn  house ;  and  shall 
be  judge  of  the  return,  elections,  and  qualifications,  of  its  members,  as  pointed 
out  in  this  constitution.  They  shall  have  authority  to  punish,  by  imprison- 
ment, every  person  who  shall  be  guilty  of  disrespect  to  the  house  in  its  pres- 
ence, by  any  disorderly  or  contemptuous  behavior,  or  by  threatening  or  ill- 
treating  any  of  its  members :  or  by  obstmcting  its  deliberations  ;  every  person 
guilty  of  a  breach  of  its  privileges,  in  making  airests  for  debt,  or  by  assaulting 
any  member  during  his  attendance  at  any  session  ;  in  assaulting  or  disturbing 
any  one  of  its  officers  in  the  execution  of  any  order  or  procedure  of  the  house  ; 
in  assaulting  any  witness,  or  other  person  ordered  to  attend  by,  and  during  his 
attendance  on,  the  house,  or  in  rescuing  any  person  arrested  by  order  of  the 
house,  knowing  them  to  be  such.  The  senate,  governor,  and  council  shall 
have  the  same  powers  in  like  cases  ;  provided  that  no  imprisonment  by  eithei 
for  any  offence  exceed  ten  days. 

The  journal  of  the  proceedings,  and  all  the  public  acts  of  both  houses  of  the 


CONSTITUTION.  209 

legislature,  shall  be  printed  and  published  immediately  after  every  adjourn- 
ment or  prorogation ;  and  upon  motion  made  by  any  one  member,  the  yeas 
and  nays  upon  any  question  shall  be  entered  on  the  journals  ;  and  any  mem- 
ber of  the  senate  or  house  of  representatives  shall  have  a  right,  on  motion 
made  at  the  time  for  that  purpose,  to  have  his  protest  or  dissent,  with  the 
reasons,  against  any  vote,  resolve,  or  bill,  passed,  entered  on  the  journals. 

EXECUTIVE   POWER. 

Governor. 

The  governor  shall  be  chosen  annually,  in  the  month  of  March ;  and  the 
votes  for  governor  shall  be  received,  counted,  certified,  and  returned,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  votes  for  senators  ;  and  the  secretary  shall  lay  the  same 
before  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  on  the  fii'st  Wednesday  in  June, 
to  be  by  them  examined ;  and  in  case  of  an  election  by  a  majority  of  votes 
through  the  State,  the  choice  shall  be  by  them  declared  and  published. 

And  the  qualifications  of  electors  of  the  governor  shall  be  the  same  as  those 
for  senators  ;  and  if  no  person  shall  have  a  majority  of  votes,  the  senate  and 
house  of  representatives  shall,  by  joint  ballot,  elect  one  of  the  two  persons 
having  the  highest  number  of  votes,  who  shall  be  declared  governor. 

And  no  person  shall  be  eligible  to  this  office  unless,  at  the  time  of  his  elec- 
tion, he  shall  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  this  State  for  seven  years  next  pre- 
ceding, and  unless  he  shall  be  of  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  unless  he  shall, 
at  the  same  time,  have  an  estate  of  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds,  one  half 
of  which  shall  consist  of  a  freehold,  in  his  own  right,  within  the  State. 

In  ca,ses  of  disagreement  betAve^n  the  two  houses,  with  regard  to  the  time  or 
place  of  adjournment  or  prorogation,  the  governor,  vAtYi  advice  of  council, 
shall  have  a  right  to  adjourn  or  prorogue  the  general  court,  not  exceeding 
ninety  days  r.t  any  one  time,  as  he  may  determine  the  public  good  may  re- 
quire, to  meet  at  the  place  where  the  general  court  may  be  at  that  time  sit- 
ting ;  and  he  shall  dissolve  the  same  seven  days  before  the  said  first  Wednes- 
day in  June. 

And,  in  case  of  any  infectious  distemper  prevailing  in  the  place  where  the 
said  court  at  any  time  is  to  convene,  or  any  other  cause  whereby  dangers  may 
arise  to  the  health  or  lives  of  members  from  their  attendance,  the  governor 
may  direct  the  session  to  be  holden  at  some  other,  the  most  convenient  place, 
within  the  State. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  both  houses  of  the  general  court  shall, 
before  it  become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  governor ;  if  he  approve,  he  shall 
sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  that  house  in 
which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their 
journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it ;  if,  after  such  reconsideration,  two  thirds 
of  that  house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  such 
objections,  to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and, 
if  approved  by  tvvo-thirds  of  that  house,  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  such 
cases  the  votes  of  botli  houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the 

18* 


210 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


names  of  the  persons  voting  for  or  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the 
joiu-nals  of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the 
governor  within  five  days,  (Sundays  excepted.)  after  it  shall  have  been  pres* 
ented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  laAv,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it, 
unless  the  legislature,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  return,  in  which  case 
it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  resolve  shall  be  presented  to  the  governor,  and,  before  the  same  shall 
take  effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be 
repassed  by  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  according  to  the  rules  and 
limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

All  judicial  officers,  the  attorney-general,  solicitors,  all  sheriffs,  coroners, 
registers  of  probate,  and  all  officers  of  the  navy,  and  general  and  field  officers 
of  the  militia,  shall  be  nominated  and  appointed  by  the  governor  and  council; 
and  every  such  nomination  shall  be  made  at  least  three  days  prior  to  such 
appointment ;  and  no  appointment  shall  take  place,  unless  a  majority  of  the 
council  shall  agree  thereto.  The  governor  and  council  shall  have  a  negative 
on  each  other,  both  in  the  nominations  and  appointments.  Every  nomination 
and  appointment  shall  be  signed  by  the  governor  and  council,  and  every  nega- 
tive shall  also  be  signed  by  the  governor  or  council  who  made  the  same. 

The  captains  and  subalterns,  in  the  respective  regiments,  shall  be  nominated 
by  the  field  officers,  and,  if  approved  by  the  governor,  shall  be  appointed  by 
him. 

Whenever  the  chair  of  the  governor  shall  become  vacant,  by  reason  of  his 
death,  absence  from  the  State,  or  otherwise,  the  president  of  the  senate  shall, 
during  such  vacancy,  have  and  exercise  all  the  powers  and  authorities  which, 
by  this  constitution,  the  governor  is  vested  Avith,  when  personally  present ;  but 
when  the  president  of  the  senate  shall  exercise  the  office  of  governor,  he  shall 
not  hold  his  office  in  the  senate. 

The  governor,  Avith  the  advice  of  council,  shall  have  full  poAver  and  author- 
ity, in  the  recess  of  the  general  court,  to  prorogue  the  same  from  time  to  time, 
not  exceeding  ninety  days,  in  any  one  recess  of  said  court ;  and  during  the 
session  of  said  court,  to  adjourn  or  prorogue  it  to  any  time  the  two  houses  may 
desire,  and  to  call  it  together  sooner  than  the  time  to  AA-hich  it  may  be  adjourned 
or  prorogued,  if  the  Avelfare  of  the  State  should  require  the  same. 

The  governor  of  this  State,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  aiTny  and  navy,  and  all  the  military  forces  of  this  State,  by  sea 
and  land ;  and  shall  have  full  poAver,  by  himself  or  by  any  chief  commander, 
or  other  officer  or  officers,  from  time  to  time,  to  train,  instruct,  exercise,  and 
govern,  the  militia  and  navy;  and  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this 
State,  to  assemble  in  martial  array,  and  put  in  AA'arlike  posture,  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  and  to  lead  and  conduct  them,  and  Avith  them  encounter,  repulse,  repel, 
resist,  and  pursue,  by  force  of  arms,  as  well  by  sea  as  by  land,  AA'ithin  and 
without  the  limits  of  this  State ;  and  also  to  kill,  slay,  destroy,  if  necessary, 
and  conquer  by  all  fitting  ways,  enterprise,  and  means,  all  and  every  such 
person  and  persons,  as  shall  at  any  time  hereafter,  in  a  hostile  manner,  attempt 
or  enterprise  the  destruction,  invasion,  detriment,  or  annoyance  of  this  State ; 


CONSTITUTION.  211 

and  to  use  and  exercise  over  the  army  and  navy,  and  over  the  militia  in  actual 
Bervice,  the  law  martial  in  time  of  Avar,  invasion,  and  also  in  rebellion,  declared 
by  the  legislature  to  exist,  as  occasion  shall  necessarily  require.  And  surprise, 
by  all  ways  and  means  Avhatsoever,  all  and  every  such  person  or  persons,  with 
their  ships,  arms,  ammunition,  and  other  goods,  as  shall  in  a  hostile  manner 
invade,  or  attempt  the  invading,  conquering,  or  annoying  this  State.  And,  in 
fine,  the  governor  is  hereby  intrusted  with  all  other  powers  incident  to  the 
office  of  captain-general  and  commander-in-chief,  and  admiral,  to  be  exer- 
cised agreeably  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  constitution,  and  the  laws 
of  the  land :  Provided,  that  the  governor  shall  not  at  any  time  hereafter,  by 
virtue  of  any  power  by  this  constitution  granted,  or  hereafter  to  be  granted  to 
him  by  the  legislature,  transport  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  State,  or  oblige 
them  to  march  out  of  the  limits  of  the  same,  without  their  free  and  volun- 
tary consent,  or  the  consent  of  the  general  court,  nor  grant  commissions  for' 
exercising  the  law  martial  in  any  case,  without  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
council. 

The  power  of  pardoning  offences,  except  such  persons  as  may  be  convicted 
of  before  the  senate,  by  impeachment  of  the  house,  shall  be  in  the  governor, 
by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  council :  but  no  charter  of  pardon  granted  by 
the  governor,  with  advice  of  council,  before  conviction,  shall  avail  the  party 
pleading  the  same,  notwithstanding  any  general  and  particular  expressions 
contained  therein,  descriptive  of  the  offence  or  offences  intended  to  be  par- 
doned. 

No  officer,  duly  commissioned  to  command^  in  the  militia,  shall  be  removed 
from  his  office,  but  by  the  address  of  both  houses  to  the  governor,  or  by  fair 
trial  in  court-martial,  pursuant  to  the  laws  of  the  State  for  the  time  being. 

The  commanding  officers  of  the  regiments  shall  appoint  their  adjutants  and 
quarter-masters  ;  the  brigadiers,  their  brigade-majors  ;  the  major-generals,  their 
aids  ;  the  captains  and  subalterns,  their  non-commissioned  officers. 

The  governor  and  council  shall  appoint  all  officers  of  the  continental  army, 
whom,  by  the  confederation  of  the  United  States,  it  is  provided  that  this  State 
shall  appoint ;  as  also  all  officers  of  forts  and  garrisons. 

The  division  of  the  militia  into  brigades,  regiments,  and  companies,  made 
in  pursuance  of  the  militia  laws  now  in  force,  shall  be  considered  as  the  proper 
division  of  the  militia  of  this  State,  until  the  same  shall  be  altered  by  some 
future  law. 

No  moneys  shall  be  issued  out  of  the  treasury  of  this  State,  and  disposed  of, 
except  such  sums  as  may  be  appropriated  for  the  redemption  of  bills  of  credit, 
or  treasurer's  notes,  or  for  the  payment  of  interest  arising  thereon,  by  warrant 
under  the  hand  of  the  governor  for  the  time  being,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  council,  for  the  necessary  support  and  defence  of  this  State, 
and  for  the  necessary  protection  and  preservation  of  the  inhabitants  thereof^ 
agreeably  to  the  acts  and  resolves  of  the  general  court. 

All  public  boards,  the  commissary-general,  all  superintending  officers  of 
public  magazines  and  stores,  belonging  to  this  State,  and  all  commanding  offi- 
cers of  forts  and  garrisons  within  the  same,  shall,  once  in  every  three  months, 


212  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

officially  and  without  requisition,  and  at  other  times,  when  required  by  the 
governor,  deliver  to  him  an  account  of  all  goods,  stores,  provisions,  ammuni- 
tion, cannon,  with  their  appendages,  and  small  arms,  with  their  accoutrements, 
and  of  all  other  public  property  under  their  care  respectively ;  distinguishing  the 
quantity  and  kind  of  each,  as  particularly  as  may  be  ;  together  with  the  condi- 
tion of  such  forts  and  garrisons  ;  and  the  commanding  officer  shall  exhibit  to 
the  governor,  when  required  by  him,  true  and  exact  plans  of  such  forts,  and  of 
the  land  and  sea,  or  harbor  or  habors,  adjacent. 

The  governor  and  council  shall  be  compensated  for  their  services,  from  time 
to  time,  by  such  grants  as  the  general  court  shall  think  reasonable. 

Permanent  and  honorable  salaries  shall  be  established  by  law,  for  the  jus- 
tices of  the  supreme  court. 

Council. 

There  shall  be  annually  elected,  by  ballot,  five  councillors,  for  advising  the 
governor  in  the  executive  part  of  the  government.  The  freeholders,  and  other 
inhabitants  in  each  county,  qualified  to  vote  for  senators,  shall,  some  time  in 
the  month  of  March,  give  in  their  votes  for  one  councillor ;  which  votes  shall 
be  received,  sorted,  counted,  certified,  and  returned  to  the  secretary's  office,  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  votes  for  senators,  to  be  by  the  secretary  laid  before  the 
senate  and  house  of  representatives,  on  the  first  "Wednesday  in  June. 

And  the  person  ha\'ing  a  majority  of  votes  in  any  county  shall  be  consid- 
ered as  duly  elected  a  councillor ;  but  if  no  person  shall  have  a  majority  of 
votes  in  any  county,  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  shall  take  the 
names  of  the  two  persons  who  have  the  highest  number  of  votes  in  each  county 
and  not  elected,  and  out  of  those  two  shall  elect,  by  joint  ballot,  the  councillor 
wanted  for  such  county. 

Provided  nevertheless,  That  no  person  shall  be  capable  of  being  elected  a 
councillor,  who  has  not  an  estate  of  the  value  of  five  hundred  pounds  within 
this  State,  three  hundred  pounds  of  which  (or  more)  shall  be  a  freehold  in  his 
own  right,  and  who  is  not  thirty  years  of  age  ;  and  who  shall  not  have  been 
an  inhabitant  of  this  State  for  seven  years  immediately  preceding  his  election ; 
and,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  an  inhabitant  of  the  county  in  which  he  is 
elected. 

The  secretary  shall,  annually,  seventeen  days  before  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June,  give  notice  of  the  choice  of  persons  elected. 

If  any  person  shall  be  elected  governor,  or  member  of  either  branch  of  the 
legislature,  and  shall  not  accept  the  trust ;  or  if  any  person  elected  a  council- 
lor shall  refuse  to  accept  the  office  ;  or  in  case  of  the  death,  resignation,  or 
removal  of  any  councillor  out  of  the  State,  the  governor  may  issue  a  precept 
for  the  election  of  a  new  councillor,  in  that  county  where  such  vacancy  shall 
happen  ;  and  the  choice  shall  be  in  the  same  manner  as  before  directed  :  and 
the  governor  shall  have  full  power  and  authority  to  convene  the  council,  from 
time  to  time,  at  his  discretion  ;  and,  with  them,  or  the  majority  of  them,  may, 
and  shall,  from  time  to  time,  hold  a  council,  for  ordering  and  directing  the 
affairs  of  the  State,  according  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 


COKSTiTtJTiON.  2l3 

The  members  of  the  council  may  be  impeached  by  the  house,  and  tried  by 
the  senate,  for  bribery,  con-uption,  malpractice,  or  maladministration. 

The  resolutions  and  advice  of  the  council  shall  be  recorded  by  the  secretary, 
in  a  register,  and  signed  by  all  the  members  present  agreeing  thereto ;  and 
this  record  may  be  called  for  at  any  time,  by  either  house  of  the  legislature  ; 
and  any  member  of  the  council  may  enter  his  opinion  contrary  to  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  majority,  with  the  reason  for  such  opinion. 

The  legislature  may,  if  the  public  good  shall  hereafter  require  it,  divide  the 
State  into  five  districts,  as  ncariy  equal  as  may  be,  governing  themselves  by 
the  number  of  ratable  polls,  and  proportion  of  public  taxes  :  each  district  to 
elect  a  councillor :  and,  in  case  of  such  division,  the  manner  of  the  choice 
shall  be  conformable  to  the  present  mode  of  election  in  counties. 

And  Avhei-eas  the  elections  appointed  to  be  made  by  this  constitution,  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  June,  annually,  by  the  two  houses  of  the  legislature,  may 
not  be  completed  on  tliat  day,  the  said  elections  may  be  adjourned  from  day 
to  day,  nntil  the  same  may  be  completed ;  and  the  order  of  the  elections  shall 
be  as  follows  :  the  vacancies  in  the  senate,  if  any,  shall  be  first  filled  up  ;  the 
governor  shall  then  be  elected,  provided  there  shall  be  no  choice  of  him  by  the 
people  ;  and  aftenvards  the  two  houses  shaU  proceed  to  fiU  up  the  vacancy,  if 
any,  in  the  council. 

Secretary,  Treasurer,  Commissary- General,  ^c. 

The  secretary,  treasurer,  and  commissary-general,  shall  be  chosen  by  jomt 
ballot  of  the  senators  and  representatives,  assembled  in  one  room. 

The  records  of  the  State  shall  be  kept  in  the  office  of  the  secretary,  and  he 
shall  attend  the  governor  and  council,  the  senate  and  representatives,  in  per- 
son, or  by  deputy,  as  they  may  require. 

The  secretary  of  the  State  shall,  at  all  times,  have  a  deputy  to  be  by  him 
appointed ;  for  whose  conduct  in  office  he  shall  be  responsible.  And  in  case 
of  the  death,  removal,  or  inability  of  the  secretary,  his  deputy  shall  exercise 
aU  the  duties  of  the  office  of  secretaiy  of  this  State  until  another  shall  be 
appointed.  The  secretary,  before  he  enters  upon  the  business  of  his  office, 
shall  give  bond,  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  a  reasonable  sum,  for  the  use  of  the 
State,  for  the  punctual  performance  of  his  trust. 

County  Treasurer,  Sj-c, 

The  county  treasurers,  and  registers  of  deeds,  shall  be  elected  by  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  several  towns  in  the  several  counties  in  the  State,  according  to 
the  method  now  practised,  and  the  laws  of  the  State. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  The  legislature  shall  have  authority  to  alter  the  man- 
ner of  certifying  the  votes,  and  the  mode  of  electing  those  officers ;  but  not  so 
as  to  deprive  the  people  of  the  right  they  now  have  of  electing  them. 

And  the  legislature,  on  the  application  of  the  major  part  o^f  the  i  lirbitants 
of  any  county,  shall  have  authority  to  divide  the  same  into  t5\'o  districts  for 
registering  deeds,  if  to  them  it  shall  appear  necessary;  each  district  to  elect  a 


214  GAZETTEER    OP   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

register  of  deeds :  and  before  they  enter  upon  the  business  of  their  office,  shall 
be  respectively  sworn  faithfully  to  discharge  the  duties  thereof,  and  shall  sev- 
erally give  bonds,  with  sufficient  sureties,  in  a  reasonable  sum,  for  the  use  of 
the  county,  for  the  punctual  performance  of  their  respective  trusts. 

Judiciary  Power. 

The  tenure  that  all  commissioned  officers  shall  have,  by  law,  in  their  offices, 
shall  be  expressed  in  their  respective  commissions :  all  judicial  officers,  duly 
appointed,  commissioned,  and  sworn,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good 
behavior,  excepting  those  concerning  whom  there  is  a  different  pi-o^-ision  made 
in  this  constitution  :  Provided^  nevertheless,  the  governor,  with  consent  of  coim- 
cil,  may  remove  them,  upon  the  address  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature. 

Each  branch  of  the  legislature,  as  well  as  the  governor  and  council,  shall 
have  authority  to  require  the  opinions  of  the  justices  of  the  superior  court,  upon 
important  questions  of  law,  and  upon  solemn  occasions. 

In  order  that  the  people  may  not  suffer  from  the  long  continuance  in  place 
of  any  justice  of  the  peace,  who  shall  fail  in  discharging  the  important  duties 
of  his  office,  with  ability  and  fidelity,  all  commissions  of  justices  of  the  peace 
shall  become  void  at  the  expiration  of  five  years  from  their  respective  dates ; 
and  upon  the  expiration  of  any  commission,  the  same  may,  if  necessary,  be 
renewed,  or  another  person  appointed,  as  shall  most  conduce  to  the  weU  being 
of  the  State. 

All  causes  of  man-iage,  divorce,  and  alimony,  and  all  appeals  from  the 
respective  judges  of  probate,  shall  be  heard  and  tried  by  the  superior  court, 
until  the  legislature  shall,  by  law,  make  other  provision. 

The  general  court  are  empowered  to  give  to  justices  of  the  peace  jurisdic- 
tion in  civil  causes,  when  the  damages  demanded  shall  not  exceed  four  pounds, 
and  the  title  of  real  estate  is  not  concerned  ;  but  with  right  of  appeal  to  either 
party  to  some  other  court,  so  that  a  trial  by  jury,  in  the  last  resort,  may 
be  had. 

No  person  shall  hold  the  office  of  a  judge  in  any  court,  or  judge  of  probate, 
or  sheriff  of  any  county,  after  he  has  attained  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

No  judge  of  any  court,  or  justice  of  the  peace,  shall  act  as  an  attorney,  or 
be  of  counsel  to  any  party,  or  originate  any  civil  suit,  in  matters  which  shall 
come  to  be  brought  before  him  as  judge,  or  justice  of  the  peace. 

All  matters  relating  to  the  probate  of  wills,  and  granting  letters  of  admin- 
istration, shall  be  exercised  by  judges  of  probate,  in  such  manner  as  the  legis- 
lature have  directed,  or  may  hei-eafter  direct ;  and  the  judges  of  probate  shall 
hold  their  courts  at  such  place  or  places,  on  such  fixed  days  as  the  con- 
veniency  of  the  people  may  require,  and  the  legislature,  from  time  to  time, 
appoint. 

No  judge  or  register  of  probate,  shall  be  of  counsel,  act  as  advocate,  or 
receive  any  fees,  as  advocate  or  counsel,  in  any  probate  business  which  is 
pending,  or  may  be  brought  into  any  court  of  probate,  in  the  county  of  which 
he  is  judge  or  register. 


CONSTITUTION.  215 

Clerhs  of  Court. 

The  judges  of  the  courts  (those  of  the  probate  excepted)  shall  appoint  their 
respective  clerks,  to  hold  their  offices  during  pleasure ;  and  no  such  clerks  shall 
act  as  an  attorney,  or  be  of  counsel,  in  any  cause  in  the  court  of  which  he  is 
clerk,  nor  shall  he  draw  any  writ  originating  a  civil  action. 

Encouragement  of  Literature,  Sfc. 

Knowledge  and  learning,  generally  diffused  through  a  community,  being  es- 
sential to  the  preservation  of  a  free  government ;  and  spreading  the  opportu- 
nities and  advantages  of  education  through  the  various  parts  of  the  country, 
being  highly  conducive  to  promote  this  end :  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  legis- 
lators and  magistrates,  in  all  future  periods  of  this  government,  to  cherish  the 
interests  of  literature  and  the  sciences,  and  all  seminaries  and  public  schools, 
to  encourage  private  and  public  institutions,  rewards,  and  immunities  for  the 
promotion  of  agriculture,  arts,  sciences,  commerce,  trades,  manufactures,  and 
natural  history  of  the  country ;  to  countenance  and  inculcate  the  principles  of 
humanity  and  general  benevolence,  public  and  private  charity,  industry  and 
economy,  honesty  and  punctuality,  sincerity,  sobriety,  and  all  social  affections 
and  generous  sentiments  among  the  people. 

Oath  and  subscriptions;  exclusion  from  offices;  commissions;  ivrits ;  confrmation 
of  laws;  habeas  corpus;  the  enacting  style;  continuance  of  officers;  provision  far 
a  future  revision  of  the  constitution,  ^c. 

Any  person  chosen  governor,  counsellor,  senator,  or  representative,  military 
or  civil  officer,  (town  officers  excepted,)  accepting  the  trust,  shall,  before  he 
proceeds  to  execute  the  duties  of  his  office,  make  and  subscribe  the  following 
declaration,  viz. 

I,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  swear,  that  I  will  bear  faith  and  true  allegiance  to  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  will  support  the  constitution  thereof.  So  help 
me  God. 

I,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  and  sincerely  swear  and  affirm,  that  I  will  faitnfuUy  and 

impartially  discharge  and  perform  all  the  duties  incumbent  on  me  as  

according  to  the  best  of  my  abilities,  agreeably  to  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  this  constitution,  and  the  laAVs  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 
So  help  me  God. 

Any  person  having  taken  and  subscribed  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the 
same  being  filed  in  the  secretary's  office,  he  shall  not  be  obliged  to  take  said 
oath  again. 

Provided  always,  When  any  person  chosen  or  appointed  as  aforesaid,  shall 
be  of  the  denomination  called  Quakers,  or  shall  be  scrupulous  of  swearing,  and 
shall  decline  taking  the  said  oaths,  such  shall  take  and  subscribe  them,  omit- 
ting the  word  swear,  and  likewise  the  words  so  help  me  God,  subjoining  instead 
thereof,  this  I  do  under  the  pains  and  penalties  of  perjury. 


216  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

And  the  oaths  or  affirmations  shall  be  taken  aiid  subscribed  by  tbe  govertioi'j 
before  the  president  of  the  senate,  in  presence  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature, 
and  by  the  senators  and  representatives  first  elected  under  this  constitution,  as 
altered  and  amended,  before  the  president  of  the  State,  and  a  majority  of  the 
council  then  in  office,  and  for  ever  afterAvards  before  the  governor  and  council 
for  the  time  being :  and  by  all  other  officers,  before  such  persons,  and  in  such 
manner  as  the  legislature  shall  from  time  to  time  appoint. 

All  commissions  shall  be  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Xcav  Hampshire,  sign- 
ed by  the  governor,  and  attested  by  the  secretary  or  his  deputy,  and  shall  have 
the  great  seal  of  the  State  affixed  thereto. 

All  Avrits  issuing  out  of  the  clerk's  office  in  any  of  the  courts  of  law,  shall  be 
in  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire ;  shall  be  under  the  seal  of  the 
court  whence  they  issue,  and  bear  test  of  the  chief,  first,  or  senior  justice  of  the 
court ;  but  when  such  justice  shall  be  interested,  then  the  writ  shall  bear  test 
of  some  other  justice  of  the  court,  to  which  the  same  shall  be  returnable ;  and 
be  signed  by  the  clerk  of  such  court. 

All  indictments,  presentments,  and  informations  shall  conclude,  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  State. 

The  estate  of  such  persons  as  may  destroy  their  own  lives  shall  not  for  that 
offence  be  forfeited,  but  descend  or  ascend  in  the  same  manner  as  if  such  per- 
sons had  died  in  a  natural  way.  Nor  shall  any  article  which  shall  accidentally 
occasion  the  death  of  any  person,  be  henceforth  deemed  a  deodand,  or  in  any 
wise  forfeited  on  account  of  such  misfortune. 

All  the  laws  which  have  hitherto  been  adopted,  used,  and  approved  in  the 
province,  colony,  or  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  usually  practised  on  in 
courts  of  law,  shall  remain  and  be  in  full  force  until  altered  and  repealed  by 
the  legislature :  such  parts  thereof  only  excepted  as  are  repugnant  to  the  rights 
and  liberties  contained  in  this  constitution :  Provided,  that  nothing  herein  con- 
tained when  compared  with  the  twenty-third  article  in  the  bill  of  rights,  shall 
be  construed  to  affect  the  laws  already  made  respecting  the  persons  or  estates 
of  absentees. 

The  privilege  and  benefit  of  the  habeas  corpus  shall  be  enjoyed  in  this  State 
in  the  most  free,  easy,  cheap,  expeditious,  and  ample  manner,  and  shall  not  be 
suspended  by  the  legislature,  except  upon  the  most  urgent  and  pressing  occa- 
sions, and  for  a  time  not  exceeding  three  months. 

The  enacting  style  in  making  and  passing  acts,  statutes,  and  laws,  shall  be — 
Be  it  enacted  hi/  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  in  general  court  convened. 

No  governor,  or  judge  of  the  supreme  judicial  court,  shall  hold  any  office  or 
place  under  the  authority  of  this  State,  except  such  as  by  this  constitution  they 
are  admitted  to  hold,  saving  that  the  judges  of  the  said  court  may  hold  the  of- 
fices of  justice  of  the  peace  throughout  the  State  :  nor  shall  they  hold  any 
place  or  office,  or  receive  any  pension  or  salary,  from  any  other  State,  govern- 
ment, or  power  whatever. 

No  person  shall  be  capable  of  exercising,  at  the  same  time,  more  than  one 
of  the  following  offices  within  this  State,  viz.  judge  of  probate,  sheriff,  register 
of  deeds :  and  never  more  than  two  offices  of  profit,  which  may  be  held  by  ap- 


CONSTITUTION.  217 

pointment  of  the  governor,  or  governor  and  council,  or  senute  and  house  of 
representatives,  or  superior  or  inferior  courts,  military  offices,  and  offices  of 
justices  of  the  peace,  excepted. 

No  person  holding  the  office  of  judge  of  any  court,  (except  special  judges,) 
secretary,  treasurer  of  the  State,  attorney-general,  commissary-general,  mili- 
tary officers  receiving  pay  from  the  continent  or  this  State,  (excepting  officers 
of  the  militia  occasionally  called  forth  on  an  emergency,)  register  of  deeds, 
sheriff,  or  officers  of  the  customs,  including  naval  officers,  collectors  of  excise, 
and  State  and  continental  taxes,  hereafter  appointed,  and  not  having  settled 
their  accounts  with  the  respective  officers  with  whom  it  is  their  duty  to  settle 
such  accounts,  members  of  congress,  or  any  person  holding  any  office  under 
the  United  States,  shall,  at  the  same  time,  hold  the  office  of  governor,  or  have 
a  seat  in  the  senate,  or  house  of  representatives,  or  council ;  but  his  being  cho- 
sen, or  appointed  to,  and  accepting  the  same,  shall  operate  as  a  resignation  of 
his  seat  in  the  chair,  senate,  or  house  of  representatives,  or  council :  and  the 
places  so  vacated  shall  be  filled  up.  No  member  of  the  council  shall  have  a 
seat  in  the  senate  or  house  of  representatives. 

No  person  shall  ever  be  admitted  to  hold  a  seat  in  the  legislature,  or  any  of- 
fice or  trust  or  importance  under  this  government,  who,  in  the  due  course  of 
law,  has  been  convicted  of  bribery  or  corruption  in  obtaining  an  election  or  ap- 
pointment. 

In  all  cases  where  sums  of  money  are  mentioned  in  this  constitution,  the 
value  thereof  shall  be  computed  in  silver,  at  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  per 
ounce. 

To  the  end  that  there  may  be  no  failure  of  justice,  or  danger  to  the  State, 
by  the  alterations  and  amendments  made  in  the  constitution,  the  general  court 
is  hereby  fully  authorized  and  directed  to  fix  the  time  when  the  alterations  and 
amendments  shall  take  effect,  and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  accord* 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  and  assessors  of  the  several  towns  and 
places  in  this  State,  in  warning  the  first  annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of  sena- 
tors, after  the  expiration  of  seven  years  from  the  adoption  of  this  constitution, 
as  amended,  to  assert  expressly  in  the  warrant,  this  purpose,  among  the  others 
for  the  meeting,  to  wit :  to  take  the  sense  of  the  qualified  voters  on  the  subject 
of  a  revision  of  the  constitution  ;  and  the  meeting  being  warned  accordingly, 
and  not  otherwise,  the  moderator  shall  take  the  sense  of  the  qualified  voters 
present,  as  to  the  necessity  of  a  revision  ;  and  a  return  of  the  number  of  votes 
for  and  against  such  necessity,  shall  be  made  by  the  clerk,  sealed  up,  and  di- 
rected to  the  general  court,  at  their  next  session ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  the 
general  court,  by  such  return,  that  the  sense  of  the  people  of  the  State  has 
been  taken,  and  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  in 
the  State,  present  and  voting  at  said  meetings,  there  is  a  necessity  for  a  re- 
vision of  the  constitution,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  court,  to  call  a  con- 
vention for  that  purpose ;  otherwise  the  general  court  shall  direct  the  sense  of 
the  people  to  be  taken,  and  then  proceed  in  the  manner  before  mentioned.  The 
delegates  to  be  chosen  in  the  same  manner,  and  proportioned  as  the  represen- 

19 


218  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAJIPSHIRE. 

tatives  to  the  general  court :  provided,  that  no  alteration  shall  be  made  in  this 
constitution,  before  the  same  shall  be  laid  before  the  towns  and  unincorporated 
places,  and  approved  by  two-thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  present  and  voting 
on  the  subject. 

And  the  same  method  of  taking  the  sense  of  the  people  as  to  a  revision  of 
the  constitution,  and  calling  a  convention  for  that  purpose,  shall  be  observed 
afterwards,  at  the  expiration  of  every  seven  years. 

This  form  of  government  shall  be  enrolled  on  parchment,  and  deposited  in 
the  secretary's  office,  and  be  a  part  of  the  laAvs  of  the  land ;  and  printed  copies 
thereof  shall  be  prefixed  to  the  books  containing  the  la-'-i's  of  this  State,  in  all 
future  editions  thereof 

JOHN  PICKERING,  President,  P.  T. 

Attest^  John  Calfe,  Secretary. 


COUNCIL  DISTRICTS. 

Established  January  3, 1829. 

District  No.  1 — The  county  of  Rockingham ;  Allenstown,  Bow,  Canter- 
bury, Chichester,  Concord,  Epsom,  Loudon,  Northfield,  Pembroke,  and  Pitts- 
field,  in  the  county  of  Merrimac. 

No.  2 — The  counties  of  Strafford,  Belknap,  and  Carroll. 

No.  3 — The  county  of  Hillsborough  ;  Andover,  Boscawen,  Bradford,  Dun- 
barton,  Franklin,  Henniker,  Hooksett,  Ilopkinton,  Newbury,  New  London. 
Salisbury,  Sutton,  Warner,  and  Wilmot,  in  the  county  of  Merrimac. 

No.  4 — The  counties  of  Cheshire  and  Sullivan. 

No.  5 — The  counties  of  Grafton  and  Coos. 


SENATORIAL  DISTRICTS. 

District  No.  1 — contains  Durham,  Gpsport,  Greenland,  Hampton  Hamp- 
ton Falls,  Lee,  Madbury,  NcAvcastle,  Newington,  North  Hampton,  Portsmouth, 
Rye,  Seabrook,  and  Stratham. 

No.  2 — Atkinson,  AUenstovni,  Auburn,  Brentwood,  Candia,  Chester,  Deer- 
field,  Danville,  Epping,  East  Kingston,  Exeter,  Hampstcad,  Kingston,  Ken- 
sington, New  Market,  Newton,  Nottingham,  Plaistow,  Poplin,  Raymond,  San- 
down,  and  South  Hampton. 

No.  3 — Bedford,  Bow,  Dunbarton,  Derry,  GoiFstown,  Hooksett,  Hudson. 
Litchfield,  Londonderry,  Manchester,  Merrimac,  Pelham,  Pembroke,  Salem, 
Weare,  and  Windham. 


SENATORIAL    DISTRICTS.  219 

No.  4 — Boscawen,  Canterbury,  Concord,  Franklin,  Gilmanton,  Hopkinton, 
Loudon,  Northfield,  Salisbury,  and  Sanbornton. 

No.  5 — Barnstead,  Ban-ington,  Chichester,  Dover,  Epsom,  Northwood,  Pitts- 
field,  Rochester,  Somersworth,  and  Strafford. 

No.  6 — Alton,  Brookfield,  Centre  Harbor,  Conway,  Eaton,  Effingham,  Farm- 
ington,  Freedom,  Gilford,  Meredith,  Middleton,  Milton,  Moultonborough,  New 
Durham,  New  Hampton,  Ossipee,  Sandwich,  Tamworth,  Tuftonborough, 
Wakefield,  and  Wolfeboi'ough. 

No.  7 — Amherst,  Bennington,  Brookline,  Deering,  Francestown,  Greenfield, 
Hollis,  Lyndeborough,  Mason,  Milford,  Mount  Vernon,  Nashville,  Nashua, 
New  Boston,  and  Wilton. 

No.  8 — Antrim,  Alstead,  Bradford,  Dublin,  Gilsum,  Henniker,  Hillsborough, 
Hancock,  ]Marlow,  Nelson,  Surrey,  Sullivan,  Stoddard,  Washington,  Windsor, 
Warner,  Westmoreland,  and  "Walpole. 

No.  9 — Chesterfield,  Fitzwilliam,  Hinsdale,  Jaffrey,  Keene,  Marlborough, 
NeAV  Ipswich,  Peterborough,  Richmond,  Rindge,  Roxbury,  Sharon,  Swanzey, 
Temple,  Troy,  and  Winchester. 

No.  10 — Acworth,  Cornish,  Croydon,  Claremont,  Charlesto^vn,  Grantham, 
(Joshen,  Lempster,  Langdon,  New  London,  Newbury,  Newport,  Springfield, 
Sutton,  Unity,  Wilmot,  and  Wendell. 

No.  11 — Alexandria,  Andover,  Bristol,  Bridgewater,  Canaan,  Danbury, 
Dorchester,  Enfield,  Grafton,  Groton,  Hanover,  Hebron,  Holderness,  Hill,  Le- 
banon, Lyme,  Orange,  Orford,  Plainfield,  Plj-mouth,  Rumney,  and  Wentworth. 

No,  12— The  county  of  Coos,  and  all  the  towns  in  the  counties  of  Graf- 
ton, and  Canoll,  not  included  in  some  of  the  before  mentioned  districts. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICTS. 

Established  July  2, 1846. 

District  No.  1 — contains  the  counties  of  Rockingham  and  Strafford. 
No.  2 — contains  the  counties  of  Merrimac,  Belknap,  and  Carroll. 
No.  3 — contains  the  counties  of  Hillsborough  and  Cheshire. 
No.  4— contains  the  counties  of  Sullivan,  Grafton,  and  Coos. 


220 


GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


VOTES  FOR  GOVERNOR,  1848. 


Towns 


Acworth, 

Albany, 

Alexandria, 

Allenstown, 

Alstead,    . 

Alton, 

Amherst, 

Andover, 

Antrim,    . 

Atkinson, 

Auburn,    . 

Barnstead, 

Barrington, 

Bartlett, 

Bath, 

Bedford, 

Bennington, 

Benton, 

Berlin,      . 

Bethlehem, 

Boscawen, 

Bow,     . 

Bradford, 

Brentwood, 

Bridgewater, 

Bristol, 

Brookfield, 

Brookline, 

Campton,    , 

Canaan,    . 

Candia, 

Canterbury, 

Carroll, 

Centre  Harbor 

Chatliam, 

Charlestown 

Chester, 

Chestei-field, 

Chichester, 

Clareniont, 

ClarksviUc, 

Colebrook, 

Columbia, 

Concord,  . 

Conway, 

Cornish,    , 

Croydon, 


141 

44 

138 

72 

155 

207 

156 

188 

181 

79 

78 

356 

206 

134 

132 

161 

99 

83 

30 

120 

173 

162 

169 

70 

85 

71 

70 

93 

163 

168 

151 

162 

54 

85 

93 


M 

124 

41 

133 

30 

159 

181 

185 

83 

87 

59 

106 

64 

84 

15 

158 

202 

23 

9 

38 

51 

41 

82 

118 

66 

166 

48 

74 

151 

205 

207 

138 

2 

36 

14 


138    166 
133    162 

183    134 


52 
427 


140 

162 

21 

99,  .^ 

79j  72 

715'  829 

187'  145 

151j  201 

77i  134 


Towns. 


Dalton,    . 

Dan  bury,     . 

Danville, 

Deerfield,     . 

Deering, 

Derry, 

Dorchester, 

Dover, 

Dublin,   . 
I  Dummer,     . 
i  Dunbarton. 
I  Durham, 
I  East  Kingston 
I  Eaton, 
I  Efrin<;ham, 

Ellsworth,    . 
'  Enfield,  . 

Epping, 

Epsom,    . 

Erroll, 

Exeter,    . 

Farmington, 

Eitzwilliam, 

FrancestOAvn, 

Franconia, 

Franklin, 

Freedom, 

Gilford, 

Oilman  ton, 

Gilsum, 

Goflfestown 

Gorham, 

Goshen,  . 

Gosport, 

Grafton,  . 

Grantham, 

Greenfield, 

Greenland, 

Groton,    . 

Hampstead, 

Hampton, 

Hampton  Fall 

Hancock, 

Hanover, 

Haverhill, 

Hebron, 

Henniker, 


45 


254,   134 


VOTES    FOR    GOVERNOR. 


221 


Towns. 

1 

n 

Towns. 

90 

1 

Hill,         .... 

149 

61 

New  Ipswich,  . 

159 

Hillsborough, 

271 

94 

New  London, 

99 

125 

Hinsdale,      . 

99 

149 

New  Market,  . 

220 

259 

Holderness,     . 

168 

191 

Newport, 

240 

241 

Hollis,      . 

168 

150 

Newton,  . 

64 

77 

Hooksett,      . 

166 

100 

Northfield,  . 

202 

81 

Hopkinton, 

284 

156 

North  Hampton, 

103 

70 

Hudson, 

1.53 

93 

Northumberland, 

47 

33 

Jaffrey,     • 

126 

184 

Northwood,     . 

157 

139 

Jackson, 

92 

8 

Nottingham, 

162 

75 

Jefferson, 

114 

12 

Orange,  . 

44 

51 

Keene, 

204 

398 

Orford, 

140 

165 

Kensington, 

77 

79 

Ossipee,  . 

224 

193 

Kingston,      . 

122 

118 

Felham, 

128 

111 

Lancaster, 

192 

96 

Pembroke, 

131 

159 

Landaff, 

158 

46 

Peterborough, 

214 

191 

Langdon, 

46 

72 

Piermont, 

101 

93 

Lebanon, 

153 

202 

Pittsfield,     . 

214 

159 

Lee, 

147 

58 

Pittsburgh, 

54 

19 

Lempster,     . 

99 

87 

Plainfield,    . 

169 

162 

Lincoln, 

11 

2 

Plaistow, 

77 

99 

Lisbon, 

179 

97 

Plymouth,   . 

104 

123 

Litchfield, 

71 

40 

Po'plin,    . 

55 

58 

Littleton, 

193 

217 

Portsmouth, 

758 

717 

Londonderry,   . 

152 

191 

Randolph, 

23 

2 

Loudon, 

162 

156 

Raymond,   . 

133 

80 

Lyman,     . 

167 

165 

Richmond, 

173 

94 

Lyme,  . 

94 

246 

Rindge, 

41 

196 

Lyndeborough, 

144 

83 

Rochester, 

277 

242 

Madbury, 

38 

53 

Roxbury,     . 

20 

38 

Manchester, 

783 

1109 

Rumney, 

133 

105 

Marlborough, 

47 

108 

Rye,    . 

163 

66 

Marlow,    . 

146 

40 

Salem,    . 

158 

140 

Mason, 

139 

137 

Salisbury,    . 

180 

77 

Meredith, 

360 

287 

Sanbornton,    . 

347 

326 

Merrimac,     . 

125 

141 

Sandown,    . 

90 

49 

Middleton, 

72 

33 

Sandwich, 

236 

260 

Milan,  . 

66 

18 

Seabrook,    . 

81 

177 

Milford,    . 

89 

244 

Sharon,  . 

40 

9 

Milton, 

86 

188 

Shelburne,  . 

34 

30 

Mount  Vernon, 

90 

80 

Somersworth, . 

213 

267 

Moultonborough, 

208 

110 

South  Hampton, , 

66 

33 

Nashua,    . 

369 

568 

Springfield, 

166 

75 

Nashville,      . 

204 

282 

Stark,   . 

57 

9 

Nelson,     . 

27 

134 

Stewartstown,  . 

123 

25 

New  Boston, 

297 

63 

Stoddard,    . 

147 

74 

Newburv, 

137 

42 

Strafford, 

235 

190 

New  Castle, 

75 

76 

Stratford,     . 

81 

21 

New  Durham,  . 

114 

92 

Stratham, 

71 

98 

New  Hampton,      . 

117 

178 

Sullivan, 

. 

26 

78 

Newington, 

80 

22 

Surry,     . 

57 

56 

19* 


222 


GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


S 

. 

Towns. 

1 

^ 

Towns. 

= 

& 

199 

95 

^ 

& 

Sutton,     .... 

Waterville, 

6 

8 

Swanzey, 

236 

116 

Weare,    .... 

295 

232 

Tamworth, 

138 

198 

Wendell,      . 

178 

20 

Temple, 

46 

46 

Wentworth,     . 

186 

59 

Thornton, 

122 

77 

Westmoreland,    . 

183 

129 

Tuftonborough,    . 

182 

67 

Whitefield,      . 

142 

36 

Troy,        .... 

55 

107 

Wilmot,       . 

200 

65 

Unity,  .... 

170 

37 

Wilton,   .... 

125 

123 

Wakefield,        . 

154 

146 

Winchester, 

203  i  260 

Walpole,       . 

173 

204 

Windham, 

53 

121 

Warner,   .... 

348 

91 

Windsor,     . 

36 

5 

Warren, 

160 

23 

Wolfeborough, 

283|   121 

Washington,    . 

119 

103 

Woodstock,   . 

73 

25 

NOTES 


TO 

HAYWARD'S  GAZETTEER  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


Note  1.  Amherst. — "  The  first  settlers  of  Amherst,  coming  from  the  old 
towns  in  Massachusetts,  brought  with  them  the  customs  which  prevailed  at  the 
time  of  their  emigration.  They  were  plain  and  simple  in  their  dress.  In 
living,  they  had  few  or  none  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  Their  fare  was  plain  and 
substantial.  They  used  considerable  liquid  food,  such  as  milk,  broths,  pea  and 
bean  porridge.  Chocolate  was  sometimes  used,  and  was  probably  esteemed  as 
one  of  their  greatest  luxuries.  Cofi'ee  was  unknown  to  them  ;  and  though  tea 
had  been  introduced  into  the  country  about  sixteen  years  when  the  town  was 
settled,  the  first  inhabitants  had  not  tasted  of  it.  The  first  used  in  the  place 
was  sent  by  some  Boston  friends  to  the  family  of  the  minister,  who  were  unac- 
quainted with  the  method  of  preparing  it,  but  concluded  it  must  be  boiled  in 
a  kettle,  or  pot,  in  a  manner  similar  to  their  boiling  their  liquid  food.  They 
therefore  put  in  a  quantity  of  the  exotic  herb,  and  having  boiled  it  till  they 
supposed  '  it  was  done,'  they  dipped  it  out  and  sipped  of  it,  but  doubtless 
found  it  less  palatable  than  their  favorite  beverage.  Wine  was  a  great  rarity, 
and  ardent  spirits  were  rather  regarded  for  medicinal  purposes  than  as  fit  for 
an  article  of  drink.  Sugar,  which  was  known  in  this  country  as  early  as  1631, 
was  used  by  them,  as  was  also  molasses,  but  only  in  small  quantities. 

"  The  most  common  conveyance  was  by  horses  fitted  out  with  saddles  and 
pillions.  Two  could  ride  in  this  way  the  same  animal,  and  oftentimes  an  in- 
fant was  superadded.  A  few  years  before  the  revolutionary  war,  it  began  to 
be  the  practice  to  trot  horses.  Previously,  these  animals  had  paced.  The  first 
or  second  chaise  brought  into  town,  was  owned  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Kendrick, 
and  he  rode  in  it  until  he  was  eighty-six  years  old.  As  late  as  1810,  he  jour- 
neyed with  it  to  Boston  and  its  neighborhood.  It  presented  such  an  antique 
appearance,  that  it  was  often  called  the  '  old  ark.' " 

Note  2.  Alstead. — "  Andrew  Beckwith,"  says  Rev.  Mr.  Arnold,  "  came 
from  Lyme,  Conn.,  to  this  town  (Alstead)  in  1767.  A  remarkable  providence 
interposed  for  the  preservation  of  his  son  Richard.  When  an  infant,  his  moth- 
er went  to  the  woods  to  gather  a  few  berries.     She  placed  her  little  child  on  the 


224  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

ground ;  and  while  she  wandered  some  distance,  and  was  about  returning,  she 
saw  a  huge  bear  come  up  to  the  tender  babe.  And,  O  !  it  is  hardly  possible  to 
conceive  the  throbbing  of  a  fond  motlier's  heart,  while  she  beheld  the  vora- 
cious animal  smelling  and  passing  around  her  darling  child.  What  could  be 
done  ?  But  while  she  stood  in  awful  suspense,  petrified  with  fear  and  doubt,  to 
her  exceeding  joy  the  bear  retired,  and  left  the  boy  unhurt  and  unconscious  of 
his  danger. 

"  One  of  the  great  evils  was  the  multitude  of  wild  beasts,  especially  bears 
and  wolves,  which  were  so  numerous  as  to  devour  their  swine  and  sheep,  and 
sometimes  to  assail  their  larger  cattle.  At  one  time,  when  jMr.  John  Burroughs 
was  called  to  Walpole,  for  medical  assistance  for  his  family,  he  saw,  but  a  few 
rods  distant,  a  large  panther,  which  he  drove  from  him  by  a  stem  look  and  a 
sudden  yell.  At  another  time  he  returned  from  Walpole  in  a  terrible  thunder 
Btorm  and  a  powerful  rain,  which  his  physician  would  not  encounter  in  the 
night.  In  an  unexpected  manner  he  found  himself  enclosed  in  the  bushy  top 
of  a  large  tree,  that  had  fallen  in  his  way.  By  reason  of  the  extreme  dark- 
ness, neither  he  nor  his  horse  could  keep  the  path,  which  was,  however,  none 
of  the  best.  After  many  attempts  to  extricate  himself  and  his  horse,  and 
groping  along  in  the  dark,  he  was  compelled  to  lodge  there  for  the  night. 
'  And,'  said  he,  with  the  smile  of  second  childhood,  '  I  laid  my  hand  over  my 
ear  to  keep  out  the  rain,  and  slept  sweetly  till  morning.'  " 

Notes.  Coxcord. — "On  June  25,  1729,  the  planters  appointed  a  com- 
mittee, to  '  call  and  agree  with  some  suitable  person  to  be  the  minister  of 
Penacook.'  They  also  voted,  '  that  the  minister  of  said  town  shall  be  paid  by 
the  community  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum  ; '  and  further,  '  that  one 
hundred  pounds  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  company's  treasury  to  the  first 
minister,  as  an  encouragement  for  settling  and  taking  the  pastoral  charge 
among  them.'  On  the  14th  October  following,  they  voted,  '  that  every  pro- 
prietor, or  intended  settler,  shall  forthwith  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the 
company's  treasurer,  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings,  towards  the  support  of  an 
ORTHODOX  MINISTER,  to  preach  at  Penacook.'  Probably,  in  accordance  with 
this  vote,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walker  was  employed  ;  for  31st  March,  1730,  the  com- 
mittee above  named  were  directed  to  '  agree  vrith.  the  Rev.  Timothy  Walker, 
in  order  to  his  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  Penacook  the  ensuing 
year,  and  to  treat  with  him  in  order  to  his  settlement.' 

"  In  September,  the  committee  of  the  great  and  general  court,  who  stiU 
extended  their  supervision  over  the  new  plantation,  ordered  the  proprietors  to 
choose  a  minister  for  the  to^vn,  and,  in  case  of  his  acceptance,  to  agree  upon  a 
time  for  his  ordination.  They  promptly  met  the  order.  In  the  same  decisive 
and  unanimous  spirit  that  had  characterized  all  their  measures,  on  the  14th 
October,  1730,  they  voted,  '  That  we  will  have  a  minister,'  and  '  that  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Walker  shall  be  our  minister.'  His  salary  was  fixed  at  one  hundred 
pounds  a  year,  to  be  increased  forty  shillings  annually,  till  it  amounted  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds.  The  use  of  the  parsonage  was  also  granted,  and 
one  hundred  pounds  given  to  enable  him  to  build  a  house,  besides  the  lot 


NOTES. — CONCORD.  225 

which  fell  to  tlie  right  of  the  first  minister.  It  was  provided,  th.it  '  if  Mr. 
Walker,  by  reason  of  extreme  old  age,  shall  be  disabled  from  carrying  on 
the  whole  work  of  the  ministry,  he  shall  abate  so  much  of  his  salary  as  shall 
be  rational.' 

"  To  the  unanimous  call  of  the  people  Mr.  Walker  returned  an  aflSrmative 
answer.  On  the  18th  November,  1730,  the  ordination  took  place.  In  the 
'  convenient  house,'  which  they  had  erected  for  the  public  worship  of  God, 
were  assembled  about  thirty  settlers,  with  their  families  ;  before  them  was  the 
venerable  council,  and  the  man  of  their  choice,  ready  to  be  invested  with  the 
sacred  office.  The  remoteness  of  the  scene  from  the  old  settlements  ;  the 
sacrifices  which  the  new  settlers  had  made :  the  perils  to  which  they  would 
be  exposed ;  the  terrible  apprehensions  they  felt  of  attacks  from  the  Indians, 
together  with  the  hope  that  the  church,  about  to  be  planted  in  the  wildeme&s, 
would  one  day  spread  wide  its  branches,  and  be  a  fruitful  vine  in  the  garden 
of  the  Lord,  gave  an  unusual  tenderness  and  solemnity  to  the  occasion.  The 
Kev.  John  Barnard,  of  Andover,  North  Parish,  preached  from  Proverbs  ix.  1, 
2,  3  :  '  AVisdom  hath  builded  her  house  ;  she  hath  he^Ti  out  her  seven  pillars ; 
she  hath  killed  her  beasts,  she  hath  mingled  her  wine,  she  hath  also  furnished 
her  table ;  she  hath  sent  forth  her  maidens.'  From  this  text  he  raised  the 
doctrine,  '  That  the  churches  of  Christ  are  of  his  forming,  their  provision  of  his 
making,  and  their  ministers  of  his  appointing  and  sending  to  them.'  The  sermon, 
throughout,  breathes  a  spirit  of  wann  devotion :  is  full  of  evangelical  doc- 
tnne,  and  of  appropriate  practical  remarks.  To  the  pastor  elect  he  says, 
'  We  have  great  cause  to  bless  the  glorious  Head  of  all  spiritual  and  dinne 
influences,  that  he  has  given  you  a  spirit  of  self-denial,  and  inclined  you  to 
consecrate  and  devote  yourself  to  his  service  in  this  remote  part  of  the  wilderness, 
and  Avith  joy  and  pleasure  we  behold  your  settlement  just  arrived  at  its  con- 
summation. The  great  Jesus  is  now  about  to  introduce  you  into  an  o^ue, 
which,  as  the  honor  of  it  will  call  for  your  humble  and  thankful  adorations,  so 
the  difficidties  thereof  will  require  your  constant  and  entire  dependence  upon 
Him  from  whom  you  have  your  mission.' 

'■•  To  those  who  were  '  a  coming  into  a  church  state,'  he  says,  in  language 
of  simple  and  touching  eloquence,  '  You  have  proposed  worldly  conveniences 
and  accommodations  in  your  engaging  in  the  settlement  of  this  remote  planta- 
tion. This  end  is  good  and  warrantable  in  its  place ;  but  religion,  and  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom,  are  of  infinitely  greater  weight,  and  what 
we  hope  you  will  have  a  principal  regard  unto.  What  you  ought  in  a  special 
manner  to  aim  at,  is  the  enlargement  of  Christ's  kingdom  ;  this  will  be  your 
glory  and  your  defence,  and  if  this  be  your  main  design,  will  not  the  glorious 
Jesus  say  \\dth  respect  to  you,  as  he  said  unto  his  ancient  f)eople,  who  followed 
him  into  the  wilderness,  "  I  remember  thee,  the  kindness  of  thy  youth,  the  love 
of  thine  espousals,  when  thou  wentest  after  me  in  the  wilderness,  in  a  land  that 
was  not  sown.     Israel  was  holiness  to  the  Lord."  '  Jer.  ii.  2. 

"  '  There  is  this  peculiar  circumstance  in  your  settlement,  that  it  is  in  a  place 
where  Satan,  some  years  ago,  had  his  seat,  and  the  devil  was  wont  to  be  invo- 
cated  by  forsaken  salvages, — a  place  which  was  the  rendezvous  and  head- 


226  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

quarters  of  our  Indian  enemies.  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  driven  out  the 
heathen,  and  made  room  for  you,  that  he  might  have  a  seed  to  serve  Him  in 
this  place,  where  he  has  been  much  dishonored  in  time  past.  Be  then  con- 
cerned to  answer  this  just  expectation  ;  be  solicitous  that  you,  who  are  becom 
ing  his  flock,  may  be  his  glory,  that  you  may  be  for  a  name  and  praise  unto 
Him.' 

"  Immediately  after  sermon,  before  the  ordination  wa,s  performed,  the  church 
was  organized.  Eight  male  members,  including  Mr.  Walker,  came  for- 
ward, adopted  and  subscribed  the  Covenant,  in  which  they  did  '  solemnly 
devote  and  dedicate  themselves  to  the  Lord  Jehovah,  who  is  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,'  and  did  '  promise,  by  divine  grace,  to  endeavor  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  God  in  his  word  has  commanded.' 

"  After  the  church  was  formed,  the  charge  of  ordination  was  given  to  Mr. 
Walker,  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips,  of  Andover,  South  Parish,  commencing 
in  this  solemn  manner : 

"  '  In  the  Name  and  Fear  of  God,  Amen. 

"  '  Dear  Sir — We  have  seen,  and  do  approve  of  your  call  to  the  evangelical 
ministry,  and  to  the  pastoral  office  in  tliis  church  of  Christ,  as  also  your  accept- 
ance of  the  same. 

"  '  And  therefore  now,  as  ministers  and  ambassadors  of  Christ,  and  in  the 
name  of  Him  our  great  Lord  and  Master,  we  do  constitute  and  ordain  you  to 
be  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  the  pastor  of  the  church  or  flock  in 
this  place,  in  particular.' 

"  After  the  charge,  the  Rev.  John  BroA\Ti,  of  Haverhill,  gave  to  the  pastor 
and  the  church  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  according  to  the  established  mode 
in  Congregational  churches.* 

"  The  settlement  of  a  minister  was  Avith  them  a  matter  of  very  serious  mo- 
ment. They  were  not,  therefore,  hasty  in  this  affair,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
proceeded  ^s-ith  great  deliberation.  After  they  had  employed  a  man  to  preach 
among  them,  they  waited  until  a  sufficient  opportunity  had  been  afforded  him 
to  '  give  them  a*  taste  of  his  gifts,'  before  they  presented  him  a  call.  Nor  did 
they  take  this  important  step  until  they  had  sought  divine  direction  by  observ- 
ing a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  had  obtained  the  advice  of  neighboring 
ministers,  and  others.  When  the  candidate  was  ordained  over  them,  it  was 
their  expectation  that  he  would  remain  their  pastor,  during  life ;  and  in  this 
they  were  seldom  disappointed." 

""in  1726,  a  block-house,  for  the  defence  of  the  plantation,  was  commenced 
in  Penacook,  now  Concord.  'During  the  Avinter  of  this  year  only  two  or 
three  persons  resided  in  the  house.  The  snow  was  very  deep,  the  cold  unu- 
sually severe,  and  their  provisions  were  insufficient  to  support  them  through 
»he  season.  The  Indians  saw  their  situation,  and,  as  soon  as  possible,  jour- 
neyed to  HaverhiU.  They  there  called  on  the  proprietors,  and  represented  to 
them  the  situation  of  the 'family,  very  seriously  observing  that  they  icould  soon 

*  Rev,  Mr.  Bouton's  Centennial  Discourses. 


NOTES. — DOVER.  227 

come  upon  the  town,  unless  they  were  assisted !     A  sleigh  with  stores  soon  after 
arrived  at  Penacook,  and  rescued  them  from  starvation.'  " 


Note  4.  Dovee. — "  "Within  the  town  of  Dover  were  many  families  of 
Quakers,  who,  scrupling  the  lawfulness  of  war,  could  not  be  persuaded  to  use 
any  means  for  their  defence,  though  equally  exposed  with  their  neighbors,  to 
an  enemy  who  made  no  distinction  between  them.  One  of  these  people. 
Ebenezer  Downs,  was  taken  by  the  Indians,  and  was  grossly  insulted  and 
abused  by  them,  because  he  would  not  dance,  as  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  did, 
for  the  diversion  of  their  savage  captors.  Another  of  them,  John  Hanson, 
who  lived  on  the  outside  of  the  town,  could  not  be  persuaded  to  remove  to  a 
garrison,  though  he  had  a  large  family  of  children.  In  June,  1724,  a  party 
of  thirteen  Indians,  called  French  Mohawks,  had  marked  his  house  for  their 
prey,  and  lay  several  days  in  ambush,  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  assault  it. 
While  Hanson,  with  his  eldest  daughter,  was  gone  to  attend  the  weekly  meet- 
ing of  Friends,  and  his  two  eldest  sons  were  at  work  in  a  meadow  at  some 
distance,  the  Indians  entered  the  house,  killed  and  scalped  two  small  children, 
and  took  his  wife,  with  her  infant  of  fourteen  days  old,  her  nurse,  two  daugh- 
ters, and  a  son  and,  after  rifling  the  house,  carried  them  off.  This  was  done 
so  suddenly  and  secretly,  that  the  first  person  who  discovered  it  was  the  eldest 
daughter,  at  her  return  from  the  meeting,  before  her  father.  Seeing  the  two 
children  dead  at  the  door,  she  gave  a  shriek  of  distress,  which  was  distinctly 
heard  by  her  mother,  then  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  among  the  bushes,  and 
by  her  brothers  in  the  meadow.  The  people  being  alarmed,  went  in  pursuit, 
but  the  Indians,  carefully  avoiding  all  paths,  went  off  with  their  captives,  un- 
discovered." 

"  Sarah  Gerrish,  an  interesting  and  beautiful  child,  seven  years  of  age,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  at  Dover.  She  was  the  grand-daughter  of 
Major  Waldron.  On  that  fatal  night  on  which  he  Avas  massacred,  Sarah 
lodged  at  his  house.  Knowing  that  the  Indians  had  entered  the  house,  she 
crept  into  another  bed,  to  elude  their  search.  Having  found  her,  they  ordered 
her  to  dress  herself,  and  prepare  to  go  with  them.  One  of  the  Indians  now 
became  her  master.  He  soon  sold  her  to  another,  who  took  her  with  him  to 
Canada.  In  her  joumepngs,  she  met  with  numerous  perils  and  calamities 
Once  her  master  told  her  to  stand  against  a  tree,  and  then  charged  his  gun,  as 
if  he  intended  to  shoot  her.  She  was  greatly  ten-ified,  fearing  instant  death. 
At  another  time,  a  squaw  pushed  her  into  the  river,  but  she  saved  herself  by 
laying  hold  of  some  bushes  which  grew  upon  the  shore.  When  she  returned 
home,  they  inquired  how  she  became  so  wet.  But  she  was  afraid  to  tell  them. 
One  morning  they  went  on  their  way,  leaving  her  fast  asleep.  When  she 
awoke,  she  found  herself  covered  with  snow,  in  a  hideous  wilderness,  ex- 
posed to  become  a  prey  to  wild  beasts,  far  away  from  any  English  inhabitants, 
and  entirely  alone.  She  arose,  and  ran  crj-ing  after  the  Indians,  and,  by  fol- 
lowing their  track  upon  the  snow,  at  length  overtook  them.  The  young 
Indians  would  now  terrifv  her,  by  telling  her  that  she  was  soon  to  be  burnt  to 


228  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

death.  One  evening,  after  a  large  fire  had  been  kindled,  her  master  called  her 
to  him,  and  told  her  that  she  must  be  roasted  alive.  Upon  which  she  hurst 
into  tears,  and,  throwing  her  arms  about  his  neck,  earnestly  entreated  him  to 
spare  her  life.  He  was  so  much  affected  by  her  melting  importunity,  that  he 
desisted  from  his  purpose  ;  and  told  her,  '  that  if  she  would  be  a  good  girl  she 
should  not  be  burnt.' 

"  Having  arrived  in  Canada,  she  was  sold  to  a  French  lady,  and,  after  an 
absence  of  sixteen  months,  was  again  restored  to  her  parents." 


Note  5.  Isle  or  Shoals. — "As  early  as  1650,  Rev.  John  Brock  began 
to  preach  here.  The  following  story  is  related  of  him  by  Mather : — '  Mr. 
Brock  brought  the  people  into  an  agreement,  that,  exclusive  of  the  Lord's 
day,  they  would  spend  one  day  every  month  together,  in  the  worship  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  On  a  certain  day,  which,  by  their  agreement,  belonged 
unto  the  exei-cises  of  religion,  the  fishermen  came  to  Mr  Brock,  and  asked 
him  if  they  might  put  by  their  meeting^  and  go  a  fishing,  because  they  had  lost 
many  days  by  reason  of  foul  weather.  He,  seeing  that  without  his  consent 
they  resolved  upon  doing  what  they  had  asked  of  him,  replied.  If  you  -will  go 
away,  I  say  unto  you,  catch  Jish,  if  you  can  !  But  as  for  you  that  will  tarry,  and 
worship  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  this  day,  I  will  pray  unto  him  for  you,  that  you  may 
take  fish  till  you  are  weary.  Thirty  men  went  away  from  the  meeting,  and  five 
tarried.  The  thirty  which  went  away,  with  all  their  skill,  could  catch  but  four 
fishes  ;  the  five  who  tarried  went  forth  afterwards,  and  they  took  five  hundred. 
The  fishermen,  after  this,  readily  attended  Avhatever  meetings  Mr.  Brock  ap- 
pointed them.'  " 


Note  6.  Indians  in  New  Hajipshire.  —  "The  first  settlers  of  New 
Hampshire,"  s'ays  A'SHbiton,  "  obtained  by  barter  some  furs  and  peltries.  A 
considerable  number  of  this  aboriginal  i-ace,  amounting  probably  to  5000,  then 
dwelt  within  the  State.  A  small  tribe  was  planted  in  the  vicinity  of  Exeter; 
another  under  a  chief  named  Rowls,  near  Dover :  and  a  third,  the  Piscataquas, 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  of  that  name.  The  Ossipees  roamed  around  the 
Winnipiseogee  and  Ossipee  Lakes,  and  the  Pcquawkets  on  the  upper  branches 
of  the  Saco  River.  The  large  tribe  of  the  Penacooks  occupied  the  lands  on 
the  Merrimac,  making  Concord  and  Amoskeag  their  chief  places  of  resort. 

"  Passaconaway,  famous  in  the  early  annals  of  New  England,  was  then'  sachem. 
This  man  pretended  to  be  a  sorcerer  and  made  his  credulous  subjects  believe 
that  he  could  produce  a  green  leaf  from  the  ashes  of  a  dry  one,  a  living  serpent 
from  the  skin  of  a  dead  one,  and  could  make  water  burn  and  trees  dance  !  He 
probably  excelled  in  the  arts  of  legerdemain  and  became  one  of  the  most  noted 
powahs  or  conjurors  among  the  tribes  of  New  Hampshire.  No  Indian  resident 
of  this  region  ever  acquired  so  great  a  celebrity  among  both  red  men  and  white. 
He  extended  his  dominions  not  only  over  the  Indians  in  the  central  and  east- 
ern parts  of  tills  State,  but  over  some  small  bands  in  the  north-eastern  parts 


NOTES. — INDIANS    IN   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  229 

of  Massachusetts,  and  his  authority  was  acknowledged  fi-om  the  mouth  of 
the  Merrimac  to  a  point  considerably  above  Concord,  and  also  on  the  different 
branches  of  the  Piscataqua. 

"  The  tribes  within  these  limits  formed  a  confederacy  distinguished  by  the 
general  name  of  Pawtuckets,  of  which  the  Penacooks  were  the  most  impor- 
tant member,  and  Passaconaway  the  supreme  head.  He  was  advanced  far  in 
years  when  the  English  first  settled  here,  lived  at  least  forty  years  after  that 
event,  and  Avas  said  to  haA'e  died  at  the  great  age  of  an  hundred  and  twenty — 
a  statement  Avhich  has  justly  been  pronounced  to  have  '  an  air  of  exaggeration.' 
On  the  Connecticut  Kiver  were  some  small  tribes  Avhose  names,  Avith  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Coos  Indians,  Avhose  hunting  grounds  extended  over  large  por- 
tions of  the  counties  of  Grafton  and  Coos,  are  noAV  unknoAA'n.  These  tribes 
for  half  a  century  exhibited  in  general  a  peaceful  disposition,  and  treated  even 
A;vith  friendship  the  little  band  of  English  emmigrants  AA'hom  tliey  might  easily 
have  exterminated.  They  have  disappeai-ed  from  the  earth,  and  most  of  their 
memorials  haA-e  perished  foreA-er !  The  occasional  exhumation  of  their  bones, 
and  the  frequent  discovery  of  arroAv-heads,  stone  pestles  and  hatchets  turned 
up  by  the  plow,  are  all  that  remind  the  present  inhabitants  of  their  ill-fated 
predecessors  !     Scarce  an  Indian  noAV  remains  in  the  State. 

"  With  the  exception  of  the  short  Pequot  War  in  Connecticut,  the  colonists 
had  lived  Avith  the  Indians  half  a  century  in  profound  peace.  In  the  minds  of 
the  latter,  suspicions  and  jealousies  began  to  operate ;  they  saw  the  English 
settlements  extending  on  every  side ;  their  OAvn  hunting  grounds  Avere  nar- 
rowed ;  and  they  began  to  be  apprehensive  they  might  be  eventually  dispos- 
sessed. Philip,  sachem  of  the  Wampanoags,  Avho  resided  at  Mount  Hope  in 
Rhode  Island,  an  ambitious,  shrewd,  and  bold  man,  was  the  most  active  insti- 
gator of  the  impending  Avar.  Though  Belknap  supposes  he  was  huri-ied  into 
it  rather  by  the  rash  ardor  of  his  young  AA'arriors  than  by  his  own  inclinations, 
yet  the  preponderance  of  historical  CAidence  is  certainly  on  the  side  of  the  lat- 
ter opinion.  Possessing  great  influence  not  only  in  his  own  tribe  but  among 
all  the  Indians  in  Ncav  England,  he  resolved  to  free  his  country  from  those 
whom  he  deemed  intruders.  He  sent  his  runners  in  all  directions,  and  had 
the  address  to  engage  in  the  enterprise  most  of  the  tribes  in  the  region. 
The  Penacooks  on  the  IMerrimac  were  the  only  tribe  who  resisted  his  solicita- 
tions— their  sachem  Wonolanset  not  haA-ing  forgotten  the  charge  of  his  father 
Passaconaway,  noAv  dead,  to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  the  Avhite  men. 

"  The  Ossipees  in  Strafford  County  and  the  PequaAvketts  on  the  Saco  River, 
both  included  in  the  name  of  Northern  Indians,  ardently  engaged  in  the  hos- 
tile confederacy.  Of  the  Eastern  Indians,  as  those  of  Maine  were  called,  al- 
most the  AA'hole  body  came  into  the  plan  AA'ith  readiness  ;  and  as  truth  compels 
us  to  add,  not  Avithout  serious  provocation.  As  not  long  before,  the  AV'ife  of 
Squando  a  noted  PequaAvkett  sachem  was  passing  on  Saco  River  Avith  her  in- 
fant child  in  her  frail  bark  canoe,  some  rude  sailors  who  had  heard  that  Indian 
children  could  swim  as  naturally  as  the  young  of  brutes,  met  her  and  wanton- 
ly overset  her  canoe.  The  child  sunk ;  the  mother  instantly  dived  and  recov- 
ered it ;  but  the  child  dying  soon  after,  not  only  Squando,  but  the  Indians  in 

20 


230  GAZETTEER    OF   NEAY   HAMPSHIRE. 

general  ascribed  its  death  to  this  brutal  treatment.  Their  discontents  were  in- 
flamed by  other  provocations  received  from  the  eastern  settlers,  some  of  whom 
it  must  be  acknowledged,  were  unprincipled  men.  Philip  engaged  as  his  al- 
lies most  of  the  tribes  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  An  artful  plan  to 
enlist  the  Mohawks  in  the  war  proved  not  only  abortive,  but  pemicious  to  him- 
self He  had  murdered,  it  has  been  said,  some  of  this  tribe  and  left  their  bo- 
dies unburied  in  the  woods,  imagining  their  brethren  would  ascribe  the  deed 
to  the  English,  and  be  provoked  to  join  the  confederacy  against  them  :  but  one 
of  the  number  who  had  been  left  for  dead,  unexpectedly  recovered  and  dis- 
closed to  his  countiymen  the  perfidy  of  Philip — a  circumstance  which  made 
them  his  implacable  enemies. 

"For  some  time  had  the  colonists  been  apprehensive  of  hostile  designs  on 
the  part  of  the  Indians.  Their  suspicions  were  confirmed  by  the  following  oc- 
currence ;  Sausaman,  a  Christian  Indian,  whom  Philip  suspected  of  giving  in- 
telligence of  his  plots  to  the  English,  was  murdered  at  his  instigation  and  his 
body  thrown  into  a  pond.  This  act  was  considered  as  equivalent  to  a  decla- 
ration of  war. 

"In  June,  1675,  open  hostilities  were  commenced.  Philip  attacked  Swan- 
zey,  Mass.,  and  in  a  few  hours  killed  several  of  the  inhabitants.  The  flame  of 
war  spread  with  rapidity.  Forming  themselves  into  small  bands,  the  eastern 
and  northern  Indians  robbed  and  killed  many  of  the  scattered  inhabitants  of 
Maine,  and  in  September  extended  their  incursions  into  New  Hampshire. 
Houses  were  burnt  and  persons  slain  in  Somersworth,  Durham,  and  on  the 
road  between  Exeter  and  Hampton.  A  party  of  savages  attacked  a  house  in 
Berwick,  a  town  in  Maine  on  the  border  of  New  Hampshire,  in  which  were 
fifteen  women  and  children.  A  girl  of  eighteen  discovering  their  approach, 
shut  the  door  and  stood  against  it  till  the  Indians  cut  it  in  pieces  with  their 
hatchets,  and  on  entering  knocked  her  down  and  left  her  for  dead,  "\l^^lile  this 
was  doing,  the  rest  of  the  women  and  children  fled ;  and  all  arrived  safely  at 
another  fortified  house,  excepting  two  children  who  being  unalde  to  get  over  a 
fence,  were  overtaken  and  slain.  The  adventurous  girl  who  thus  saved  the 
lives  of  thirteen  persons,  recovered  of  her  wounds :  but  we  must  regret  that  her 
name  has  not  been  preserved. 

"  Parties  of  men  occasionally  scoured  the  woods  in  quest  of  the  enemy,  but 
with  no  great  success.  In  common  with  the  rest  of  New  England,  the  towns 
of  New  Hampshire  were  filled  with  alarm ;  business  was  at  a  stand ;  the  peo- 
ple, deserting  their  own  habitations,  collected  themselves  together  in  the  larger 
houses  which  they  fortified  as  they  could.  They  could  neither  go  into  the 
fields,  nor  even  step  out- of  doors  but  at  the  peril  of  life.  The  seventh  of  Oc- 
tober was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 

"  A  few  men  having  been  killed  at  Berwick,  the  alarmed  inhabitants  sent  an 
express  to  Maj.  Waldron,  at  Dover,  imploring  succor.  None  however  could 
be  granted,  as  an  attack  was  hourly  expected  there.  Resolving  to  attempt  the 
recovery  of  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  Lieut.  Plaisted,  the  principal  military  offi- 
cer of  Berwick,  ventured  out  for  that  purpose  ^vith  a  party  of  twenty  men ; 
but  was  himself  slain,  together  with  two  of  his  sons.     These  successes  embold- 


NOTKS. INDIANS    IX   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  231 

ened  the  savages  to  show  themselves  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  opposite  to 
Portsmouth,  in  the  attitude  of  menacing  that  town.  They  were  however  dis- 
persed by  the  firing  of  some  cannon ;  and  a  light  snow  rendering  it  easy  to 
follow  their  track,  they  were  pursued,  overtaken,  and  compelled  to  flee  preci- 
pitately, leaving  behind  them  their  packs  and  plunder. 

•'  In  this  crisis  winter  set  in  with  uncommon  severity  and  covered  the  earth 
with  a  snow  four  feet  deep.  This  circumstance,  while  it  prevented  a  meditated 
expedition  against  the  winter  quarters  of  tlie  Indians  around  Winnipiseogee 
and  Ossipee  Lakes,  produced  a  consequence  still  more  important,  the  inclina- 
tion of  their  minds  to  peace.  Pinched  with  famine  they  came  to  Major  ^Val- 
dron  with  professions  of  sorrow  for  the  past  and  promises  of  amity  for  the  fu- 
ture, and  a  peace  was  easily  concluded  with  the  northern  and  eastern  Indians, 
which  restored  the  captives  and  gave  New  Hampshire  a  breathing  time  of 
several  months.  On  the  part  of  the  savages  the  war  had  been  conducted  with 
not  a  few  circumstances  of  barbarity,  of  which  the  following  may  serve  as  a 
specimen :  in  one  of  their  incursions  they  killed  an  old  man  at  Durham,  cut 
off  his  head,  and  set  it  on  a  pole  in  derision. 

"  In  the  meantime  Philip  at  the  head  of  the  southern  tribes  continued  the 
war  in  Massachusetts,  and  burnt,  plundered,  and  slew  with  a  high  hand. 
That  colony  suffered  severely  and  was  now  struggling  for  existence.  It  AiUs 
not  -w-ithin  our  plan  to  relate  in  detail  the  attack  on  Brookfield,  where  a  provi- 
dential shower  of  rain  extinguished  the  flames  of  a  garrisoned  house  which 
had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  savages,  and  saved  seventy  persons  from  an  awful 
death ;  the  conflagration  of  Deerfield,  Mendon,  Groton,  Eehoboth,  Providence, 
and  Warv.-ick ;  the  desolation  of  Lancaster,  whence  ^Irs.  Rowlandson,  a  lady 
who  had  been  tenderly  and  delicately  educated,  was  led  captive  into  the  wil- 
derness ;  the  defeat  of  Capt.  Beers,  accompanied  with  the  fall  of  himself  and 
twenty  of  his  men,  at  Xorthfield :  the  surpi-ise  of  Capt.  Lothrop  and  his  com- 
pany while  gathering  grapes  at  Muddy  Brook  in  Deerfield  by  some  hundreds 
of  Indians,  avIio  slew  him  and  more  than  seventy  young  men,  the  flower  of  the 
county  of  Essex ;  tlie  disastrous  defeat  of  Captains  Wadsworth  and  Brockle- 
bank  at  Sudbury,  who  after  fighting  with  great  gallantry  and  killing  120  of 
the  enemy,  themselves  fell  with  fifty  of  their  men.  These  bloody  reverses 
overspread  the  country  with  gloom ;  it  indeed  seemed  that  unless  a  speedy 
check  were  given  to  tlie  career  of  Philip,  the  whole  i-egion  from  the  Piscataqua 
to  Long  Island  Sound  would  be  overs  wept  and  left  desolate. 

"  Threatened  with  utter  extermination,  the  colonists  resolved  on  a  desperate 
effort  at  self-preservation,  and  projected  a  plan,  at  once  bold  and  perilous, 
which  was  happily  crowned  with  success.  Philip,  after  his  career  of  victorv, 
had  fortified  a  camp  in  a  great  swamp  in  Rhode  Island,  to  which  he  repaired 
with  a  multitude  of  warriors,  old  men,  women  and  children,  for  winter  quar- 
ters. A  large  force  from  Massachusetts,  Plymouth,  and  Connecticut  attacked 
this  fort  in  December,  forced  an  entrance  after  a  desperate  conflict,  kindled  a 
fire  which  soon  wrapped  in  flames  600  weekwams,  and  killed  or  burnt  1000 
Indians.  The  terror-struck  survivors  fled  into  the  woods,  where,  deprived  of 
shelter  and  unfurnished  with  proWsions  they  suffered  great  extremities. 


232  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HA^HPSHIRE. 

"  From  this  dreadful  blow  the  southern  Indians  never  recovered,  and  the 
events  of  the  war  in  the  next  campaign,  1676,  were  decidedly  adverse  to  them. 
English  scouting  parties  traversed  the  woods  in  all  directions,  killing  and  cap- 
turing large  numi>ers.  A  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  on  the  west  bank 
of  Connecticut  River,  near  Miller's  Falls,  were  attacked  by  surprise ;  many 
Avere  killed  outright ;  others  ran  into  the  river  and  were  drowned :  others  took 
to  their  canoes,  but  forgetting  in  their  panic  to  seize  the  paddles,  were  borne 
down  the  falls  and  lost. 

"  In  August,  Capt.  Church  surprised  Pliilip  liimself,  the  soul  of  the  war,  who 
being  shot  by  an  Indian  friendly  to  the  English,  fell  dead  on  his  face  in  the 
mud  and  water.  Tlius  perished  this  terrific  and  celebrated  savage,  whose 
name,  had  ho  succeeded  in  his  favorite  enterprise,  had  gone  down  with  ap- 
plause to  future  generations  of  Indians  as  the  deliverer  of  their  country. 
Broken  and  dispirited,  the  southern  tribes  after  liis  fall  ceased  from  hostilities, 
and  Massachusetts  rested  from  war. 

"  The  joy  occasioned  by  peace  in  southern  Xew  England,  was  quickly  damp- 
ed by  the  renewal  of  hostilities  on  the  part  of  the  eastern  Indians  against 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  They  were  excited  to  this  step  by  some  refugees 
from  the  western  tribes,  who,  after  the  death  of  Philip,  fled  to  the  East  rather 
than  submit  to  the  English.  A  bloody  outrage  having  been  committed  by 
them  at  Portland,  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  east  of  that  place  abandoned  their 
plantations. 

"  Freed  from  the  ten'or  of  Philip,  Massachusetts  was  now  able  to  extend  a 
helping  hand  to  the  eastern  settlements,  and  two  companies  of  soldiers  march- 
ed for  this  purpose  from  Boston.  On  their  arrival  at  Dover  in  September, 
they  found  a  large  body  of  Penacooks,  and  other  New  Hampshire  Indians  at 
Maj.  Waldron's,  with  whom  they  had  confirmed  a  peace.  Among  them,  were 
manv  refugees  from  the  Massachusetts  tribes  who  were  known  to  have  been 
engaged  in  the  war,  as  the  confederates  of  the  late  Philip.  By  the  stratagem 
of  a  pretended  sham-fight,  to  which  the  Indians  agreed  for  diversion,  the  whole 
body  was  surrounded :  and  while  the  Penacooks  were  peaceably  dismissed,  the 
southern  Indians  intenningled  with  them,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred,  were 
seized,  a  few  executed,  and  the  rest  sold  into  slavery,  some  of  whom  were  car- 
ried to  Tangiers  in  Africa.  Maj.  Waldron's  personal  inclinations  were  averse 
to  this  act,  but  he  felt  himself  compelled  to  it  by  the  orders  of  the  government. 
The  morality  of  it  is  more  than  questionable ;  and  the  Penacooks,  who  had 
hitherto  been  peaceable,  deeply  resented  it,  as  a  breach  of  faith  on  the  part  of 
the  Major.  Some  years  afterwards  they  inflicted  on  him  ample  revenge,  in 
accordance  with  tlieir  well  known  character  of  not  forgetting  an  injury. — See 
Dover. 

"After  this  seizure  of  the  southern  Indians  at  Dover,  the  two  Massachusetts 
companies,  reinforced  by  some  of  Waldron's  men,  went  eastward  ;  but  on  their 
approach  the  enemy  fled  into  the  woods,  and  they  found  the  region  deserted 
and  desolate.  On  their  return  from  this  fniitless  march,  they  undertook  a 
winter  expedition  over  frozen  mountains  and  deep  snows,  to  Ossipee  Lake,  on 
whose  western  shore  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  strong  fort ;  but  found  this 


NOTES. INDIANS    IN   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  233 

region  also  deserted  by  the  enemy.  A  third  expedition  into  the  countiy  of  the 
hostile  Indians  was  undertaken  in  the  depth  or  winter,  and  led  by  Wdldron 
himself;  but  after  a  few  unimportant  skirmishes,  and  the  erection  of  a  fort  on 
the  Kennebec,  the  troops  returned  with  little  success. 

"  The  Penacooks  had  a  great  dread  of  the  Mohawks,  with  whom,  according 
to  an  old  tradition,  their  fathers  had  once  fought  a  great  battle  in  the  vicinity 
of  Concord,  where  they  had  a  fortified  position  to  which  they  might  retire  in 
case  of  attack.  Imagining  that  an  incursion  of  Mohawks  might  terrify  the 
hostile  Indians  into  submission,  the  government  of  Massachusetts  sent  agents 
into  their  country,  who  found  it  easy  to  pei'suade  them  to  take  up  arms  against 
their  eastern  enemies.  A  party  of  them  came  from  the  west,  in  March,  1677, 
and  made  their  appearance  at  Amoskeag.  The  son  of  Wonolanset,  who  was 
hunting  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  no  sooner  discovered  them  than  he  found 
by  their  language  that  they  were  Mohawks.  Instantly  he  fled,  and  escaped 
uninjured  amid  a  shower  of  bullets.  They  next  appeared  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Dover,  and  killed  sevei-al  of  a  scouting  paity  of  friendly  Indians  whom  Wal- 
dron  had  sent  out  to  watch  their  motions.  One  of  the  victims  was  Blind  Will^ 
who  being  dragged  away  by  the  hair  of  his  head  and  wounded,  was  left  to  per- 
ish on  a  neck  of  land  in  Dover,  which  has  ever  since  borne  his  name. 

"  This  incursion  of  the  Mohawks  not  only  failed  of  its  object,  but  infused 
into  the  minds  of  the  Penacooks,  already  soured  by  the  seizure  of  their  asso- 
ciates, a  suspicion  that  the  English  were  plotting  their  destruction.  The  peo- 
ple passed  the  ensuing  summer  in  ceaseless  anxiety,  and  a  few  individuals 
were  killed  by  parties  of  the  enemy  continually  hovering  in  the  precincts  of 
the  settlements. 

"Early  in  1678,  the  hostile  tribes  discovered  an  inclination  for  peace. 
Messrs,  Champemoon  and  Fryer,  of  Portsmouth,  and  Maj.  Shapleigh  of  Maine, 
met  their  chiefs  at  Casco,  now  Portland,  and  negotiated  a  treaty.  The  cap- 
tives were  restored,  and  a  war  which  had  raged  in  some  one  or  other  of  the 
colonies  for  three  years,  destroyed  a  multitude  of  their  young  men.  and  threat- 
ened their  very  existence,  was  happily  terminated.  Portsmouth  suffered  less 
than  the  other  towns,  its  peninsular  situation  contributing  much  to  its  protec- 
tion. 

"  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  while  this  war  was  raging  in  most  parts  of  the 
country,  the  numerous  Indians  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  who  had  been  Christian- 
ized by  the  benevolent  labors  of  Mayhew,  abstained  from  all  participation  in 
hostilities,  and  exhibited  towards  the  English  the  most  friendly  disposition. 
A  striking  instance  of  the  influence  and  value  of  Christian  instruction. 

"  A  circumstance  related  by  Belknap  and  others,  deserves  notice,  as  illusti-a- 
tive  of  the  spirit  of  tlie  age.  In  the  course  of  the  war  many  people  imagined 
they  heard  drums  and  guns  in  the  air ;  numerous  reports  were  spread  of  the 
I  appearance  of  flaming  swords  and  spears  in  the  sky;  and  eclipses  were  not  seen 
without  serious  apprehension.  The  occurrence  of  some  battles  was  aflBrmed 
to  be  knowTi  on  the  very  day,  in  places  so  distant  as  to  render  a  conveyance  of 
the  news  by  human  eftbrt  impossible,  and  to  infer  some  mysterious  and  super- 
natural communication.    Instead  of  ridiculing  these  weaknesses  of  that  age,  it 

20* 


234  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

becomes  us  rather  to  be  thankful  that  superior  light  has  freed  the  present  age 
from  such  groundless  apprehensions,  and  given  us  juster  views  of  the  provi- 
dential government  of  God." 

Note  7.  Insurrectiox  ix  Neav  Hampshire. — '-New  Hampshire  was 
not  entirely  exempt  from  civil  commotion.  During  the  session  of  the  legisla- 
ture in  Sept.  1786  a  body  of  two  hundred  armed  men,  some  from  Cheshire, 
hut  most  of  them  from  the  western  part  of  Rockingham  County,  marched  to 
Exeter,  surrounded  the  house  in  which  the  legislature  was  sitting,  and  with 
menaces  required  a  compliance  with  their  demands.  These  were  suflSciently 
wild  and  extravagant,  including  not  only  an  emission  of  paper  money,  but  a 
release  of  debts,  and  an  equal  distribution  of  property.  President  Sullivan,  in 
a  calm  address,  represented  to  them  the  folly  and  danger  of  their  conduct ; 
but  they  were  not  to  be  reasoned  with,  and  held  the  legislature  prisoners  till 
evening.  In  attempting  to  pass  out  of  the  house,  the  president  was  stopped  by 
the  mob  and  treated  even  ^^^th  rudeness.  At  twilight  the  citizens  of  Exeter, 
incensed  at  their  audacity,  made  some  demonstrations  of  attacking  them  ;  on 
which  they  retired  to  an  eminence  a  mile  distant,  and  encamped  for  the  night. 
Their  retreat  liberated  the  legislature,  who  declared  them  to  be  in  rebellion, 
and  authorized  the  president  to  call  in  the  militia  to  suppress  the  insurrection. 
At  the  dawning  of  the  next  morning,  Gen.  Sullivan  appeared  in  the  street, 
mounted,  and  in  full  uniform :  a  body  of  militia  from  the  neighboring  towns 
soon  poured  into  the  place,  whom  he  formed  in  martial  array,  and  led  to  attack 
the  insurgents.  On  arriving  near  their  encampment,  Gen.  Cilley  with  a  troop 
of  horse  made  a  rapid  charge  upon  them ;  they  were  instantly  broken,  and  fled 
without  firing  a  gun.  The  leaders,  of  whom  several  were  seized  on  the  spot, 
were  pardoned  on  promises  of  submission  and  good  behaviour.  Some  of  them, 
being  members  of  churches,  were  required  by  those  churches  to  make  public 
confession  of  their  guilt  in  rebelling  against  goveniment.  Thus  happily  was 
the  insurrection  put  down  without  the  shedding  of  a  drop  of  blood.  The  os- 
tensible leader  of  the  insurgents  was  a  man  from  Kingston;  the  prime  movers, 
however,  of  whom  one  or  two  were  members  of  the  legislature,  took  good  care 
for  their  own  safety  by  keeping  themselves  behind  the  curtain." 


Note  8.  Count  Ru.mford. — "Benjamin  Thompson,  afterwards  the  cele- 
brated Count  Rumford,  a  native  of  Woburn,  Ms.,  came  to  reside  in  the  pro- 
vince not  far  from  the  commencement  of  the  year.  He  taught  school  in  Con- 
cord with  success,  and  married  a  widow  lady,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  and  vene- 
rable Timothy  Walker,  the  first  minister  of  this  town.  Possessing  remarkable 
attractions  both  of  person  and  manners,  he  received  many  attentions,  and  was 
particularly  noticed  by  Gov.  Wentworth,  who  offered  him  a  military  commis- 
sion. Little  did  his  acquaintances  here  anticipate  the  height  of  distinction  to 
which  he  was  destined  to  rise.  His  attachment  to  the  British  cause  made  his 
residence  in  New  Hampshire  undesirable,  and  he  repaired  to  England.  There 
he  gained  the  acquaintance  and  patrontige  of  noblemen,  and  acquired  the  hon- 


NOTES. PRICE    OF    LANDS,    ETC.  235 

or  of  kniglithood.  Some  flattering  proposals  induced  him  to  enter  the  service 
of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria,  in  which  country  he  was  eminently  useful,  rose  to  the 
highest  military  rank,  and  was  admitted  into  the  order  of  nobility.  A  recol- 
lection of  his  early  attachments  in  Concord,  then  called  Rumford,  led  him  to 
add  to  his  high  title  the  name  of  Rumford.  As  a  practical  philosopher  and 
philanthropist,  his  fame  spread  through  Europe  and  America ;  and  after  his 
death  in  France  in  1814,  an  eulogy  on  his  character  and  scientific  discoveries 
was  read  before  the  National  Institute.  His  career  is  a  striking  instance  of 
genius  emerging  from  poverty  and  obscurity,  to  the  highest  distinction.  He 
evinced  his  friendly  remembrance  of  his  native  land  by  handsome  bequests  to 
Harvard  University,  and  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences." 


Note  9.  Price  of  Lands. — "  There  is  evidence  that  the  founders  of  New 
Hampshire  purchased  their  lands  of  the  aboriginal  possessors,  on  terms  satis- 
factory to  the  latter.  It  is  not  uncommon  of  late  to  charge  our  forefathers 
with  cheating  the  Indians  in  these  purchases  ;  but  a  little  reflection  will  in 
most  cases  acquit  them.  To  the  Indian,  who  had  a  profusion  of  other  lands, 
a  few  coats,  axes,  or  kettles  were  a  capital  object :  and  trifling  as  their  value 
may  seem  to  us,  were  a  greater  benefit  to  him  than  he  could  possibly  derive 
from  keeping  the  land.  To  the  English  purchaser,  the  value  of  his  acquisi- 
tion was  created  chiefly  by  the  labor  bestowed  on  it,  and  the  price,  under  aU 
circumstances,  as  much  as  he  could  well  afford.  In  relation  to  both  parties 
the  transaction  was  fair  and  beneficial.  An  amusing  occurrence  illustrative  of 
the  justness  of  these  views,  is  related  by  Dr.  Dwight.  Among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Springfield,  Ms.,  were  a  carpenter  and  a  tailor.  The  latter  had  pur- 
chased of  an  Indian  for  a  trifle,  5000  acres  of  interval  in  West  Springfield. 
Wishing  to  purchase  a  wheelbarrow  of  the  carpenter,  he  offered  him  at  his 
choice,  the  making  of  a  suit  of  clothes,  or  the  tract  of  land.  After  some  hesi- 
tation the  carpenter  took  the  land.  If  the  state  of  things  was  then  such  that 
an  Englishman  could  sell  5000  acres  of  fine  land  for  a  wheelbarrow,  an  Indian 
might  well  affbrd  it  for  a  shirt  or  a  kettle." 


Note  10.  Canxox  heard  at  a  great  distance. — Whiton  says,  "It  is  a 
remarkable  fact  that  the  sound  of  cannon  at  Bunker  Hill  was  distinctly  heard, 
by  applying  the  ear  to  the  ground,  at  several  places  in  the  interior  of  this 
State,  particularly  at  Plymouth,  Hanover,  and  Haverhill,  some  of  them  distant 
from  the  scene  of  action  more  than  100  miles.  However  strange  it  may  be 
thought,  the  matter  is  established  by  the  testimony  of  witnesses  so  numerous 
and  respectable,  as  to  place  it  beyond  reasonable  doubt.  It  belongs  to  history 
to  verify  the  fact ;  an  explanation  of  it  must  be  sought  elsewhere." 


Note  11.    Keene. — "In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1746,  the  general  court 
of  Massachusetts  sent  a  party  of  men  to  Canada,  for  what  purpose  is  not  now 


236  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

recollected,  and,  perhaps,  was  not  generally  known.  On  their  return  they 
passed  through  Upper  Ashuelot,  now  Keene.  On  arriving  in  sight  of  the 
settlement,  they  fired  their  guns.  This,  of  course,  alarmed  the  inhabitants, 
and  all  who  were  out,  and  several  were  in  the  woods  making  sugai-,  hastened 
home.  From  some  cause  or  other,  suspicions  were  entertained  that  a  party  of 
Indians  had  followed  the  returning  whites  ;  and  for  several  days  the  settlers 
were  more  vigilant  and  more  circumspect  in  their  movements,  seldom  leaving 
the  fort  except  to  look  after  the  cattle,  which  were  in  the  barns,  and  at  the 
stacks  in  the  vicinity. 

"  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  April,  Ephraim  Dormer  left  the  fort 
to  search  for  his  cow.  He  went  northwardly,  along  the  borders  of  what  was 
then  a  hideous  and  almost  impervious  swamp,  lying  east  of  the  fort,  until  he 
arrived  near  to  the  place  where  the  turnpike  now  is.  Looking  into  the  swamp, 
he  perceived  several  Indians  lurking  in  the  bushes.  He  immediately  gave 
the  alarm,  by  cr}ang  '  Indians  !  Indians  ! '  and  ran  towards  the  fort.  Tavo,  who 
were  concealed  in  the  bushes  between  him  and  the  fort,  sprang  forward,  aimed 
their  pieces  at  him,  and  fired,  but  neither  hit  him.  They  then,  throwing  away 
their  arms,  advanced  towards  him ;  one  he  knocked  doAvn  by  a  blow,  which 
deprived  him  of  his  senses.  The  other  he  seized  ;  and,  being  a  strong  man 
and  an  able  wrestler,  tried  his  strength  and  skill  in  his  favorite  mode  of  '  trip 
and  twitch.'  He  tore  his  antagonist's  blanket  from  his  body,  leaving  him 
nearly  naked.  He  then  seized  him  by  the  arms  and  body ;  but,  as  he  was 
painted  and  greased,  he  slipped  from  his  grasp.  After  a  short  struggle,  Dor- 
mer quitted  him,  ran  towards  the  fort,  and  reached  it  in  safety. 

"  When  the  alarm  was  given,  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  were  in  the 
fort,  but  some  had  just  gone  out  to  tend  their  cattle.  Captain  Simons,  the 
commander,  as  was  the  custom  every  morning  before  prayers,  was  reading  a 
chapter  in  the  Bible.  He  immediately  exclaimed,  '  Eush  out,  and  assist  those 
who  are  to  get  in.'  Most  of  the  men  immediately  rushed  out,  and  each  ran 
where  his  interest  or  affections  led  him ;  the  remainder  chose  positions  in  the 
fort,  from  which  they  could  fire  on  the  enemy. 

"  Those  who  were  out,  and  within  hearing,  instantly  started  for  the  fort,  and 
the  Indians  from  every  direction  rushed  into  the  street,  filling  the  air  with 
their  horrid  yells.  Mrs.  M'Kenney  had  gone  to  a  bam,  near  where  Miss 
Eiske's  house  now  stands,  to  milk  her  cow.  She  was  aged  and  coqiulent,  and 
could  only  walk  slowly.  When  she  was  within  a  few  rods  of  the  fort,  a  naked 
Indian,  probably  the  one  with  whom  Dormer  had  been  WTCStling,  darted  from 
the  bushes  on  the  east  side  of  the  street,  ran  up  to  her,  stabbed  her  in  the 
back,  and  crossed  to  the  other  side.  She  continued  walking  in  the  same 
steady  pace  as  before,  until  she  had  nearly  reached  the  gate  of  the  fort,  when 
the  blood  gushed  from  her  mouth,  and  she  fell  and  expired.  John  Bullard 
was  at  his  barn,  below  Dr.  Adams' ;  he  ran  towards  the  fort,  but  the  instant 
he  arrived  at  the  gate  he  received  a  shot  in  the  back.  He  fell,  and  was  carried 
in,  and  expired  in  a  few  hours.  Mrs.  Clark  was  at  a  bam,  near  the  Todd 
house,  about  fifty  rods  distant.  Leai-ing  it,  she  espied  an  Indian  near  her, 
who  threw  away  his  gun,  and  advanced  to  make  her  prisoner.     She  gathered 


NOTES. KEENE.  237 

her  clothes  around  her  waist,  and  started  for  the  fort.  The  Indian  pursued ; 
the  woman,  animated  by  the  cheers  of  her  friends,  outran  her  pursuer,  who 
skulked  back  for  his  gun.  Nathan  Blake  was  at  his  barn,  near  where  his 
son's  house  now  stands.  Hearing  the  cry  of  Indians,  and  presuming  his  barn 
would  be  burnt,  he  deteraiincd  that  his  cattle  should  not  be  burnt  with  it. 
Throwing  open  his  stable  door,  he  let  them  out ;  and,  presuming  that  his 
retreat  to  the  fort  was  cut  off,  went  out  at  a  back  door,  intending  to  place  him- 
self in  amljush  at  the  only  place  where  the  river  could  be  crossed.  He  had 
gone  but  a  few  steps  when  he  Avas  hailed  by  a  party  of  Indians,  concealed  in  a 
shop  between  him  and  the  street.  Looking  back,  he  perceived  several  guns 
pointed  at  him,  and,  at  this  instant,  several  Indians  started  up  from  their 
places  of  concealment  near  him  ;  upon  which,  feeling  himself  in  their  power, 
he  gave  himself  up.  They  shook  hands  with  him ;  and  to  the  remark  he 
made  that  he  had  not  yet  breakfasted,  they  smiling  replied,  '  that  it  must  be  a 
poor  Englishman  who  could  not  go  to  Canada  without  his  breakfast.'  Passing 
a  cord  around  his  arms  above  the  elbows,  and  fastening  close  to  his  body, 
they  gave  him  to  the  care  of  one  of  the  party,  Avho  conducted  him  to  the 
woods. 

"  The  number  of  Indians  belonging  to  the  party  was  supposed  to  be  about 
one  hundred.  They  came  near  the  fort  on  every  side,  and  fired  whenever  they 
supposed  their  shot  would  be  effectual.  They,  however,  neither  killed  nor 
wounded  any  one.  The  whites  fired  whenever  an  Indian  presented  himself, 
and  several  of  them  were  seen  to  fall.  Before  noon  the  savages  ceased  firing, 
but  they  remained  several  days  in  the  vicinity. 

"  In  the  early  part  of  May,  the  same,  or  another  party  of  Indians,  hovered 
about  the  settlement,  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  make  prisoners,  and  to 
plunder.  For  several  successive  nights,  the  watch  imagined  that  they  heard 
some  person  walking  around  the  fort.  When  it  came  to  the  turn  of  young 
McKenney,  whose  mother  had  been  killed,  to  watch,  he  declared  he  should 
fire  on  bearing  the  least  noise  without  the  fort,  In  the  dead  of  night,  hQ 
thought  he  heard  some  person  at  the  picket  gate,  endeavoring  to  ascertain  its 
strength.  Having  loaded  his  gun,  as  was  usual  among  the  first  settlers  of  the 
country,  with  two  balls  and  several  buckshot,  he  fired  through  the  gate,  which 
was  made  of  thin  boards.  In  the  morning,  blood  was  discovered  on  the  spot, 
and  also  a  number  of  beads,  supposed  to  have  been  cut  by  the  shot  from  th© 
wampum  of  the  Indian." 


Note  12.  Peabody's  River. — "The  father  of  Oliver  Peabody,  who  re- 
sided at  Andover,  Mass.,  in  one  of  his  excursions  into  New  Hampsliire,  met 
with  an  adventure,  which  has  connected  his  name  with  the  geography  of  the 
country.  He  was  passing  the  night  in  the  cabin  of  an  Indian,  situated  on  the 
side  of  a  mountain,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Saco  River.  The  inmates  of  this 
rude  dwelling  were  awakened  in  the  course  of  the  night,  by  a  loud  noise,  and 
had  hardly  time  to  make  their  escape,  before  the  hut  was  swept  away  by  a 
torrent  of  water,  rushing  impetuously  down  the  hUl.     On  reconnoitering  the 


238  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

ground,  they  found  that  this  torrent  had  hurst  out  suddenly,  from  a  spot 
where  there  was  no  spring  before.  It  has  continued  flowing  ever  since,  and 
forms  the  branch  of  the  Saco  which  bears  the  name  of  Pcabodv's  River." 


Note  13.  Pembroke. — "  The  death  of  James  Can-,  of  Pembroke,  who 
was  killed  by  the  enemy  early  in  1748,  Avas  attended  with  a  singular  instance 
of  canine  attachment  and  fidelity.  He,  with  two  others,  was  ploughing  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river,  within  the  present  township  of  Bow.  Towards 
night,  some  Indians,  who,  concealed  in  a  thicket  of  bushes,  had  been  watching 
them  all  day,  rushed  upon  them.  His  two  companions  were  taken ;  but,  in 
attempting  to  run  to  the  river,  Can-  was  shot,  and  fell  dead  on  his  back,  with 
his  arms  somewhat  extended.  As  the  savages  ran  up  to  scalp  him,  his  dog, 
a  large  and  fierce  animal,  instantly  attacked  them,  but  was  stunned  by  the 
blow  of  a  tomahawk,  and  left  for  dead.  The  people  in  garrison  in  Pembroke 
heard  the  firing,  but,  it  being  near  night,  did  not  venture  on  an  immediate 
pursuit,  fi-om  the  apprehension  of  falling  into  an  ambuscade.  After  the  de- 
parture of  the  enemy  the  dog  revived,  guarded  the  corpse  of  his  master 
through  the  night,  and  was  found  next  morning  with  his  nose  laid  in  its  open 
hand ;  nor  would  the  faithful  animal  permit  any  one  to  remove,  or  even  touch 
the  body,  till  after  the  use  of  much  flattery  and  some  force." 


Note  14.  Portsmouth. — "' Xew  Hampshire,'  says  Bacon,  'less  favored 
in  its  origin  than  the  otlier  Xew  England  colonies,  was  in  1684  subject  to  a 
royal  governor,  a  creature  of  King  James  II.,  practising  in  the  four  towns  of 
New  Hampshire  the  same  violations  of  right  and  liberty,  which  his  master 
was  practising  on  a  grander  scale  in  England.  To  such  a  governor  the  pastor 
of  Portsmouth,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Moody,  had  become  greatly  obnoxious,  by 
the  fearless  freedom  of  his  preaching,  and  by  his  resoluteness  in  maintaining  a 
strictly  Congregational  church  discipline.  A  member  of  his  church  w-as 
strongly  suspected  of  having  taken  a  false  o?.th,  in  a  matter  relating  to  the 
seizure  and  escape  of  a  vessel.  The  man  thus  charged  with  perjury  was  able, 
in  some  way,  to  pacify  the  governor  and  collector ;  but  in  the  church  the  sup- 
posed offence  was  made  a  subject  of  investigation.  ^Ir.  !Moody.  as  pastor, 
requested  of  Cranfield,  the  governor,  copies  of  the  evidence  which  had  been 
taken  in  the  case  by  the  government.  The  governor  not  only  refused  this 
reqiiest,  but  declared  that  the  man,  having  been  forgiven  by  him,  should  not 
be  called  to  account  by  any  body  else,  and  threatened  the  pastor  with  ven- 
geance, if  he  dared  to  proceed  in  the  matter.  But  Mr.  Moody  did  not  believe 
that  the  right  of  a  Christian  church  to  inspect  the  conduct  of  its  own  mem- 
bers, or  the  duty  of  a  church  to  execute  discipline  upon  ofli'endcrs,  de])ended 
on  the  will  of  governors  or  kings ;  and  to  him  the  wrath  of  Cranfield  was  a 
small  matter,  in  comjiarison  with  the  reproaches  of  his  own  conscience  or  the 
displeasure  of  God.  Having  consulted  his  church,  he  preached  a  sermon  on 
the  sin  of  perjury;  and  then  the  oflcnder  was  tried,  found  guilty,  and,  at  last, 


NOTES. MOULTONBOROUGH.  239 

by  God's  blessing  upon  the  ordinance  of  church  discipline,  brought  to  repen- 
tance and  a  public  confession. 

"  The  governor,  indignant  at  this  manly  proceeding,  had  yet  no  way  to 
execute  his  threat  of  vengeance,  but  by  some  indirect  method.  He  accord- 
ingly made  an  order,  that  all  the  ministers  within  the  province  should  admit 
all  persons  of  suitable  age,  and  not  vicious  in  their  lives,  to  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  their  children  to  baptism ;  and  that  if  any  person  should  desire  to  have 
these  sacraments  administered  according  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  his  desire  should  be  complied  with.  The  minister  who  should  refuse 
obedience  to  this  order,  was  to  incur  the  same  penalties  as  if  he  were  in  Eng- 
land, and  a  minister  there  of  the  Established  Church.  Cranfield's  next  step 
was,  without  any  loss  of  time,  to  send  a  Avritten  message  to  Mr.  Moody,  by 
the  hands  of  the  sheriff,  signifying  that  he  and  two  of  his  friends  intended  to 
partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper  the  next  Sunday,  and  requiring  that  it  be  ad- 
ministered to  them  according  to  the  liturgy.  To  this  demand  Mr.  Moody  returned 
the  prompt  denial  which  was  expected  ;  and  the  consequence  was,  that,  for  the 
double  offence  of  refusing  to  conform  to  the  order  of  the  liturgy,  and  of 
refusing  to  profane  the  Lord's  Supper,  by  administering  it  to  such  men  as 
Cranfield  and  his  minions,  he  was  prosecuted^  convicted,  and  imprisoned.  For 
thirteen  weeks  he  remained  in  close  confinement ;  and  he  was  then  released 
only  under  a  strict  charge  to  preach  no  more  in  that  province,  and  a  threat  of 
further  imprisonment  if  he  should.'  " 


Note  15.  Moultonborough. — "  An  affecting  instance  of  a  child  falling 
a  prey  to  a  bear,  (says  Dr.  Belknap,)  happened  at  Moultonborough,  in  the 
month  of  August,  1784.  A  boy  of  eight  years  old,  son  of  Mr.  Leach,  was 
sent  to  a  pasture,  towards  the  close  of  the  day,  to  put  out  a  horse,  and  bring 
home  the  cows.  His  father,  being  in  a  neighboring  field,  heard  a  cry  of  dis- 
tress ;  and,  running  to  the  fence,  saw  his  child  Ipng  on  the  ground,  and  a  bear 
standing  by  him.  He  seized  a  stake  and  crept  along,  with  a  view  to  get 
between  the  bear  and  the  child.  The  bear  took  the  child  by  the  throat,  and 
drew  him  into  the  bushes.  The  father  pursued  till  he  came  up,  and  aiming  a 
stroke  at  the  bear,  the  stake  broke  in  his  hand,  and  the  bear,  leaving  his  prey, 
turned  upon  the  parent,  who,  in  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  was  obliged  to  retreat 
and  call  for  help.  Before  any  sufficient  help  could  be  obtained,  the  night  was 
so  far  advanced,  that  a  search  Avas  impracticable.  The  night  was  passed  by 
the  family  in  the  utmost  distress.  The  neighbors  assembled,  and  at  break  of 
day  renewed  the  pursuit.  The  child's  hat,  and  the  bridle,  which  he  had 
dropped,  were  found,  and  they  tracked  his  blood  about  forty  rods,  when  they 
discovered  the  mangled  corpse.  The  throat  was  torn,  and  one  thigh  devoured. 
"Whilst  they  were  standing  around  the  body,  the  bear  rose  from  behind  a  log. 
Three  guns  were  fired  at  him  at  the  same  instant,  which  despatched  him,  and 
a  fire  was  immediately  kindled,  ih  which  he  was  consumed.  This  was  a  male 
bear  about  three  years  old." 


240  GAZETTEER    OF   NE"W   HAMPSHIRE. 

Note  16.  Kashtja. — "On  the  3d  of  July,  1706,  a  party  of  Indians  made 
a  descent  upon  Dunstable,  now  Nashua,  Avhcre  they  fell  on  a  garrison  that 
had  twenty  troopers  in  it.  They  had  been  ranging  the  woods  in  the  vicinity, 
and  came  towards  night  to  this  garrison:  apprehending  no  danger,  turned 
their  horses  loose  upon  the  intervale,  piled  their  arms  and  harness  in  the 
house,  and  began  a  carousal  to  exhilarate  their  spirits  after  the  fatigues  of  the 
day.  The  Indians  had  lately  arrived  in  the  vicinity,  and  on  that  day  had 
designed  to  attack  both  Wells'  and  Galusha's  gairisons.  One  of  their  number 
had  been  stationed  to  watch  each  of  these  houses,  to  see  that  no  assistance 
approached,  and  no  alarm  was  given.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  amval  of 
the  cavalry,  the  Indian  stationed  at  Wells'  returned  to  his  party,  and  reported 
that  all  Avas  safe.  At  sunset,  a  ]\Ir.  Cumings  and  his  wife  went  out  to  milk 
their  cows,  and  left  the  gate  open.  The  Indians,  who  had  advanced,  undis- 
covered, started  up,  shot  Mrs.  Cumings  dead  upon  the  spot,  and  wounded  her 
husband.  They  then  rushed  through  the  open  gate  into  the  house,  with  all 
the  horrid  yells  of  conquering  savages,  but  stared  A\-ith  amazement  at  finding 
the  room  filled  with  soldiers,  menily  feasting.  Both  parties  were  completely 
amazed,  and  neither  acted  with  much  propriety.  The  soldiers,  so  suddenly 
interrupted  in  their  jovial  entertainment,  found  themselves  called  upon  to 
fight,  when  entirely  destitute  of  arms,  and  incapable  of  obtaining  any.  The 
greater  part  were  panic-struck,  and  unable  to  fight  or  fly.  Fortunately  all 
wei'e  not  in  this  sad  condition ;  some  six  or  seven  courageous  souls,  with 
chairs,  clubs,  and  whatever  they  could  seize  upon,  furiously  attacked  the  ad- 
vancing foe.  The  Indians,  who  were  as  much  sui^prised  as  the  soldiers,  had 
but  little  more  courage  than  they,  and  immediately  took  to  their  heels  for 
safety :  thus  yielding  the  liouse,  defeated  by  one  quarter  their  number  of 
unarmed  men.  The  trumpeter,  who  was  in  the  upper  part  of  the  house  at 
the  commencement  of  the  attack,  seized  his  trumpet,  and  commenced  sound- 
ing an  alarm,  when  he  was  shot  dead  by  an  Indian  on  the  stair  way.  He  was 
the  only  one  of  the  party  killed. 

"  September  4th,  1724,  the  Indians  again  fell  on  Dunstable,  and  took  two  in 
the  evening :  the  persons  taken  were  Nathan  Cross  and  Thomas  Blanchard. 
who  had  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tuq:)entine.  on  the  north  side  of 
Nashua  River,  near  where  Nashua  Village  now  stands.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  houses  or  settlements  on  that  side  of  the  river.  These  men  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  returning  every  night,  to  lodge  in  a  saw-mill  on  the  other  side. 
That  night  they  came  not,  as  usual.  An  alarm  was  given  :  it  was  feared  they 
had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  A  party,  consisting  of  ten  of  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  the  place,  started  in  search  of  them,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  one  French,  a  sergeant  of  militia.  In  this  company  was  Farwell,  .who 
was  aftersvards  lieutenant  under  Lovewell.  When  they  arrived  at  the  spot 
where  the  men  had  been  laboring,  they  found  the  lioops  of  the  baiTcl  cut,  and 
the  turpentine  spread  upon  the  ground.  From  certain  marks  upon  the  trees, 
made  with  coal  mixed  with  gi*ease,  they  understood  that  the  men  were  taken, 
and  carried  off  alive.  In  the  course  of  this  examination,  Farn-ell  perceived 
that  the  turpentine  had  not  ceased  spreading,  and  called  the  attention  of  his 


NOTES. THE    MAID's    TKEE.  211 

comrades  to  this  circumstance.  They  concluded  that  the  Indians  had  been 
gone  but  a  short  time,  and  must  still  be  near,  and  decided  upon  instant  pur- 
suit. Farwell  advised  them  to  take  a  circuitous  route,  to  avoid  an  ambush. 
But,  unfortunately,  he  and  French  had,  a  short  time  previous,  had  a  misun- 
derstanding, and  were  still  at  variance.  French  imputed  this  advice  to  cow- 
ardice, and  called  out,  '  I  am  going  to  take  the  direct  path  ;  if  any  of  you  are 
not  afraid,  let  him  follow  me.'  French  led  the  way,  and  the  whole  party- 
followed,  Farwell  falling  in  the  rear.  Their  route  was  up  the  Men-imac, 
towards  which  they  bent  their  course,  to  look  for  their  horses  upon  the  inter- 
vale. At  the  brook  near  Lutwyche's  (now  Thornton's)  Ferry,  they  were  way- 
laid. The  Indians  fired  upon  them,  and  killed  the  larger  part  instantly.  A 
few  fled,  but  were  overtaken  and  destroyed.  French  was  killed  about  a  mile 
from  the  place  of  action,  under  an  oak  tree,  now  standing  in  the  field  belong- 
ing to  ]Mr.  Lund,  in  Merrimac.  Farwell,  in  the  rear,  seeing  those  before  him 
fall,  sprung  behind  a  tree,  discharged  his  piece,  and  ran.  Two  Indians  pursued 
him  ;  the  chase  was  vigorously  maintained  for  some  time,  without  gaining 
much  advantage,  till  Farwell  passing  through  a  thicket,  the  Indians  lost  sight 
of  him,  and  fearing  he  might  have  loaded  again,  they  desisted.  He  was  the 
only  one  of  the  company  that  escaped.  A  company  from  the  neighborhood 
mustered  upon  the  news  of  this  disaster,  proceeded  to  the  fatal  spot,  took 
up  the  bodies  of  their  friends  and  to^vnsmen,  and  interred  them  in  the  burying- 
ground.  Blanchard  and  Cross  were  carried  to  Canada ;  after  remaining  there 
some  time,  they  succeeded,  by  their  own  exertions,  in  effecting  their  redemp- 
tion, and  returned  to  their  native  town,  where  their  descendants  are  still  living." 


Note  17.  The  Maid's  Tree. — "Two  hunters,  named  Nash  and  Sawyer, 
in  their  excursions  in  the  northern  woods,  discovered  about  the  year  1771,  the 
celebrated  Notch  or  Gap  of  the  White  Mountains — a  vast  ra\'ine,  inferior  in 
extent  and  magnificence  to  none  in  the  world.  They  received  from  the  pro- 
vince a  grant  of  2000  acres  of  land,  near  the  Notch,  in  reward  of  the  discovery. 
To  all  the  proprietors  of  lands  on_  the  upper  part  of  Connecticut  River,  the 
discovery  was  one  of  great  importance,  as  furnishing  their  nearest  outlet  to  the 
ocean.  The  pass  soon  began  to  be  used  as  a  channel  of  communication.  Not 
many  years  afterwards,  an  aff'ecting  incident  imparted  to  it  a  melancholy  in- 
terest, in  addition  to  that  derived  from  the  wildness  and  grandeur  of  the  sce- 
nery. A  young  woman  who  had  been  residing  at  Jeff^erson,  set  out  in  v^-inter 
to  meet  her  lover  in  Portsmouth,  under  the  expectation  of  being  there  united 
to  him  in  maniage.  Her  course  lay  through  the  Notch.  From  Jefferson  to 
Bartlett,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  there  was  no  house,  and  only  a  horse  path 
for  a  road.  She  advanced  with  extreme  difficulty  more  than  twenty  miles, 
when,  overcome  with  cold  and  the  fatigue  of  walking  in  deep  snows,  she  wrap- 
ped herself  in  her  cloak,  lay  down  under  a  small  tree,  fell  asleep,  and  never 
awoke.  About  a  month  afterwards  she  was  found— ji  stiffened  corpse.  The 
tree  under  which  she  slept  the  sleep  of  death,  is  still  pointed  out  to  the  travel- 
ler as  The  Maid's  Tree.'''' 

21 


242  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMTSHIEE. 

Note  18.  Early  Traits  of  Xew  Exglaxd  Character. — Says  AM^iiton, 
"  Bright  as  the  character  of  the  founders  of  New  England  sliines,  tinith  requires 
tlie  admission  that  it  was  not  free  from  some  serious  defects.  Their  zeal  was 
sometimes  directed  to  objects  trifling,  and  even  puerile,  as  in  their  A'iolent  op- 
position to  the  use  of  wigs,  and  the  wearing  of  long  hair  by  men.  But  their 
most  glai-ing  error  was  a  disposition  to  coerce  those  of  a  religious  persuasion 
ditferent  from  their  own.  "We  read  the  accounts  of  their  arbitrary  proceedings 
against  Baptists  and  Quakers,  Avith  grief  and  wonder  that  men,  but  just  escaped 
from  the  gripe  of  persecution,  could  find  it  in  their  hearts  to  inflict  on  others 
the  very  evils  under  which  themselves  had  so  severely  smarted  !  The  trait  is 
incapable  of  vindication :  the  only  apology  that  can  be  oftered  is  the  old  one, 
that  it  was  the  fault  of  the  age  in  general,  and  that  the  pi-inciples  of  religious 
liberty  were  at  that  time  imperfectly  understood.  But  after  all  just  abate- 
ments, their  character  certainly  presents  many  excellent  points.  The  love  of 
civil  liberty  glowed  in  their  bosoms.  Of  slavery  they  had  a  deep  abhorrence, 
of  which  we  have  an  instance  in  the  case  of  one  Williams  of  Portsmouth,  who 
having  bought  a  slave  whom  a  shipmaster  had  kidnapped  and  brought  away 
from  Africa,  was  ordered  to  give  him  up  that  he  might  be  sent  back  to  his  own 
country.  Their  piety  was  in  numerous  instances  exemplary.  Eor  the  name, 
word,  and  laws  of  God,  many  of  them  exhibited  profound  respect.  Whenever 
they  settled  a  new  town,  one  of  the  first  cares  was  to  build  a  commodious 
house  of  public  worship,  and  settle  a  pious  and  learned  minister.  For  a  long 
period,  thex'e  were  few  families  in  most  parts  of  New  England,  in  w'hich  the 
Bible  was  not  daily  read,  and  prayer  off"ered  morning  and  evening.  It  was 
the  testimony  of  one  on  his  return  to  England  from  a  long  residence  in  this 
country,  that  in  all  this  period  he  had  not  heard  a  'profane  oath,  or  seen  a  per- 
son drunk.  This  testimony,  though  by  no  means  applicable  to  all  places,  was 
doubtless  true  to  a  happy  extent.  The  first  ministers  of  Ncav  England  had 
been  educated  at  the  English  universities,  and  they  brought  viith  them  exten- 
sive and  valuable  libraries. 

"  That  New  Hampshire  had  a  less  proportion  of  religious  men  among  her 
early  settlers  than  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  is  not  to  be  denied.  The 
grand  object  of  the  Puritans  from  Holland,  who  landed  on  the  rock  of  Ply- 
mouth, was  the  maintenance  of  pure  religion,  and  the  preservation  of  their 
children  from  the  contaminating  influence  of  bad  examples.  Their  brethren 
from  England,  who  soon  after  established  themselves  at  Salem  and  Boston, 
had  the  same  aims.  Of  the  Company  of  Laconia — of  Mason  and  Gorges — the 
main  object  was  commercial,  rather  than  religious.  Thompson  and  the  Hil- 
tons,  who  began  the  settlement  of  Portsmouth  and  Dover,  came  over  to  fish, 
trade,  and  search  for  mines  of  precious  metals.  But  the  influence  of  Ph-mouth 
and  Massachusetts,  soon  extended  to  the  Piscataqua.  That  New  Hampshire 
must  have  had  a  considerable  number  of  religious  men,  at  quite  an  early  pe- 
riod, is  plain  from  the  fact  that  Christian  institutions  were  sustained  in  all  the 
towns.  In  1643,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Maud,  a  pious  and  worthy  man,  was  settled 
at  Dover;  and  in  1650,  Ihe  Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  as  successor  to  Mr.  "VSTieel- 
wright,  at  Exeter,  where  he  exercised  a  long  and  useful  ministry.    Hampton 


NOTES. ROGERS'    RANGERS.  243 

also  sustained  the  Christian  miuisiry :  and  thougli  Portsmouth  had  not  a  set- 
tled minister  till  some  years  afterwards,  there  is  evidence  that  numbei's  of  the 
people  were  not  insensible  of  the  importiince  of  public  worship.  If  wisdom  is 
to  be  measured  by  the  results  it  produces,  our  fathers  must  be  pronounced  to 
have  been  in  many  respects  wise:  for  they  established  institutions,  civil,  lite- 
rary, and  religious,  which  have  secured  to  their  posterity  an  unusual  share  of 
prosperity." 


KoTE  19.  Rogers'  Rangers. — "  In  1 756,  the  operations  of  war  languished. 
A  considerable  body  of  colonial  troops,  among  whom  was  a  New  Hampshire 
regiment  under  Col.  Mcsserve,  was  collected  for  another  attempt  on  Cro^^^l 
Point ;  but  the  Earl  of  Loudon,  than  Avhom  a  more  inefficient  man  was  never 
at  the  head  of  an  army,  having  the  chief  command,  nothing  effectual  was  done. 
The  regiment  from  this  province  being  distinguished  for  hardihood  and  agility 
in  traversing  the  woods,  a  select  number  of  its  men  were  formed  into  three 
companies  of  rangers,  commanded  by  Robert  Rogers,  John  Stark,  and  William 
Stark,  and  kept  in  pay  of  the  king  during  the  war.  The  rangers  served  as 
guides  and  couriers,  kept  the  enemy  in  alann  by  false  attacks,  and  reconnoi- 
tered  hostile  posts.  Many  of  them  were  from  Londonderry  and  the  immediate 
vicmity  ;  not  Jrish^  as  has  been  incorrectly  stated,  but  of  Scottish  descent. 
They  distinguished  themselves  in  numerous  bloody  skirmishes  with  parties  of 
French  and  Indians,  and  exhibited  much  tact  in  scouring  the  woods,  and  pro- 
curing intelligence  of  hostile  movements.  On  the  waters  and  among  the 
islands  and  mountains  of  Lake  George,  they  were  incessantly  in  motion.  Ma- 
jor Rogers  of  Londonderry,  than  whom  few  partizan  warriors  have  been  more 
celebrated,  commanded  the  whole  body.  He  afterwards  published  at  London 
an  interesting  Journal  of  their  Military  services. 

'"  jNIajor  Rogers  and  his  rangers  were  detached  to  inflict  chastisement  on  the 
St.  Francis  Indians,  and  after  a  passage  down  Lake  Champlain  and  a  march 
of  twenty-one  days  through  Canada  forests,  he  descried  from  the  top  of  a  tree 
the  principal  village  of  the  tribe.  Unsuspicious  of  the  impending  danger,  the 
Indians  spent  most  of  the  next  night  in  dancing,  and  retired  to  their  cabins  for 
rest  a  little  before  break  of  day.  No  sooner  v/ere  they  buried  in  sleep  than  the 
assault  was  made,  and  quickly  were  their  cabins  and  fields  flowing  with  blood. 
Out  of  three  hundred  inhabitants,  two  hundred  were  slain,  and  the  conflagra- 
tion of  their  village  closed  the  scene.  It  was  found  filled  with  English  plunder 
and  English  scalps  to  the  number  of  six  hundred — a  sight  which  gave  edge  to 
the  resentments  of  the  assailants.  The  retreat  of  the  rangers,  which  was  made 
by  way  of  Memphrcmagog  Lake,  towards  the  mouth  of  Amonoosuck  River, 
was  attended  with  distressing  reverses.  Rogers  kept  his  men  in  a  body  till 
their  provisions  failed,  when  he  distributed  them  into  small  parties,  that  they 
might  the  better  procui'e  subsistence  on  the  way  by  hunting.  Two  of  these 
parties  were  overtaken  by  pursuing  bodies  of  the  enemy,  and  most  of  the  men 
killed  or  made  prisoners.  The  commander  with  the  main  body,  arrived  in  a 
starving  condition  at  the  Amonoosuck  in  Bath,  where,  in  accordance  Avith  a 


244  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

plan  previously  concerted,  he  expected  to  find  a  supply  of  provisions.  Cmel 
disappointment  awaited  liim ;  the  party  entrusted  with  the  provisions  had  in- 
deed been  at  the  place,  but  after  waiting  some  days  without  seeing  or  hearing 
aught  of  Rogers,  had  departed  only  a  few  hours  before  his  arrival,  leaving  their 
fires  still  burning.  Guns.  Avhich  they  distinctly  heard,  were  fired  to  recal  them ; 
but  imagining  they  might  have  been  fired  by  an  enemy,  they  held  on  their  course 
down  the  river.  For  this  needless  precipitation,  subjecting  as  it  did  the  fam- 
ished rangers  to  the  bitterest  suffering,  tlie  commanding  officer  of  the  returning 
party  was  deservedly  cashiered.  The  nearest  place  of  relief  was  Charlestown 
— at  the  distance  of  seventy  miles — there  being  no  settlement  on  the  river  above 
that  tOAvn.  Ground  nuts  and  beach  nuts  were  the  only  sustenance  to  be  pro- 
cured in  the  dreary  forests ;  and  to  such  extremities  wei*e  the}*  reduced,  tliat 
for  the  sake  of  drinking  a  little  broth  even  slightly  tinctured  with  animal  mat- 
ter, they  boiled  their  i)owder  horns,  ball  pouches,  and  other  leathern  accoutre- 
ments. A  raft  was  constructed  on  which  Rogers  with  two  or  three  others, 
floated  down  Connecticut  River  to  White  River  Falls,  where  the  raft  was  un- 
fortunately lost.  AVith  extreme  difficulty  another  was  constructed  by  the  slow 
process  of  burning  down  trees,  on  which  he  passed  over  other  rapids  to  Charles- 
town,  and  despatched  up  the  river  canoes  laden  Avith  provii-ions.  to  meet  the 
starving  survivors.  Several  had  perished  in  the  woods  of  despair,  hunger  and 
exhaustion,  and  the  total  loss  in  the  retreat  amounted  to  fifty  men. 

"  Of  the  sufferings  endured  by  the  unfortunate  rangers  in  this  retreat,  the 
case  of  Benjamin  Bradley  of  Concord  furnishes  an  aff'ecting  specimen.  In 
company  with  two  others,  he  left  the  main  body  on  the  upper  part  of  the  Con- 
necticut River,  taking  a  course  which  he  supposed  would  lead  him  to  his  father's 
house  on  the  Merrimac.  He  never  arrived.  Some  hunters  afterwards  found 
in  the  wilderness  of  the  AVhitc  Mountains,  a  quantity  of  silver  broaches  and 
wampum  scattered  around  the  skeleton  of  a  man,  which  from  some  probable 
indications  was  conjectured  to  be  that  of  Bradley." 


KoTE  20.  "VTalpole. — "  In  the  spring  of  1755,  an  Indian  by  the  name  of 
Philip,  who  had  acquired  just  English  enough  to  be  understood,  came  into  the 
town  of  Walpole,  and  visited  the  liouse  of  Mr.  Kilburn,  pretending  to  be  on  a 
hunting  excursion  in  want  of  provisions.  He  was  treated  with  kindness,  and 
furnished  with  everything  he  wanted,  such  as  flints,  flour,  &c.  Soon  after  he 
was  gone,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  same  Indian  had  visited  all  the  settle- 
ments on  Connecticut  River,  about  the  same  time  and  with  the  same  plausible 
pretensions  of  hunting.  Kilburn  had  already  learned  a  little  of  the  Indian 
finesse,  and  suspected,  as  it  proved,  that  this  Philip  was  a  wolf  in  sheep's 
clothing.  Not  long  after  the  following  intelligence  was  communicated  to  all 
the  forts,  by  a  friendly  Indian,  sent  by  G<?neral  Shirley  from  Albany.  He 
stated  that  four  or  five  hundred  Indians  were  collected  in  Canada,  whose  object 
it  Avas  to  butcher  the  whole  white  population  on  Connecticut  River.  Judge, 
then,  of  tlie  feelings  of  a  few  Avhite  settlers,  when  they  learned  the  impending 
danger !     To  desert  their  soil,  cattle,  and  crops  of  grain,  would  be  leaving 


NOTES. WALPOLE.  245 

their  all,  and  to  contend  with  the  countless  savages  of  the  Canadian  regions 
was  a  hopeless  resort.  But  accustomed  to  all  the  hardships  and  dangers  of 
life,  they  boldly  resolved  to  defend  themselves,  or  die  in  the  cause.  Kilbum 
and  his  men  now  strengthened  their  defence  with  such  fortifications  as  their 
rude  implements  would  allow,  which  consisted  in  surrounding  their  habitations 
with  a  palisado  of  stakes,  stuck  into  the  ground. 

"  Col.  Benjamin  Bellows  had  at  this  time  about  thirty  men  under  his  com 
mand,  at  the  fort,  about  a  mile  south  of  Kilburn's  house ;  but  this  could  atford 
Kilburn  no  protection  while  attending  to  his  cattle  and  crops. 

"  They  were  now  daily  expecting  the  appearance  of  the  Indians,  but  the 
time  of  their  attack  no  one  could  foresee  or  prevent.  As  Kilburn  and  his  son 
John,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Peak,  and  his  son,  were 
returning  home  from  work  about  noon,  August  17,  1755,  one  of  them  discov- 
ered the  red  legs  of  the  Indians  among  the  alders,  '  as  thick  as  grasshoppers.' 
They  instantly  made  for  the  liouse,  fastened  the  door,  and  began  to  make  pre- 
parations for  an  obstinate  defence.  Besides  these  four  men,  there  were  in  the 
house  Kill)urn's  wife,  and  his  daughter  Hitty,  who  contributed  not  a  little  to 
encom-age  and  assist  their  companions,  as  well  as  to  keep  a  watch  upon  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  In  about  fifteen  minutes  the  Indians  were  seen 
crawling  up  the  bank  east  of  the  house  :  and  as  they  crossed  a  foot-path  one 
by  one,  one  Imndi-ed  and  ninety-seven  were  counted  ;  about  the  same  number 
remained  in  ambush  near  the  mouth  of  Cold  River. 

"  The  Indians  had  learned  that  Colonel  Benjamin  Bellows  with  his  men 
were  at  work  at  his  mill,  about  a  mile  east,  and  that  it  would  be  best  to  way- 
lay and  secure  them,  before  disturbing  those  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  log- 
house.  Bellows  and  his  men,  about  thirty,  were  returning  home,  with  each  a 
bag  of  meal  on  his  back,  when  their  dogs  began  to  growl,  and  betray  S}Tiip- 
toms  of  an  enemy's  approach.  He  well  knew  the  language  of  his  dogs,  and 
the  native  intrigue  of  the  Indians.  Xor  was  he  at  a  loss  in  forming  his  opin- 
ion of  their  intention  to  ambush  his  path,  and  conducted  himself  accordingly. 
He  ordered  all  his  men  to  throw  off  the  meal,  ad:\'ance  to  the  rise,  carefully 
crawl  up  the  bank,  spring  upon  their  feet,  give  one  whoop,  and  instantly  drop 
into  the  sweet  fern.  This  manoeuvre  had  the  desired  effect ;  for  as  soon  as  the 
whoop  was  given,  the  Indians  all  arose  from  their  ambush  in  a  semi-circle 
around  the  path  Bellows  was  to  follow. 

''  This  gave  his  men  a  fine  chance  for  a  shot,  which  they  improved  instantly. 
The  first  shot  so  disconcerted  the  plans  and  expectations  of  the  Indians,  that 
they  darted  away  into  the  bushes  -without  firing  a  gun.  Bellows  finding  their 
number  too  numerous  for  him,  ordered  his  men  to  file  off  to  the  south,  and 
make  for  the  fort.  The  Indians  next  made  their  appearance  on  the  eminence 
east  of  Kilburn's  house,  where  the  same  Philip,  who  had  visited  him  the  sum- 
n^mer  before,  came  foi-ward,  and  sheltering  himself  behind  a  tree,  called  out  to 
those  in  the  house  to  surrender.  '  Old  John,  young  John,'  says  he,  '  I  know 
you  ;  come  out  here — we  give  ye  good  quarter.'  '  Quarter ! '  vociferated  old 
Kilbum,  with  a  voice  of  thunder  that  rung  through  every  Indian  heart,  an^ 
every  hill  and  valley,  '  you  black  rascals,  begone,  or  we'll  quarter  you !' 

21* 


246  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

"  Philip  then  retunied  to  his  companions,  and.  after  a  few  minutes'  consulta- 
tion, the  war-whoop  commenced.  Kilbui-n  got  the  first  fire,  before  the  smoke 
of  the  enemy's  guns  obstructed  his  aim,  and  was  confident  he  saw  an  Indian 
fall,  which,  from  his  extraordinary  size  and  other  appearances,  must  have  been 
Philip.  The  Indians  rushed  forward  to  the  work  of  destniction,  and  probably 
not  less  than  four  hundred  bullets  were  lodged  in  I^lburn's  house  at  the  first 
fire.  The  roof  was  a  perfect  '  riddle  sieve.'  Some  of  them  fell  to  butchering 
the  cattle,  others  w-ere  busily  employed  in  wantonly  destroying  the  hay  and 
grain,  while  a  shower  of  bullets  kept  up  a  continual  pelting  against  the  house. 
Meanwhile  Kilburn  and  his  men  were  by  no  means  idle.  Their  powder  was 
already  poured  into  hats,  for  the  convenience  of  loading  in  a  hurry,  and  every 
thing  prepared  for  a  spirited  defence  or  glorious  death.  They  had  several 
guns  in  the  house,  which  were  kept  hot  by  incessant  firing  through  the  port 
holes,  and  as  they  had  no  ammunition  to  spare,  each  one  took  special  aim  to 
have  every  bullet  tell.  The  women  assisted  in  loading  the  guns,  and  when 
their  stock  of  lead  grew  short,  they  had  the  forethought  to  suspend  blankets 
in  the  roof  of  the  house,  to  catch  the  enemy's  bails,  which  were  immediately 
run  into  bullets  by  them,  and  sent  back  to  the  savages  with  equal  velocity. 
Several  attempts  were  made  to  burst  open  the  doors,  but  the  bullets  ^\-ithin 
scattered  death  with  such  i)rofusion,  that  they  were  soon  compelled  to  desist  from 
the  rash  undertaking.  Most  of  the  time  the  Indians  endeavored  to  keep 
behind  stumps,  logs,  and  trees,  which  evidently  evinced  that  they  were  not  in- 
sensible to  the  unceremonious  visits  of  Ivilbum's  bullets. 

"  All  the  afternoon,  one  incessant  firing  was  kept  up,  till  nearly  sundown, 
when  the  Indians  began  to  disappear,  and  as  the  sun  sunk  behind  the  western 
hills,  the  sound  of  the  guns  and  the  cry  of  tlie  war-whoop  died  away  in 
silence.  This  day's  rencounter  proved  an  efi'ectual  check  to  tlie  expedition  of 
the  Indians,  and  induced  them  immediately  to  return  to  Canada;  and  it  is  within 
the  bounds  of  reason  to  conclude,  that  this  matchless  defence  was  instrumental 
in  rescuing  hundreds  of  our  felloAv-citizens  from  the  hoiTors  of  an  Indian 
massacre." 


Note  21.  Warner. — Dr.  Long,  in  his  historical  sketches  of  Warner, 
says :  "  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  relate  a  rencounter  Thomas  Annis, 
Esq.,  had  with  a  bear.  One  day,  late  in  March,  the  snow  being  deep,  he 
mounted  his  snow-shoes,  and  in  company  with  Abner  Watkins,  and  their  dogs> 
set  off  towards  the  Mink  Hills  for  a  hunt,  armed  with  an  axe  and  gun.  In 
the  neighborhood  of  the  hills,  the  dogs  were  perceived  to  be  very  much  excited 
with  something  in  a  ledge  of  rocks.  Annis  left  his  companion,  Watkins,  and 
ascended  a  crag  twenty  or  thirty  feet  to  where  the  dogs  were,  having  no  other 
weapon  Avith  him  but  his  stafi',  which  was  pointed  with  iron.  After  exploring 
a  little,  he  concluded  there  was  no  game  there  of  more  consequence  than  a 
hedgehog,  or  some  other  small  animal,  and  being  fatigued  laid  down  on  the 
snow  on  his  back  to  rest,  reclining  his  head  upon  the  place  he  had  been  ex- 
amining; he  had  but  just  laid  down  when  he  heard  a  snuffing  under  his  ear; 


NOTES. MOUNTAIX    SCENERY.  247 

he  started  up,  and  turning  round,  found  an  old  bear  pressing  her  head  up 
through  the  old  leaves  and  snow  which  filled  the  mouth  of  her  den ;  he  thrust 
his  spear-pointed  staff  at  the  bear's  brisket,  and  thus  held  the  bear,  which  was 
pressing  towai-ds  him,  at  his  staff's  length  distance,  and  called  to  his  compan- 
ion, Watkins,  to  come  up  with  the  axe  and  kill  the  bear,  Avhich,  after  some 
little  time,  was  effected.  After  the  action  ^\as  over,  Annis  complained  of 
Watkins'  dilatoriness,  but  Watkins  excused  himself  by  saying  that  he  could 
not  get  his  gun  off:  that  he  had  snapped,  snapped,  snapped,  several  times. 
'  Where  did  you  take  sight  1 '  said  Annis,  knowing  that  he  was  directly 
between  him  and  the  bear.    '  I  took  sight  between  your  legs,'  said  Watkins.'  " 


Note  22.  Mountain  Scenekt  of  New  England.* — "  The  few  observa- 
tions I  shall  make  this  evening  -vWU  be  upon  the  relative  advantages  of  our  own 
native  hills — the  moral,  political,  and  physical  influence  they  exercise  upon  the 
inhabitants,  and  the  sublimity,  grandeur,  and  beauty  of  the  scenery  that  sur- 
rounds us. 

'•  I  am  well  aware  the  remark  is  frequently  made  and  repeated,  that  we  live 
in  a  cold  and  barren  clime  ;  that  unremitted  labor  and  strict  economy  can  but 
barely  produce  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  that  many  turn  aside  with  disgust 
from  the  blessings  that  surround  them,  to  gild  with  brilliant  colorings  the  fairy 
fields  in  the  fancied  paradise  of  the  West.  To  such  the  argument  would  be 
matter  of  surprise  that  we  possess  the  most  highly  favored  region  upon  the 
earth  ;  and  that  it  requires  but  the  cultivation  of  our  intellectual  and  physical 
resources  to  demonstrate  the  proposition. 

'•  To  an  inhabitant  of  the  Western  prairies  visiting  us  for  the  first  time,  it 
would  be  a  subject  of  speculation  that  we  could  live.  He  would  discover  little 
but  what  he  would  term  a  baiTcn  waste  ;  and  wonder  that  man  should  culti- 
vate rocks  when  he  could  have  fields  of  rich  alluvion ;  or  subsist  upon  the 
scanty  pittance  of  a  flinty  soil,  when  he  as  well  might  congregate  with  his  fel- 
low man  upon  the  harbors  of  the  ocean,  and  luxuriate  upon  the  treasures  of 
commerce.  He  might  spread  the  gilded  shadow  of  ease  and  luxury  before  us, 
and  in  the  delusion  of  the  moment  we  might  be  surprised  to  think  that  our 
fathers  should  have  chosen  this  as  a  heritage  for  themselves,  or  left  it  as  a  pat- 
rimony for  their  children.  Vain  illusion  !  Although  the  Western  alluvions 
are  fertile  beyond  the  dreams  of  the  A-isionary,  yet  disease  and  death  lurk  un- 
seen in  their  turbid  waters,  and  are  spread  abroad  in  the  tainted  breezes  of 
their  atmosphere. 

"  With  less  labor  required,  man  possesses  far  less  capacity  to  labor,  for  the 
nerves  are  unstrung  to  harmonize  not  alone  with  a  milder  climate  but  with  the 
miasm  that  surrounds  and  fills  it.  There  the  moral  and  physical  energies  of 
man  are  changed,  and  the  sudden  influx  or  rapid  increase  of  wealth  on  the  one 

*  Substance  of  a  Lecture  delivered  before  the  Lycetun  of  Bath,  N.  H.,  on  the  Mountain  See- 
ner>'  of  New  England,  by  Dr.  Moses  F.  Morrison. 


248  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

hand,  and  of  misery  and  degradation  on  the  other,  lead  to  their  concomitant 
vices,  idleness,  effeminacy,  and  dissipation.  And  though  virtue  may  exist,  its 
growth  is  checked  by  the  rank  weeds  of  Wcious  propensities  ;  its  resolves  are 
■vdolated ;  its  energies  cramped ;  and  it  more  generally  falls  a  victim  to  the 
contending  passions  it  can  neither  govern  or  destroy. 

"  In  a  moral  point  of  view  labor  is  our  greatest  blessing ;  and  for  this  very 
reason  a  mountain  life  becomes  the  greatest  conservator  of  morals.  Labor  is 
as  essential  to  the  purification  of  the  heart  as  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil ;  and 
industiy  united  to  economy,  both  essential  to  the  existence  of  a  mountain  life, 
is  the  palladium  of  virtue,  the  guardian  of  health,  and  the  foundation  of  happi- 
ness. 

"  For  many  of  the  virtues  we  possess  we  are  certainly  indebted  to  the  scene- 
ry that  surrounds  us.  Associated  ideas  not  only  operate  powerfully  upon  our 
imagination,  but  stamp  their  impress  upon  our  being.  An  elegant  %vriter  says 
that  in  studpng  the  pages  of  history,  he  would  point  to  the  contemplation  of 
the  virtues  of  mankind  and  not  to  their  vices  and  crimes.  The  last  too  fre- 
quently serving  as  the  model  and  apology  for  the  most  flagrant  deviations 
from  justice  and  rectitude.  In  vain  has  it  been  urged  the  resulting  evils  are 
sufScient  to  teach  mankind  to  avoid  them.  '  There  is,'  says  he,  '  a  profound 
truth  in  the  moral  as  well  as  the  natural  world,  to  which  sufficient  attention  has 
not  been  paid ;  that  the  pictures  of  vice  and  disorder  leave  dangerous  impres- 
sions, and  serve  less  to  dissuade  from  the  practice  of  evil,  than  to  familiarize 
us  to  the  view  and  to  harden  us  in  the  exercise  by  the  excuse  which  the  exam- 
ple furnishes.'  And  we  may  rest  assured  the  best  means  of  inculcating  and 
preserving  virtue,  is  to  withhold  from  it  the  images  of  vice. 

"  If  we  apply  this  maxim  to  the  natural  world,  we  perceive  at  once  the  rela- 
tive advantages  of  our  situation — that  our  mountain  bamers  lead  not  alone  to 
the  contemplation,  but  become  the  guardians  of  virtue  ;  and  while  they  debar 
us  from  the  higher  luxuries,  they  at  the  same  time  shut  out  the  darker  ^'ices  of 
mankind. 

"  So  true  has  it  ever  been  held  that  a  mountain  life  was  favorable  to  virtue, 
morality,  and  religion,  that  the  ancients  located  their  gods  and  goddesses  upon 
the  summit  of  Olympus,  and  asserted  that  whenever  they  chose  to  practise  the 
vices  of  mankind,  (to  which  indulgence  by  the  way  they  were  rather  too  much 
inclined)  they  at  least  descended  into  the  plains  below.  And  if  mountain 
scenery  is  favorable  to  purity  of  morals,  it  is  no  less  so  to  the  preservation  of 
liberty.  The  mediocrity  of  fortune  consequent  upon  the  limited  sources  of 
wealth  every  where  prevents  that  accumulation  of  treasure  in  one  or  a  few  as- 
sociated indi\4duals  which  leads  to  exclusive  and  illegitimate  power.  Thus  it 
was  in  Greece,  in  Wales,  in  the  Scottish  Highlands,  and  thus  it  is  in  Switzer- 
land and  North  America,  Where  now  are  the  splendid  empires  of  the  plains 
of  which  Babylon,  Nineveh,  Persepolis,  Palmyra  and  Bagdad  were  the  capitals  ? 
Perished  and  gone  forever.  And  while  revolutions  have  swept  over  the  political, 
like  deluge  torrents  over  the  natural  world,  the  mountains  have  generally 
been  left  unscathed,  and  their  inhabitants  have  become  the  political  as  well  as 


NOTES. MOUNTAIN    SCENERY.  249 

moral  renovators  of  the  earth.  And  if  in  the  march  of  time,  war,  civil  or  for- 
eign, should  sweep  with  the  besom  of  destiniction  over  this  land  ;  level  our  sea- 
ports and  cities  to  their  foundation,  and  lay  waste  the  rich  plantations  of  the 
West  and  South,  Liberty  will  still  erect  her  altar  in  the  mountains  and  con- 
tinue the  existence  of  that  celestial  fire  which  to  the  mountain  shall  burn  for- 
ever. And  if  the  mind  of  man  is  controlled  by  its  exterior  relations  in  the 
contemplation  of  the  sublimity  and  grandeur  of  nature,  no  wonder  the  associa- 
tions of  prudence  become  identified  with  our  existence  where  all  around  is 
beautiful  and  free. 

"But  if  the  moral  and  political  influence  of  mountain  scenery  is  strongly 
marked  and  impressive,  its  physical  effects  are  still  more  so.  Mont  Vernon 
and  Monticello  are  proof  that  the  physical  and  moral  energies  of  man  are  or 
may  be  in  some  measure  dependent  upon  local  situation.  It  is  generally 
known  that  tlie  pure  air  and  the  limpid  water  of  the  mountain  operate  to  give 
beauty  to  the  fomi  and  energy  to  the  constitution.  We  constantly  witness  ex- 
amples in  pur  own  country.  In  Scotland  and  Switzerland  it  has  given  a 
marked  development  to  the  human  form.  But  in  all  these  countries  modifica- 
tions have  arisen,  o^Wng  to  the  contingencies  which  governed  them.  It  is 
in  Asiatic  Georgia  and  Circassia  alone,  and  amidst  the  enduring  snows  of  the 
•  Caucasus,  that  the  utmost  pei-fection  of  the  human  form  exists.  They  are  uni- 
versally as  a  nation  remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  their  features  and  the  ele- 
gance of  their  persons  ;  and  that  their  physical  energies  coiTespond  with  their 
external  beauty,  Russia  can  witness  in  her  late  contests  with  them.  And 
whether  it  is  owing  to  the  happy  temperature  of  their  lives,  to  the  beautiful 
scenery  around  them,  or  an  attention  to  the  original  laws  which  improve  and 
elevate  the  species,  or  to  the  whole  of  these  combined,  the  result  has  been  that 
whereas  in  other  nations  beauty  and  elegance  are  of  rare  occurrence,  in  Cir- 
cassia and  Georgia  homeliness  and  deformity  are  unknown. 

'•  In  many  respects  the  White  and  Green  Mountain  ranges  differ  perhaps 
from  all  others  in  the  kno'^vn  world.  They  are  purely  of  primitive  origin,  while 
most  others  are  thrown  up  through  the  transition  secondary  or  tertiary  strata. 
We  have  not  even  the  organic  remains  of  the  transition  period,  and  hence  the 
search  for  coal  which  is  now  known  to  be  in  every  instance  vegetable  matter 
acted  upon  by  the  united  agency  of  heat  and  pressure,  is  equally  futile  and 
hopeless.  But  primitive  rocks  contain  the  most  valuable  ores,  and  in  our  in- 
stance their  surface  is  covered  almost  to  the  summits  of  our  highest  mountains 
with  a  productive  soil  and  with  a  beautifully  varied  vegetation.  The  world 
produces  not  a  spot  where  the  air  is  more  pure,  the  water  more  clear  and  lim- 
pid, and  the  scenery  more  wild  and  beautiful,  where  the  human  foot  can  move 
with  more  boldness  and  less  danger.  The  wolf  and  lammermuir  of  the  Alps — 
the  tiger  and  condor  of  the  Andes — the  cougar  and  rattlesnake  of  the  AUega- 
nies  are  not  here.  The  associations  of  childhood  and  youth  become  a  part  of 
our  being,  and  it  is  only  where  they  are  disruptured  by  transition,  that  we  real- 
ize their  existence. 
Place  a  mountaineer  upon  the  prairies,  and  he  longs  for  the  scenery  of  his 


250  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

youth ;  he  returns  to  behold  with  rapture  beauties  of  landscape  which  he  had 
before  passed  with  careless  indifference. 

"  I  have  passed  the  magnificent  gorge  of  the  White  Hills,  and  viewed  with 
enthusiasm  the  wild  sublimity  around  me.  I  have  entered  the  defile  of  Fran- 
conia,  and  \'iewed  with  astonishment  and  admiration  tlie  Old  Man  oftfie  Moun- 
tain and  his  wild  domain.  I  have  scaled  the  summit  of  Mount  Washington, 
and  at  one  time  beheld  the  thunder  cloud  at  the  base  far  below  me,  the  light- 
ning playing  over  its  surface,  and  a  brilliant  sun  irradiating  the  sky.  Again 
I  viewed  from  its  summit  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  spread  out  like  a  map 
before  me  ;  the  rays  of  light  reflected  by  a  dark  cloud  that  hung  upon-the  Green 
Mountains  brought  into  distinct  view  the  streams,  the  cottages,  the  fields,  the 
\illages,  the  hills  and  vallies,  the  waving  forests  and  the  vast  amphitheatre  of 
mountains  supporting  the  blue  vault  above  and  around  me  ;  I  felt  that  the 
sublime  and  beautiful  were  here  blended  upon  a  scale  never  to  be  surpassed, 
and  hallowed  by  a  thousand  associated  ideas  of  fond  remembrances  never  to 
be  forgotten. 

"  I  have  stood  on  the  shores  of  the  ocean  and  contemplated  the  vast  and  al- 
most illimitable  world  of  waters  before  me,  and  viewed  in  imagination  the  in- 
numerable ships  and  vast  navies  that  float  upon  her  bosom.  I  have  sailed  up- 
on the  waters  of  Ontario,  when  the  departing  sunbeams  cast  their  gorgeous 
shades  of  green  and  gold  over  its  surfi\ce — transcendcntly  beautiful — far  be- 
yond the  most  splendid  drapery  of  the  imagination.  Finally,  descending  into 
the  awful  chasm  of  Xiiigara,  I  have  appi-oacJicd  in  a  frail  boat  the  tremendous 
cataract  of  the  Western  seas,  until  repelled  by  the  rolling  surges  of  its  abyss,  I 
was  admonished  that  nearer  approximation  might  be  death.  No  i)erson  can 
describe  the  subUmity  of  this  scene — its  grandeur  is  overwhelming — and  the 
vast  display  of  magnificence  and  power  presented  at  a  single  glance  to  our 
view  shows  how  puny  are  the  cflTorts  of  man  compared  with  the  omnipotence 
of  God.  But  with  the  ocean,  with  the  lake  and  with  the  cataract  were  associa- 
ted in  my  mind  tlie  ideas  of  loneliness,  of  solitude — almost  of  desolation.  I 
longed  for  the  early  visions  of  life,  for  that  play  of  light  and  shade  upon  the 
mountain  sceneiy  of  my  native  land.  I  felt  what  I  had  not  learned  before, 
that  the  impress  of  external  ol>jects  had  stamped  their  seal  of  loveliness  upon 
the  heart  and  shaped  the  visions  of  ideality  in  the  brain  ;  and  that  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  intellectual  faculties  of  the  mind  and  the  physical  energies  of  the 
body  alone  were  wanting  to  make  me  the  ha])piest  of  the  free. 

"  And  now  permit  me  to  ask,  where  shall  we  find  a  soil  more  productive 
with  a  climate  equally  salubrious?  where  shall  we  breathe  an  atmosphere 
more  invigorating,  or  drink  of  fountains  more  pure  ?  where  shall  we  behold 
eceneiy  more  sublime,  beautiful  and  good,  surrounded  with  less  evils  or  expo- 
sed to  fewer  dangers  ?  Of  the  moral  and  physical  evils  we  do  suffer,  few  are 
consequent  upon  locality — some  are  contingent — but  many  are  created  by  our 
vices  and  perpetuated  by  our  ignorance.  We  constantly  A-iolate  the  laws  of 
organic  life ;  and  shall  we  complain  that  the  degeneracy  of  the  species  and  the 
ill  health  and  early  dissolution  of  the  individual  should  be  the  consequence  ? 
or  shall  we  value  less  the  numberless  blessincrs  which  surround  us  because  the 


NOTES. — DEFENCE    OF   THE    NORTH.  251 

harmony  of  the  intellectual  with  the  physical  world  is  comparatively  unknown  ? 
Certainly  not. 

••  And  now  imagination  finishes  her  erratic  flight,  droops  her  wings  and  closes 
her  pinions.  If  in  a  solitary  instance  I  have  awakened  the  slumbering  ener- 
gies of  the  mind  from  indifference  to  contemplation,  the  object  of  my  wishes  is 
obtained.  But  if  I  have  failed  in  exciting  the  love  and  admiration  of  our  com- 
munity ;  if  I  have  failed  to  recal  the  wandering  visions  of  the  wayward  spirit 
to  tlie  loveliness  of  our  own  home,  and  the  value  of  our  own  clime,  it  is  owing 
to  the  imperfection  of  my  language  of  description,  not  to  the  want  of  excellence 
in  the  theme,  or  the  stimulus  to  enthusiasm  in  portraying  the  beautiful  scene- 
ry around  us." 


Note  23.  Defence  of  the  North. — "While  the  bill,  imposing  additional 
duties  on  certain  public  officers,  as  depositaries  of  the  public  moneys,  was  un- 
der consideration,  at  the  extra  session  of  Congress,  in  1837,  Mr.  Pickens,  of 
South  Carolina,  attempted  to  draw  a  parallel  between  southern  slaves  and 
northern  laborers,  intimating  that  the  latter  were  the  subjects  of  o^vnership,  as 
well  as  the  former ;  and,  by  way  of  offset  to  the  operations  of  abolitionists,  he 
threatened  to  preach  insurrection  to  northern  laborers.  To  which  Mr.  Nat- 
LOR,  of  Pennsylvania,  said — 

"  I  am  a  northern  laborer.  Ay,  sir.  it  has  been  my  lot  to  have  inherited,  as 
my  only  patrimony,  at  the  early  age  of  nine  years,  nothing  but  naked  orphan- 
age and  utter  destitution ;  houseless  and  homeless,  fatherless  and  penniless,  I 
was  obliged,  from  that  day  forward,  to  earn  my  daily  bread  by  my  daily  labor. 
And  now,  sir,  when  I  take  my  seat  in  this  hall,  as  the  free  representative  of  a 
free  people,  am  I  to  be  sneered  at  as  a  northern  laborer,  and  degraded  into  a 
comparison  with  the  poor,  oppressed,  and  suffering  negro  slave  ?  Is  such  the 
genius  and  spirit  of  our  institutions  ?  If  it  be,  then  did  our  fathers  fight,  and 
bleed,  and  struggle,  and  die,  in  vain ! 

"  But,  sir,  the  gentleman  has  misconceived  the  spirit  and  tendency  of  north- 
em  institutions.  He  is  ignorant  of  northern  character.  He  has  forgotten  the 
history  of  his  country.  Preach  insurrection  to  the  northern  laborers  !  Preach 
insurrection  to  me !  Who  are  the  northern  laborers  1  The  history  of  your 
country  is  their  history.  The  reno^vn  of  your  country  is  their  reno^vn.  The 
brightness  of  their  doings  is  emblazoned  on  its  every  page.  Blot  from  your 
annals  the  deeds  and  the  doings  of  northern  laborers,  and  the  history  of  your 
country  presents  but  a  universal  blank, 

"  Sir,  who  was  he  that  disarmed  the  Thunderer,  wrested  from  his  grasp  the 
bolts  of  Jove,  calmed  the  troubled  ocean,  became  the  central  sun  of  the  philo- 
sophical system  of  his  age,  shedding  his  brightness  and  effulgence  on  the  whole 
civilized  world ;  whom  the  great  and  mighty  of  the  earth  delighted  to  honor ; 
who  participated  in  the  achievement  of  your  independence ;  prominently  as- 
sisted in  moulding  your  free  institutions,  and  the  beneficial  effects  of  whose 
wisdom  will  be  felt  to  the  last  moment  of  '  recorded  time  V  Who,  sir,  I  ask, 
was  he  ?  A  northern  laborer — a  Yankee  tallow-chandlers  son — a  printer's 
runaway  boy !  » 


252  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

"  And  who,  let  me  ask  the  honorable  gentleman,  who  was  he  that,  in  the 
days  of  our  revolution,  led  forth  a  northern  army — yes,  an  army  of  northern 
laborers — and  aided  the  chivalry  of  South  Carolina  in  their  defence  against 
British  aggression,  drove  the  spoilers  from  their  firesides,  and  redeemed  her 
fair  fields  from  foreign  invaders  ?  Who  was  he  ?  A  northern  laborer,  a 
Rhode  Island  blacksmith — the  gallant  General  Greene — who  left  his  hammer 
and  his  forge,  and  went  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer,  in  the  battles  for  our 
independence !     And  will  you  preach  insurrection  to  men  like  these  1 

"  Sir,  our  country  is  full  of  the  achievements  of  northern  laborers  1  "\Miere 
is  Concord,  and  Lexington,  and  Princeton,  and  Trenton,  and  Saratoga,  and 
Bunker  Hill,  but  in  the  north  1  And  what,  sir,  has  shed  an  imperishable  re- 
jaown  on  the  never-dying  names  of  those  hallowed  spots,  but  the  blood  and  the 
struggles,  the  high  daring  and  patriotism,  and  sul)lime  courage  of  northern  la- 
borers ?  The  whole  north  is  an  everlasting  monument  of  the  freedom,  virtue, 
intelligence,  and  indomitable  independence  of  northern  laborers  !  Go,  sir,  go 
preach  insurrection  to  men  like  these ! 

"  The  fortitude  of  the  men  of  the  north  under  intense  suffering,  for  liberty's 
sake,  has  been  almost  godlike  !  History  has  so  recorded  it.  Who  comprised 
that  gallant  army,  that,  without  food,  without  pay,  shelterless,  shoeless,  penni- 
less, and  almost  naked,  in  that  dreadful  winter — the  midnight  of  our  revolution 
— whose  wanderings  could  be  traced  by  their  blood-tracks  in  the  snow ;  whom 
no  arts  could  seduce,  no  appeal  lead  astray,  no  suffering  disaffect ;  but  who, 
true  to  their  country  and  its  holy  cause,  continued  to  fight  the  good  fight  of 
liberty,  until  it  finally  triumphed  ?  Who,  sir,  were  these  men  ?  Why,  north- 
em  laborers ;  yes,  sir,  northern  laborers  I 

*'  Who,  sir,  were  Roger  Sherman  and — but  it  is  idle  to  enumerate.  To  name 
the  northern  laborers,  who  have  distinguished  themselves,  and  illustrated  the 
history  of  their  country,  would  require  days  of  the  time  of  this  house.  Nor  is 
it  necessary.  Posterity  will  do  them  justice.  Their  deeds  have  been  recorded 
in  characters  of  fire  ! 

"  And  such  are  the  working  men  of  the  north  at  this  time.  They  have  not 
degenerated ;  they  are,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of  their  intelligent  and  sturdy 
sires.  Whose  blood  was  so  profusely  shed,  during  the  last  war,  on  the  Canada 
lines — but  that  of  the  northern  laborers  ?  Who  achieved  the  glorious  victories 
of  Perry  and  M'Donough  on  the  lakes — but  the  northern  laborers  1  Yes,  they 
'  met  the  enemy  and  made  them  theirs.^  Who,  sir,  have  made  our  ships  the 
models  for  all  Europe,  and  sent  forth,  in  the  late  war,  those  gallant  vessels  that 
gave  our  little  navy  the  first  place  in  the  marine  annals  of  the  world,  and  cov- 
ered our  arms  on  the  ocean  in  a  blaze  of  glory — but  the  skill,  and  intellect,  and 
patriotism  of  the  northern  laborers  ?  And  who.  sir,  manned  these  vessels,  and 
went  forth,  and,  for  the  first  time,  humbled  the  British  lion,  on  the  ocean — but 
the  northern  laborers  ?  And  who,  sir,  was  he,  that  noble  tar,  who,  wounded, 
and  bleeding,  and  mangled,  and,  to  all  appearance,  lifeless,  on  the  deck  of  one 
of  our  ships,  on  hearing  that  the  flag  of  the  enemy  had  struck,  and  that  A-ictory 
had  perched  on  the  proud  banner  of  his  country — raised  up  his  feeble,  mangled 
form,  opened  his  languid  eyes  once  more  to  the  light  of  heaven,  waved  his 


NOTES. — DEFENCE    OF   THE   NORTH.  253 

palsied  hand  round  his  head  in  token  of  his  joy,  and  fell  back  and  died.  Who, 
sir,  was  he  1  Why,  a  northern  laborer — a  northern  laborer !  And  yet  these 
men  are  the  slaves  of  the  north,  to  whom  the  honorable  gentleman  is  about  to 
preach  insurrection ! 

'•  I  appeal  to  the  representatives  of  Pennsylvania.  I  ask  you,  sirs,  who  is 
Joseph  Ritner — that  distinguished  man,  Avho,  at  this  very  moment,  fills  the  ex-^ 
ecutive  chair  of  your  great  State ;  a  man,  who,  in  all  that  constitutes  high  moral 
and  intellectual  worth,  has  few  superiors  in  this  country ;  one  who  has  all  the 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  necessary  to  accomplish  the  great  statesman,  and 
who  possesses,  in  the  most  enlarged  degree,  all  the  elements  of  human  great- 
ness 1  "Who,  sirs,  is  he  ?  A  northern  laborer — a  Pennsylvania  wagoner — who, 
for  years,  drove  his  team  from  Pittsburg  to  Philadelphia,  '  over  the  mountain 
and  over  the  moor,'  not '  whistling  as  he  went  V  no,  sir,  but  preparing  himself, 
then,  by  deep  cogitation,  and  earnest  application,  for  the  high  destiny  which 
the  future  had  in  store  for  him.  And  who,  let  me  ask  the  same  gentlemen, 
who  is  James  Todd,  the  present  attorney  general  of  Pennsylvania — distinguish- 
ed for  the  extent  of  his  legal  acquirements,  for  the  comprehensive  energy  of 
his  mind,  for  his  strength  of  argument,  and  vigorous  elocution  ?  Who,  sir,  is 
he  1  He,  too,  is  a  northern  laborer — a  Pennsylvania  wood-chopper — in  early 
childhood,  a  destitute,  desolate  orphan,  bound  out,  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor, 
as  an  apprentice  to  a  laborer !  These,  sir,  are  some  of  the  fruits  of  northern 
institutions ;  some  of  the  slaves  to  whom  the  honorable  gentleman  will  have  to 
preach  insurrection ! 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  it  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  heard  a  parallel  run  be- 
tween the  slaves  of  the  south  and  the  working  men  of  the  north.  For  a  while, 
sir,  that  parallel  was  made  as  to  the  relative  condition  of  the  free  negroes  of 
the  north  and  the  slaves  of  the  south.  Recently,  however,  some  of  those  who 
advocate  the  surpassing  excellence  of  the  slave  institutions  of  the  south,  have 
taken  a  bolder  and  more  daring  stand.  Racking  their  brains  for  arguments 
and  illustrations,  to  justify  slavery  as  it  prevails  among  thern,  they  have  hazard- 
ed the  bold  proposition,  that  slavery  exists  in  every  country ;  and  that,  in  the 
north,  the  operatives,  though  nominally  free,  are,  in  fact,  the  slaves  of  the  capi- 
talists. Such  a  proposition  is  monstrous.  I  tell  you,  sir,  gentlemen  deceive 
themselves.  They  slander  the  free  institutions  of  their  country.  They  wrong 
the  most  intelligent  and  enterprising  class  of  men  on  earth.  I  know  them 
well ;  I  have  long  been  associated  with  them.  I  have  seen  them  form  them- 
selves into  library  and  other  associations,  for  intellectual  improvement.  I  have 
seen  them  avail  themselves  of  every  leizure  moment  for  mental  culture.  I 
have  seen  them  learned  in  the  languages,  skilled  in  the  sciences,  and  informed 
in  all  that  is  necessary  to  give  elevation  to  the  character  of  man,  and  to  fit  him 
for  the  high  destinies  for  which  he  was  designed.  Let  the  honorable  gentleman 
go  among  them,  and  he  will  find  them  in  all  respects  equal  to  those  who  make 
it  their  boast  that  they  oum  all  the  laborers  in  the  south.  Yes,  sir,  as  well 
qualified  to  become  honorable  rulers  of  a  free  people — having  heads  fitted  for 
the  highest  councils,  and  fearless  hearts  and  sinewy  arms  for  the  enemies  of 
this  great  nation. 


254  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  I  call  upon  gentlemen  of  the  north  to  bear  witness  to  the 
truth  of  what  I  have  said ;  I  call  upon  them  to  look  back  to  the  days  of  their 
childhood,  and  say  whom  they  have  seen  attain  honor,  distinction,  wealth,  and 
affluence.  Are  they  not  the  working,  the  industrious  parts  of  society  1  And 
do  not  the  institutions  of  the  north  necessarily  lead  to  such  results  ?  Sir.  when 
I  pause,  for  a  moment,  and  behold  Avhat  are  now  the  little,  destitute  playmates 
of  my  childhood,  I  am  ovenvhelmed  with  astonishment  Some  of  them  have 
gone  forth  from  their  homes,  become  drafters  and  signers  of  declarations  of  in- 
dependence, founders  of  new  empires,  breakers  of  the  chains  of  despotism  ;  and 
the  earth,  even  in  their  youth,  has  drunk  up  their  blood,  shed  willingly  in  the 
cause  of  the  rights  of  man.  Some  have  ministered  at  the  altar  of  their  divine 
Master.  Some  have  led  the  bar,  adorned  the  senate,  illustrated  the  judiciary  ; 
and  others  have  wandered  in  the  flowery  field  of  literature,  trod  in  the  cool, 
tranquillizing  paths  of  philosophy,  delved  in  the  depths  of  science,  and  com- 
passed the  world  with  their  enterprise.  In  a  word,  civilization  has  no  pursuit 
that  they  have  not  already  honored  and  adorned.  And  yet  these  men  are  some 
of  the  fruits  of  those  odious  institutions,  against  which  the  eloquent  gentleman 
has  undertaken  his  crusade. 

"  Sir,  it  is  the  glory  of  the  northern  institutions,  that  they  give  to  every  man, 
poor  and  rich,  high  and  low,  the  same  fair  play.  They  place  the  honors,  emol- 
uments, and  distinctions  of  the  country,  before  him,  and  say,  '  Go,  run  your 
race  for  the  prize — the  reward  shall  encircle  the  brow  of  the  most  worthy.' 
Thus  it  is,  that  every  one  feels  and  knows  that  he  has  a  clear  field  before  him ; 
and  that,  with  industry,  prudence,  and  perseverance,  he  can  command  succes.s 
in  any  honorable  undertaking.  He  knows  that  his  industry  is  his  own;  his  ef- 
forts are  his  own ;  and  that  every  blow  he  strikes,  whilst  it  redounds  to  his  own 
immediate  advantage,  contributes  also  to  the  good  of  the  community,  and  the 
glory  and  renown  of  his  country.  All  honorable  employments  are  open  to 
him ;  the  halls  of  legislation  are  open  to  him ;  the  bar  is  open  to  him ;  the 
fields  of  science  are  before  him  ;  there  is  no  barrier  between  him  and  the  object 
of  his  ambition  but  such  as  industry-  and  perseverance  may  overcome. 

"  Look  at  the  working  of  their  institutions  upon  the  appearance  of  the  north. 
Look  at  her  mighty  cities,  her  forests  of  masts,  her  smiling  villages,  her  fertile 
fields,  her  productive  mines,  her  numerous  charities,  her  ten  thousand  improve- 
ments. Behold  my  own,  my  native  State.  Pennsylvania  is  intellectualized 
under  their  auspices.  Her  soil,  and  hills,  and  ^'alleys,  and  rocks,  and  everlast- 
ing mountains,  live  and  breathe  under  the  animating  influence  of  her  intelli- 
gent and  hard-working  population  ;  every  stream  feeds  its  canal ;  every  section 
of  country  has  its  railroad  ;  distance  is  annihilated ;  the  flinty  ribs  of  her  rocky 
mountains  are  driven  asunder ;  the  bowels  of  the  earth  yield  forth  their  trea- 
sures, and  the  face  of  the  earth  blooms,  and  blossoms,  and  fructifies  like  a  para- 
dise. And  all  this,  all  this  is  the  result  of  the  intelligence,  industry,  and  enter- 
prise of  northern  laborers,  fostered  by  the  genial  influence  of  their  institutions. 

"  Nor  are  their  eff'orts  confined  to  their  ovn\  country  alone.  Their  industry 
and  enterprise  compass  the  whole  earth.  There  is  not  a  wave  under  heaven 
that  their  keels  have  not  parted — not  a  breeze  ever  stirred  to  which  they  have 


NOTES. DEFENCE    OF    THE    NORTH.  255 

not  unfurled  the  starry  banner  of  their  country.  Go  to  tlie  frozen  ocean  of  the 
north,  and  you  will  find  them  there ;  to  the  ocean  in  the  extreme  south,  and 
you  will  find  them  there.  Nature  has  no  difficulty  that  they  have  not  over- 
come— the  Avorld  no  limit  that  they  have  not  attained. 

"  In  ever}"  department  of  mind  do  the  institutions  of  the  north  exert  a  whole- 
some, a  developing  influence.  Sir,  it  was  but  a  few  days  since,  that  you  saw 
the  membei-s  of  this  house  gathered  round  the  electro-magnetic  machine  of 
Mr.  Davenport.  There  they  stood,  mute  and  motionless ;  beholding,  for  the 
first  time,  the  secret,  sublime,  and  mysterious  principles  of  nature  applied  to 
mechanics ;  and  there  was  the  machine,  \  isible  to  all  eyes,  moving  with  the 
rapidity  of  lightning,  without  any  apparent  cause.  But  the  genius  that  made 
the  application  of  this  sublime  and  mysterious  influence,  who  is  he  but  a  la- 
boring, hard-AVorking  blacksmith  of  the  north  1 

"  Sir,  Avhere  do  learning,  literature,  and  science  flourish — but  in  the  north  1 
Where  does  the  press  teem  with  the  products  of  mind — but  in  the  north  ? 
AVTiere  are  the  scientific  institutions,  the  immense  libraries,  rivalling  almost,  at 
this  early  day,  Europe's  vast  accumulations — but  in  the  north  ?  And  who, 
sir,  gives  form,  and  grace,  and  life,  and  proportion,  to  the  shapeless  marble^- 
but  the  sculptor  of  the  north  ?  Yes,  sir,  and  there  too  does  the  genius  of  the 
pencil  contribute  her  glowing  creations  to  the  stock  of  northern  renown.  To 
northern  handiwork  are  you  indebted  for  the  magnificence  of  this  mighty  capi- 
tol.  And  those  noble  historical  pieces,  now  filling  the  pannels  of  the  I'otunda, 
which  display  the  beginning,  progress,  and  consummation  of  your  revolution, 
and  give  to  all  posterity  the  living  forms  and  breathing  countenances  of  the 
fcithers  of  your  republic;  they,  too,  are  the  works  of  a  northern  artist! 

"  But,  before  I  conclude  this  branch  of  my  subject,  let  me  make  one  obser- 
vation that  I  had  almost  forgotten.  The  gentleman  seems  to  think  that  our 
workmen  must,  of  necessity,  be  the  passive  instruments  of  our  capitalists 
His  idea  of  the  power  and  influence  of  wealth,  controlling  the  very  destinies  of 
the  man  who  labors,  must  be  derived  from  the  institutions  of  his  own  generous 
south;  where,  he  frankly  avows,  that  the  capitalist  does  absolutely  own  the  la- 
borers. His  views  are,  however,  utterly  inapplicable  to  the  north.  Who  are 
the  northern  capitalists  of  to-day,  but  the  penniless  apprentices  of  yesterday  ? 
Sir,  in  the  north  there  is  scarcely  a  class  of  men  existing  exclusively  as  capi- 
talists.  The  character  of  capitalist  and  laborer,  is  there  united  in  the  same 
person.  In  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred,  he  who  is  a  capitalist  has  be- 
come so  by  his  own  industry  and  perseverance.  He  begins  as  a  humble  '  la- 
borer'— his  industry,  virtue,  and  integrity,  his  only  capital.  He  gradually  ac- 
cumulates. Every  day  of  toil  increases  his  means.  His  means  are  then  united 
to  his  labor,  and  he  receives  the  just  and  honest  profits  of  them  both.  Thus 
he  goes  on,  joining  his  accumidations  with  his  labor,  receiving  the  profits  of  his 
capital  and  his  toil,  scattering  the  fruits  of  his  effbrts  abroad  for  the  benefit  of  so- 
ciety, living  in  manly  independence,  and  laying  up  a  stock  of  comfort  and  en- 
joyment for  his  declining  years.  Such  was  the  rich  Girard.  the  '  merchant  and 
mariner,'  as  he  styles  himself  in  his  last  will.  He  began  his  career  a  destitute 
cabin-boy.    And  such  are  the  capitalists  all  over  the  north.    They  were  all 


256  GA.ZETTEER    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

laborers  some  few  years  since ;  and  the  hunible  operative  of  to-day  mv^t  and  unll 
be  the  Avealthy  capitahst  in  some  few  years  to  come :  and  so  far  are  the  insti- 
tutions of  the  north  from  retarding  his  advance,  that  they  encourage  him,  aid 
him,  cheer,  cherish,  and  sustain  him  in  his  onward  career." 

Note  24.  Compliment  to  New  England. — The  following  beautiful  com- 
plinient  to  New  England  was  pronounced  by  the  Hon.  AVm.  B.  Shepard.  of 
North  Carolina,  in  the  course  of  a  speech  delivered  in  the  United  States'  House 
of  Representatives : — 

"A  few  summers  ago,  while  fl}'ing  from  the  demon  of  ill  health,  I  visited 
New  England.  I  found  her  towns  and  villages  crowded  with  an  industrious 
and  enterprising  population,  her  hills  and  valleys  redolent  with  health,  pros- 
perity, and  contentment ;  every  mind  seemed  to  be  intent,  every  head  was  oc- 
cupied ;  the  world  does  not  contain  a  more  flourishing  community.  There 
the  advantages  of  education  are  extended  to  the  poorest  individuals  in  society, 
and  that  society  receives  its  remuneration  in  his  sober,  industrious,  and  eco- 
nomical habits. 

"  If  the  divine  Plato  were  alive,  he  would  no  longer  draw  upon  his  imagina- 
tion for  a  specimen  of  a  perfect  republic :  he  would  there  find  a  community,  in 
which  the  humblest  individual  has  the  same  voice  with  his  most  wealthy  neigh- 
bor, in  laying  the  public  burdens  for  the  pubHc  welfare.  I  asked  myself  if  it  were 
possible,  that  the  prosperity  of  this  people  could  be  the  hot-bed  production  of 
an  artificial  system,  or  rather  if  it  were  not  the  result  of  a  long  continued  toil 
— of  an  industry  tluit  never  tired — of  an  economy  that  never  slept.  I  looked 
upon  the  scene  around  me  with  no  feelings  of  murmuring  discontent — I  felt 
the  more  rejoiced  because  it  was  part  of  my  country." 

Note  25.    New  Englaxd.— [%  //.  W.  Ellsworth,  Esq.] 

New  England  !     New  England  ! 

How  beautiful  thy  vales — 
Where  summer  flowers  are  breathing  forth 

Their  sweets  to  summer  gales  ; 
Where  soft  the  wild  note  breaketh 

From  out  each  dewy  grove, 
When  lone  the  night-bird  chanteth 

Her  even  lay  of  love  ! 

Oh  !  far  beyond  the  surges  wild 

That  beat  upon  thy  shore, 
Hath  swept  the  paean  of  thy  fame 

Old  ocean's  vastness  o'er ! 
And  echoes  far  the  triumph  song 

Of  that  true-hearted  band, 
"WTio  gave  their  homes,  their  all  for  God 

And  thee,  my  father-land  ! 


NOTES. NEW   ENGLAND.  257 

It  peals  amid  the  pakces 

Of  England's  titled  sons — 
O'er  soft  Italia's  quivering  -wires 

Its  magic  music  runs  ; 
From  lofty  peak  and  lowly  vale 

From  island  of  the  sea, 
In  joyous  notes,  comes  bursting  forth, 

That  anthem  of  the  free  ! 

Majestic  are  thy  mountains, 

Uptowering  to  the  sky  ! 
Stern  monuments  that  Freedom's  hand 

For  age  hath  piled  on  high ! 
Forever  may  they  guard  thee. 

As  now — the  blest,  the  free — 
Bright  Eden-land  of  nations ! 

Proud  home  of  Liberty ! 

And  beautiful  the  silver  streams 

That  ripple  o'er  thy  breast. 
In  thousand  forms  meandering 

To  seek  their  ocean  rest — 
Aye  beautiful !  and  may  they  twine 

Forever  bright  as  now, 
A  fadeless  leaf  of  lustre  round 

Thy  clear  unruffled  brow ! 

We  love  them,  for  their  legends  tell 

Of  deeds  and  daring  true — 
How  oft'  the  hunter  paddled  there, 

War-led,  his  dark  canoe ; 
And  oft,  beside  the  mossy  banks, 

'Mid  scenes  that  linger  yet, 
The  Indian  maid — sweet  nature's  child — 

Her  Indian  lover  met. 

And  these  are  gone ! — ^but  fairer  forms 

Still  rove  beneath  thy  skies, 
Whose  priceless  worth,  and  trusting  love 

Gleam  forth  from  laughing  eyes. 
Thy  daughters !  like  sweet  flowers  of  spring 

Bloom  'neath  thy  fostering  care. 
Thro'  coming  time,  as  now,  to  be^ 

Thy  treasures,  rich  and  rare  ! 

Thy  sons !  what  clime  that  knoweth  not 
The  noble  and  the  brave ! 

22* 


258  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HA3IPSHIRE. 

The  tamers  of  the  stubborn  earth — 

The  rovers  of  the  wave. 
Aye !  dearly  do  they  love  the  land 

Their  fathers  died  to  gain ; 
Their  pride,  its  glory  fresh  to  keep, 

Its  honor  bright  from  stain ! 

New  England !     New  England ! 

God's  blessings  on  thee  be ; 
And  ever  on  those  cherished  ones 

Fond  memory  links  with  thee ! 
From  this  fair  land,  whose  spreading  skies 

Like  thine,  a  glory  wear. 
My  spirit  turns  to  breathe  for  thee 

A  blessing  and  a  prayer ! 


Note  26.  Chekish  ouk  own  New  England. — ^"Ever  since  we  have  wit- 
nessed what  has  been  done  in  some  of  our  towns  to  increase  the  capacity  and 
production  of  our  soil,  reflection  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  we  cannot  do  a 
better  service  to  this  whole  community  than  to  lay  before  them  the  induce- 
ments which  offer  to  our  farmers  and  their  sons  to  improve  our  own  ground. 
When  the  products  of  New  England  shall  be  doubled,  this  will  be  demonstra- 
tion that  the  same  soil  may  be  as  easily  made  to  j-ield  four-fold ;  and  arriving 
at  this  point,  it  will  still  be  seen  that  this  last  product  may  be  again  doubled. 

"  If  we  can  show  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of  every  well  educated  young  man 
who  is  looking  to  the  new  regions  of  the  South  and  West  for  fame  and  fortune, 
that  he  will  better  consult  both,  at  the  same  time  he  will  render  life  and  health 
more  secure,  to  stop  short  -nathin  the  bounds  of  our  own  New  England,  we 
shall  do  an  acceptable  service  to  the  whole  community.  If  present  comfort, 
if  the  social  enjoyments  of  life  ai*e  considered,  there  cannot  be  a  moment's  hesi- 
tation as  to  the  location  of  every  person  commencing  business ;  and  what  but 
present  comfort  shall  induce  us  to  put  any  estimate  upon  the  mutabilities  of 
the  present  changing  scene  ?  To  arrest  the  course  of  many  a  wayAvard  youth 
who  overlooks  the  social  privileges,  the  moral  certainty  of  support  and  even  of 
abundance  of  this  world's  goods  as  the  fruits  of  perseverance  and  industry 
within  reach  of  the  eye  from  his  own  mountains,  for  a  distant  fairy  land  abound- 
ing it  may  be  in  the  elements  of  fertility  as  it  consequently  does  in  its  incipient 
settlement  in  the  seeds  of  disease  shattering  the  firmest  constitution  as  it 
shortens  life — we  would  offer  the  language  of  intercession :  we  would  ask  him 
to  pause  and  examine,  before  he  shall  stray  beyond  the  hills  which  overlook 
the  desirable  and  fertile  Valley  of  the  Connecticut.  Of  this  delightful  region  an 
enthusiastic  friend  writes — '  Remember  that  it  is  the  Connecticut  River  Valley, 
which  sweeps  through  the  better  part  of  New  England  for  four  hundred  miles, 
•'giving  blossoms  to  nature  and  morals  to  man," — ^for  one  half  the  distance  on 
the  borders  of  your  own  patriotic  State — ^which  is  my  theme.    I  have  travelled 


NOTES. DEFENCE    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  259 

the  whole  length  of  this  valley;  I  have  also  travelled  over  a  moiety  of  the 
States  in  the  Union  ;  but  I  have  never  seen  anything  equal  to  the  Valley,  tak- 
ing all  things  into  the  account,  morals  and  ph3-sics,  land  and  scenery.' 

"  We  want  all  our  readers  to  be  better  acquainted  with  tlie  Valley  and  its 
inhabitants ;  we  want  to  show  them  that  this  valley,  the  most  fertile,  as  it  is  the 
most  beautiful  region  in  the  United  States,  from  the  back  bone  range  of  hills 
in  New  Hampshire  on  the  cast  to  the  verge  of  the  Green  Mountain  range  on 
the  west,  is  capable  of  increasing  its  productions,  its  inhabitants,  its  means  of 
enjoyment,  far,  very  far  beyond  its  present  point  of  attainment,  and  even  be- 
yond the  present  condition  of  any  other  part  of  this  great  country." 


Note  27.  Defence  of  New  Hampshire.  A  few  years  ago,  in  a  debate 
on  the  subject  of  the  tariff,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Burke,  of  New  Hampshire,  made  the  following  remarks,  in  reply 
to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Arnold,  of  Tennessee  :  — 

"  Mr.  Speaker — But  on  one  occasion  since  I  have  had  the  honor  of  a  seat 
upon  this  floor  have  I  ever  inflicted  on  the  house  any  remarks  of  mine.  Xor 
would  I  now,  if  an  imperious  sense  of  duty  to  the  State  I  have  the  honor  in 
part  to  represent,  and  to  the  virtuous,  intelligent,  and  independent  people,  who 
sent  me  here,  did  not  impel  me  to  do  so. 

"  Not  addicted  to  a  propensity  to  talk,  nor  familiar  with  the  habit  of  public 
speaking,  I  have  preferred  to  be  a  silent  member,  and  to  leave  the  business  of 
wrangling  debate  to  those  who  have  a  taste  for  it,  while  I  was  willing  to 
devote  my  time  and  my  own  feeble  powers  to  the  real  business  of  the  country, 
and  of  the  humble  and  wronged  claimant  who  is  daily  knocking  at  your  doors 
for  justice.  Yes,  sir,  I  have  preferred  to  work — to  delve  in  the  onerous  busi- 
ness of  your  committees,  rather  than  to  waste  the  time  and  the  money  of  the 
people  in  debate,  sometimes  worse  than  useless,  to  the  country.  And  I  assure 
you,  sir,  that  I  should  not  now  break  over  the  determination  upon  which  I 
have  so  long  acted,  if  the  honor  and  character  of  my  adopted  State  had  not 
been  so  rudely  and  wantonly  assailed  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  (Mr. 
Arnold,)  who  addressed  the  house  on  Thursday  last.  Besides,  sir,  I  am  aware 
that  my  voice,  from  natural  defect,  is  too  feeble  to  be  heard  through  this  vast 
hall.  I  shall,  therefore,  speak  for  the  people,  as  pretty  much  all  others  speak ; 
for,  sir,  no  converts  are  made  here  by  talking.  But  before  the  grand  forum  of 
the  people  we  are  all  heard  ;  and  to  that  forum  more  particularly  do  I  now 
address  myself. 

"  The  honorable  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks, 
after  promising  to  give  an  account  of  the  natural,  moral,  and  social  condition 
of  New  Hampshire,  spoke  thus  of  that  State  :  — 

*  He  did  not  intend  to  discuss  the  question  of  the  tariff  at  present.  He  merely  wanted  to 
answer  the  demagogical  cant  of  the  gentleman  from  New  Hampshire.  What  was  New  Hamp- 
shire, that  she  should  furnish  a  lever  in  politics  that  must  get  up  here,  and  dictate  to  what 
committee  this  reference  should  be  made  ?  What  was  New  Hampshire  ?  A  most  barren  and 
Bterile  piece  of  earth.    He  never  could  think  of  New  Hampshire,  without  thinking  of  black 


ZbU  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIEE. 

chilly  rocks,  of  the  screeching  owl  and  prowling  wolf.  Was  she  adyancing  in  populad(Hi  ? 
He  believed  not.  She  was  the  onl}-  State  in  the  Unioif  that  had  taken  a  retrograde  moTe- 
ment ;  or,  at  least,  she  advanced  in  population  le.«s  than  any  other  State.  She  wa£  in  fayor 
of  free  trade  !  He  would  like  to  know  what  New  Hampshire  had  to  trade  on  ?  He  wa«  told 
there  was  one  manufacturing  town  in  the  State,  and  that  was  in  the  gentleman's  district — ^b£ 
did  not  know  but  the  very  residence  of  the  gentleman — and  that  gave  a  large  majority 
against  him.' 

"  Now,  sir,  if  I  did  not  rise  up  and  defend  that  gallant  little  State  from  the 
foul  aspersions  cast  upon  her  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  I  should  no 
longer  deserve  her  confidence,  nor  be  worthy  of  a  seat  upon  this  floor.  That 
gentleman,  with  all  the  assurance  which  ignorance  of  her  condition,  '  natural, 
moral,  and  social,'  alone  could  inspire — and  ignorance,  sir,  always  begets 
assurance — inquires,  '  What  is  New  Hampshire  ? '  I  will  tell  him,  sir,  what 
New  Hampshire  is — her  natural,  moral,  and  social  condition — and  I  can  do  it 
in  no  better  way  than  by  contrasting  her,  in  all  these  several  aspects,  with 
Tennessee,  the  State  from  which  that  gentleman  has  the  honor  to  come. 

"  New  Hampshire  is,  indeed,  throned  among  the  hills.  She  is  the  Switzer- 
land of  America.  Her  mountains  point  high  up  among  the  clouds,  where 
eagles  take  their  flight,  and  enjoy  unrestrained  the  freedom  of  the  skies.     She 

is  a  land,  sir, 

'  Of  mountain  and  of  flood. 
Of  green  heath  and  shaggy  wood.' 

"  Her  cloud-clapt  hills,  even  in  midsummer,  ghsten  with  the  frosts  and 
snows  of  winter.  The  terrific  avalanche  springs  from  her  summits,  and 
thunders  dowTi  their  sides.  But,  sir,  she  is  also  a  land  of  crystal  streams,  of 
glassy  lakes,  embosomed  among  her  hills — and  of  beautiful  valleys  and  mea- 
dows, dotted  with  neat  and  pretty  villages,  teeming  with  fertility,  the  hum  of 
industry,  and  all  the  evidences  of  wealth  and  prosperity.  She  has  more  of 
those  noble  temples  of  liberty,  common  schools,  more  village  spires  pointing  to 
heaven,  and  more  of  the  monuments  which  mark  a  high  and  advanced  state 
of  civilization,  than  any  other  State  of  this  Union,  with,  perhaps,  one  or  two 
exceptions.  If  there  are  any  exceptions,  I  am  not  aware  of  them.  And,  Mr. 
Speaker,  if  she  is  indebted  to  any  cause  under  heaven  for  her  advancement  in 
prosperity,  wealth,  and  civilization,  it  is  to  her  lofty  mountains  and  her  beau- 
tiful and  fertile  valleys.  Her  people  breathe  the  mountain  air,  the  air  of 
heaven  and  of  liberty  ;  and  her  rugged  surface,  not  barren  and  sterile,  calls  for 
their  mental  as  well  as  physical  powers,  and  makes  them  what  they  are — a 
hardy,  vigorous,  intelligent,  and  energetic  people — a  people,  sir,  schooled  in 
industry,  morals,  and  virtue,  lovers  of  justice  and  equality,  and  democratic 
because  they  are  the  lovers  of  justice.  Such  is  the  outline  of  the  character  of 
New  Hampshire  and  of  her  people. 

"  I  will  now,  sir,  descend  to  particulars,  and  show  what  New  Hampshire  is, 
by  contrasting  her  with  Tennessee,  from  which  State  the  gentleman  has  the 
honor  to  come.  And  here  I  would  apologize  to  the  colleagues  of  that  gentle- 
man for  the  notice  I  am,  in  defence  of  my  own,  obliged  to  take  of  that  State, 
if  the  contrast  which  I  shall  exhibit  will  cause  them  pain. 

"  I  begin  with  the  geographical  condition  of  the  two  States.    New  Hampshire 


NOTES. DEFENCE    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


261 


embraces  in  her  territory  7,987  square  miles.  Tennessee  has  a  territory  of 
45,600.  New  Hampshire  is  hilly  and  mountainous,  and  so  is  Tennessee.  New 
Hampshire  is  well  watered  by  rivers  and  numerous  smaller  streams.  Such 
is  the  character  of  Tennessee.  New  Hampshire  has  a  population  of  284,574, 
being  about  thirty  inhabitants  to  every  square  mile.  Tennessee  has  a  popu- 
lation of  829,810,  being  about  eighteen  to  each  square  mile.  The  gentleman 
says  New  Hampshire  has  advanced  but  very  little  in  population  during  the 
last  ten  years,  if  she  has  not  retrograded.  Now,  sir,  the  fact  is  shown  by  the 
late  census  to  be,  that  she  has  advanced  in  population  more  rapidly  in  propor- 
tion to  her  census  in  1830  than  a  majority  of  the  old  States,  and  even  more 
rapidly  than  the  district  represented  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee.  New 
Hampshire,  on  a  population  of  284,574,  having  increased  14,848,  being  a  ratio 
of  five  per  cent.,  and  that  gentleman's  district,  on  a  population  of  31,819,  hav- 
ing increased  only  1 ,380,  being  a  ratio  of  four  per  cent.  So  much,  sir,  for  the 
geographical  character  and  jDopulation  of  New  Hampshire. 

"  I  will  now  take  the  agricultural  statistics  of  the  two  States,  as  furnished  by 
the  late  census.  New  Hampshire  has  a  population,  as  I  before  remarked,  of 
284,574.  The  aggregate  value  of  her  agricultural  products,  in  the  year  1840, 
was  $25,703,000 — being  $90  for  each  inhabitant.  Tennessee  contains  a  popu- 
lation of  829,810,  black  and  white,  and  produced  in  1840,  in  the  aggregate 
value,  $73,130,000  of  agricultural  products — being  $88  per  head,  and  two 
dollars  less  per  head  than  is  produced  by  the  people  of  New  Hampshire.  From 
this  fact,  sir,  are  we  to  infer  that  Tennessee  is  more  barren  and  sterile  than 
New  Hampshire,  and  that  she  is  a  land  of  '  black  chilly  rocks,'  inhabited  by 
the  '  screeching  owl '  and  the  '  prowling  wolf  1 '  It  would  seem  so,  from  the 
aggregate  value  of  the  agricultural  productions  of  the  two  States,  compared 
with  their  respective  populations. 

*'  I  will  nejft  contrast  the  two  States  in  the  amount  of  capital  invested  in 
four  of  the  most  important  branches  of  manufactures^  and  their  annual  produc- 
tion, as  exhibited  by  the  census  of  1840, 


New  Hampshire. 

Value  of 
Manufactures. 

Capital 
invested. 

Cotton  manufactures, 

$4,142,564 

$5,525,200 

Woollen,     .            . 

712,784 

740,345 

leather, 

712,151 

230,649 

Hardware,  cutlery,  &c., 

124,160 
$5,691,659 

$6,496,194 

Tennessee. 

Cotton  manufactures, 

325,719 

463,240 

Woollen,     . 

14.290 

25,600 

Leather, 

359.050 

154,540 

Hardware,  cutlery,  &c., 

57,170 

$756,229 

$643,380 

"  Thus,  sir,  it  appears  that,  in  the  four  descriptions  of  manufactures  men- 
tioned, New  Hampshire  produces,  in  the  aggregate,  annually,  $5,691,659  in 


262  GAZETTEER    OF    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

value,  and  has  invested  a  capital  of  $6,496,194,  Avhile  Tennessee  produces 
only  $756,229  in  value,  and  has  a  capital  invested  of  only  $643,380.  New 
Hampshire,  with  a  population  of  but  little  over  one  third  as  large  as  Tennes- 
see, produces  in  value  nine  times  as  much  in  the  four  descriptions  of  manu- 
factures I  have  named  as  Tennessee.  And  here,  in  justice  to  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  I  would  remark,  that  she  has  more  capital  invested  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union,  except  Massachu- 
setts and  Rhode  Island.  And  how  proudly  does  she  stand  in  contrast  with 
the  State  of  Tennessee,  which  is  in  part  represented  by  the  gentleman  who 
has  assailed  her !  Why,  sir,  the  State  of  Tennessee  does  not  manufacture 
cotton  cloth  enough  to  make  each  inhabitant  a  pair  of  shirts  a  year :  nor 
enough  of  woollen  to  give  a  quarter  of  a  yard  to  each  of  their  backs  !  The 
gentleman  asks,  '  What  has  New  Hampshire  to  trade  upon  ? '  With  how 
much  force  can  I  retort  the  inquiry,  '  What  has  Tennessee  to  trade  upon  ?  ' 
I  have,  sir,  a  little  kjiowledge  of  the  commerce  of  East  Tennessee,  the  parti- 
cular region  from  which  the  learned  and  enlightened  gentleman  comes,  to 
whose  attacks  upon  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  I  am  replying.  I  am  told 
by  a  facetious  gentleman  from  the  West,  that,  before  the  general  introduction 
of  steamboats  upon  the  Mississippi,  that  noble  stream  was  navigated  by  fiat 
bottom  boats,  laden  with  the  produce  of  the  country,  and  that  a  boat  was 
always  known  to  come  from  East  Tennessee,  from  the  fact  that  it  was  laden 
with  dogs  and  hoop-poles.  The  gentleman  can  answer,  whether  or  not  those 
two  commodities  still  constitute  the  principal  articles  of  commerce  in  East 
Tennessee. 

"  I  will  now  call  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  state  of  education  in  the 
two  States,  which  I  shall  exhibit  in  contrast : — 

A  TABLE  shoiving  the  Education  Statistics  of  Neiv  Hampshire,  Tennessee,  and  East  Ten,' 
nessee,  as  exhibited  by  the  Census  of  1S40 : 

N.  Ham.  Tenn.  E,Tenn, 

Whole  number  of  white  inhabitants       ....        284,481  640,627  203,371 

Number  of  Colleges 2  8  5 

Academies  and  grammar  schools 68  152  24 

Primary  and  common  schools 2,127  983  262 

Whole  number  of  places  for  education  .        .        .        .            2,195  1,143  291 

Number  of  students  in  CoUeges 433  492  260 

Nmnber  of  scholars  in  academies 5,799  5.589  862 

Number  of  scholars  in  common  schools         .        .        .          83,632  25,090  4,804 

Total  number  attending  schools  of  all  kinds  -.  .  89,861  31,121  6,926 
The  places  of  instruction  average  to  the  inhabitants 

onetoeverj- 130  560  699 

The  number  of  scholars  in  the  various  places  of  educa- 
tion average,  to  the  inhabitants,  about  one  to  every  .                   3  1-4  20  1-2  291-2 
Number  of  scholars  educated  at  the  expense  of  the  State          83,632  6,907  2,719 
Number  of  persons  over  twenty  years  of  age  who  can- 
not read  or  write          927*  58,531t  25,628$ 

"  How  proud  the  contrast  to  every  son  of  the  noble  little  Granite  State ! 
And  I  will  take  this  occasion  to  remark,  on  the  authority  of  the  late  census, 
that  no  State  in  the  Union  has  so  many  places  of  instruction,  and  so  many 

*  Being  1  in  every  307  inhabitants.  t  Being  1  to  everj- 11  white  inhabjtanta, 

f  Being  1  in  every  8  white  inhabitants. 


NOTES. — DEFENCE    OF   NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  263 

common  schools,  in  proportion  to  her  population,  as  New  Hampshire — a  State 
which  has  been  stigmatized  as  benighted,  and  sunk  in  ignorance.  But  I  have 
not  done  with  the  subject  of  education.  I  will  institute  a  comparison  between 
the  gentleman's  district  and  my  own. 

"  The  district  represented  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee  [Mr.  Arnold] 
is  composed  of  the  county  of  Greene,  with  a  population  of  16,076;  Carter, 
5,372;  and  Washington,  11,751 — being  a  total  of  33,199;  and  contains — 

Universities  and  colleges 2 

Number  of  students 40 

Academies  and  grammar  schools 5 

Number  of  scholars 180 

Primary  and  common  schools 33 

Number  of  scholars 630 

Number  of  scholars  at  public  charge 280 

Number  of  white  persons  over  20  years  of  age  in  each  family  who  can- 
not read  and  write 4,270 

Being  one  person  in  every  8|. 

"  The  district  of  New  Hampshire  represented  by  myself  [Mr.  Burke]  is  com- 
posed of  the  county  of  Sullivan,  with  a  population  of  20,340,  and  Cheshire, 
25,429  ;  being  a  total  of  46,769 ;  and  contains — 

Universities  or  colleges  .  — 

Number  of  students  ...  — 

Academies  and  grammar  schools 13 

Number  of  scholars 986 

Primary  and  common  schools* 325 

Number  of  scholars 15,387 

Number  of  scholars  at  public  charge 2,538 

Number  of  white  persons  over  twenty  years  of  age  in  each  family  who 

cannot  read  and  write 66 

Being  one  person  in  every  778. 

"  Thus  it  appears  that  the  counties  of  Sullivan  and  Cheshire,  in  New  Hamp 
shire,  containing  a  population  of  46,769,  have  more  than  twice  as  many  acade- 
mies, more  than  five  times  as  many  students  attending  them,  more  than  twelve 
times  as  many  common  schools,  and  more  than  twenty-five  times  as  many 
scholars  attending  them,  as  the  district  represented  by  the  gentleman  from 
Tennessee,  which  contains  a  population  of  33,199.  In  my  district  there  is  but 
one  person  over  20  years  of  age  in  778  who  is  unable  to  read  and  write,  and  in 
that  gentleman's  district  there  is  one  in  every  8|-  The  town  of  Newport,  in 
which  I  reside — a  small  township  of  six  miles  square  in  Sullivan  County,  con- 
taining a  population  of  1,958,  has  more  than  half  as  many  common  schools  as 
the  district  represented  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  and  more  scholars 

*  There  is  an  error  in  the  number  of  common  schools  in  Sullivan  County,  There  are  at 
least  200  common  schools  in  that  county  alone,  whereas  in  this  table  she  is  allowed  only  97. 


264  GAZETTEER    OF   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

attending  them,  there  being  19  common  schools  in  the  to^vn,  and  650  scholars 
attending  them. 

"  The  gentleman  professed  to  give  an  account  of  the  natural,  moral,  and  so- 
cial state  of  New  Hampshire.  Xow,  sir,  I  do  not  doubt  that  he  truly  represents 
his  district.  And  can  it  be  Avondered  at  that  he  should  fall  into  such  gross 
and  absurd  errors  in  regard  to  a  State  so  far  distant,  and  of  which  probably 
one-fourth  of  his  constituents  have  never  read  ? 

"  I  am  aware  that  I  have  trespassed  long  upon  the  patience  of  the  House, 
and  I  beg  its  pardon  for  the  time  I  have  occupied.  I  felt  called  upon  to  say 
thus  much  in  defence  of  the  little  State  I  have  the  honor  in  part  to  represent, 
which  had  been  so  rudely  and  wantonly  assailed  by  the  gentleman  from  Ten- 
nessee. A  State,  sir,  small  indeed  in  tenitory,  but  second  to  none  in  this 
Union  for  her  comparative  wealth  and  enterprise,  for  her  equal  laws,  her  free 
institutions,  her  progress  in  the  mechanic  arts  and  in  civilization,  and  for  the 
morality,  virtue,  integrity,  intelligence,  and  energy,  of  her  hardy  and  indepen- 
dent yeomanry." 


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