USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dunstable > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tyngsborough > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Litchfield > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Merrimack > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 1
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Hen
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01115 2151 E
Gc 974.402 D92f
1128685
NavTwee & With Boston
HISTORY
OF THE
OLD TOWNSHIP OF DUNSTABLE:
INCLUDING
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, HOLLIS, HUDSON,
LITCHFIELD, AND MERRIMAC, N. H .;
DUNSTABLE AND TYNGSBOROUGH,
MASS.
BY CHARLES J. FOX.
NASHUA : CHARLES T. GILL, PUBLISHER. 1846.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Forty six, BY CHARLES J. FOX,
In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the District of New Hampshire.
NASHUA: MURRAY & KIMBALL. PRINTERS.
1128685
NOTICE.
A FEW pages only of this volume were in type, when its author was called away by death, from the community who esteemed and the friends who loved him. As arrangements had been made for the publication of the work, a large subscription obtained, and the promise of its appearance given to the public, it was thought best that no delay should take place. The his- tory, as prepared by Mr. Fox, extended to the year 1840, during which the greater part of it was written. He had however, when undertak- ing its publication, procured information from va- rious sources, as to transactions since that peri- od, especially with regard to the present state of business in the village of Nashua. To condense this information, and incorporate it with what had been previously written, - to collect such additional facts as seemed desirable to be pre- served in a volume of this kind, and to superin- tend the mechanical execution of the work, has been the task of the author's friends,- a task of some delicacy and difficulty, but rendered inter- esting not only by the nature of the work itself,
A
iv.
NOTICE.
but by its connection with one, who left so many claims to the affectionate remembrance of those who knew him. If under such circumstances, mistakes should be found to have passed uncor- rected, which the eye of the author would have discovered, - or if the information given should seem deficient on any point where the further re- searches of the writer would have supplied it, the indulgence of the reader is requested.
Of the Author himself, a brief notice in this place will doubtless be expected by those who are acquainted with the circumstances under which the work is published. It is hoped that before long, a more full account of his character, labors and influence will be presented to the world by one who knew him intimately, and who is in every respect eminently suited to the task.
CHARLES JAMES Fox was born at Antrim, N. H., in the month of October, 1811. He received his preparatory education at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1831. He pursued the study of law, at first in the law school of Yale College, and afterwards with Daniel Abbot, Esq., of Nashua (now Nashville, ) N. H. With this gentleman he subsequently entered into part- nership. Having been chosen in 1837 a mem- ber of the State Legislature, he was appointed in connection with Judge Parker and Mr. Bell, to prepare for publication the Revised Statutes of
v.
NOTICE.
New Hampshire. The great labor which he en- countered in the fulfilment of this duty, added to that of an extensive legal practice, it is believed laid the foundation of that disease which at so early a period, deprived the community of his valuable life.
In 1841, Mr. Fox, in connection with Rev. Samuel Osgood, then pastor of the Unitarian Church in Nashua, prepared and published the " New Hampshire Book," a collection of pieces in prose and verse, from the writings of natives and adopted citizens of this state.
While a member of the Legislature, Mr. Fox took a deep interest in the establishment of the State Lunatic Asylum, of which he was ap- pointed one of the Directors.
On the third of June, 1840, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Catherine P. Abbot, the daughter of his partner.
In the year 1843, Mr. Fox, in consequence of his declining health, took a voyage to the Medi- terranean, visiting the interesting countries which surround that sea, and extending his travels as far as Egypt.
This voyage not having accomplished the res- toration of his health, in the following autumn he sailed for the West Indies, accompanied by Mrs. Fox. Notwithstanding his feeble state of body, he looked on the scenes around him with
vi.
NOTICE.
an observant eye, and treasured up many inter- esting and instructive reminiscences, which were in part given to the world after his return, in a series of letters, published in the Nashua Gazette.
During this visit to the West Indies, the sub- ject of slavery especially engaged his attention. He viewed it with the feelings of a philanthro- pist, united with the calm judgment of a lawyer ; and had his health permitted him to complete his first design in the letters above referred to, his testimony on this subject would have possessed a peculiar value. Enough however is contained in the letters which he was able to write and publish, to show his deep and enlightened inter- est in whatever concerned the rights and the welfare of his fellow beings.]
From this journey he returned in a state of great feebleness, in June, 1845. During the suc- ceeding fall and winter, he gradually sunk, though with intervals of apparent improvement, until his death, which took place February 17th. 1846. Industrious to the last, the hours when such exertion was possible, were devoted to the revision of the History which is now presented to the public, and to poetical compositions, chief- ly on religious subjects.
The character of Mr. Fox had always, it is believed, been marked by purity and upright- ness. As carly as 1838, he became a member of
NOTICE. vii.
the Unitarian Church in Nashua ; he was an ef- ficient teacher in the Sunday School, and a firm supporter of religious institutions and enterpri- ses, until sickness compelled him to retire from public action. His views in the anticipation of death were calm ; he seemed to be without fear, and to rest on the assurances of his Heavenly Father's love. Only when he spoke of the great- ness of the blessings which that love had provid- ed, did his voice falter, and his dying words seem too weak to express his overflowing gratitude. With such ties to life as few possess, beloved and honored by the community, dear to the Church of Christ, and cherished as a son, a husband and a father, he surrendered himself with calm faith to the will of his Creator.
A
*
CONTENTS.
Notice,
Preface,
Page iii. 3
Introduction,
5
CHAPTER J. THE FIRST SETTLERS OF DUN- STABLE.
Early settlers of New England. Valleys of the Mer- rimac and Nashna. Winnipisiogee. Chelmsford and Groton. Johnson and Willard's company .- Litchfield. Amherst. Milford. Grant to John Whiting at Salmon Brook. Grants to Billerica ; - to Gov. Endicott ; - Henry Kimball. Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Petition for incor- poration. Conditions. Boundaries. Name of Dunstable. Original proprietors. Lient. Wheeler. John Cromwell. Indian tribes. Passaconoway .- Wannalancet. Wickasuck Island. Character and customs of the Indians. "The Bashaba's Feast." First settlers of Dunstable. First house lots. Or- chards. Old Fort. Articles of agreement. Desig- nation of place for the meeting house.
7
CHAPTER H. THE INDIAN WAR OF 1675.
King Philip. Perilous situation of Dunstable. In- dians remove. Garrison increased. Measures of Governor and Council. Friendship of Wannalan- cet. Mr. Tyng alone remains in Dunstable. His petition. Attack on Chelmsford. Fort at Paw- tucket Falls. End of the War. Treatment of the friendly Indians. Mr. Tyng appointed their guar- dian. Allowances to him and to Thomas Wheeler.
CONTENTS. ix.
Sudden appearance of Mohawks. Second appear- ance. Wannalancet retires to Canada. Treaty 28
of Nimeguen.
CHAPTER III. HISTORY FROM 1675 TO 1685.
Town meetings. Selectmen. Efforts to settle a min- ister ; - to build a meeting house. Freeman's oath. First meeting house. First births in the town .- Saw Mill. Settlement of Mr. Weld. Character of the people. Extracts from the records of the Colony. Town meetings. Appearance of a comet. Death of Hon. Edward Tyng. Increase of the town. Regulations respecting taxes, - wood,- swine. Mine Islands. Hezekiah Usher. Supposed Mines. Guard continued. Prices of wood. High- way from Groton. " Thirty acre rights." Settle- ment of Mr. Tyng's claim. Proprietors' names. Salary of Mr. Weld. Proceedings relative to a meeting house. Specie and produce. Town offi- cers. Taxes. New alarm from the Indians .- " The Pilgrim's Vision." 38
CHAPTER IV. HISTORY FROM 1685 TO THE DEATH OF REV. MR. WELD IN 1702.
Meeting house built. Ordination of Mr. Weld. First church members. Covenant of neighboring church- es. Churches in New Hampshire at this date .- Cranfield's oppressive edict. Removal of the In- dians. Bridge in Billerica. Singular office. Rev- olution of 1688. French War of 1689. 'Indian attack on Dover. Garrisons. Letter of Major Henchman. Tythingman. Indian ravages .- 'Truce. War renewed. Murder of Hassell and others. Garrisons in Dunstable. Representatives chosen. Strict regulation to prevent settlers remov- ing. Grants for support of the ministry. Return of Wannalancet. Treaty of Ryswick. Joe Eng- lish. His adventures. Grant to him. Capture of Mrs. Duston at Haverhill. State of the town. Compensation of Mr. Weld. Billerica bridge .- Bridge over Salmon Brook. Wood-rate. Puritan
x.
CONTENTS.
simplicity. List of inhabitants. Vote to glaze the meeting house. Petition for aid to support the min- istry. Death of Mr. Weld. His history. . 55
CHAPTER V. INDIAN WARS FROM 1703 TO 1713.
Intercourse with the Indians. Measures for defence.
The Old Fort. Queen Anne's War. Bounty for scalps. Capt. Tyng. Massacre of the Parris fami- ly. Petition for assistance. Block house. Cus- toms at funerals. Garrison withdrawn. Grant to S. Butterfield. Attack on the Weld garrison ; - Blanchard's ; - Galusha's. Grants by General Court. Petition of Jacob Gallusha. Ambuscade. Death of Joe English. Precautions against the In- dians. Garrisons. Whiting. Hassell. Account of Indian wars from Bancroft,- from Mary Row- landson. 75
CHAPTER VI. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY FROM 1702 TO 1737.
Imperfect accounts. Grant to the town. Rev. Sam- uel Hunt. His petition. Rev. Mr. Parris. Meet- ing house repaired. Assistance continued. In- creased prosperity. Rev. Mr. Cheever. Salary .- Mr. Treat. Votes. Rev. Mr. Peirpoint. Rev. Mr. Coffin. Facetious remark of Col. Taylor. Rev. Mr. Prentice. His marriage and death. Salary. 94
CHAPTER VII. INDIAN ATTACK OF 1724.
Peace of Utrecht. Prosperity. Indian disturbances renewed. Jesuits. Father Rasle. Attack at Merry Meeting Bay. Frontier towns. Dover. Garrison at Dunstable. Peeker's company,-Fairbanks's .- Death of Hon. Jonathan Tyng. Scouts. Attack on Norridgewock, and death of Rasle. Incursion of Mohawks. Cross and Blanchard captured. The pursuers waylaid and cut off. Monument. Second fight. Name of Indian Head. William Lund cap- tured.
102
CONTENTS.
xi.
CHAPTER VIII. LOVEWELL'S WAR AND LOVE- WELL'S FIGHT.
Petition of Lovewell and others. The Pequawketts. Lovewell's first expedition. Its success. Second excursion. Thirty men dismissed. Surprise ten Indians. Capt. Tyng's excursion. Lovewell's third expedition. Fort built and guard left there. Names of the party who proceeded. Arrive at a pond. Particular account of the Fight. Fate of the survivors. Liberality of the General Assembly. Expedition to bury the dead. Petition of Dunsta- ble. Petition of John Lovewell, senior. Further military operations. Alarm of the Indians. Fur- ther compensation to Lovewell's party. Ballad on Lovewell's fight. Death of Paugus. Second Bal- lad. Restoration of peace. Anecdotes of Indian hostilities. 111
CHAPTER IX. CIVIL HISTORY OF THE TOWN UNTIL ITS DIVISION BY THE NEW STATE LINE IN 1741.
Increase of the town. Poverty. Bills of credit .- Loan to Mr. Prentice. Depreciation. Representa- tives. Extracts from the records. The meeting house. Pews erected. First pauper. Grand jury- men. Tythingman. Billerica bridge. Vote by ballot. Customs of the time. Ferry-boat. Earth- quake. Inn-keepers. Boom built. Legal pro- ceedings. Taxes. Education. Laws relating to it. Difficulty of observing them. Town indicted. Small amount raised. Neglect. Various disputes. Settlements extended. Nottingham, (Hudson.)- Merrimac. Litchfield. Vote to build a new meet- ing house. Hollis. Townsend. Settlement of the State Line. Rev. Mr. Swan settled. " New Lights." New meeting house built. 135
xii.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X. HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE, N. H., TO THE OLD FRENCH WAR.
Incorporation by New Hampshire. Road to Tyngs- borough. Mr. Swan dismissed. Anecdote of him. Schools. Indian hostilities. Soldiers impressed.
Farwell and Taylor captured. Rev. Mr. Bird set-
tled. Divisions in the church. Proceedings de- clared illegal. Mr. Bird leaves Dunstable. Bitter- ness of feeling. Petition of the inhabitants of Pine Hill. Schools. Bridges over the Nashua. Death and character of John Lovewell. Statistics. Rev. Mr. Adams preaches. New meeting house built. . 150
CHAPTER XI. HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE FROM THE FRENCH WAR TO THE REVOLUTION.
Patriotic spirit of the people. Expedition to Crown Point. New Hampshire Regiment. Subsequent Armaments. Rogers's Rangers. Dunstable men in the service. Col. Goffe's regiment. Singular order. Church affairs. Rev. Mr. Smith. Protest. Notice of Col. Blanchard. Rev. Josiah Cotton .- Ecclesiastical Council. Compromise. Town meet- ing on points of doctrine. Rev. Mr. Livermore .- Rev. Mr. Fessenden. Rev. Mr. Kidder settled. No- tice of him. Rev. Mr. Sperry. Slaves owned in town. Customs at funerals 159
CHAPTER XII. REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE.
Revolutionary feelings. Favored by the organization in townships. Right of representation granted by the General Assembly. Conventions at Exeter. Con- stitution for the State. Fight at Lexington. Walk- er's company. Statistics. Character of the N. H. troops. Battle of Bunker Hill. Declaration of In- dependence anticipated. Depreciation of paper money. Meeting in consequence. Three regi- ments raised in the State. Company for Canada. Similar efforts the next year. Bounty offered .-
CONTENTS. xiii.
Surrender of Burgoyne. Committee of Safety .- Convention to regulate prices. Articles of Confed- eration. State Constitution. Rejected. Volun- teers. Representative. Patriotic exertions of the people. 169
CHAPTER XIII. HISTORY TO THE ORIGIN OF NASHUA VILLAGE.
Sacrifices made for independence. Convention for State Constitution. Representatives. Convention to adopt Constitution of U. S. Different opinions .- Vote of the town against it. Notice of Hon. Jona- than Blanchard,-of Judge Jonathan Lovewell . . 186
CHAPTER XIV. HISTORY OF NASHUA VILLAGE.
First Stage Coach. Boating on the Merrimac. Pop- ulation in 1800. Canal Boat launched. Oration. Name of Nashua. Description of the Village. Post Office. Middlesex Canal. Gradual increase. Dun- stable plains. Changes in Main street. New meet- ing house built. Rev. Mr. Sperry ordained. Dams across Nashua River. Census. Manufactures con- templated. First views. Nashua Manufacturing Company. Their works. Boating Canal. Indian Head Company. Meeting house on Olive street erected. History of the two Congregational Socie- ties. New Bridge. Taylor's Falls Bridge. Unita- rian Church. Present state of Nashua Manufactur- ing Company. Jackson Company. Newspapers. First Baptist Church. Methodist Churches .- Growth of the Village. Railroads. Bank. Steam- boat. Universalist Church. Population. Second Baptist Church. Name of the town changed .- Free-will Baptist Church. First Christian Society. Protestant Episcopal Church. Machine Shop .- Manufacturing and Mechanics Association. Iron Foundry. Factory at Salmon Brook. Vote to erect a Town House. Town of Nashville organized .- Contrast of the past and present.
193
xiv.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV. NOTICES OF TOWNS INCLUDED IN OLD DUNSTABLE.
Historical Sketch of Hudson 216
Historical Sketch of Litchfield 220
Historical Sketch of Merrimac . 222
Historical Sketch of Hollis
229
APPENDIX.
1. Genealogy of the Early Settlers of Dunstable . 237 List of Soldiers in the Army, from Dunstable 254
11.
III. Town House and Cemetery . 257
IV. Population of Nashua and Nashville, 261
V. Lawyers and Physicians 263
VI. List of Representatives 265
VII. Proportion of Taxes at various periods , 268
VIII. Value of Silver at different periods
. 269
IX. Post Office . . 270
X.
Inventory and Expenses of Nashua
272
XI.
District Schools
. 275
HISTORY
OF THE
OLD TOWNSHIP OF DUNSTABLE.
PREFACE.
THE following work was undertaken in consequence of a vote passed at the Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Historical Society, June, 1840, appointing the Author Chairman of the Committee upon Histories of Towns. It was remarked that great deficiencies existed, and that materials should be speedily collected while so many of the immediate descendants of the first settlers were yet living. Attention was thus turned to the subject : - an examination of ancient records made and a collection of materials commenced, and the result is the compilation which is now submit- ted to the public.
It would be inconvenient and burdensome to cite the authority for every statement that is made, but the reader may be assured that no fact is stated as such without what is deemed to be good authority. 'The value of a work like this depends in a great mea- sure upon the accuracy of its details, and to this the writer confi- dently lays claim. A large portion is extracted from the Town and Proprietary Records of Dunstable, which are in a good state of pre- servation, excepting a few years between 1694 and 1710. Much has been derived from the Town, Military, Ecclesiastica!, Pecuni- ary, and Legislative Records of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, prior te 1741, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Bos- ton. For many accommodations in examining and copying the Records I am indebted to Rev. Joseph B. Felt, who has been em- ployed for many years by the State in arranging and binding them. The materials for minute and accurate history there collected and arranged by Mr. Felt, are very curious and valuable. A similar collection of papers, belonging to a period subsequent to 1741, and including the French and Revolutionary wars, is found in the office of the Secretary of this State, at Concord, to which free access has been granted.
Frequent reference has also been had to the American, Massa- chusetts, and New Hampshire Historical Societies; to Farmer's
H
1
PREFACE.
and Moore's Historical Collections, Farmer's Notes to Belknap's New Hampshire; to the various Indian publications of Mr. Sam- uel E. Drake, the N. H. Gazetteer, and to all the Town and State Histories from which any thing could be gleaned. For much in- formation we are indebted to the old inhabitants of the Town, and to the descendants of the early settlers.
Much time and labor have been devoted to the work. It may not be of general interest, but it is hoped that its object will be appre- ciated by those for whom especially it was designed. The Histo- ry of the settlement and growth of our Towns is deservedly attract- ing increased attention. As our old men pass away, and records are destroyed, and traditions forgotten, these collections thus pre- served from destruction, humble and useless though they may ap- pear to some, will become more and more valuable. Desirous of doing what he may for the home of his adoption, and fondly believ- ing that the subject will be intrinsically interesting to every inhab- itant of "Old Dunstable," this work has been prepared and is submitted by the Author.
*
Since the above was written, (1841,) five years have elapsed, and the work is unpublished, partly owing to the pressure of other la- bors, and partly to severe and long protracted sickness. An inter- val of comparative ease and the request of friends have now induced its preparation for the press, and it is offered to the indulgence of the public. It has been revised, enlarged and brought down to the present time. An effort has been made to obtain full and accurate statistics of the condition of the Village, but under the circumstan- ces, errors, omissions and imperfections must occur. For these charity is craved.
That this and some other portions of the work will not be so in- teresting to the general reader as the more romantic incidents is very evident, but there are few local Histories that contain so many of the latter as the present. Besides, the former are absolutely ne- cessary to the complete history of a town, especially of a manufac- turing town. To the kindness of friends the Author is so greatly indebted for assistance in such various forms, that he will only day, God bless them all !
INTRODUCTION.
IT was a remark of Edmund Burke, no super- ficial observer, that " they who never look back to their ancestors, will never look forward to pos- terity." There is great truth and beauty in the remark. Those who " build the tombs of the prophets," do not always, indeed, heed their pre- cepts or follow their example, but those who care nothing for the past, its actors or its story, will care little for the welfare of the future. It is na- tural and commendable to care for those who have gone before us. "They have labored, and we have entered into their labors." The men who settled this region, and " hewed the ancient woods away," were such as the world had rarely seen. They were ready to do all, and dare all, and suffer all for the sake of conscience. They " called no man master," and the germ of free- dom which they planted in the wilderness, be- came the noble "Liberty Tree" of the Revolution.
6
INTRODUCTION.
Of such descent we may well be proud. We wish to know who they were, and when, and where, and how they lived. Their toils and pri- vations and sufferings, their opinions and pecu- liarities to us should be important. From them is derived all that is peculiar to the New Eng- land character ; its energy, its ingenuity, its per- severance, and its hatred of tyranny in all its forms and manifestations. An insight into their every day life would be most valuable, but they have passed away, and the story of the first set- tlers of Dunstable, with its startling romance and stern realities, has nearly perished with them. A few materials yet exist, scattered and imperfect, in cotemporary journals and musty records, in ancient burial grounds or in uncertain traditions, only to be gathered with great labor and anti- quarian zeal and patience. These perishing me- morials have been sought out and embodied with filial regard, by one who is proud of a descent from the first settlers, trusting that the simple story of Indian perils and Revolutionary patriot- ism, of toil and perseverance, of enterprise and success will not prove entirely destitute of inter- est or of instruction.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF DUNSTABLE.
THE landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in December, 1620, is an epoch in the world's his- tory. "On this bleak New England shore," in the wilderness, with the snows of winter around them and a few wretched dwellings to protect them, and wild beasts and wilder men, they es- tablished a Colony which is destined to solve a problem for the human race. Its motto and its basis was " FREEDOM TO WORSHIP GOD." Perse- cuted in the old world alike by Catholic and Epis- copalian for opinion's sake, driven from their homes, they came to this "wilderness world " with gladsome hearts, " singing the songs of Zi- on," even in this " strange land," for that " here they could worship God according to the dictates of their consciences in peace."
The Plymouth settlers were but pioneers, and soon crowds flocked hither, ready to dare all and to endure all for the priceless boon of a free con- science and free speech. Boston, Salem, Ports- mouth and Dover were settled, and every where, with each little band of brethren, the "man of God" went forth to cheer them in toil, in peril, and in death. As the fame of this new asylum for the oppressed began to spread abroad more widely, greater crowds of emigrants came, until the older settlements became too populous. Ad-
HISTORY OF
venturous spirits went forth into the wilderness upon every side to found new plantations, and at a very early period, not long after the settlement of Boston, attention was turned towards the val- leys of the Merrimac and the Nashua. In Au- gust, 1652, (1) the valley of the Merrimac as far northward as the outlet of Lake Winnipisiogee, was surveyed by Capt. Simon Willard and Capt. Edward Johnson, and its rich basins and valua- ble fishing stations were laid open to to the eager gaze of the adventurers.
The valleys of the Merrimac and Nashua are of alluvial formation. That they have undergone great changes is very evident. Their general ap- pearance, the shape of their basins, their outlets, their different levels, and the stratified character of the soil, all show that at some remote period the greater portion of these valleys must have been covered with water in the form of Lakes or large Ponds. Geologists find the same character- istics upon all our Rivers, and some even refer their origin to the Deluge. But whenever and however their origin may have been, it is evident that the valley of the Merrimac was once a suc- cession of Lakes, one ending at Pawtucket Falls. and another at Amoskeag Falls, through whose rocky basins the waters at length burst their way, and formed their present lower channel, leaving their former beds dry.
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