USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of Hudson, N.H., formerly a part of Dunstable, Mass., 1673-1733, Nottingham, Mass., 1733-1741, District of Nottingham, 1741-1746, Nottingham West, N.H., 1746-1830, Hudson, N.H., 1830-1912 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Go 974.202 H86W 1136490
M. L.
1
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01187 9092
.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofhudsonn00webs_0
936
L
490:15.00
KIMBALL WEBSTER
HISTORY
OF
HUDSON, N. H.
FORMERLY A PART OF DUNSTABLE, MASS., 1673-1733 NOTTINGHAM, MASS., 1733-1741 DISTRICT OF NOTTINGHAM, 1741-1746 NOTTINGHAM WEST, N. H., 1746-1830 HUDSON, N. H., 1830-1912
BY KIMBALL WEBSTER
EDITED BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE
MANCHESTER, N. H. GRANITE STATE PUBLISHING CO.
1913
THE RUEMELY PRESS MANCHESTER, N.M
TOGRAPHICAL UNIONE://LABEL
Price, $3.50
1136490
DEDICATION
TO THE INHABITANTS OR FORMER INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF HUDSON ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE ANCIENT PIONEER FAMILIES THAT WERE SETTLERS IN OLD NOTTINGHAM WHEREVER AT PRESENT LOCATED THIS HISTORY IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THEIR FRIEND OR KINSMAN
THE AUTHOR
INTRODUCTION
It has been said that to write a good town history was the work of a lifetime. It requires, beyond question, just as other tasks exact, a great amount of patient research and careful study in order to accomplish satisfactory re- sults. The haste with which some works of this kind are prepared prove in their failure the truth of this statement.
While the writer of this History of Hudson cannot claim as much for his undertaking, yet he has been collect- ing data relating to the town, to some extent, for a great many years. At first he had no thought of attempting a work of this kind, but possessing a historical temperament he prepared such historical material as he thought would be useful to some one who might attempt to do it. These early gleanings and savings eventually reached a porportion which seemed to make the compilation of a his- tory, if not easy, at least within his grasp.
In December, 1884, while canvassing the county of Hillsborough, N. H., for a history to be compiled and pub- lished, D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, suggested that I should prepare a brief account of the town of Hudson for his work, to be published as the sketches of the other towns were to be given. He allowed me twenty pages of space, but before my article was finished I found I had material enough for more than double that number of pages. Mr. Hurd finally allowed me twenty-five pages, which were filled with solid historical matter. My part of the work in the book was almost entirely a labor of love, the compen- sation being very small.
It is possible this effort was an unconscious stimulant towards causing me to attempt a more ambitious work.
1
2
HISTORY OF HUDSON
Until that time, and for some years since, my life has been a very busy one. However I might have seen the neces- sity of a comprehensive town history of Hudson, or what- ever willingness I might have felt towards undertaking the task, I could not find the time to accomplish it. Still, an- ticipating that some one, if not myself, might in the future carry out the work, I felt it a duty I owed the citizens of Hudson, and especially to the early settlers, including sev- eral of my immediate ancestors, to treasure up and preserve all of the valuable and interesting local incidents that I was able to discover. Accordingly I made copious extracts from the early town records, including all of the births, marriages and deaths, arranging each item alphabetically, so as to be easy for reference. I copied the laying out of the highways, the tax lists, as far as could be found during the first century, and transcribed the inscriptions found in the cemeteries. I also copied the records of all the most important business transactions of all the town meetings held in town, until I had the substance of the records of Hudson in my own office. Nor did I stop here, but I thoroughly investigated all of the church records I could find and copied and arranged them for ready reference. This placed within my use all of the records of Hudson as far as it was possible.
In addition to these collections of official and personal facts, I conversed with many of the most intelligent aged people of the town, who many years since passed away. In these ways, and other opportunites that came my way, for more than thirty years I collected and arranged the material, much of which has been embodied in this work.
And yet, until recently, or within a few months, I did not expect to ever accomplish the task of the publication of a town history, but the opportunity came and I improved it. No attempt has been made to prepare genealogies of the different families, but considerable history of the older families has been given; enough, I trust, in many cases to materially enable the descendants who wish to trace their
3
INTRODUCTION
lineage. In writing this work my chief aim has been to be accurate as far as lay within my power. That errors have crept in is inevitable, but I cannot help thinking that, as a whole, the book will compare favorably with others of its class. The book has grown to larger proportions than was really intended at the outset, but from the abundant material at hand, I did not feel like omitting any considerable portion, so it must must meet public recognition as it stands. Aware of its imperfections, I hope there will be sufficient of common interest and value found to make it an accept- able product.
My thanks are due to those who have so kindly assisted me in one way or another, and not least among these I wish to speak of Messrs. C. E. Paine and C. W. Barnes for the photographs they have so kindly furnished to embellish the work. My thanks are also due to Elwin O. Hathaway for assisting me in the preparation of the map, which lends additional value to the text.
So, not without some hesitation and a few misgivings, this history is offered to the present inhabitants of Hudson, many of whom are descendants of those early settlers who broke this wilderness, and long since passed to their re- ward. They were honest, rugged, true-hearted men and women, and it is impossible for us to know so much of them as we could wish. They labored faithfully and well for the common good, as they saw it. They builded even better than they knew. All honor to the memory of those worthy pioneers.
K. W.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
NATURAL FEATURES . 17
Boundary-The Merrimack River-Wicasuck Island -Surface of the Town-Soil-Forests-Early Meadows-Pioneer Families - Stone Walls-Denizens of Forest and Stream-Deer Wardens - Fish Wardens-Ponds-Sawmills-Water Power-Agriculture.
CHAPTER II
ABORIGINAL HISTORY 26
Tribes of Indians-Pennacook Confederacy-Character of Three Great Sachems-Farewell of Passaconnaway-Petition for Land to Gov- ernor Endicott-A Niggardly Recompense Made to the Aged Peti- tioner-Brenton's Farm.
CHAPTER III
WHEN HUDSON WAS A WILDERNESS 35
Descendants of Passaconnaway-Wonnalancet-His Distress-Petition for Relief-Professes Religion-King Philip's War-Good Service of Wonnalancet-His Plight and Lonely Fate-Changes Wrought in the Landscape by the Woodman's Axe.
CHAPTER IV
DUNSTABLE IN THE INDIAN WARS . 46
King Philip's War Followed by King William's War-Dunstable the Outpost Through Half a Century of Conflict-Queen Anne's War-
5
6
HISTORY OF HUDSON
Prayer of Cotton Mather-An Interval of Peace-Towns in New Hampshire Chartered-Scotch-Irish Appear on the Scene-Indian Depredations Are Renewed-Norridgewock Expeditions-Father Rasle Slain-Settlement of Indians at Pequawket Demand Atten- tion-Bounty on Indian Scalps Increased-Fatality of Lt. French and His Party at Nashua-Loss of Life in Old Dunstable-Love- well Deposition.
CHAPTER V
LOVEWELL'S MEN . 60
The Lovewell Expeditions-Names of Men in Last Scout-Journey to the Saco Valley - The Ossipee Fort-Surprise of Both Friends and Foes-Opening of the Memorable Fight-Death of Captain Lovewell, Frye and Others-Paugus Slain-Cessation of Hostili- ties-The Dreadful Retreat-Colonel Tyng Sent to Relief of Fugi- tives-Summary of the Ill-Fated Battle.
CHAPTER VI
FIRST SETTLERS OF HUDSON 74
The Hills Grant-Danforth Survey-Boundary of First and Second Tracts-" Hills Meadow"-" Burns Hill"-Joseph Hills-His Fam- ily-Disposition of his Estate-Three Sons-Their Families-Hills Garrison-Thomas Blodgett-and Descendants-Taylor Garrison -Taylor Family-Taylor's Falls-Fletcher Garrison.
CHAPTER VII
GRANTS AND COUNTER GRANTS . 88
The Boundary Dispute-Grant of Old Dunstable-Grant of London- derry-Character of Scotch-Irish-Names of First Comers-Wheel- wright Deed .- Industries of Scotch-Irish-The Londonderry Claim -Pioneers of Rival Towns-Petition of Certain Inhabitants to be Set off into a Separate Township-Charter of Nottingham-First Town Meeting-First Tax List.
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII
PIONEER FAMILIES 98
Settlers of "Hills Farm"-Isaac Cummings and Descendants-Deed to Eleazer Cummings-Cummings Farm-Gathering Turpentine-Vis- its of the Indians to Nashua River Island-Burying Ground of the Indians-Cummings Ferry-Cummings Tavern.
CHAPTER IX
PIONEER FAMILIES, CONTINUED . 107
Nathan Cross Settles Next to Cummings-Deed of Land-Cross Fam- ily - William Cummings Farm - He and His Descendants-John Taylor Garrison Place-Eleazer Cummings, Jr., Homestead-Jabez Davis Farm .- Edward Spalding Farm-Spalding Family-Farm of Ebenezer Spalding-Origin of Thornton's Ferry-Josiah Cummings -Hills Ferry.
CHAPTER X
SETTLERS OF HILLS FARM 118
Pollard Family-Winn Family-Winn Homestead-Thomas Colburn- Colburn Deed-Colburn Family-Maj. Zaccheus Lovewell-Love- well Farm-Ephraim Cummings - John Butler -Thomas Cum- mings-His Family - Ens. John Snow - Site of His House-Lt. Joseph Snow-Snow Family-Descendants of the Pioneers.
CHAPTER XI
"HILLS ROW" 129
Brenton's Farm-List of Proprietors Living in Nottingham-Boundary of Litchfield - Area of Nottingham - Nathaniel Hills-Ezekiel Greeley-His Homestead-Hills Family-Joseph Pollard -The Marsh Family-Nathaniel Hills, Jr .- Hills Deed-Tyng Land- Settlers of Hills Row.
8
HISTORY OF HUDSON
CHAPTER XII
THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE .137
Confusion Caused by Early Surveys-Mistake in Regard to the Course of the Merrimack River-Perplexities of King and Courts-Notting- ham Becomes Involved in the Tangle-Made into a District-Dis- trict Meetings-Old Bounds -The Boundary Pine - Old Dracut Line.
CHAPTER XIII
"LONDONDERRY CLAIM" 147
The Boundary Dispute Becomes a Three-Cornered Fight with Nottingham -Spirit of the Times-Double Taxation-Petitions and Counter- Petitions-Annexation-Name of District made into Nottingham West to Distinguish it from Another Grant under the Title of Not- tingham- Area-List of Added Tax-Payers - New Boundary Line of Nottingham West - Population of Town at Various Dates- Adoption of Name of Hudson.
CHAPTER XIV
NOTTINGHAM WEST AND FAMILIES 159
Charter of Township-New Boundaries-Effect on Litchfield, Pelham, and Dracut-Family Sketches-Ebenezer Blodgett-Samuel Bur- bank - George Burns- Thomas Burns- John Caldwell - Joseph Caldwell-Ezekiel Chase-Roger Chase- Isaac Cummings-Eben- ezer Dakin - Charles Darrah-Arthur Darrah - Josiah Dutton - Daniel Simonds-William Taylor-Benjamin Tyng-James Wason.
CHAPTER XV
THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE 183
Early Action Towards Public Worship-The First Minister-Efforts to Select a Site for a Meeting House-The Difficulty to Please All- Voted to Build on North Site-Location of First Meeting House- Pew Lots-Change in Boundary of Town Upsets Calculation of the Builders of Old First Meeting House-Disposal of Building.
LONDONDERRY.
LITCHFIELD
-
IN.80'W 600 R: 1778.
LONDOND
- -- Ń.20°w.
POTASH CORNER.
740 R.
SOUTH
1778.
C ROAD.
-
112 RODS
BEAVER
ROBINSON POND.
LAWRENCE
MODEORNER
ROAD
BARRETTS HILL
.
WARSH
W.N.W. 24 MILES
NASHUM NONIM
AND
NASHUA
HUDSON
OTTERNICK BOND.
PELHAM
I
HUDS
BROOK
AND
K-
MAŠHW INGS
-
BRIDGE
BUSH HIL-LI
·BULI S ENOT - COOL-08 - SETTING
ROAD.
PELHAM
MAP OF TOWN OF HUDSON N.H.
BROOK
BOA
BOA
MUSQUASH POND
<
STREET
E
STEWARTS
CORNER:
R.
RAILWAY
WR
COMPILED BY
KIMBALL WEBSTER · E.O. HATHAWAY.
8 CALE
To
MILL
POND
IMILE
LOWELL
BOA
NEW
MASSACHUSETTS
TYNGSBORO.
WINDHAM.
NORTH 7IM.BOR. 1746.
od
BROOK.
LITCHFIELD
1778.
ROAD
-MERB
MANCHESTER
PERRY LANK
WORCESTER
POLDAM
CENTER.
MAC
HUDSON
CO
ROAD.
LOWELL
-
STATE
MASON
. R
ROAD
INCLUDING
NOTTINGHAM WEST INCORPORATED 1746, ANZA 13104 ACRES. ANNEXATIONS FROM LONDONDERRY 4627 ACRES IN 1778 220 ACRES IN 1857 PRESENT AREA ." TOWNSHIP 17951 ACRES.
DAVENPORT
ONTMOS
DAVENPORT
RIVER
E. 10° S. 2 MILES 80 RODS IN 1746.
HAMPSHIRE ...
1857:
-
R. R.
WEST :ABT., 2M, 10 R, 1746
2% MILES)
N.27°12 W. 690 ROD9
NASHUA
BACH
LOWELL
ECTRIC
-
9
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVI
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE 192
Renewed Difficulties in Regard to Fixing Site for New House-The Upper Meeting House- Possibly the First in Town-Location of Hills Farm House-Site of "Second " Meeting House-Building the House-Pew Lots-Churchyard-When the Union of Town and Church Affairs Began to Cause Trouble-Rev. Nathaniel Merrill.
CHAPTER XVII
THE PRESBYTERIANS AND NORTH MEETING HOUSE . 202
Rival Religious Tenets-Discussions and Litigations that Arose from Church Differences-The Presbyterian House of Worship-Site of the Building-Architecture of the Interior-Fatality at the Raising -- First Pastor - Minister's Tax Becomes a Bone of Contention- Purchase of North Meeting House.
CHAPTER XVIII
SOME EARLY CHURCH HISTORY . 213
A Lull in the Religious War-Vote to Repair North Meeting House- Call to Rev. John Strickland Dismissed-Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher- List of Those who Opposed Him-His Friends-Letter from Mr. Fisher-Better Feelings Engendered-Crisis in Religious Matters -The South Meeting House-Baptist Society-The North Meeting House Again-Pew Holders.
CHAPTER XIX
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS . . 225
Old Militia Law-Savage Warfare-Rogers' Rangers-Men from Not- tingham West in the Service, 1744 to 1760-Resident Taxpayers, 1775-Tax List, 1779.
10
HISTORY OF HUDSON
CHAPTER XX
NOTTINGHAM WEST IN THE REVOLUTION 236
Beginning of the War-Association Test-Signers-Capt. Joseph Kel- ley-The Town's Only Tory-Committee of Inspection - Conti- nental Money-Current Prices-Awards for Service to Portsmouth and Bennington Men-To the Volunteers-Other Awards - Deprecia- tion of Currency Causes Hardship-Beef Tax-Corn Rates-Bill of Rights.
CHAPTER XXI
DARK DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 250
The Little Republics-The Lexington Alarm-Minute Men of Notting- ham West-Muster Roll of 1775 -- Personal Sketches-Men at Bun- ker Hill-Ticonderoga Alarm-Men in Expedition to Number Four -Nottingham West Soldiers at Bennington-Volunteers to Rhode Island in 1778.
CHAPTER XXII
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION AND WAR OF 1812. . 264
List of Men and Their Service-Second War with Great Britain-Mus- ter Rolls Incomplete-Nottingham West Men in the Army.
CHAPTER XXIII
HUDSON IN THE CIVIL AND OTHER WARS . , 278
Hudson Loyal to the Cause-Action Relative to Bounties-Soldiers' Aid Society-Beginning of Hostilities-Hudson Soldiers in the War-First New Hampshire Regiment-Third Regiment-Fourth Regiment -- Sharpshooters - Company G Sharpshooters - Seventh Regiment-Eighth Regiment-Ninth Regiment-Tenth Regiment Twelfth Regiment -- Thirteenth Regiment-Important Battles-First N. H. Heavy Artillery -Hudson Men Who Served Elsewhere- Amount of Bounties-Entire Enlistments-Mexican War-Spanish. American War.
11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIV
TAX LISTS AND HOMESTEADS, 1793 293
Invoice of 1793-Summary-Area of Land-Family Sketches-North End Settlers-South End Settlers.
CHAPTER XXV
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 316
Initiatory Movements Towards Support of Schools-School Houses-Re- port of District Committee-Description of the Ten Districts-Early School Houses-School Report, 1847-School Statistics, 1855-1910 -Town School System .- Smith School-Webster School-Burning of Smith School House-The Center School House.
CHAPTER XXVI
CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS 331
When Neighbors Were Neighbors-Fireplaces - Oldtime Cooking - Middle Names - First Shoemakers - Homespun Clothes - Cider Mills-Lights and Lamps-Soap Making-Modes of Travel-Bean Porridge - Farm Tools-Clocks-Sheep Washing - Roots and Herbs - The Open Well-Sugar Making - Wheat Flour-Spiritu- ous Liquors-Tramps-Social Ways-Breaking Roads-Beards or Smooth Faces-Title of Mister-Justice of the Peace-Publishing the Banns-Highway Fences-Farm Methods-" Old " and "New" Tenor.
CHAPTER XXVII
ITEMS OF INTEREST AND LOCAL NAMES . 362
Saw Mills, Grist Mills and Shops-Pine Tree Law-Pine Tree Riot in Weare-Dark Day of 1780-Cold Summer-Cold Friday - Sep- tember Gale-Solar Eclipse of 1806-Old Style and New Style- Organization of Hillsborough County-Lafayette's Visit-Pounds- Tarnic Pond-Robinson Pond-Barrett's Hill-Bush Hill - Hills Row-"The Farms"-Taylor's Falls Bridge-School Districts and
12
HISTORY OF HUDSON
School Houses-Thurston's Jump-Moose Swamp - Town Com- mons - Stocks-" Potash Corner" -" Lawrence Corner"-Library Park-Warning People Out of Town-Murders
CHAPTER XXVIII
GREAT STORMS AND FRESHETS 391
The Merrimack a Mountain Stream-Freshet of 1818-Freshet of 1824 -Freshet of 1839-Great Freshet of 1841-Freshet of 1843-Fresh- et of 1852-Highwater of 1862-Great Freshet of 1896-Great Snow Storm of 1888.
CHAPTER XXIX
FERRIES AND BRIDGES . 399
Cummings Ferry-Hills Ferry-Hardy's Ferry-Taylor's Falls Bridge.
CHAPTER XXX
CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS . 411
Hills Farms Cemetery-Ford Cemetery-Blodgett Cemetery-Old Hud- son Center Burying Ground-Senter Burying Ground-Hudson Cen- ter Cemetery-Sunnyside Cemetery - Catholic Cemetery - Ceme- tery of the Unknown.
CHAPTER XXXI
FOSTER FUND-SURPLUS REVENUE 423
John Foster, Jr., Legacy to the Worthy Poor-Surplus Revenue-Its Distribution.
CHAPTER XXXII
ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY 428
Congregational, Presbyterian Churches-Later History of Church Prog- ress-Ministers Since 1842-The Baptist Church and Society-
13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Founders of Society in Hudson-Pastors Since Its Organization in 1805-Centennial Anniversary .- Resume of Church Work-Metho- dist Episcopal Church and Society-Work of the Founders-Fletch- er Fund-Bequest of Mrs. Tinker-Donation of Lucinda W. Floyd- Bequest of Mrs. Electa Atwood-Woodbury Contribution-Wood- bury Parsonage-Quarter Centennial - Bequest of Mr. Tolles- Honored Names-Pastors 1839-1912-AlvirneMemorial Chapel.
CHAPTER XXXIII
PUBLIC LIBRARIES . 461
The Nottingham West Social Library-The Greeley Public Library- Lot for New Library Secured-Hills Memorial Library Building- Gift of Dr. Alfred K. Hills-Memorial Tablet to Memory of Hud- son's Soldiers and Sailors-Librarians of Hudson's Free Public Library.
CHAPTER XXXIV
SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORDERS . 473
National Grange-Grange of New Hampshire-Hudson Grange-Char- ter Members-Masters-Places of Meeting-Odd Fellowship in Hudson-Building of I. O. O. F. Hall-Echo Rebekah Lodge- Hudson Commandery.
CHAPTER XXXV
HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS . 483
Early Roads .- Derry Road-County Road-Province Line to Pelham -. Corliss Hill-Nacook Brook-Back Lowell Road-Belknap Place -Rocky Hill Road-From County Road to Pelham-Bowman Road-Old Daniel Smith Road-Smith Road-Bridle Road-Wa- son Road-Seavey Road-Ferry Street-Lowell Road-And Many Others-State Highways.
CHAPTER XXXVI
STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS . 502
Steam Railroads-Electric Railways-Lowell and Nashua Line-Hud- son, Pelham and Salem Route-Rapid Transit Between Nashua and Manchester.
14
HISTORY OF HUDSON
· CHAPTER XXXVII
HUDSON VILLAGE . 509
Story of the Growth and Business of Hudson's Leading Hamlet-The Center-Resources of the Town-Hudson Water Works.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
RESIDENT PHYSICIANS 530
Dr. Ezekiel Chase-Dr. John Hall-Dr. Joseph Gray - Dr. Apolos Pratt - Dr. Paul Tenney - Dr. Nathaniel P. Marsh-Dr. Daniel Tenney-Dr. Dustin Barrett - Dr. Elijah Colburn-Dr. Zaccheus Colburn - Dr. Henry M. Hooke-Dr. James Emery - Dr. David Onslow Smith-Dr. Herbert L. Smith-Dr. Henry O. Smith.
CHAPTER XXXIX
VOTING LISTS OF HUDSON . 540
First Printed Check List-Check List for 1874-Check List for 1909.
CHAPTER XL
OFFICIAL ROSTER . 551
Lists of Moderators of Annual Town Meetings - Selectmen - Town Clerks-Delegates to General Court and Conventions, 1775-1913 -Representatives to the General Court, 1775-1913- Votes for Governors-Post Offices and Post Masters-Population.
CHAPTER XLI
PERSONAL SKETCHES . 569
George G. Andrews-John Julian Baker - William Wallace Baker- Henry C. Brown-Willis P. Cummings - Charles E. Cummings- Dea. Moses Greeley-Reuben Greeley-Alden Hills-Hiram Marsh -Walter H. Marsh-James B. Merrill-John A. Robinson-Reu- ben Spalding-Kimball Webster-Nathan Pierce Webster - Wil- lard H. Webster.
ILLUSTRATIONS
GENERAL VIEWS
OPP.
PAGE
Alvirne, Summer Residence of Dr. Alfred K. Hills .
528
Alvirne Memorial Chapel 457
Baptist Meeting House, 1841 441
Congregational Church, 1842 . 193
Davis, Asa, or Morrison House, 1780 305
Garrison House, about 1720 80
465
Hudson Center
316
Hudson Shore above Bridge
17
Hudson Town House, 1857
209
Library Park, 1910 . 385
Library Park from the South-west
393
Map of Hudson 8
Methodist Church, 1880 . 513
Odd Fellows' Building, 1895 480
Old Town Pound . 369
Page, Abraham, or Timothy Smith House 297
Post Office Square .
509
Robinson's Pond and Barrett's Hill .
24
Scene looking up the Merrimack River from the Bridge
Tarnic or Otternick Pond . 552
377
Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1827-1881
504
Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1910, two views
409, 545
Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1881-1910 401
Taylor's Falls Bridge, 1912
225
Webster School Building, 1896
328
15
Hills Memorial Library, 1909 489
Hudson Center School Building, 1908
16
HISTORY OF HUDSON
PORTRAITS
OPP.
PAGE
Andrews, George G.
569
Baker, John J. .
497
Baker, William W.
570
Brown, Henry C. .
560
Cummings, Charles E. 105
Cummings, Willis P.
573
Greeley, Dea. Moses
169
Greeley, Mrs. Mary Derby 172
Greeley, Reuben
433
Hills, Alden .
129
Hills, Alfred K., M. D.
136
Hills, Mrs. Ida Creutzborg 168
Hills, Mrs. Nancy Kimball .
132
Marsh, Hiram
176
Marsh, Walter H.
580
Merrill, James B. 185
Robinson, John A.
153
Smith, David O., M. D. 444
Smith, Henry O., M. D. .
320
Smith, Herbert L., M. D.
537
Spalding, Reuben 584
Webster, Kimball
Frontispiece
Webster, Nathan P.
520
Webster, Willard H. 591
From Photo by C. E. PAINE HUDSON SHORE, MERRIMACK RIVER, ABOVE BRIDGE
HISTORY OF HUDSON
CHAPTER I
NATURAL FEATURES
The beautiful town of Hudson, N. H., is situated on the east bank of the Merrimack River, and borders upon the Massachusetts line. It is bounded on the north by Litchfield and Londonderry, east by Windham and Pelham, south by Tyngsborough, Mass., and west by Nashua and Litchfield. One of the most delightful sections of the Merrimack River, which is here from three hundred and fifty to five hundred feet in width, marks its western boun- dary from Litchfield to the Massachusetts state line, a dis- tance of about six and one-half miles.
The extreme length of the town from north to south is a little more than eight miles; its average width is three and one-half miles. Exclusive of its area of water, Hudson contains seventeen thousand, nine hundred and fifty-one acres, as nearly as can be ascertained.
The surface of the water of the Merrimack along this part of its course has been raised by the Proprietors of the Locks and Canals dam at Pawtucket Falls, Lowell, from four to seven or eight feet above its original height. This flowage of the river extends as far north as Cromwell's Falls, Merrimack, and displaces all the falls that formerly existed between those points.
In the days when the Merrimack followed its natural descent there were at least three rapids or waterfalls worthy of mention and of utility to the early settlers. About four
17
18
HISTORY OF HUDSON
miles above Pawtucket, where the river swept around a considerable island by the same name, was Wicasuck Falls, noted as good fishing-grounds among the Indians and the early white settlers. The island was a scene of interest and importance during the perilous years of King Philip's War, when Capt. Jonathan Tyng overlooked a party of "praying Indians" that lived on the island for about ten years, thus keeping them from mingling in the bitter strife being waged between the colonists and the red men. In consideration of this valuable service the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay colony granted the plot of land to him December 5, 1683, and it became known as Tyng's Island.
About eight miles above Wicasuck Falls, and one mile below the junction of Nashua River with the Merrimack, was a series of rapids known as Taylor's Falls, so called for an early settler. Of less consequence than Wicasuck Falls, they were about half a mile below Taylor's Falls bridge, which spans the river between Hudson and Nashua, and which received its name from that waterfall. Other minor rapids or falls marked the course of the river, but there were none that attracted the attention of the pioneers until Cromwell's Falls, already mentioned, were reached. To- day the unruffled surface of the river gives no indication of the existence of any falls between Pawtucket and Crom- well's Falls.
The surface of the westerly part of Hudson is com- paratively level, and bordering upon the Merrimack are some fertile intervale lands, very productive and easy of cultivation. This is especially true of the northerly por- tion, where the Indians cultivated, in their primitive way, fields of maize, melons and vegetables long before the Eng- lish came hither to drive them away. There are smaller sections of land along the river that are sandy, and less productive, while tracts of light land are found in the interior.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.