USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire as it is. In three parts. Part I. A historical sketch of New hampshire. Part II. A gazetter of New Hampshire. Part III. A general view of New Hampshire. Together with the constitution of the State > Part 1
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Gc 974.2 C37n 1851946
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 8428
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/newhampshireasit00inchar
convelite.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
IN THREE PARTS.
PART I. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, FROM ITS FIRST 'SETTLEMENT TO THE ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION IN 1788.
PART II. A GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ; CONTAINING A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS, CITIES, . VILLAGES, &c .; REMARKABLE CURIOSITIES, MINERAL LOCALITIES, STATISTICAL TABLES ; ALSO, THE BOUNDARY AND AREA OF THE STATE; A GENERAL VIEW OF THE COUNTIES, BOTH HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL:
PART III. A GENERAL VIEW OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ; CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF ITS SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, CLIMATE; ITS GEO- LOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL FEATURES ; THE PRINCIPAL MOUNTAINS, LAKES, AND RIVERS ; EDUCATION AND RELIGION ; BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF DISTINGUISHED MEN ; LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS ; BANKS, RAILROADS, NEWSPAPERS, &C.
TOGETHER WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
COMPILED FROM NUMEROUS AUTHENTIC SOURCES, BY
EDWIN A. CHARLTON.
THIRD EDITION, REVISED, WITH AN APPENDIX.
CLAREMONT, N. H .: TRACY AND COMPANY. 1856.
TO THE SONS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE This Volume
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY
THE PUBLISHERS.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by TRACY AND SANFORD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of New Hampshire.
STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
1851946
PREFACE.
THE present work was undertaken with the de- sign of furnishing as great an amount of reliable and important information concerning the past history and the present condition of NEW HAMP- SHIRE as the means at our command and the limits assigned us would allow.
In the HISTORICAL SKETCH we have aimed to give a brief synopsis of the leading events in the history of our state, from its first settlement to the adoption of the federal constitution. In this we have generally followed Dr. Belknap, not, however, without reference to other authorities, among which may be mentioned Barstow's History of New Hampshire; the New Hampshire Historical Col- lections ; Adams's Annals of Portsmouth ; together with various histories of the United States.
The GAZETTEER was prepared entirely by George Ticknor, Esq., of Claremont, to whose preface we would refer the reader for further information con- cerning that part of the work.
The THIRD PART embraces a variety of subjects, which we deem it unnecessary to mention in detail. The principal authorities which we have consulted
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PREFACE.
in its preparation are Farmer and Moore's New Hampshire Gazetteer ; Hayward's United States Gazetteer ; Dr. Jackson's Geological Report ; Oakes's White Mountain Scenery ; New Hamp- shire Compiled Statutes ; Life of Eleazar Whee- lock, founder of Dartmouth College; Rev. N Bouton's Historical Discourse; New Hampshire Annual Register, for the last forty years; United States Census Report for 1850; together with various pamphlets and periodicals. To our friends and correspondents who have aided us in our labor, we tender our sincere thanks for their kind assist- . ance and cooperation.
The department of BIOGRAPHY is not so full as we could have wished ; yet to have given even a brief sketch of all deserving such a notice, would have increased both the size and the price of our volume far beyond their prescribed limits.
It has been our aim to form the plan of the work and to arrange the materials furnished us in such a manner as to produce an harmonious whole ; and though, from the nature of the case, we can lay no claim to literary merit or to origi- nality, yet we trust that our efforts to make a judicious selection and arrangement have not been wholly unsuccessful. With these remarks, the work is respectfully presented to the public.
E. A. C.
HAVERHILL, N. H., February 1, 1855.
CONTENTS.
PART I. HISTORICAL SKETCH.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction. - Captain John Smith's Exploration. - The Virginia Company. -The Plymouth Council. - Gorges and Mason. - Grant of Mariana and Laconia. - Settlements at Portsmouth and Dover. - Wheelwright's Pur- chase. - Mason's new Patent. - New Hampshire. - Upper and Lower Plantations. - Neal's Expedition to the White Mountains. - Survey of Portsmouth and Dover .- Discouragements. - Surrender of the Charter of 9
the Plymouth Council. - Death of Mason. - Reflections.
CHAPTER II.
Religious Intolerance. - Antinomian Controversy. - Banishment of Wheel- wright. - Settlement of Exeter. - Formation of a Government. - Settle- ment of Hampton. - Affairs on the Piscataqua. - Wiggin visits England. -Erection of a Church. - Burdet's Exploits. - Morton abandons Ports- mouth. - Underhill's Administration. - Knollys and Larkham. - Dover and Portsmouth form Governments. - Union with Massachusetts. - Wheelwright flees. - Laws of Massachusetts and Character of the early .16
Settlers. - Persecution of the Quakers. - Witchcraft.
CHAPTER III.
Mason's Efforts to recover his Estate. - The King sends Commissioners to New England. - Their Reception, Treatment, and Proceedings. - Jealousy of the Indians. - Passaconnaway. - Commencement of King Philip's War. - Attacks on various Places. - Death of Lieutenant Plaisted. - The In- dians make Peace. - Death of King Philip, and Renewal of Hostilities at the East. - Waldron seizes the Refugees at Dover. - The Mohawks are solicited to assist the English. - Captain Swett is defeated. - Conclusion of Peace. - Omens.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Mason's renewed Efforts. - Randolph visits New England. - New Hampshire is erected into a royal Province. - The Commission is published. - Meeting of the Assembly and making Laws. - Waldron succeeds President Cutts. - Cranfield is appointed Governor. - His arbitrary Proceeding. - Gove's Re- bellion. - Mason institutes a Suit against Major Waldron. - Weare is sent to England. - Persecution of Moody. - Fresh Usurpations of Power. - Resistance of the People. - Cranfield obtains Leave of Absence. - Barefoot
succeeds him. - Treaty with the Indians. 31
CHAPTER V.
The Charter of Massachusetts forfeited. - Dudley appointed President of New England. - Succeeded by Andros. - His tyrannical Proceedings. - Revo- lution in England. - Temporary Union with Massachusetts. - Allen ap- pointed Governor and Usher Lieutenant Governor. - King William's War. - Attack on Dover. - Salmon Falls. - Expedition to Canada. - Temporary Peace. - Attack on Oyster River. - Conclusion of Peace. - Usher's Admin- istration. - Partridge supersedes him. - The Earl of Bellamont is appointed Governor, and visits New Hampshire. - Allen's Efforts. - Dudley appointed .38 Governor.
CHAPTER VI.
Dudley holds a Conference with the Indians. - They commence Hostilities. - Various Attacks. - Defence of Durham. - Expeditions against Port Royal. - Death of Colonel Hilton. - Attempted Reduction of Canada. - Appoint- ment of Shute and Vaughan as Governor and Lieutenant Governor. - The latter is superseded by John Wentworth. - Progress in industrial Pursuits. - Settlement of Londonderry. - Incorporation of new Towns. - Governor Shute returns to England. - More Trouble with the Indians. - Causes of their Hostility to the English .- Attempt to capture Ralle. - Attack on Dover and other Places. - Expedition to Norridgewock and Death of Ralle. - Adventures of Captain Lovewell. - Ratification of Peace. ...... .45
CHAPTER VII.
Controversy with Massachusetts. - Grants of Townships. - A new Assembly is chosen. - Burnet's short Administration. - Belcher succeeds him. - Death of Wentworth and Appointment of Dunbar. - Party Strife. - Set- tlement of the Boundary. - War with France. - Siege and Capture of Lou- isburgh. - Project to invade Canada. - Approach of a French Fleet. - Indian Hostilities. - Defence of Charlestown. - The Heir of Mason sells his Claim. - Controversy between Governor Wentworth and the Assem- bly. - Proposal to settle the Coos. - Jealousy and Resentment of the In- .55 dians.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
The "Old French War." -Indian Hostilities. - Expeditions against Crown Point. - Massacre at Fort Edward. - Rogers's Expedition against the St. Francis Indians. - Conquest of Canada. - Grants. - Settlement of the western Boundary. - The Stamp Act. - Meserve is appointed Distribu- tor. - His Resignation. - Demonstrations of the People. - Benning Went- worth is superseded by John Wentworth. - Taxes. - Dartmouth College. - Division of the Province into Counties. - The Tea sent to Portsmouth is reshipped. - Convention at Exeter. - Seizure of Gunpowder and Arms at Fort William Henry. - Attempts of Wentworth to maintain Peace. - 63 Close of his Administration.
CHAPTER IX.
The Revolutionary War. - Forces raised by New Hampshire. - Preparations for Defence. - Treatment of the Tories. - Formation of a temporary Govern- ment. - Expedition to Canada. - Declaration of Independence. - Battle of Bennington. - Surrender of Burgoyne. - Sullivan's Expedition against the Seneca Indians. - Close of the War. - Adoption of a State Constitution. - Troubles with Vermont. - Distress and Rebellion. - Formation and Adop- tion of the Constitution of the United States. - Conclusion. .71
PART II. GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Page 85.
PART III.
GENERAL VIEW OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Page
SURFACE,
445
CLIMATE, 446
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY, 453
MINERALS, 456
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS, 459
LAKES, 461
RIVERS, 463
MOUNTAINS, 468
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CONTENTS.
ROUTES TO WHITE MOUNTAINS, 477 EDUCATION, 479
RELIGION,. 491
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 500 SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS 551
RAILROADS, 552
BANKS,
556
NEWSPAPERS, 557
CONSTITUTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 566
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction. - Captain John Smith's Exploration. - The Virginia Company. -- The Plymouth Council. - Gorges and Mason. - Grant of Mariana and. Laconia. - Settlements at Portsmouth and Dover. - Wheelwright's Pur- chase. - Mason's new Patent. - New Hampshire. - Upper and Lower Plantations. - Neal's Expedition to the White Mountains. - Survey of Portsmouth and Dover. - Discouragements. - Surrender of the Charter of the Plymouth Council. - Death of Mason. - Reflections.
THE discovery of America in 1492 by Christopher Co- lumbus was one of the most remarkable events in the his- tory of the world. In itself considered, it was wonderful that an entire continent should now, for the first time, be made known to the civilized nations of Europe ; while the effects of this discovery on the destiny of the human race are incalculable. On these shores, untrodden as yet save by the wild son of the forest, multitudes of every rank and condition sought a home. Hither came the needy adven- turer, too idle or too proud to labor with his hands, hoping ยท that by some turn of fortune he should amass wealth or gain power. Here, too, the stern, unyielding, yet upright Puritan sought a dwelling-place where he might worship
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
his God agreeably to the dictates of his own conscience. Those bereft of all hope of bettering their condition at home deemed the wilds of the new world a fitting place to hide their sorrows in solitude or to attempt to retrieve their ruined fortunes. The lawless outcast, compelled " to leave his country for his country's good," could find no more congenial spot than the newly-discovered continent.
At this time, too, there was an unusual degree of intel- lectual excitement among the nations. Europe, for centu- ries buried in a universal night, began at length to arouse from her torpor and to exhibit new signs of vitality. The invention of the art of printing, of gunpowder, and the mar- iner's compass were among the results of this activity. It is not strange that, under such circumstances, a spirit of adventure should pervade the public mind, and that any bold leader could induce many to follow him, either for conquest or discovery.
But it was not until a considerable time had elapsed that New England attracted any great share of public attention. The tide of emigration, that commenced flowing almost at the first announcement of the discovery, took a more south- erly direction. The first thing sought for was the precious metals ; and these, being found more abundant in southern latitudes, drew thither the eager crowd of adventurers. And besides, a mild and genial climate and a fertile soil offered far more inducements than the bleak shores of the' north. But in 1614 the renowned Captain John Smith, so well known from his connection with the early settlement of Virginia, explored the Atlantic coast from the Penob- scot to Cape Cod, trading with the natives. During this voyage the River Piscataqua, with the harbor at its mouth, . was discovered. On his return to England he presented a map of the country to the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles I., who called it New England.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
In the year 1606 King James had granted a charter, lim- iting Virginia between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth de- grees of north latitude. This large territory was divided between two companies ; the southern part being assigned to London adventurers, the northern to certain persons in Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth. The members of the northern, or Plymouth Company, finding themselves liable to be encroached upon by their neighbors, petitioned for a new charter, which was granted in 1620. The corporation thus instituted was composed of forty " nobles, knights, and gentlemen," and was called " The Council established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling, and governing of New England in America."
Among the most enterprising members of this council were Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason. The former had been an officer in the navy of Queen Eliz- abeth and companion of Sir Walter Raleigh, and was withal a man of most daring and adventurous spirit. The latter was originally a merchant of London, afterwards governor of Newfoundland, and was scarcely inferior to his rival in enterprise and boldness. He soon procured from the council a grant of the land between the river of Naumkeag -now Salem -and the Merrimack, and ex- tending back to the head waters of each. This he called Mariana. The next year, 1622, he and Gorges conjointly obtained a grant of the territory extending from the Mer- rimack to the Sagadahock,* and back to the great lakes and the river of Canada -the St. Lawrence. This was named Laconia. These two grants comprise nearly all the present territory of New Hampshire, together with portions of the adjoining states and Canada. The same year they formed the "Company of Laconia," for the purpose of col-
* The Kennebeck.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
onizing their new possessions ; and in the spring of 1623 they sent over David Thompson, Edward and William Hilton, with several others, to carry out their designs. Thompson, with one division, landed near the mouth of the Piscataqua, on the southern shore, at a place to which they gave the name of Little Harbor. Here they erected salt works and established a fishery. The Hiltons went eight miles farther up the river, to Northam, afterwards called Dover. These were the first settlements within the present limits of New Hampshire. Thompson, however, became dissatisfied with his situation, and in about one year removed to an island in Massachusetts Bay afterwards called by his own name. But it does not appear that this place, where he had erected salt works and dwellings, was entirely deserted.
For several years these colonies on the Piscataqua pro- gressed but slowly. Unlike those who landed at Plymouth to seek a home where they might enjoy civil and religious liberty, the first settlers of this state were seeking gain. They hoped, by establishing fisheries and carrying on trade with the natives, to secure an abundant requital for all their labor. Influenced by such feelings, they for a time neg- lected agriculture-the only sure resource of a new country.
Thus time passed away, presenting but few. incidents worthy of note. No remarkable events occurred ; at least none have been recorded. Doubtless in their own little circle these pioneers of the wilderness experienced the usual variety that falls to the human race. But what toils and sufferings they endured, neither history nor tradition informs us.
In 1629 Rev. John Wheelwright and others of the Mas- sachusetts Bay colony purchased of the Indians, for what they deemed a valuable consideration in " coats, shirts, and
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
kettles," a considerable tract of land between the Piscata- qua and the Merrimack. The deed was signed by Passa- conaway, the chief sagamore of the Indian tribes in this part of New England, though exercising immediate juris- diction over the Pennacooks living on the Merrimack in the vicinity of Concord. It was also signed by the chiefs of several other tribes. This land had been before granted to Gorges and Mason by the Plymouth Company ; but it must be admitted that the right conveyed by the original owners and occupants of the soil was far better than that of a self-constituted company in a distant land or of a for- eign monarch claiming it by the right of discovery.
Very soon after, Mason obtained a new grant from the Plymouth Council of this very same territory ; whence it has been conjectured that he and Gorges had made a mutual agreement to divide Laconia and take out new patents. This, from the county in England in which he had former- ly resided, he called New Hampshire. Edward Hilton also obtained a deed of the land occupied by himself and his associates in the vicinity of Dover. His patent includ- ed Dover, Durham, Stratham, and part of Newington and Greenland. The London adventurers, or those settled near the mouth of the river, secured a grant including Ports- mouth, Newcastle, and Rye, with part of Newington and Greenland.
Thus we find that in 1631 there were two settlements, entirely distinct and independent of each other, commonly called the Upper and Lower Plantations ; the one composed chiefly of " west country adventurers," the other of those from London. Of the former, Captain Thomas Wiggin was appointed agent ; of the latter, Captain Walter Neal. Between the two, quarrels sometimes arose about disputed territory ; but they were finally settled without bloodshed.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
A desire to discover gold pervaded the minds of the col- onists. New Hampshire, being a mountainous region, was deemed likely to abound in the precious metals. Thus, though ostensibly formed for " trade, fishery, salt making, building, and husbandry," the companies early began to ex- plore the wilds in search of metallic treasures. Fabulous stories of beautiful lakes and rivers abounding in fish, of fertile islands with most delightful climates, were freely cir- culated, and to a great extent believed. At length Captain Neal started on foot, with one or two companions, on an expedition to discover these fair lands in the interior of La- conia. The El Dorado was not found ; but in the course of their journey they saw the White Mountains ; and, find- ing something there resembling crystal, they called them the Crystal Hills. For want of provisions they were compelled to return, but not until they supposed they were within one day's journey of the wished-for spot.
In 1633 Neal and Wiggin surveyed their respective pat- ents and laid out the towns of Dover and Portsmouth. They agreed with Wheelwright that his proposed town at Swampscot Falls should be called Exeter. Hampton was laid out the same year ; but neither of the last two places was settled until some time later.
But in the mean time want, privation, and hardship were producing their accustomed effects, Agriculture, as al- ready observed, was neglected; while the hopes of valuable discoveries proved fallacious. Vines were planted, but came to nothing. There was not a mill in the colony ; but " bread was either brought from England in meal or from Virginia in grain, and then sent to the windmill at Boston to be ground." Iron mines were discovered, but not wrought. The chief sources of income were trade and the fisheries ; but even these yielded no return to those who had advanced capital. Meanwhile new supplies of pro-
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
visions, clothing, and other necessaries were frequently sent over from the mother country. But, under such circum- . stances, it is no wonder that many abandoned the enterprise. Some sold their interests to Gorges and Mason, who, more sanguine than the rest, persevered, with the hope of future success, and finally became almost the sole proprietors. They appointed Francis Williams governor, who is repre- sented as a discreet, sensible man, and very acceptable to the people.
The Virginia Company had always viewed the Plymouth Council with jealousy and dislike, and in 1635 complained of their charter as a monopoly. Gorges appeared in person before the Parliament to defend it, but in vain. The char- ter was surrendered; though Gorges and Mason secured for themselves a considerable interest in the territory. Mason had gained New Hampshire, and also purchased of Gorges a tract north-east of the Piscataqua, three miles in width ; but his death, which happened the same year, put an end to all his projects. Had he lived, it is not improbable that he might have recovered at least a part of the capital he had expended.
Thus it will be seen that the objects which Gorges and Mason had in view in sending colonists to this state were never realized. No vast mineral treasures were found ; no flourishing vineyards enlivened the landscape. After years of toil, after expending vast sums of money, they had failed to accomplish what they desired and hoped ; but they laid the foundations on which others built; they sowed the seed while others reaped the harvest. And, though we may perhaps regard them as having mistaken views of the true sources of national prosperity, we cannot too much honor the memory of the merchant adventurers who labored so long and so perseveringly to colonize the infant state.
CHAPTER II.
Religious Intolerance. - Antinomian Controversy. - Banishment of Wheel- wright. - Settlement of Exeter. - Formation of a Government. - Settle- ment of Hampton. - Affairs on the Piscataqua. - Wiggin visits England. - Erection of a Church. - Purdet's Exploits. - Morton abandons Ports- mouth. - Underhill's Administration. - Knollys and Larkham. - Dover and Portsmouth form Governments. - Union with Massachusetts. - Wheelwright flees. - Laws of Massachusetts and Character of the early Set- tlers. - Persecution of the Quakers. - Witchcraft.
Most of the early settlers of Massachusetts had been driv- en from their native land by the intolerance of their rulers ; but, when they were once freed from their depressed situa- tion and placed in authority, they allowed no such liberty to others as they had claimed for themselves. Indeed they did not seem to understand the true principles of re- . ligious freedom. Believing themselves to have attained perfect truth, they could see nothing but error in the creeds of all who differed from them in opinion ; and this they could not conscientiously tolerate. The strong arm of the law was invoked to check the spread of doctrines which they believed would be dangerous to the best interests of the state. It was this spirit - the fault of the times rather than of the men themselves -that drove Wheelwright, al- ready mentioned as having purchased land of the Indians at Swampscot Falls, to establish a new settlement. He be- longed to a party of the church called Antinomians, and for a time was engaged in a very bitter and violent contest,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
in which the principal men of the colony participated ; but being at length overpowered, he, with several others, was banished from the territory of Massachusetts. At the time of making his purchase he stipulated that a settlement should be commenced within ten years ; and, as this time was drawing to a close, he proceeded at once to establish a colony at Exeter. This was in 1638. As there was no general government in New Hampshire to which they could appeal for protection, they formed an independent system of their own. Their laws were based on the Bible. They had one chief magistrate and two assistants, chosen in an assembly of the people, and holding their offices one year. They were sworn to discharge their duty faithfully, while the people were sworn to obedience. The laws were enacted in a general assembly; and in fact the whole organ- ization presents an example of a purely democratic form of government.
About this time the Massachusetts colony empowered Richard Dummer and John Spencer to commence improve- ments and to build a house at Hampton, called by the In- dians Winnicummet. What they most valued was an ex- tensive salt marsh, which bade fair to produce a supply of hay for their cattle. Soon after some persons from Norfolk county, England, had leave to settle here. The whole number was now fifty-six. The house first erected was long known as the Bound House.
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