USA > New Hampshire > A gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire by John Farmer and Jacob B. Moore ; embellished with an accurate map of the state, and several other engravings by Abel Bowen > Part 10
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ted at Yale College in 1765, was ordained in Oct. 1774; dismissed in 1792. Rev. John Webber, who graduated at Dartmouth College in 1792, was installed in Feb. 1812 ; dismissed March 12, 1815. Rev. Amos P. Brown was ordained Jan. 1, 1817 ; dismissed in 1822. There are some baptists, regular and free- will, and some methodists. Pop. 1047.
CANAAN, post-town in Grafton county, in lat. 43º 40', bounded N. by Dame's gore, which separates it from Dorchester, E. by Orange, S. by Enfield, and W. by Hanover. It is situated on the height of land between the rivers Connecticut and Merrimack. It is 16 miles E. from Dartmouth College, 30 S. E. of Haverhill, 25 S.W. from Plym- outh, and 40 N. W. from Concord. The only stream of consequence is the Mascomy, which rises in the N. W. part of Dorchester, and af- ter a meandering course of 8 or 10 miles, falls into Mascomy pond in Enfield. Indian stream river rises in the S. E. corner of Dorchester, and running about 8 miles, mingles with the waters of Mascomy, near the centre of the town. Heart rond, so called from its figure, is situated in the centre of the town, and upon a swell of land so eleva- ted, 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 bank of earth which nearly surrounds this pond. It is from 4 to 5 feet high, and from its uniform height and regular con- struction, would seem to be the work of art; but from frequent an- 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
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Goose,Clark's,Mud and Bear ponds. The Grafton turnpike passes with- 1 in a few rods of Heart pond, on the west shore of which is the meeting-house and a pleasant vil- lage. The land is not so broken as in some of the adjoining towns. There is but little not capable of cultivation. The soil is tolerably fertile, and produces wheat, rye, corn, flax, &c. Canaan was grant- ed by charter, July 9, 1761, to 62 persons, all of whom except ten belonged to Connecticut. It de- rived its name from Canaan in that state. The first permanent settle- ment was made in the winter, in 1766 or 7, by John Scofield, who conveyed what effects he possessed the distance of 14 miles over a crust of snow upon a hand-sled. Among others of the first settlers, were George Harris, Thomas Mi- ner, Joshua Harris, Samuel Jones and Samuel Meacham. The first proprietors' meeting was holden Ju- r. ly 19, 1768. The first church, which was of the baptist denomi- nation, was formed in 1780. Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D. was or- dained to the pastorai care of it, in 1783, and removed to Boston in 1790. Rev. Joseph Wheat was settled in 1813. There is a respec- table congregational society, incor- porated in 1820, over which Rev. Charles Calkins presides. There is also a small society of metho- dists. Pop. 1198. Jonathan Dus- ton, a native of Haverhill, Mass., a grandson to the intrepid Hannah Duston,mentioned under Boscawen, died here, July 4, 1812, aged 93.
CANDIA, post-township, Rock- ingham county, was detached from the N. part of Chester and incor- porated Dec. 17, 1763. It was na- med by Governor Benning Went- worth, who was once a prisoner on the island of Candia, (the ancient
Crete) in the Mediterranean sea. Candia is in lat. 43º 8'-is 6 miles long, 4 wide, and contains 15,360 acres, with 1273 inhabitants. Its soil is naturally hard of cultivation ; but the industry of the inhabitants has made it fruitful. It was orig- inally covered with a thick growth of oak, ash, maple, birch, &c. The site of this town is elevated, and commands an extensive view of the rich scenery of the adjacent country-the White Hills, the Wa- chusett, and other mountains, the lights on Plum-island, and the ocean being visible. From its ele- vation it probably derives its health ; and there are now living in the town more than 60 persons between 70 and 100 years of age. Annual average of deaths for six years past, 23. In the W. part of the town is a ridge of land extend- ing from N. to S. which is the high- est elevation between Merrimack river and the ocean. On the E. side of this ridge, two branches of Lam- prey river take their rise. The first settler was William Turner, who moved into the limits now comprising the town in 1748. In 1755, John Sargent and several others commenced settlements. This town among others contribu- ted largely to the attainment of in- dependence ; and the names of 69 soldiers of the revolution are found on its records. There is a res- pectable congregational society in this town, over whom have been settled, Rev. David Jewett in 1771, removed 1780 ; Rev. Joseph Prince in 1782, removed 1789 ; Rev. Jesse Remington in 1790, died in 1815; Rev. Isaac Jones in 1816, dismissed 1818. Rev. Abraham Wheeler was installed in 1818. There is also a society of free-will baptists in Candia, and people of other de- nominations. Here are 12 schools
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during about half the year ; and jjand all fired upon them, but with- their regulations promise much usefulness There are two social libraries ; a moral society ; a fe- male charitable society, which con- tributes annually 20 dollars for re- ligious purposes. The inhabitants are mostly industrious farmers, ma- ny of whom are wealthy.
CANTERBURY, a post-town, in the county of Rockingham, is in lat. 43º 21'; and bounded N. E. by Gilmanton, S. E. by Loudon, S. by Concord, W. by Merrimack river, which divides it from Boscawen, and N. by a ridge called Bean's Hill, separating the town fronı Northfield. Canterbury, though an uneven township, is not moun- tainous. The soil is generally good ; the more uneven parts af- fording excellent pasturage. There are no large streams in this town ; but several ponds give rise to smal- ler streams, furnishing good mill sites, and near which are cut great quantities of hay. Two bridges over the Merrimack connect this town with Boscawen. Canterbury was granted May 20, 1727, to Rich- ard Waldron and others ; and for-
merly comprenended ivortunelu and Loudon. It now contains an area of 26,345 acres. The town was settled soon after the grant was obtained ; and for a long time the inhabitants were exposed to the inroads of the savages. The hus- bandman cleared and tilled his land under the protection of a guard, uncertain whether the seed he com- mitted to the ground might not be watered by his blood, or that of an enemy. In 1738, two men of the names of Shepherd and Blanchard, going a short distance from the garrison then kept in town, were surprised by a party of seven In- dians, who rose from behind a log not more than two rods from them,
out effect. Shepherd and his com- rade then fired upon their assail- ants, but to no purpose. Shepherd then made his escape ; while Blan- chard, less fortunate, fell into the hands of the Indians, who wound- ed and mangled him in such a manner that he survived but a few days. During the French and In- dian war, the latter made several attempts upon the inhabitants of this town. At one time they en- tered the house of Thomas Clough ; and finding no one within, they pilfered some of its contents. A negro belonging to Clough, and a lad of the name of Jackman, be- ing at work not far distant, the In- dians made them captives, and took them to Canada, where they re- mained till the close of the war, in 1749. Jackman was recently liv- ing in Boscawen. In April, 1752, two Indians, named Sabatis and Christi, came into Canterbury, where they were hospitably enter- tained by the inhabitants for more than a month. At their departure, they forced away two negroes, one of whom made his escape, and re- TII. . Lie was taken to
turneu. i ne ouie
Crown Point, and there sold to an officer. The next year, Sabatis, with another Indian, called Plau- sawa, returned to Canterbury ; where, being reproached for mis- conduct on his former visit, Sabatis and his companion behaved in a very insolent manner. Much ex- citement was produced against them. Some persons treated them freely with strong drink ; one pur- sued them into the woods, and ta- king advantage of their situation, killed them, and, assisted by anoth- er person, buried them. They were so slightly buried, however, that their bodies were dug up by beasts of prey, and their bones
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lay upon the ground. The two |in Feb. 1806. £ Canterbury, from its elevated situation, has ever been a healthy town. The average number of deaths for the last 12 years has been 17 ; greatest num- ber in any one year, 24; least, 9. Pop. in 1820, 1696.
men concerned in the murder of these Indians belonged to Salisbu- ry ; where they were soon after apprehended and carried to Ports- mouth for trial. A bill was found against them by the grand jury, and they were confined in irons ; but on the night previous to their appointed trial, an armed mob from the country, with axes and bars, forced the prison and carried them off in triumph. Exertions were made to detect the ringleaders of the mob, but without effect. Al- though the people of Canterbury were occasionally supplied with preaching from the earliest settle- ment of the place, no church was formed until 1761 ; when the Rev. Abiel Foster was ordained ; he was dismissed in 1779. Rev. Fred- erick Parker was ordained in 1791, and died in 1802. Rev. William Patrick was ordained in Oct. 1803 -at which time the church con- sisted of about 20 male, and 40 female members : it has since con- siderably increased. Elder Win- throp Young was settled over the free-will baptist society in 1793. The Hon. ABIEL FOSTER de- serves a particular notice. He possessed in a great degree the es- teem 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 1783, he was elected to Congress ; and for three years was a member of that body under the old confederation. He
was successively returned a mem- ber for nearly all the time until 1804; when he retired to private life and domestic tranquillity. He was an ardent lover of liis coun- try ; and faithfully served his con- stituents-by whom his memory will long be cherished. He died
Shakers' Village .- In the S. E. part of this town, on an elevated and beautiful site, is the village of the " SHAKERS"-a sect of chris- tiaus first known in this country in 1774, when Ann Lee, the founder of the sect, with several others, ar- rived at New-York from Liverpool. The church at Canterbury was gathered in the year 1792, under the ministration of Elder Job Bish- op, who is still their minister; al- though the society first embraced their religious faith about ten years previous to that time. At present it consists of more than two hun- dred members. They have a meet- ing-house open at all times of pub- lic worship, where any discreet and decent spectator is allowed to attend. They have a Deacons" of- fice, where all their public. business is transacted, and where strangers are at first received on their visits to the society. They have also nine dwelling houses, of two and three stories, and several work- shops both for men and women. Their mills and various kinds of machinery are moved by water on an artificial stream. They manu- facture many articles for sale, which are remarkable for neatness and durability. Their gardens are perhaps the most productive of any in the country ; and indeed all their improved lands exhibit the pleasing effects of industry and rural economy. They have for years supplied this section of the state with garden seeds, and take much pains to propagate those of the best kind. They occupy more
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than 1500 acres of land, lying prin- cipally in a body, which they have ' consecrated to the Lord,' and which they enjoy in common. They cheerfully pay their propor- tion of the public taxes, and share all the burthens of government, ex- cept the bearing of arms, which they deem to be contrary to the gospel ; and in return they claim from government only that protec- tion and support guaranteed to other citizens. The income of their manufactures, together with their agricultural products, yields their temporal support ; and what they become possessed of more than is necessary to their wants, they devote to charitable purposes, agreeably to their church covenant. Fifty-six persons, old and young, have departed this life in the soci- ety since it was first organized-a period of forty years. This num- ber is small, in comparison with the mortality of other parts of the state ; and furnishes strong proof how much temperate habits tend to prolong life. It should be men- tioned as a practice highly credit- able to this sect, that the members of their societies never make use of ardent spirits except in cases of sickness, being aware of the evils intemperance brings upon society. Another practice not unworthy of imitation is, they refuse to be trust- ed even in the smallest sum. They transact their secular concerns with much probity and uprightness ; and though they may have suffered re- proach from their singularity of life and manners, they have be- come a proverb for industry, jus- tice and benevolence. The pecu- liar doctrines of this sect, which have often been misrepresented, are noticed in vol i. Historical Col- lections, to which the reader is re- ferred.
CAPE HORN, mountain. See Northumberland.
CARDIGAN, a mountain. See
Orange.
CARR'S MOUNTAIN. See Ells- worth.
CARTER'S MOUNTAIN-be- tween Adams and Chatham. CATAMOUNT, mountain. See Pittsfield. There is also a hill of this name in Allenstown.
CENTRE-HARBOR, post-town, Strafford county, lat. 43º 41', is sit- uated between Winnepisiogee and . Squam lakes, bounded N. E. by - Moultonborough, S. E. by Mere- dith, S. W. by New-Hampton, N. W. by Holderness and Squam lake. It has an area of 7,550 acres, and is distant 40 miles from Concord, 70 from Portsmouth, and 110 from Boston. Measley pond and Squam lake are partly in this town; the latter furnishes fine trout, and lias several islands valuable for gra- zing. The soil is very good, most- ly a rich loam. The original growth is oak, maple, beech, birch and pine. The town is pleasantly situated, and its local position prob- ably gave rise to its name. The first settlements were made by Eb- enezer Chamberlain in 1765, and Col. Joseph Senter, in 1767. A congregational church was formed here in 1815, over which Rev. David Smith was ordained 1819. There are portions of the inhabi- tants of other denominations. Pop. 496.
CHADBOURNE AND HART'S LOCATION, in the county of Coos, is a narrow tract on both sides the river Saco, extending from the notch of the White Mountains to a tract granted to Mr. Royse-it con- tains 3446 acres. The grant was made April 27, 1772, to Thomas Chadbourne and George Hart of Portsmouthı. The tenth N. H.
12
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turnpike passes through this tract from the Notch to the town of Bartlett. Pop. 65.
CHARLESTOWN, a post-town- ship, and one of the shire towns in Cheshire county, is situated on Connecticut river, in lat. 43º 15', and is bounded N. by Claremont, E. by Unity and Acworth, S. by Langdon and Walpole, and W. by the W. bank of Connecticut river, on which it extends about 13 miles. It contains an area of 21,400 acres. It is 51 miles from Concord, 100 from Boston, 100 from Albany, 110 from Hartford, Conn. and 18 miles from Windsor, Vt. The only riv- ers in Charlestown, are the Con- necticut and Little Sugar rivers. In the former, there are three isl- ands within the limits of this town, the largest of which contains about ten acres and is called Sartwell's island. The others contain about six acres each, and have a rich loamy soil. Sartwell's island is under a high cultivation. There are no falls in this river within the limits of Charlestown, which in- terrupt the boat navigation, al- though some little inconvenience is experienced in. low water from what are called " Sugar river bars." Little Sugar river waters the north part of Charlestown and empties into Connecticut river about two miles south of the S. line of Clare- mont. This town has but few fac- tory or mill privileges. The soil is extremely various. West of the great road leading from Wal- pole to Claremont, are not less than 1500 acres of fine interval land, generally of a deep, rich and loamy soil, and favorable for the culture and growth of most of the various kinds of grass and grain. In the east and northeast parts of the town, the soil of the upland is good -- the natural growth of wood,
consisting principally of birch, heech, oak, maple and hemlock. There is a ridge of hard, broken, and in some parts stony, land, east of the river road, extending almost the whole length of the town, and which is considered unfit for settle- ments. The south part of the town appears to have a different soil, and is favorable for yielding the lighter grains. The practical farmers here, for several years past, have used annually not less than 30 tons of plaster of Paris. It is generally applied with much bene- fit to interval lands. The agricul- tural products in 1820, were 25,- 000 lbs. of butter, 36,000 lbs. of cheese, 175,000 lbs. of beef, 180,- 000 lbs. of pork, 5000 lbs. of flax, and 895 barrels of cider. Charles- town contains two parishes, which are divided by a line running from Cheshire Bridge S. 87º E. to the corner of Acworth and Unity.« In the south parish, there is a hand- some village, deliglitfully situated, at the distance of about half a mile from Connecticut river, and parallel with it. It contains an elegant brick meeting-house erec- ted in 1820, 70 feet by 60, and 32 in height, a court house and 56 dwelling houses, built with much taste and arranged with regularity. -- In the north parish is a meeting house and a small village. There are 13 school districts, in which has been annually expended for the last ten years $800, for the in- struction of about 500 scholars. In each parish is a social library. That in the south parish was in- corporated in 1812, and contains above 250 volumes ; that in the north parish was incorporated in 1818, and is but small. Cheshire bridge, about two miles N. of the S. meeting-house, connects this town with Springfield, Vt. From
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this bridge, Cheshire turnpike leads [] Mr. Samuel Stevens was the first southerly through the principal village to Keene. Charlestown turnpike passes from this village through Acworth, and intersects the 2d N. H. turnpike in Lempster. Charlestown was granted by Mas- sachusetts, Dec. 31, 1735, by the name of Number 4, which is some- times · applied to it at the present "day. The grantees, 63 in number, belonged to Northampton, Hadley, Hatfield, Deerfield and Sunderland in Massachusetts. Their first meet- ing was holden at Hatfield, April 5, 1737. The first settlers were 'several families by the name of Parker, Farnsworth, and Sartwell from Groton, Mass. The next were the families by the name of Hastings from Lunenburg, and Ste- vens from Rutland. In 1743, a fort ·was built under the direction of Col. Stoddard of Northampton. In 1744, the first mills were erected. In 1746, they were burnt by the ·Indians, and were rebuilt in 1751. The Cape Breton war began in 1744. This town being more than thirty miles from any settlement suffered severely. In 1747, the inhabitants were compelled to aban- don the town. In April of the same year, Capt. Stevens was or- dered by Gov. Shirley to occupy the fort with thirty men to defend the frontiers. The boundary line between this province and Massa- chusetts was settled in 1741, and Charlestown was located in N. H. On the 2d July, 1753, No. 4 was in- corporated by the name of Charles- town. The charter was granted by Gov. Benning Wentworth to Jo- seph Wells, Phinehas Stevens and others who were purchasers under the old grantees. In 1754, the French war commenced-and the inhabitants were obliged to take up their residence in the fort. In 1768,
who was chosen representative to the general court. The first meeting-house was built the same year. In 1771, Charlestown was made one of the shire towns of Cheshire county. In 1781, a num- ber of towns on the west of Con- necticut river seceded from New- Hampshire and joined Vermont, and one of the legislative sessions of the new state was holden at Charlestown. The Indian depre- dations on this town demand a few notices. The first settlers of Charlestown, like the first inhabi- tants of almost every frontier town in New-England, were, prior to 1760, the victims of savage cruel- ty. For twenty years after the first settlement, their neighbors on the N. were the French in Canada, on the W. the Dutoh, near the Hudson, on the E. the settlements on Merrimack river, and on the S. few were found until arrived at Northfield in Massachusetts, a dis- tance of more than 40 miles. The Indians were at peace but a small portion of that time. From their infancy, the settlers had been fa- miliar with danger and had acquir- ed a hardihood unknown to poster- ity. When they attended public worship, or cultivated their lands, they sallied from the fort prepared for battle, and worshipped or la- bored under the protection of a sentinel. In their warfare, the In- dians preferred prisoners to scalps, and few were killed but those who attempted to escape, or appeared too formidable to be encountered with success. The Indians, made their first hostile appearance in No. 4, April 19, 1746, when the mills were burnt and John Spaf- ford, Isaac Parker and Stephen Farnsworth were taken prisoners and carried to Canada. May 4th,
-
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the same year, Seth Putnam was! killed; and on the 24th of the same month, a company under Capt. Paine, from the S. part of Worcester county, arrived for the defence of the place. A part of the soldiers had the curiosity to view the spot where the unfortu- nate Putnam fell. The Indians rushed between them and the fort, and five were killed. August 3, 1746, a man by the name of Phil- lips waskilled. In Nov., the town was deserted except by six men, who kept the fort until winter, and then left it. In the month of March, Capt. Stevens, with 30 men, took possession of the fort and de- fended it against the attack of 400 French and Indians .- June 17, 1749, Obadiah Sartwell was killed while ploughing, and Enos Stevens, a boy, son of Capt. Stevens, was taken prisoner. On the 29th of August, 1754, the Indians · made their first appearance after the commencement of the French war. At early dawn, they attacked the house of Mr. James Johnson, who, with his wife, her sister and three children, and two men, Peter Lab- arree and Ebenezer Farnsworth, lodgers in the house, were taken prisoners. On the 2d day, about 15 miles from Charlestown, in the wilderness, Mrs. Johnson was de- livered of a daughter, whom she named Captive, who afterwards married Col. George Kimball. Of the sufferings, detentions and re- lease of Mrs. Johnson, a minute account has long been before the public, and has lately been re-pub- lished in the Historical Collections, for 1822. In 1756, Lieut. Moses Willard, the father of Mrs. John- son, was killed. He was at work within sight of the fort with his son Moses. Him the Indians pur- sued and wounded with a spear. he would carry him on his back-
He made his escape, carrying the spear with him into the fort. He lived respected until Aug. 17, 1822, when he was gathered to his fathers, aged 84 years. In 1757, the mills were again burnt, and Sampson Colefax, David Farnsworth and Thomas Adams were taken prison- ers. In 1758, Asahel Stebbins was killed, his wife, Isaac Parker and a soldier were captured. Sept. 8, 1760, Joseph Willard, his wife and children, were taken prison- ers. After a march of a few miles, their infant child was destroyed. Mr. Willard was son of Rev. Mr. Willard of Rutland, Ms. who was killed by the Indians. It is be- lieved that this was among the last depredations of the Indians in New-England. The prisoners ta- ken from Charlestown were all car- ried to Canada by lake Champlain, and sold to the French. Nearly all of them were redeemed by gov- ernment or their friends. The first child born in Charlestown was Elizabeth,' the daughter of Isaac Parker ;-- she was born 1744 ; died in 1806, aged 62. Charlestown has been favored with a number of eminent men, a few of whom will be mentioned. Capt. PHINEHAS STEVENS was one of the first set- tlers. The town, when in its in- fancy, was protected by his intre- pidity. He was a native of Sud- bury, Mass. from whence his fa- ther removed to Rutland. At the age of 16, while his father was ma- king hay, he, with three little broth- ers followed him to the meadows. They were ambushed by the In- dians, who killed two of his broth- ers, took him prisoner and were preparing to kill his youngest broth- er, a child four years old. He, by signs to the Indians, made them un- derstand if they would spare him,
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