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 11
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and he carried him to Canada. They were redeemed and both re- turned. He received several com- missions from Gov. Shirley, and rendered important services in pro- tecting the frontiers. In 1747, when Charlestown was abandoned by the inhabitants. he was ordered to occupy the fort with 30 men. On the 4th of April, he was attack- ed by 400 French and Indians, un- der Mons. Debeline. The assault lasted three days. Indian strata- gem and French skill, with fire ap- plied to every combustible about the fort, had not the desired effect. The heroic band were not appal- led. They refused to capitulate. At lengthi an interview between the commanders took place. The Frenchman shewed his forces and described the horrid massacre that must ensue unless the fort was sur- rendered. "My men are not afraid to die," was the answer made by Capt. Stevens. The attack con- tinued with increased fury until the end of the third day, when the en- emy returned to Canada, and left Capt. Stevens in possession of the fort. Cant. Stevens, for his gal- lantry on this occasion, was presen- ted by Sir Charles Knowles with an elegant sword, and from this circumstance the township, when it was incorporated, took the name of Charlestown. Capt. Stevens died in Nov. 1756, in the service of his country. Samuel Stevens, Esq. the only surviving son of this brave man was the first representative of the town to the general court, and is at the age of 87 years, the present register of probate for Cheshire county. Col. WILLIAM HEYWOOD, who was one of the ten males of the congregational church formed in 1761, filled the office of town clerk 42 years ; liv- ed to an advanced age and died in
Feb. 1803. Col. SAMUEL HUNT, an active military officer in the French and revolutionary wars, settled here in 1759, and was sher- iff of the county till his death in 1779. Hon. SIMEON OLCOTT, who graduated at Yale College in 1761, commenced the practice of law in this town. He was chief justice of the court of common pleas, and of the superior court, and senator in Congress from 1801 to 1805. He died in 1815, aged 79. Hon. BENJAMIN WEST, son of Rev. Thomas West, and broth- er of Rev. Dr. Samuel West of Boston, resided here more than 40 years. He was born April 8, 1746, graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1768, settled here in the practice of law in 1772, and died in July, 1817, aged 71. At the bar, he ranked among the first of his profession. His application, learn- ing and integrity gave him great and merited influence. The eccle- siastical history is brief. The first minister was Rev. John Dennis, who, on account of the Indian war, was ordained at Northfield, Mass. Dec. 4, 1754. He was dismissed March 31, 1756. Rev. Bulkley Olcott, who graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1758, was ordained May 28, 1761, about which time the church was re-organized or a new one formed. He died June 26, 1792. Rev. Dan Foster, though not ordained here, supplied the pulpit from 1796 to his death, in 1809. Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby was ordained Oct. 17, 1810. The north parish has no church formed. Pop. 2110.
CHATHAM, township, Coos co. in lat. 44° 8', is situated on the E. side of the White Mountains, and adjoining the line which divides this state from Maine. It has Con- way on the S., Bartlett and Adams
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on the W., Mount Royse on the | half of this pond. A considerable N. Chatham was granted to Peter Livius and others, Feb. 7, 1767 ; it now contains, in addition to its original territory, what was former- ly called Warner's location-in all about 26,000 acres. There are several ponds in Chatham, and some considerable streams. The, surface is mountainous and rocky, and can never sustain a great pop- ulation. Between Chatham and Adams, Carter's mountain rises so high as to prevent the opening a road between the two towns; so. that in holding an intercourse with the rest of the county, the inhab- itants are obliged to pass through part of the state of Maine. Pop. 298.
CHESTER, a post-township of Rockingham county,in lat. 42º 59', is bounded N. and E. by Raymond, Candia and Hooksett, E. by Poplin and Sandown, S. by Londonderry, and W. by Manchester. Its great- est length is about 12 miles ; its greatest breadth is about 6 1-2 miles, and its least breadth, but lit- tle exceeds two. It is distant 17 miles from Exeter, and 30 from
Portsmouth ; 17 from Haverhill, and 43 from Boston; 23 from Amherst, and 23 from Concord. A branch of Exeter river, called "The Branch," flows through the N.E. part of Ches- ter, beside which, there is no stream deserving mention. Massabesick pond is the largest body of fresh water in the county, and contains about 1500 acres. It consists oftwo nearly equal parts, each about 3 miles in length, and from 200 to 400 rods in breadth, united by a strait of about 250 rods in length, which is at one point so narrow, that the Londonderry turnpike passes it by a bridge. The line between this town and Manchester passes more than 2 miles through the westerly
portion of this town possesses a good soil, and many of the large swells yield in fertility to none in the state. There are several large and valuable meadows. In this town are two caves, sometimes visited by strangers. That which was earliest noticed, is situated in Mine hill, near the east side of Massabesick pond, on the old road from Chester to Concord. The entrance is about 5 feet high and 2 1-2 wide. The cavern extends into the hill in a northern direction about 80 feet, of sufficient dimensions to admit a per- son to pass. Its form is very irreg- ular, and its height and breadth various, from 2 to 12 feet and even more. After dividing into several branches, it is gradually lost in nu- merous small crevices in the rocks, which appear to be gneiss, and which possess in some parts a slight taste of alum. The other is in the westerly side of Rattlesnake hill, in the S. W. part of the town, in a ledge of coarse granite, nearly 40 feet high. It has two entrances. The north entrance is about 11 feet high and 4 broad, The width Jof the cave then increases gradual- ly for about 15 feet, where its height is 8, and its breadth from 6 to 12 feet. Its direction there changes to the right, and its width varies from 5 1-2 to 9 feet, and its height from 6 to 7, to the other entrance which is about 7 feet high and 9 wide. Its whole length is about 35 feet. Plum- bago or black lead is found in this town of good quality and in con- siderable abundance. Native sul- phur is also found in small quanti- ties, imbedded in tremolite. Gran- ite and gneiss are the prevailing rocks, and handsome specimens of graphic granite are sometimes found. The village in this town has about 35 dwelling houses, and a
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meeting-house, beside other build-jjof Ireland. From 1722 to 1726, the ings, stores, &c., standing chiefly on settlement was retarded by an In- dian war. The Indians, however, did no injury to this town, except that they took Thomas Smith and John Carr, who, after travelling a- bout 30 miles into the woods, made their escape while the Indians were asleep, and arrived in safety at a garrison in Londonderry. Several garrison houses were maintained in this town till after the peace of 1749. On the 8th of May, 1722, the town, which had previously been called Cheshire, was incorporated by its present name. The charter includ- ed more than 120 square miles of territory. The first meeting under it was holden March 28, 1723. Un- til 1723, the town meetings were usually holden in one of the old towns in the province, and almost all the town officers, though propri- etors, were not inhabitants of the town. Until 1735, the business of the town and of the proprietary was transacted at the town meet- ings. Separate meetings were after- wards holden. In 1729, the town voted to erect a meeting-house, which was so far completed, that the town meetings were afterwards usually holden in it. In the follow- ing year, they settled Rev. Moses Hale, who was removed in 1734. In this year, the first settlers, who were presbyterians, formed a socie- ty and settled Rev. John Wilson, after the rules of the Kirk of Scot- land. In 1738, they erected a meet- ing-house. They resisted every at- tempt to settle a congregational minister, and after the settlement of Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, which oc- curred in 1736, many of them re- fused payment of their taxes for his support. Two of them, James Campbell, and John Tolford, were arrested by the collector and com- mitted to jail in Exeter. After a a long street. It is the principal place of business in this part of the coun- ty, and is situated on an elevated rise, and commands one of the most extensive prospects in New-Eng- land. From this hill, the ocean, though more than 20 miles distant, may, in a clear day, be distinctly seen. There are in this town two meeting-houses, one for congrega- tionalists, erected in 1773, and fur- nished with a town-clock and a bell, and one for presbyterians, erected about 1735, but since much enlarged. The schools are usually taught here from 5 to 8 months in each year. A social library was incorporated in 1798, and contains about 325 volumes, many of which are well selected and valuable works. The Chester turnpike ex- tends about 15 miles from the vil- lage in Chester to Pembroke street. The mail passes and repasses three times in eaclı week, and stages dai- ly, on these roads from Concord to Boston. A weekly mail from Brat- tleborough, Vt. to Portsmouth, pas- ses through this town. In October, 1719, about 80 persons, chiefly from Hampton and Portsmouth, asso- ciated for the purpose of obtaining a grant of a township in the " Ches- nut country"-placed three men on the land to keep possession, and pe- titioned for a grant. After some difficulty, they obtained a grant of a tract of land ten miles square, Aug. 26, 1720. The settlement was immediately commenced by several persons from Rye and Hampton- of whom Samuel Ingalls, Jonathan Goodhue, Jacob Sargent, Ebenezer Dearborn, Robert Smith, B. and E. Colby, John and S. Robie, seem to have been most active and useful; and by several families which had recently emigrated from the north
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tedious lawsuit, they obtained a decision in their favor, and in 1740, the two congregations were author- ised to hold separate meetings with corporate powers. Rev. Mr. Flagg, of the congregational church died Nov. 14, 1796. Rev. Nathan Brad- street had been settled as colleague in 1793, and resigned in 1818. Rev. Joel R. Arnold succeeded March 8, 1820. Rev. Mr. Wilson, of the presbyterian church, died Feb. 1, 1779 : he was born in the county of Ulster, in the N. of Ireland-to which his ancestors had emigrated from Scotland. He came to Amer- ica in 1729, and preached 45 years to his church. After his death the church was vacant 24 years. Rev. Zaccheus Colby was installed Oct. 13, 1803, removed in 1809 ; and was succeeded by Rev. Clement Parker Feb. 19, 1817. A baptist church was organized in Chester, Dec. 16, 1819. In 1740 the first school- house was built. In 1748, Capt. Abel Morse was chosen the first representative. In 1750, it was voted, that the S. W. part of the town should be set off with a part of Londonderry and the land next Amoskeag into a separate parish, which was incorporated in 1751 by the name of Derryfield. In 1753, the W. part of the town was set off as a distinct parish, and has been since known as the Long- Meadows. In 1762, that part of the town called Charmingfare was set off as a parish, and in the year following was incorporated by the name of Candia. 1763, the north parish, or Freetown, was set off as a parish or town, and in 1765, incor- porated by the name of Raymond. In 1822, a part of Chester was dis- annexed with other tracts to form the town of Hooksett-reducing the population to 1946. The abo- rigines had a settlement of 10 or
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12 wigwams, on an island in Mas- sabesick pond, vestiges of which, it is said, may still be seen .- The throat distemper, which prevailed in 1735, and which proved mortal in 21 cases, is the only dangerous epidemic with which this town has been visited. The first child of English parents born in this place was a daughter of Samuel Ingalls ; she died recently in Candia aged over 90 years. John Sargent was the first boy born here ; he died in Candia between 70 and 80 years of age. The first framed house erected in this town, is still stand- ing and is now occupied as a tavern. Many of the first settlers lived to a very great age.
CHESTERFIELD, a post-town- ship in Cheshire county, in lat. 42º 53/, is bounded N. by Westmore- land, E. by Keene and Swanzey, S. by Winchester and Hinsdale, W. by Brattleborough and Dum- merston, Vt. containing 29,437 acres. It is 11 miles from Keene, 65 from Concord, and 90 from Bos- ton. This town is generally hilly and uneven. Few towns on Con- necticut river have so little inter- val land. For the whole six miles that it lies upon the river, the hills approach near the river's side. There is much good upland, well adapted for grazing, and the pro- duction of Indian corn. The chief articles carried to market are beef, pork, butter and cheese. Connec- ticut river passes through the wes- tern bounds of Chesterfield. Cat's- Bane brook is a stream of great importance; as it furnishes many mill seats. Spafford's lake is a beautiful collection of water, situ- ated about one mile N. of the meeting-house. It is about 8 miles in circumference, containing a sur- face of 526 acres. It is fed by springs in its bosom. Its waters
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are remarkably clear and pure, its ||12 persons of the name of Wil- bed being a white sand. In this lard and 52 others. The first set- tlement was made Nov. 25, 1761, on the banks of the Connecticut by Moses Smith and William Thomas, with their families. The next spring, Abel Emmons and Si- mon Davis moved into town. At that period, the river afforded abun- dance of shad and salmon, and the forests were well stocked with deer, bears and other game, so that the in- habitants did not experience those privations so common in the new settlements on the E. The first child born in town was Mary Thom- as-born in 1762, and is now liv- ing. The congregational church was formed in 1771. Rev. Abra- ham Wood, who graduated at Har- vard College in 1767, was ordained Dec. 31, 1772. He is the oldest minister in New-Hampshire. There is a baptist society, incorporated June 21, 1819 ; also a universalist society, incorporated June 22, 1818. Mrs. Hannah Bayley, wid- ow of Josiah Bayley, formerly of Lunenburg, Ms. died liere in Nov. 1822, aged 104 years and 3 months. Hon. LEVI JACKSON, who was for several years a representative and senator in the legislature, and a member of the executive council in 1816 and 1817, was a native of this town. He was born June 29, 1772, graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in 1799, and died Aug. 30, 1821, aged 49. He was six years preceptor of the academy. Pop. 2110. lake, there is an island of about six acres, which forms a delightful retreat for students of the acade- my in the summer. On its E. side issues a stream called Partridge's brook, sufficiently large to carry the machinery of a cotton factory, sawmills, &c. The factory has 800 spindles. Forty looms, opera- ted by water, have been lately built. West river mountain lies in this town and Hinsdale. It is sup- posed to have been once subject to a volcanic eruption, and there is at present a considerable quantity of lava near its crater. Some of the carly inhabitants perceiving an aperture in the mountain, and sup- posing it led to a silver mine, ob- tained a lease of that part which contained the supposed mine. The lease requires the lessees to dig, at least three days in each year, that it may not become void. At this time, they have dug principally through a rock between 90 and 100 feet, following the course of the crater downward. It is said by those who live near the mountain, that it frequently trembles, and a rumbling noise is heard in its bow- els. Chesterfield has three villa- ges. The principal one, through which the stage road passes, lead- ing from Hartford to Hanover, is situated near the centre of the town and 3 miles E. of Connecticut river. Here are several dwelling houses, the meeting-house and a flourishing academy, which was CHICHESTER, post-town, Rock- ingham county, lat 43º 15', is situ- ated 8 miles È. of Concord ; boun- ded N.E. by Pittsfield, S.E. by Ep- som, S. W. by Pembroke, N.W. by Loudon and a part of Concord, and comprises 11,978 acres. It was granted May 20, 1727 to Nathan- opened Aug. 14, 1794. It has no funds, but the school has continued every year since it commenced, un- der the direction of a preceptor and 11 trustees. Until within a few years, this was the only acade- my in Cheshire county. Chester- field was granted Feb. 11, 1752, to liel Gookin and others ; but the K
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settlement was not commenced un-|| port, and through nearly the centre til 1758, when Paul Morrill settled in the woods. The soil is good, and richly repays the cultivator- there is little waste land, nor are there any considerable elevations. Bear hill in the N. part of the town, which is covered with a cul- tivated soil, is the principal emi- nence. The E. of the town is watered by the Suncook river, which affords its mill seats and some productive interval. Sever- al smaller streams flow into this river from the S. side of the town. Linkfield pond is in Chichester, from which flows a small stream S. W. into the Soucook. The turn- pike from Concord to Portsmouth passes through this town. In 1791, a congregational church was organ- ized and Rev. Josiah Carpenter or- dained. There is also a religious society formed of members of dif- ferent religious sentiments, but agreeing in worship. In various parts of the town are still to be seen traces of Indian settlements ; and implements of stone, chisels, axes, &c. have frequently been found. The vicinity was once the resi- dence of a powerful tribe, the Pen- acooks, and their plantations of corn, &c. were made on the banks of the Suncook. Pop. 1010.
[of this town, where it unites with the Connecticut. Red-water brook waters the N. E. part of the town and empties itself into Sugar river. Claremont is a fine undulating tract of territory, covered with a rich gravelly loam, converted into the best meadows and pastures. The hills are sloping acclivities, crowned with elegant summits. The intervals on the rivers are rich and luxuriant. The agricultural products in 1820, were 30,000 lbs. of butter, 55,000 lbs. of cheese, 135,000 lbs. of beef, 170,000 lbs. of pork, 7,500 lbs. of flax, and 1100 barrels of cider. Three tons of pearlashes were made the same year. The houses and buildings present a very favorable appear- ance, and indicate the wealth and prosperity of the town. There is but one elevation which comes un- der the name of mountain. This is near Newport and is called Green mountain. There is one small pond lying in this town and New- port. There is, besides the mills, &c. in the statistical table, a wool- len factory, owned by Dr. Leonard Jarvis, which manufactures be- tween 4000 and 5000 yards of broad cloth annually. There is al- so a valuable paper mill establish- ment, owned by Col. Stevens .- There is a communication with Weathersfield by means of Ash- ley's and Sumner's ferries. Just below Ashley's ferry, is Hubbard's island, 240 rods long and 40 wide. There are several bridges over Su- gar river. The second N. H. turn- pike extends from the lottery bridge in Claremont to the plain in Am- herst, a distance of about 50 miles. Claremont was granted Oct. 26, 1764, to Josiah Willard, Samuel Ashley and 68 others. It received
CLAREMONT, a post township in Cheshire county, situated in lat. 43º 23', on Connecticut river, is bounded N. by Cornish, E. by New- port, S. by Unity and Charlestown, W. by Weathersfield, Vt. contain- ing 25,830 acres. It is 12 miles N. of Charlestown, 47 W. of Con- cord, 97 from Portsmouth and 100 from Boston. This town is water- ed by Connecticut and Sugar rivers, besides numerous brooks and riv- ulets. Sugar river originates from Sunapee lake ; passes through part of Wendell, the whole of New-flits name from the country seat of
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Lord Clive, an English general. The first settlement was made in 1762, by Moses Spafford and David Lynde. In 1763, and 1766, sever- al other inhabitants arrived. In 1767, a considerable number of the proprietors, and others from the towns of Farmington, Hebron and Colchester, in Connecticut, made settlements in different parts of the town. The first native of Claremont was Elijah, son of Mo- ses Spafford-he was born in 1763. Among the early inhabitants, to whose enterprise the town was es- sentially indebted for its prosperi- ty, may be mentioned Samuel Cole, Esq. who graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1731, and was for many years very useful as an instructor of youth. He died at an advan- ced age. Dr. William Sumner, a native of Boston, who came to this place in 1768 from Hebron, Conn., was a resident several years in Claremont, where he died in March, 1778. Col. Benjamin Sum- ner, who was many years a civil magistrate, died in May, 1815, aged 78. Col. Joseph Waite, who was engaged in the French and Indian war, was captain of one of Rog- ers' companies of rangers, and commanded a regiment in the rev- olutionary war, died in Oct. 1776. Capt. Joseph Taylor, who was en- gaged in the Cape Breton, the French, and revolutionary wars, who was, with one Farwell, taken prisoner by the Indians, in the summer of 1755, carried to Cana- da, and sold to the French, resided in Claremont, and died in March, 1813, at the age of 84. Hon. Sam- uel Ashley moved to this town in 1782. He was in the wars of 1745 and 1755, He sustained several civil offices, and was judge of the court of common pleas. He died in Feb. 1792. The early inhabi-
tants were about equally divided in their attachment to episcopacy and congregational principles. The churches of these denomina- tions may be considered as coeval. The first minister of the congrega- tional society was Rev. George Wheaton, who was ordained Feb. 19, 1772 ; died June 24, 1773, aged 22. Rev. Augustine Hibbard was settled in Oct. 1774 ; was dismis- sed in 1785. Rev. John Tappan, ordained March 7, 1796 ; dismis- sed Sept. 1802. Rev. Stephen Farley, ordained Dec. 24, 1806; dismissed April, 1818. Rev. Jon- athan Nye, ordained June 6, 1821. The first minister of the episcopal society was Rev. Ranna Cossit, who sailed for England for holy orders in Dec. 1772. He was or- dained by the bishop of London, and returned the next year, and took charge of the church in this town. He was recalled by the bishop to the island of Cape Bret- on in 1785. Rev. Daniel Barber succeeded him in August, 1775, and was dismissed in Nov. 1818. The church, which is called Union church, one of the largest in the state, is in a flourishing condition, containing 120 communicants, and is under the care of Rev. James B. Howe, who was settled in April, 1819. There are two churches, one built in 1773; the other in 1812, in which public worship is attended alternately. A baptist society was formed in 1785, and the next year, Rev. John Peckens was ordained. He was dismissed in 1788. Rev. John Peake, now of Barnstable, Ms., succeeded Mr. Peckens. There is a methodist society, formed in the year 1809. Rev. Caleb Dustin, who died in 1821, was their pastor several years, and was highly respected. There is a number of universal-
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ists, who have occasional preach- ing. A small society of Roman catholics, in this and the neighbor- ing towns, have lately received Rev. Daniel Barber, formerly the episcopalian minister here, who was ordained at the Roman catho- lic church in Boston, as a mission- ary for this state, Dec. 3, 1822. The late Hon. CALEB ELLIS was a resident in this town. He was a native of Walpole, Ms., gradua- ted at Harvard College 1793. He read law principally in the office of Hon. Joshua Thomas of Plym- outh, Ms. ; came to reside in Clare- mont about 1800. In 1804, he was chosen a member of congress from this state; in 1809 and 1810, a member of the executive council ; in 1812, an elector of president and vice-president of the U. S. In 1813, he was appointed judge of the superior court, in which of- fice he remained till his death, May 9, 1816, aged 49. Pop. 2290.
CLEAR STREAM, river, rising. in the mountains of Dixville, N. of Millsfield ; it passes through the centre of Errol, into the Amer- iscoggin, about three miles W. of Umbagog lake.
COCHECO, or QUOCHECHO, riv- er, has its rise from several small streams in New-Durham, which unite in Farmington, whence the river meanders through Rochester, there receiving the Isinglass, a trib- utary, and thence passes through Dover into the Newichwannock or Salmon-Fall river, the principal branch of the Pascataqua. The Cocheco is a beautiful river, and very important to the inhabitants of Rochester and Dover.
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