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 20

Author: Farmer, John, 1789-1838. cn; Moore, Jacob Bailey, 1797-1853. cn
Publication date: 1823
Publisher: Concord : J. B. Moore
Number of Pages: 318


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 20


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|three, issue streams sufficient to carry mills erected near their out- lets. In the largest, which is 400 rods long and 140 wide, is an island comprising about 10 acres. The 3d N. H. turnpike passes through this town in a S. E. direction -- on this turnpike a mail stage runs six days in a week. About 1 1-2 miles S. E. of the mountain is the " Mo- nadnock mineral spring." Some conveniences have been made for the use of the waters. The spring is slightly impregnated with carbo- nate of iron and sulphate of soda. It preserves so uniform a tempera- ture, as never to have been known to freeze. Where the spring issues from the earth, yellow ochre is thrown out. Upwards of 30 tons [have been transported to Boston and its vicinity, and a considerable quantity yet remains. In this town are a meeting-house, built in 1775, near the centre and principal village, a cotton and woollen factory, an oil mill, three grain and saw mills, and several stores. The purchasers of Mason's title to this town granted it to 40 persons, in 1749, who held their first meeting at Dunstable, Jan. 16, 1750. The first permanent set- tlement was made in 1758 by one Grout and John Davison. It had been attempted in 1753 by Richard Peabody, Moses Stickney® and a few others, who remained but two or three years. The first child was born in town in 1753-a son of Moses Stickney. Jaffrey was in- corporated in 1773, receiving its name from George Jaffrey, Esa. of Portsmouth, one of the Masonian proprietors. Its former name was Middle Monadnock, or No. 2. The deaths for the last 10 years have averaged 13 a year, about one to 100. In 1780, a congregational church was formed, and in 1782,


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uate of Dartmouth college in 1778, his own house by a party of In- was ordained as pastor. There are dians, headed by a white man. He here a social library, a ladies' li- brary and a reading society, having in all about 300 volumes ; also char- itable associations. Pop. 1339.


JEFFERSON, post-town, in the county of Coos, comprising 26,076 acres of land and water, is bound- ed N. by Lancaster, E. by Kilken- ny, S. by Bretton Woods, W. by Whitefield. The turnpike road from Lancaster to Portland passes through this town ; and another road passing through Durand and N. of the White Mountains, branch- es from the turnpike here. Pondi- cherry pond, in this town, is about 200 rods in diameter, and is the principal source of John's river. Pondicherry bay is about 200 rods wide and one hundred long. The name is derived from that of the mountain between Jefferson and Bretton-Woods. Mount Pliny lies in the easterly part of this town, and around its base there is excellent grazing and tillage land. On the S. W. side of this mountain are several fine farms, which command a most delightful view of the White Mountains. The W. part of the town is low, and too wet for cultivation. Israel's river passes through Jefferson from S. E. to N. W., and here receives a considerable branch. Jefferson was granted, under the name of Dartmouth, Oct. 3, 1765, to John Goffe ; and re-granted June 26, 1772, to March H. Wentworth and others. The town was first settled by Col. Joseph Whipple, Samuel Hart and others about the year 1773. It was incorporated Dec. 8, 1796, by the legislature of this state, and received its present name, in honor of the illustrious Jefferson. During the war of the revolution, Col. Whipple was here captured in


requested and obtained leave to go into another room to change liis ap- parel, and to take some necessary articles for his march to Canada. Seizing the opportunity, he esca- ped from a back window, fled to the woods, where he eluded the search of his pursuers, and safely arrived among other inhabitants. A Mr. Gotham, who then lived with the colonel, made his escape at the same time, and taking directly for the river, was fired upon while cros- sing it on a log ; the ball, however, did not reach him. The party plun- dered the house, and supplying themselves plentifully with provis- ions, departed without further out- rage. There are two school districts in this town. There is no settled minister, though a regular baptist church was sometime since formed and now exists. Pop. 252.


JOHN'S RIVER, has its princi- pal source in Pondicherry, a pond of considerable magnitude in Jef- ferson. Its most southerly branch- es rise in Bretton-Woods, White- field and Dalton, and its northerly in Lancaster. These branches unite with the main stream in Dal- ton, which falls into the Connecti- cut about 60 rods above the head of the Fifteen-Mile falls-where its mouth is about 30 yards wide. This river, and Israel's. in Lancaster, derived their names from John and Israel Glines, two brothers, who hunted beaver and other animals on these rivers previous to the set- tlement of any part of the coun- ty.


K.


KEARSARGE mountain, in the county of Hillsborough, is in lat. 43º 22', and situated between the towns of Sutton and Salisbury, ex-


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tending into both towns. The line fpronounces it one of the pleasant- between Wilmot and Warner pas-flest inland towns he had seen. The ses over the summit. Kearsarge is elevated 2461 feet above the level of the sea, and is the highest moun- tain in Hillsborough county. Its summits are now a bare mass of granite, presenting an irregular and broken surface ; the sides are cover- ed with a thick growth of wood. The prospect from this mountain is in a clear sky very wide and beautiful.


KEENE, a post-town, and tlie half shire in Cheshire county,in lat. 42° 57, is bounded N. by Surry and Gilsum, E. by Sullivan and Roxbury, S. by Swanzey, S. E. by Marlborough, W. by Chesterfield and Westmoreland, containing by charter six miles square. But its limits have been reduced by contri- butions to Sullivan and Roxbury, both receiving large tracts from this town. It is 80 miles from Bos- ton, 60 from Dartmouth College, 43 from Windsor,40 from Amherst, and 55 from Concord. The soil consists of three kinds, viz. meadow or interval, light sandy plains, and apland. The latter lies on the out- skirts of the town, bounding on the E., W. and N. a flat or valley, con- sisting of the first and second kinds, and 3 miles in width and the same in extent from N. to S. This valley is divided in the centre by the Ashuelot river, and from the un- usual extent of level which it pre- sents, variegated by cultivation, af- fords a fine prospect to the traveller approaching it from the high land,by which itis surrounded. Ashuelot river has its source in a pond in Washington, and discharges itself into the Connecticut at Hinsdale, 20 miles distant from Keene. (See Ashuelot river.) Keene has been called one of the "prettiest villages" in New-England ; and President Dwight in his travels,


principal village is situated on a flat, E. of the Ashuelot, nearly equidist- ant from that and the upland. It contains the meeting house, court house, bank, post-office, and 120 dwelling houses, besides a number of large stores and mechanic shops. It is particularly entitled to notice for the extent, width, and uniform level of its streets. The main street, extending one mile in a straight line, is almost a perfect lev- el, and is well ornamented with trees. The buildings are good and well arranged. There is another village in the W. part of the town, containing a baptist meeting house and 15 or 20 dwelling houses :- Keene is a place of considerable business. It has an extensive bookstore and bindery, connected with a printing establishment; two glass factories established in 1814; and several stores unusually large for the country. The first newspa- per published here was the "New- Hampshire Recorder," by James D. Griffith. It commenced in 1787; discontinued March 3,1791. "The Cheshire Advertiser" succeeded Jan. 1, 1792 ; was published one year,by Mr. Griffith. "The Colum- bian Informer," by Henry Blake, commenced April 3, 1793 ; was followed August, 1799, by "The Rising Sun," published by C. Sturt- evant, jr. & Co. till August, 1798. The " New-Hampshire Sentinel," by John Prentiss, commenced in March, 1799, and next to the Gazette and Journal at Portsmouth, is the oldest paper in the State .--- Keene was originally granted by Massachusetts. Its first settlement commenced about the year 1734,by Jeremiah Hall, Elisha Root, Nath- aniel Rockwood, Seth Heaton, Jo- siah Fisher, Nathan Blake and oth.


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ers. Its original name was Upper||invaded the town, but with little Ashuelot. It was incorporated with its present name, April 11, 1753, which is derived from an En- glish nobleman, perhaps Sir Benja- min Keene, British minister at Spain and contemporary with Gov. B. Wentworth, who granted the charter. In 1736, the settlement had so increased that a meeting house was erected,and in two years after, a minister was settled. But the usual scourge, which attended the frontier settlements, visited this town. In 1745, the Indians killed Josiah Fisher, a deacon of the church ; in 1746, they attacked the fort, the only protection of the in- habitants. They were however discovered by Capt. Ephraim Dorman in season to prevent their taking it. He was attacked by two Indians, but defended himself suc- cessfully against them, and reached the fort. An action ensued, in which John Bullard was killed ; Mrs. M'Kenney, who being out of the fort, was stabbed and died ; and Nathan Blake taken prisoner, car- ried to Canada, where he remained two years. Mr. Blake afterwards returned to Keene, where he lived till his death, in 1811, at the age of 99 years and 5 months. When he was 94, he married a widow of 60. The Indians burnt all the buildings in the settlement, including the meeting house. The inhabitants continued in the fort until April 1747, when the town was abandon- KENSINGTON, township, Rock- ingham co., lat. 42º 47', is bound- ed N. by Exeter, E. by Hampton- Falls, S. by South-Hampton, WV. by East-Kingston-and is 45 miles from Boston, 40 from Concord. It is nearly of a square form, and comprises 7,045 acres. This town has no streams of any note ; its ed. In 1753, they returned, and recommenced their settlements .- In 1755, the Indians again attacked the fort. Their number was great, and the onset violent, but the vig- ilance and courage of Capt. Syms successfully defended it. After burning several buildings, killing cattle, &c. they withdrew. This surface is pretty even. There is was in June. In July, they againflbut one pond, and that is small, but


success. The congregational church was formed Oct. 18, 1738. Rev. Jacob Bacon, a native of Wren- tham, Ms. who graduated at Har- vard college in 1731, was ordained when the church was gathered. He remained the minister until April, 1747, when the settlement being broken up, he went to Plymoutlı. He died at Rowley in 1787, aged 81. Rev. Ezra Carpenter, a grad- uate of Harvard college in 1720, was settled over Keene and Swan- zey, Oct. 4, 1753 ; continued his relation to Keene till 1760. Rev. Clement Sumner, who graduated at Yale college in 1758, was ordain- ed June 11, 1761 ; dismissed April 30,1772. Rev. Aaron Hall, who grad- uated at Yale college in 1772, was ordained Feb. 19, 1778 ; died Aug. 12, 1814. Rev. David Oliphant, ordained May 25, 1815 ; dismissed Dec. 1, 1817. Rev. Zedekiah S. Barstow, a graduate of Yale col- lege in 1813, was ordained July 1, 1818. The church consists of near- ly 200 members. There have been 1185 baptisms. A baptist church was formed in 1816. Rev. Ferris Moore was ordained over it, Dec. 30, 1819; dismissed March, 1821. Col. ISAAC WYMAN, an active and influential man, marched the first detachment of men from this town in the war of the revolution, and was present at the battle of Breed's Hill. Pop. 1895.


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deep and muddy. Kensington was settled at an early period, and was originally a part of Hampton, from which it was detached and incor- porated April 1, 1737. It contain- ed more inhabitants at the com- mencement of the revolution than it does at present. The congre- gational church was established about the year 1737. The pastors who have been successively settled over it, are Rev. Jeremiah Fogg, ordained Nov. 1737, and died Dec. 1,1789 ; Rev. Napthali Shaw, or- dained Jan. 30, 1793, dismissed in 1812; Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy, ordained Jan. 13, 1813, dismissed June, 1816. Beside the congrega- tionalists, there is a baptist society and some friends. There is a so- cial library, incorporated in 1798. The Rev. Timothy Hilliard, late pastor of the first church in Cam- bridge, was a native of this town, born in 1746. He graduated at Har- vard college, first settled at Barnsta- ble, and afterwards at Cambridge, where he died May 9, 1790. Pop. 709.


KILKENNY, Coos county, lat. 44° 27', is an irregular township, bounded W. by Jefferson and Lan- caster, N. by Piercy, E. by Pau's- burgh, 'Maynesborough and Du- rand, S. by ungranted land. It con- tains 15,906 acres. This place was granted to Jonathan Warner, Esq. and others June 4, 1774, and con- tains but 24 inhabitants-they are poor, and for aught that appears to the contrary, must always remain so, as they may be deemed actual trespassers on that part of crea- tion, destined by its author for the residence of bears, wolves, moose, and other animals of the forest ! An exception, however, may pos sibly be made in favor of a narrow strip of land along the S. bounda- ry of the town. Pilot and Wil-


lard's mountains, so called from a dog and his master, cover a consid- erable part of this town. Willard, a hunter, had been lost two or three days on these mountains, on the E. side of which his camp was situa- ted. Each day, he observed, his dog Pilot left him, as he supposed, in pursuit of game; but towards night he would constantly return. Willard being on the second or third day nearly exhausted with fatigue and hunger, put himself un- der the guidance of his dog, who in a short time conducted him in safety to his camp.


KINGSTON, post-township, Rock- ingham county, is situated in lat. 42º 55/ 15/, and bounded N. by Brentwood, E. by East-Kingston, S. by Newtown and Plaistow, W. by Hampstead and Hawke. It is dis- tant from Concord 37 miles,from Ex- eter 6, from Portsmouth 20; and contains 12,188 acres, of which 800 are supposed to be water. There are several ponds in this town. The largest is Great pond, which lies on the W. of the village, and contains upwards of 300 acres, with an isl- and of 10 or 12 acres, covered with wood. Country pond, in the S. E. and partly in Newtown, contains about 200 acres, and has also an island of 6 or 8 acres cov- ered with wood. The other ponds are called Little, Moon, Long and Barberry ponds. Near the centre of the town is an extensive plain, on which is situated the principal village, the meeting-house, and' the academy. There are no high hills in Kingston ; those called the Great hill andRockrimmon are the highest The former is on the post-road to Exeter ; the latter on the W. of the plain near Hawke line, and is a body of granite extending øver 20 or 30 acres, mostly covered with soil and a growth of wood. On its


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W. side is an abrupt descent offly escaped to the garrison. In 1712, nearly 100 feet to the plain. The soil of Kingston is generally loamy bottomed on sand and gravel,though in some places clay predominates. The plain is a rich loam and very fertile. The rocks are mostly gran- ite, although green porphyry, and fragments of many other kinds may be seen. - No metallic ores have been discovered excepting iron, and that principally bog ore, found in Great pond and the swamps. This was formerly wrought in considerable quantities, but with no great success. In some places red and yellow ochre have been found of a quality suitable for paint. The natural growth of wood was principally of the various kinds of oak and other hard timber, with ce- dar in the swamps. The charter of Kingston was granted by Lt. governor Usher, Aug. 6, 1694, to James Prescott, Ebenezer Webster and others, from Hampton. The grant also comprehended what now forms the towns of East-Kingston, Hawke, and Sandown. Soon after the grant was made, the proprietors erected garrison houses on the plain, and commenced the cultiva- tion of their lands. They were discouraged, however, from the dan- gers and difficulties of the succeed- ing hostilities, and many of them returned home within two years. After the war closed, they renewed their enterprize, but it was not un- til 1725, that they were able to pro- cure the settlement of a minister. Before the settlement of Hampton, the Indians resorted there for the variety of fish found in the ponds. During the wars, they were ex- tremely troublesome to the inhabi- In tants, and several were killed.


1707, Stephen and Jacob Gilman, brothers, were ambushed between Kingston and Exeter, but fortunate-


Stephen Gilman and Ebenezer Ste- vens were wounded at Kingston, the former taken and put to death. Sept. 7, 1724, Jabez Colman and his son were killed while at work in their field. Four children were also taken, one escaped, and the others were afterwards redeemed. Many Indian implements, with some ancient French coin, have been ploughed up in the vicinity of the ponds, such as jasper and quartz arrow-heads, axes, gouges, and hammers of different kinds of stones. This town is generally healthy, though it has afforded no remarkable instances of longevity. Rev. Ward Clark was the first settled minister of Kingston, though religious services had been regular- ly performed for several years pre- vious to his settlement by Rev. Mr. Choate from Ipswich. Mr. Clark was ordained in 1725, and died in 1737, aged 34. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Se- combe, a learned divine, who died in 1760. In the year following, Rev. Amos 'Tappan was ordained ; he died in 1771. In 1776, Rev. Elihu Thayer, D. D. was installed, who preached until 1812, and died aged 65. Rev. John Turner, was installed over a new congregation- al society in 1818. Major EBEN- EZER STEVENS, one of the early settlers, was a very distinguished and useful citizen ; and such was his integrity and benevolence, that differences among the people were submitted to his decision with per- fect confidence. He sustained ina- ny important public functions, and discharged every duty with ability and faithfulness. His descendants now live in Kingston. This town was also the residence of the Hon. JOSIAH BARTLETT, one of the Ifirst worthies of the state, and an


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eminent physician. He commen- ced his practice in Kingston in 1761, and soon acquired a reputa- tion for great skill, particularly in the treatment of the cynanche ma- ligna, or throat distemper, then so prevalent and mortal. His public career commenced in 1765, and from that time to his death he was an unwearied advocate and sup- porter of the liberties of America. He was for some time chief justice of the colony, afterwards president of the state, and the first governor under its free constitution. He di- ed May 19, 1795, at the age of 65 years. Pop. 847.


L.


LAMPREY river rises on the W. of Saddleback mountain in North- wood. Taking a S. course it pas- ses into Deerfield and thence into Raymond, where it receives a W. branch from Candia. Taking a S. direction it receives the waters of Jones' pond in Raymond; and thence, as it flows through Epping, the Patuckaway river unites with it. In its course through Lee and Durham, it receives the waters of North, Little and Piscassick rivers, and meets the tide about 2 miles above the Great Bay.


LANCASTER,, a post-town, in the county of Coos, is situated in lat. 44º 29', on the southeastern bank of Connecticut river, which forms and washes its N. W. boun- dary, a distance of ten miles. It is bounded S. W. by Dalton, S. by Whitefield and Jefferson, E. and N. E. by Kilkenny and Northumber- land; and lies distant 110 miles W. from Portland, 130 N. from Ports- mouth, 95 almost due N. from Con- cord, and 75 above Dartmouth College-containing about 23,480 acres. Besides the Connecticut, which is deep and about 22 rods in


width while it passes through Lan- caster, the town is watered by Is- rael's river and several considera- ble brooks. Across this river a bridge and three dams are thrown; the waters from the last of which turn four grist and two saw-mills, three carding machines,and two ful- ling mills. There are several ponds in Lancaster, the largest of which is called Martin-meadow pond,from Martin, a hunter. This communi- cates with Little pond. The one covers perhaps 150, and the other 40 acres ; and both are situated in the southern part of the town. Lan- caster is situated near lofty moun- tains, but is not itself mountainous. There are three hills in the S. part of the town, called Martin meadow Hills; and the land in the S. E.part lies too high up the mountains for cultivation. The soil along the Connecticut is alluvial, the mead- ows extending back nearly three- fourths of a mile ; and at the mouth of Israel's river much farther. To these succeed a border of white pine or spruce land,which is gener- ally level and productive when prop- erlycultivated. The next region was covered in its natural state with a thick growth of sugar maple,beech, bass, ash,and other deciduous forest trees. In many places, however, the spruce and fir abound, particu- larly in the low lands, with here and there a cedar swamp. The larch and mountain ash are not unknown to the inhabitants of Lancaster, as the one occupies considerable tracts between the meadows and the high lands, and the other is scattered a- mong the other timber and under- brush. The village, or most com- pact part of the town,lies on a street extending from the bridge across Israel's river northwardly. There is a considerable number of build- lings on the southerly side of the ri-


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ver, and on that side stands theyand on the 18th Sept. following, meeting-house. At the northerly Rev. Joseph Willard was installed as pastor. The town at that time contained thirty-six families. Be- sides his church and congregation, there is a regular baptist, and a methodist church in town : but no minister is settled over either. There are also christians of other denominations in town, but none who have regularly organized chur- ches, or places of public worship. Pop. 644. end of the street stand the court- house and jail. Previous to their incorporation, Lancaster, Northum- berland and Stratford in this state, and Lunenburg, Guildhall and Maid- stone, Vt. were designated by the Indian name of Coos, which signi- fies crooked, and was originally ap- plied to that part of the Connecticut on which these towns are situated. Lancaster was granted to Capt. Da- vid Page and others, July 5, 1763. In the fall of that year, he, with his family, and Edward Bucknam and Emmons Stockwell, moved in- to the town. They were its first settlers, and suffered the hardships which always attend emigrants to new countries. David Page, son of the gentleman first mention- ed, had marked a path through the woods froma Haverhill to Lancaster, a distance of 48 miles, in June of that year ; and this path was followed by the fani- ily in the month of September fol- lowing to Lancaster. At that tinie, there was not a single inhabitant on the whole route. The war of the revolution tended to retard the set- tlement of the town. Every per- son above Captain Stockwell's, be- fore mentioned as one of the first settlers, left the country, and fled for safety to the older settlements. He patriotically resolved to stay and abide the consequences ; and by his example induced several others to do likewise. After the war closed, the town settled with considerable rapidity, and has since gradually increased in wealth and population. Tlie number of deaths in Lancaster, from July 1794, to June 1814, vas 121. In July 1794, about thirty years after the settlement of the place, a con- gregational churcli was gathered,


LANDAFF, a township in Grafton county, in lat. 44º 7', is bounded N. E. by Concord and Franconia, E. by Lincoln, S. W. by Coventry, and W. by Bath, containing 29,200 acres. Its distance from Haverhill Corner is about 12 miles, and from Concord 90 miles. Wild Amonoo- suck river runs from S. E. to N. W. through the S. part of the town and nearly parallel the whole distance with the S. W. boundary line .- Through the north-westerly ex- tremity passes the Great Amonoo- suck river. Landaff mountain in the E. part, Cobble Hill in the cen- tre, and Bald hill in the W. are the principal elevations. The meeting house is near the N. W. part of the town. The soil in some parts is ve- ry fertile, and there is a number of good farms. Landaff was granted Jan. 3, 1764, to James Avery and others, but the grantees not fulfil- ling the conditions of the charter, it was, agreeably to the usage then practised, declared by the governor and council to be forfeited. It was then granted to Dartmouth College; but after the revolution, the first grantees renewed their claim, al- leging that the adjudication of the forfeiture was irregular. One or two cases were tried by the proper judicature, and the lands awarded to the first proprietors. Its settle- "ment had commenced under the




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