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 30
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ties into the Connecticut, the latter into the Merrimack. There are several ponds, viz. Station pond, about 250 rods long, 140 wide ; Cil- ley pond, 240 rods long, and about 80 wide ; Star, Stony, and Morgan's ponds. The land is rough and stony, but the soil is capable of producing the various agricultural products found in the contiguous towns. In 1820, there were pro- duced 17,500 Ibs. of butter, 25,000 lbs. of cheese, 45,000 lbs. of beef, 60,000 lbs. of pork, 5,500 lbs. of flax. and 200 barrels of cider. There's, in the E. part of the town, a quarry of stone, from which can be raised stones from 20 to 30 feet in length and from 8 to 12 inches in thickness. There is a library, which was incor- porated Dec. 15, 1803. 'This town was granted Jan. 3, 1769, by the name of Protectworth, to John Fish- er, Daniel Warner, Esquires, and 58 others. Its first settlement com- menced in 1772, by Israel Clifford, Israel Clifford, Jr. Nathaniel Clark, Samuel Stevens and others. It was incorporated by the name of Spring- field, Jan. 24, 1794. The spotted fever prevailed here a few years since, of which several children died. The average number of deaths per annum, for 20 years past, has been 5. There is a congrega- tional church, but it is destitute of a minister. Pop. about 1000.
SAUAMSCOT, or Swamscot, called also Great or Exeter river. See Exeter.
SAUAM lake, lying on the bor- ders of Holderness. Sandwich, Moultonborough and Centre-Har- bor, is " a splendid sheet of water, indented by points, arched with coves, and studded with a succes- sion of romantic islands." It is about 6 miles in length, and where widest, not less than 3 miles in breadth. The surface has been es- timated at from 6000 to 7000 acres.
The largest island is about 1 mile long, and 1-3 of a mile wide. A communication by water between this lake and Winnepisiogee might be easily effected, the distance be- ing less than 2 miles.
SQUAM river, the outlet of Squam lake through Squam pond in Hol- derness, forms a junction with the Pemigewasset near the S. W. an- gle of that town.
SQUAMANAGONICK, the name of a village at the falls on Coche- co river in Rochester-so called from the Indian name of the falls.
STATE-HOUSE. See p. 41. STATE-PRISON. Sce p. 43.
STEWARTSTOWN, township, Co- os county, in Jat. 44º 56', lies on the E side of the Connecticut, which washes its W. boundary a distance of 7 miles : it is bounded S. by Colebrook, N. by the first Col- lege grant, E. by Dixville ; distant 150 miles from Portland, 170 from Portsmouth, 150 from Concord -- containing about 27,000 acres. The Connecticut river is about 15 rods in width at this place. Bishop's brook, a considerable stream, rises in this town, and falls into the Con- necticut at the N.W. corner. Dead water and Mohawk rivers have their sources here. Hall's stream, also, unites with the Connecticut in Stewartstown. There are 2 ponds in the E. part of this town, called Lit- tle and Great Diamond ponds, the waters of which form the Diamond river, passing S. E. into Margalla- way river, a branch of the Ameris- coggin. The larger of these ponds is one mile long, 3-4 mile wide ; the smaller, 3-4 mile wide, 100 rods long-both well stocked with sal- mon trout. There is another pond in the W. part of this town, called Back pond,covering about 60 acres. There are no large mountains in Stewartstown, although there are
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judges of the superior court, and died. Aug. 4, 1771. Hon. JOHN WENTWORTH was born in this town March 30, 1719. He was! one of the judges of the superior court, and died May 18, 1781. Hon. ICHABOD ROLLINS, was born in this town, 1721. He was a judge of probate for the county of ,Strafford, and died Jan. 31, 1800. The number of deaths in this town since the beginning of the present century will average 12 annually ; or 1 in 70 of its inhabitants. Dur- ing the last 20 years, 28 have died between 70 and 80, 17 between 80 and 90, and 7 between 90 and 100 years of age. Samuel Downs died April 22, 1820, aged 99. Mrs. Ly- dia Stiles is now living(1823)at the age of 101 years. She was born Feb. 27, 1722, is a member of the church, and travelled on foot two miles to public worship till she was 90 years of age. Pop. 841.
Soucook river has its source in three ponds in the S. part of Gil- manton, lying near each other, called Loon, Rocky and Shellcamp ponds. It passes through Loudon, receiving several branches, and forms the boundary between Con- cord and Pembroke, falling into the Merrimack below Garven's falls.
SOUHEGAN, originally Souhege- nack, the name of a river in Hills- borough county, and the former name of Amherst and Merrimack. The principal branch of this river originates from a pond in Ashburn- ham, Ms. It passes N. through Ash- by, at the N. W. angle of the coun- ty of Middlesex, into New-Ipswich, and through Mason, Milford, Am- herst, into Merrimack, where it unites with Merrimack river. In its course it receives several streams from Temple, Lyndeborough and Mont-Vernon, and just before it falls into the Merrimack, receives Babboosuck brook, a considerable Blackwater river. The former emp-
stream issuing from Babboosuck pond. See Amherst.
SOUTH-HAMPTON, township, Rockingham county, in lat. 42° 53', is bounded N. by East-Kingston and Kensington, E. by Seabrook, S. by Amesbury, Ms., W. by New- town; and is 50 miles from Con- cord, 18 from Portsmouth, and 45 from Boston. The surface is gen- erally even, and the soil of a good quality. Powow river passes through this town, affording valua- ble mill seats. South-Hampton was incorporated by charter, May 25, 1742. Rev. William Parsons, who graduated at Harvard college in 1735, was ordained here over a congregational church in 1743 ; and dismissed Oct. 6, 1762. Rev. Na- thaniel Noyes, was settled Feb. 23, 1763 ; and dismissed Dec. 8, 1800. Since that time, there has been no stated worship. There are people of other denominations here, who have occasional preaching. Hon. PHILLIPS WHITE, who was a member of the old congress, justice of the peace throughout the state, a counsellor in 1792 and 1793, and for many years judge of probate,di- ed June 24,1811,aged 82. Pop.416.
SPIGGOT river rises in Hamp- stead, and passes through Salem, and into the Merrimack between Methuen and Dracut, Ms. nearly opposite Shawsheen river, which comes from the S. through Andover. SPAFFORD'S lake. Sec Chesterfield. SPRINGFIELD, a post-township, in Cheshire county, in lat. 43º 30, is bounded N. by Grafton, E. by Wilmot, S. E. by New-London, S. by Wendell and Croydon, W. by Croydon and Grantham, containing 28,330 acres, 2300 of which are water. It is 35 miles from Concord and 90 from Boston. A branch of Sugar river has its source in this Itown; and also a branch of the
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ties into the Connecticut, the latter into the Merrimack. There are several ponds, viz. Station pond, about 250 rods long, 140 wide ; Cil- ley pond, 240 rods long, and about 80 wide ; Star, Stony, and Morgan's ponds. The land is rough and stony, but the soil is capable of producing the various agricultural products found in the contiguous towns. In 1820, there were pro- duced 17,500 Ibs. of butter, 25,000 lbs. of cheese, 45,000 lbs. of beef, 60,000 lbs. of pork, 5,500 lbs. of flax. and 200 barrels of cider. There is, in the E. part of the town, a quarry of stone, from which can be raised stones from 20 to 30 feet in length and from 8 to 12 inches in thickness. There is a library,which was incor- porated Dec. 15, 1803. 'This town was granted Jan. 3, 1769, by the name of Prolectworth, to John Fish- er, Daniel Warner, Esquires, and 58 others. Its first settlement com- menced in 1772, by Israel Clifford, Israel Clifford, Jr. Nathaniel Clark, Samuel Stevens and others. It was incorporated by the name of Spring- field, Jan. 24, 1794. The spotted fever prevailed here a few years since, of which several children died. The average number of deaths per annum, for 20 years past, has been 5. There is a congrega- tional church, but it is destitute of a minister. Pop. about 1000.
SQUAMSCOT, or Swamscot, called also Great or Exeter river. See Exeter.
SAUAM lake, lying on the bor- ders of Holderness, Sandwich, Moultonborough and Centre-Har- bor, is " a splendid sheet of water, indented by points, arched with coves, and studded with a succes. sion of romantic islands." It is about 6 miles in length, and where widest, not less than 3 miles in breadth. The surface has been es- timated at from 6000 to 7000 acres.
The largest island is about 1 mile long, and 1-3 of a mile wide. A communication by water between this lake and Winnepisiogee might be easily effected, the distance be- ing less than 2 miles.
SQUAM river, the outlet of Squam lake through Squam pond in Hol- derness, forms a junction with the Pemigewasset near the S. W. an- gle of that town.
SQUAMANAGONICK, the name of a village at the falls on Coche- co river in Rochester-so called from the Indian name of the falls.
STATE-HOUSE. Seep. 41.
STATE-PRISON. Sce p. 43.
STEWARTSTOWN, township, Co- os county, in Jat. 44º 56', lies on the E side of the Connecticut, which washes its W. boundary a distance of 7 miles : it is bounded S. by Colebrook, N. by the first Col- lege grant, E. by Dixville ; distant 150 miles from Portland, 170 from Portsmouth, 150 from Concord- containing about 27,000 acres. The Connecticut river is about 15 rods in width at this place. Bishop's brook, a considerable stream, rises in this town, and falls into the Con- necticut at the N.W. corner. Dead water and Mohawk rivers have their sources here. Hall's stream, also, unites with the Connecticut in Stewartstown. There are 2 ponds in the E. part of this town, called Lit- tle and Great Diamond ponds, the waters of which form the Diamond river, passing S. E. into Margalla- way river, a branch of the Ameris- coggin. The larger of these ponds is one mile long, 3-4 mile wide ; the smaller, 3-4 mile wide, 100 rods long-both well stocked with sal- mon trout. There is another pond in the W. part of this town, called Back pond, covering about 60 acres. There are no large mountains in Stewartstown, although there are
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many elevations. The soil of the land dry seasons. Rye and wheat interval is rich, and the uplands are not unproductive. The growth of wood is a mixture of sugar ma- ple, birch, beech, ash, spruce, fir, &c. Stewartstown was original- ly granted by Gov. John Went- worth to four individuals, viz. Sir George Cockburn, Sir George Cole- brook, John Stewart and John Nel- son, Esqrs .- three of whom resid- ed in England. . Before the revolu- tion, they surveyed the lands, and gave a few lots to settlers, who made some small improvements. But after the commencement of hos- tilities, they abandoned their set- tlements until peace was restored. Improvements were then made un- der grants from Col. David Webster, sheriff of Grafton. Stewartstown was incorporated in Dec. 1799. During the late war a block-house or fort was erected in this town for defence by a company of militia, and occupied until Aug. 1814, when it was destroyed. On the site of this fort, the American and British surveyors and astronomers, met to ascertain the 45° of north lati- tude between the two governments, under the treaty of Ghent. Pop. 363.
succeed well on lands newly clear- ed ; and ploughed lands produce good crops of barley, oats, flax, po- tatoes, &c. The soil however is better adapted to grazing than til- lage. The S. branch of Ashuelot river has its source near the centre of the town. The streams in the E. section, fall into the Merrimack ; those on the W. into the Connec- ticut. There are fourteen ponds, some of which are of considerable magnitude. The agricultural pro- ducts in 1820, were 32,000 lbs. of butter, 43,000 lbs. of cheese, 71,000 lbs. of beef, 85,000 lbs. of pork, 5,700 lbs. flax, and 600 bbls. of cider. This town was formerly called Limerick. It was incorpor- ated Nov. 4, 1774, when it received the name of Stoddard' from Col. Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford, to whom with several others it was granted. The settlement commenc- ed in June, 1769, by John Taggard, Reuben Walton, Alexander Scott, James Mitchel, Richard Richard- son, Amos Butterfield, Joseph Dodge and Oliver Parker. The first fam- ily was that of John Taggard, whose privations and hardships were very great. Their grain was procured at Peterborough, at the distance of 20 miles, which was conveyed by Mr. T. on his back through the pathless wilderness. At one time, they had nothing, for six days, on which to subsist, but the flesh of the moose. A congregational church of seven members was formed Sept. 4, 1787. Rev. Abisha Colton, was ordained Oct. 16, 1793, and was dismissed Sept. 9, 1795 ; died in Vermont,Jan. 12, 1823. Rev. Isaac Robinson was ordained Jan. 5, 1803. Pop. 1203.
STODDARD, post-township in the E. part of Cheshire county, in lat. 43º 4', is bounded N. by Wash- ington, E. by Windsor and Antrim, S. by Nelson and Sullivan, and W. by Gilsum and Marlow, containing 35,925 acres, of which 1100 are water. It is 14 miles from Keene, 20 from Charlestown and 42 from Concord. This town is situated on the height of land between Merri- mack and Connecticut rivers. It is mountainous and very rocky. The soil is deep, with a clay bottom. As cold and moisture are its pre- STRAFFORD, a post-township, in Strafford county, in lat. 43º 16/, is dominant qualities, Indian corn does not thrive well, except in hot bounded N. E. by Farmington, S.
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E. by Barrington, S. W. by North-[jthe S. E. part of the town, are seen wood, W. by Pittsfield, N. W. by at a great distance. They are apparently disconnected from the great range of Bowback mountains stretching over the N. and E. parts of the town. They are discovered immediately on entering Dalton, 30 iniles below, and stand as landmarks in front or to the right, till, on near- er approach, they are lost behind the intervening hills. Bog brook and several smaller streams here fall in- to the Connecticut ; and Nash's stream crosses the S. E. part of the town into the Amonoosuck. There is a pond in the S. E. part of the town, the waters of which pass in- to the Amonoosuck. Stratford was incorporated Nov. 16, 1779. The first settlers were Isaac Johnston, James Curtis, James Brown, Josiah Lampkins and Archippus Blodget. There is a meeting-house here, and congregationalists and methodist8 ; but no settled minister. Pop. 335. Barnstead. It is 70 miles from Bos- ton, 15 from Dover, 25 from Con cord, and is about 7 miles in length, 6 1-2 wide. Bow pond is in the S. W. part of the town, and is about 650 rods long, 400 wide ; its waters form one of the principal branches of the Isinglass river. Trout pond lies W. of the Blue hills, and Wild goose pond between this town and Pittsfield. The range of Blue hills crosses the N. W. part of the town. The soil here is generally of a good quality. There are four free-will baptist churches in this town ; the 1st, over which Elder William Sanders was ordained in May, 1822, contains 100 members ; the 2d, of about 100 members, has no settled minister, but is under the pastoral care of Elder Place of Rochester. Elder Micajah Otis was ordained over this church, Oct. 16, 1799 ;] died May 30, 1821, aged 74. The 3d church has 96, and the 4th, 37 members. Strafford was formerly a part of Barrington, and was dis- annexed and incorporated June 17, 1820. Pop. 2144.
STRATFORD, post-town, in the county of Coos, on the E. bank of Connecticut river, in lat. 44º 41', is 16 miles above Lancaster ; bound- ed N. by Columbia, E. by ungrant- ed lands, S. by Piercy and North- umberland, W. by Vermont. The town is large, extending 10 miles on the river, with a fertile interval off 1-4 to 1 mile wide. This meadow is skirted in many places by a nar- row plain, succeeded by the moun- tainous regions, covering the whole E. and N. divisions of the town. The soil, except along the river, is rocky, gravelly and cold. The back lands are therefore not settled to any extent. The Peaks, two moun- tains of a conical form, situated in)
STRATHAM, a township, in the county of Rockingham, in lat. 43º 1', 51 miles from Boston, 39 from Concord, 3 from Exeter, is situated on the E. side of the W. branch of the Pascataqua river; bounded N. E. by Greenland, E. by Greenland and North-Hampton, S. W. by Ex- eter, W. and N. W. by the river and bay, which separate it from Exeter and New-Market ; and has an area of 10,120 acres. Stratham is distant about 8 miles from the sea. The land is even, and well calculated for agricultural purposes. Farming is so exclusively the em- ployment of the people, that, al- though a navigable river adjoins it, there is little attention given to any other pursuit. In the E. part of the town, in a swamp, is perhaps the largest repository of peat in the state. This town was a part of the Squamscot patent, or Hilton's pur- chase. In 1697, there were 35 fan-
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uneven. There is a small moun- tain on its S. line, called Crotched mountain. There are no mills or mill seats. There are three school districts and one school house. There is a small baptist society ; also a meeting-house, built by Capt. Gideon Dodge, which, with a tract of land, was presented by him to the society. Society-Land former- Jy included Hancock, Antrim, Hills- borough, Deering, Francestown and part of Greenfield. The number of deaths for the last 20 years has been 41. Pop. 153.
SOMERSWORTH, in the S. E. part of the county of Strafford, in lat. 43º 14/, was formerly a part of Dover. It was made a parish, Dec. 19,1729 ; and incorporated April 22, 1754. It is bounded N. W. by Rochester, N. E. by Salmon-fall river, which divides it from Ber- wick, Me., and S. W. by Dover. It is 11 miles from Portsmouth, and 45 from Concord. Otis' hill, the highest in this town, is situated about a mile N. from Varney's hill in Dover. The White Mountains may be seen from the summit of this hill; also the steeples of the meeting-houses in Portsmouth, and the masts of the shipping in the harbor. The soil in this town is well adapted to Indian coro, and almost all kinds of grain, grass, &c. "The growth of the wood land is oak, pine, walnut, elm, &c. The tide flows on the E. side of this town four miles to Quamphegan falls. The river is of sufficient depth, till within a mile of said falls, for ves- sels of 250 tons. The S. part of this town is bounded on Coche- co river, from its confluence with the Pascataqua to the mouth of Fresh-creek, nearly a mile ; and from thence by said creek to its head, nearly a mile and a half. There are but two ponds of note in
this town, viz. Humplirey's pond on the line of Dover, 200 rods long and 120 rods wide ; and Cole's pond, 150 rods long and 75 wide. There are several mineral springs in this town ; but at present their waters are not much used. Red and yellow ochre, also iron ore, have been found in this town. The ochre has been used in painting houses, and has been found to make a durable paint. The post road from Boston to Portland, and the Dover turnpike pass through this town and over Quamphegan bridge. There are three bridges over Sal- mon-fall river between this town and Berwick; viz. at Quamphe- gan-falls, at Salmon-falls, and at the Great-falls. The first meeting-house in this town was erected in 1729 ; and taken down in 1773. The se- cond meeting-house was erected in 1772; and consumed by lightning in a violent thunder storm, May 4, 1779. It happened about the mid- dle of the day. Its severity was caused by the junction of two clouds directly over this town ; one of which rose in the N. W. and the other in the S. W. The clouds ran low ; and during the space of half an hour it rained and lightened in- cessantly, accompanied with tre- mendous peals of thunder. The steeple of the meeting-house was struck with the lightning which passed down by one of the posts of the belfry adjoining the house ; and in about an hour it was in ashes. The bell was melted and fell in a state of fusion. The third meeting-house was erected in 1780, and is yet standing. Large and valuable factories have been erec- ted at Salmon-falls. The buildings are of brick, one 84 by 44 feet, 4 stories in front and 6 in rear, for carding and spinning ; another, 60 by 31 feet, 3 stories by 4, for weav-
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ing, dressing and fulling, capable church records, communion vessels, of making 200 yards of superfine broad-cloth a day ; a third, 60 by 30 feet, 2 stories, for dying, &c. There are grist and sawmills, an oil mill, &c. belonging to this establish- ment, which promises to become very extensive and profitable, There is also a nail factory in this town. This town was settled between 1650 and 1700, by William Wentworth, John Hall, Wm. Stiles and others. George Ricker and Meturin Ricker were surprised and killed by a party of Indians lying in ambush about half a mile N. E. from Var- ney's hill, Oct. 7, 1675. They had their arms with them, which to- gether with their upper garments were carried away by the Indians. Ebenezer Downs, who was a qua- ker, was taken by the Indians at Indigo hill in 1724, and carried to Canada. He was grossly insulted and abused by them, because he re- fused to dance as the other prison- ers did for the diversion of thei. savage captors. He was redeemed in 1725, by John Hanson of Dover. Jabez Garland was killed by the Indians on his return from public worship in the summer of 1710, about three quarters of a mile N. E. from Varney's hill. Gershom Downs was killed by the Indians in 1711, in the marsh between Var- ney's hill and Otis' hill. Rev. James Pike, the first minister of Somers- worth, was born at Newbury, Ms. March 1, 1703; graduated at Har- vard college in 1725 ; was ordain- ed Oct. 28, 1730 ; and died March 19, 1792. Rev. Pearson Thurston was born at Lancaster, Ms. in Dec. 1763 ; graduated at Dartmouth col- Jege in 1787 ; was ordained Feb. 1, 1792; removed Dec. 2, 1812; and died at Leominster, Ms. Aug. 15, 1819. The house in which Mr. Thurston lived was 'consumed byll became one of the richest men in fire, Jan. 22, 1812, together with the the province. He was one of the
and a social library. The church is now vacant. NICHOLAS PIKE, son of Rev. James Pike and author of a popular system of arithmetic, was born in this town, October 6, 1743. He was graduated at Har- vard college, 1766 ; taught a gram- mar school, first at York, and af- terwards at Newburyport ; where he died Dec. 9,1819. JOHN WENT- WORTH, son of the Hon. John Wentworth, was born in this town, July 14, 1745 ; and was graduated at Harvard college, 1768. He en- vered on the study of the law, and settled at Dover. When applica- tion was made to him to put an ac- tion in suit, it was his practice to see the parties or to write to them, stating the consequences of a legal process, and advising them to settle their differences between themselves. By this mode of pro- cedure he was instrumental in pre- venting many vexations lawsuits ; and was entitled to the appellation of peace-maker. He was a mem- ber of the continental congress in the revolution, and died January 10, 1787. Col. PAUL WENT- WORTH, by his will, bequeathed £500 to the parish in this town; the interest of which was to be ex- pended for pious and charitable uses. He also gave a silver tan- kard and cup for the use of the church. He died June 24, 1748. Dr. MOSES CARR was born at Newbury, Ms. Nov. 1715. He came to this town in 1735 ; where he practised in his profession more than 60 years with reputation, and died March 30, 1800. Hon. THOM- AS WALLINGFORD was born at Bradford, Mass. in 1697. He came to this town in the early part of his life ; and by a diligent application to business, from a small beginning
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ilies in the place, who petitioned for an act of incorporation. It was made a distinct town by charter, March 20, 1716. The first town meeting was on the 10th of April, 1716 ; Deac. David Robinson was chosen town clerk, and held that office 47 years. A congregational church was formed here at an early date, and Rev. Henry Rust ordain- edin 1718 ; he died in 1749, aged 63. Rev. Joseph Adams was or- dained in 1756, and died 1785,aged 66. Rev. James Miltemore, or- dained in 1786, was removed in 1807. The church is now vacant. There was formerly a baptist socie- ty here, under the ministration of Rev. S. Shepard. There is a free- will baptist society, lately un- der the care of Eld. N. Piper .- From the year 1798 to 1312, inclu- sive, the number of deaths in this town was 186. The greatest num- ber in any one year was 20, and the smallest number 5, averaging about 12 annually. Between the years - 1742 and 1797, inclusive, the num- ber of deaths was 1080, averaging about 20 annually. PHINEHAS MERRILL, Esq. was a native of this town; was eminent as a sur- veyor, assisted in preparing the ele- gant Map of N. H. published by Cariigain ; was several years a representative in our state legisla- ture, and died Dec. 31, 1814, aged 47. Pop. 892.
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