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 33
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ton, would be much the nearest way to the markets for the northern parts of this state and Vermont. White- field is 120 miles from Concord. Pop. 281.
WHITE MOUNTAINS .- The lofty pile, designated by the name of White Mountains," is situated in the N. part of New-Hampshire. and nearly in the centre of the county of Coos. These mountains extend about 20 miles from S. W. . to N. E. being the more elevated parts of a range extending many miles in that direction. Their base is 8 or 10 miles broad ; and situat- ed about 25 miles S. E. from Lan- caster, 70 N. of Concord, 82 N. by W. from Portsmouth; and in lat. 44º 15/, long. 71º 20/ W. These mountains are the loftiest in New- England, and perhaps in the United States. Although distant more than 60 miles from the nearest part
* The Indian na inc (according to Dr. Belknap) was Agiocochook. Anancient tradition prevailed among the mvages, that a deluge onee overspread the land, and destroyed every human being, ex- cept a single powaw and his wife, who sheltered themselves in these clevated regions, and thus preserved the race from extermination. The fancy of the natives peopled this mountain with be- ings of a superior rank, who were in- visible to the human eye, but sometimes indicated their presence hy tempests, which they were believed to control with absolute authority. The savages, therefore, never attempted to ascend the summit, deeming the attempt per- ilous, and success impossible. But they frequented the defiles and environs of the mountain, and of course propagat- ed many extravagant descriptions of its appearance ; declaring, amongst other things equally credible, that they had seen carbuneles at immense heights, which. in the darkness of night, shone with the most brilliant and dazzling splendor.
President Alden states, that the White mountains were called by one of the eastern tribes Waumbekketmethna. Waunbekket signifies white, and meth- Ina, mountains.
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of the coast, their snow-white sun- Mount Adams, 5,383 feet. mits are distinctly visible many 66 Jefferson, 5,281 leagues at sea, and along the coast 66 Madison, 5,039 of Maine. Their great elevation 66 Monroe, 4,932 4,470 66 Franklin, has always rendered them interest- " Pleasant, 4,339 ing, both to our ancestors, and to the aboriginal inhabitants of the country. As early as 1632, they were visited by Neal, Jocelyn and Field, who gave romantic accounts of their adventures, and of the ex- tent and grandeur of the mountains, which they called the Crystal Hills. Since that time, these regions have been repeatedly explored by hunt- ers, and by men of science. The height of the mountains has been a subject of much speculation. Dr. Williams supposed the summit of Mount Washington to be 7,800 feet above the sea. Dr. Cutler fixed the height of this mountain at 10,000 ; and Dr. Belknap supposed it to exceed this elevation. Late computations, however, have given far different results ; one making it 7,108, another 6,634, another 6234, another 6,225, and another 6,103. Capt. Partridge, from a series of barometrical observations, makes the height of Mount Washington 6,234 feet above the level of the sea, and the base of the range 1,770. In 1820, A. N. Brackett, and J. W. Weeks, Esqrs. from Lancaster, as- certained the height of all the prin- cipal peaks by means of a spirit level. In this undertaking they spent 7 days ; and according to their measurement, Mount Washington is 6,428 feet above the level of the sea, 5,850 above the river at Lan- easter, and 4,781 above Crawford's, the nearest dwelling to the summit. This mountain is easily known by its superior elevation, and its being the southern of the three highest peaks. The heights of the other peaks above the Connecticut at tered, which add life and beauty to Lancaster, are as follow :
The names here given are those generally appropriated to the differ- lent summits. Mount Adams is known by its sharp terminating peak, and being the second N. of Washington. Jefferson is situated between these two. Madison is the eastern peak of the range. Monroe is the first to the S. of Washington. Franklin is the second S. and is known by its level surface. Pleas- ant is known by its conical shape, and being the third S. of Washing- ton. The ascent to the summits of these mountains, though fatiguing, is not dangerous ; and the visitant is richly rewarded for his labor and curiosity. In passing from the Notch to the highest summit, the traveller crosses the summits of Mounts Pleasant, Franklin and Monroe. In accomplishing this, he must pass through a forest, and cross several ravines. These are neither wide nor deep, nor are they discov- ered at a great distance ; for the trees fill them up exactly even with the mountain on each side, and their branches interlock with each other in such a manner, that it is very difficult to pass through them, and they are so stiff and thick as almost to support a man's weight. Mount Pleasant is easily ascended. Its top, to the extent of 5 or 6 acres, is smooth, and gradually slopes away in every direction from its centre. It even has a verdant ap- pearance, as it is every where cov- ered with short grass, which grows in little tufts to the height of four or five inches. Among these tufts, mountain flowers are thinly scat-
-
the scene. The prospect from this
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summit is beautiful : to the N. the|| numerable mountains, lakes, ponds. eye is dazzled with the splendor of Mount Washington ; N. W. are seen the settlements in Jefferson ; W. the courses of the Amonoosuck, as though delineated on a map; S. W. the Moosehillock and Ilaystack are discovered; S. Chocorua peak ; S. E. the settlements and moun- tains in Bartlett ; E. only dark mountains and forests. On de- scending this mountain, a small patch of water is found at its base ; from which the ascent is gradual to the summit of Mount Franklin. After crossing this mountain, you pass over the E. pinnacle of Mount Monroe, and soon find yourself on a plain of some extent, at the foot of Mount Washington. Here is a fine resting-place, on the margin of a beautiful sheet of water, of an oval form, covering about 3.4 of an acre. The waters are pleasant to the taste, and deep. Not a living creature is to be seen in the waters, at this height on the hills; nor do vegetables of any kind grow in or around them, to obscure the clear rocky or gravelly bottom on which they rest. A small spring discharg- es itself into this pond at its south- east angle. Another pond, ofabout 2-3 its size, lies N. W. of this. Directly before you, the pinnacle of Mount Washington rises with majestic grandeur, like a immense pyramid, or some vast Kremlin in this magnificent city of mountains. The pinnacle is elevated about 1500 feet above the plain, and is composed principally of huge rocks of granite and gneiss piled together, presenting a variety of colors and forms. In ascending, you must pass enormous masses of loose stones ; but a walk of half an hour will generally carry you to the summit. The view from this point is wonder- fully grand and picturesque. In-lin confusion, but pretty firmly fix-
rivers, towns and villages meet the delighted eye, and the dim Atlantic stretches its waters along the east- eru horizon. To the N. is seen the lofty summits of Adams and Jeffer- SOR ; and to the east a little detacli- ed from the range stands Mount Madison. Mount Washington is supported on the N. by a high ridge, which extends to Mount Jefferson ; on the N. E. by a large grassy plain, terminating in a vast spur extend- ing far away in that direction ; E. by a promontory, which breaks off abruptly at St. Anthony's Nose ; S. and S. E. by a grassy plain, in sum- mer, of more than 40 acres. At the southeastern extremity of this plain, a ridge commences, which slopes gracefully away towards the vale of the Saco; upon which at short distances from each other, arise rocks, resembling, in some places, towers ; in others represent- ing the various orders of architec- ture. It would be vain in us to at- tempt a description of the varied wonders which here astonish and delight the beholder. To those who have visited these mountains, our descriptions would be tame and uninteresting ; and he who has nev- er ascended their hoary summits, cannot realize the extent and mag- nificence of the scene. These mountains are decidedly of primi- tive formation. Nothing of volca- nic origin has ever yet been discov- ered on the most diligent research. They have for ages, probably, ex- hibited the same unvarying aspect. No minerals are here found of much rarity or value. The rock which most abounds, is schistus, intermix. ed with greenstons, mica, granite and gneiss. The three highest peaks are composed entirely of fragments of rocks heaped together
Y2
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ed in their situations. These rocks are an intermediate substance be- tween gneiss and micaceous schis- tus ; they are excessively rough and coarse, and grey, almost black, with lichens. The mica in them is abundant, of different colors, red, black, and limpid, and though some- times several inches in diameter,yet most often irregularly stratified. The granite contains emerald, tour- maline of which are found some beautiful specimens, and garnets, besides its proper constituents. Crystals of quartz, pyrites, actin- ote, jasper, porphyry, fluate of lime, and magnetic iron ore, are some- times obtained. During nine or ten months of the year, the summits of the mountains are covered with snow and ice, giving them a bright and dazzling appearance. On every side are long and winding gullies, deepening in their descent to the plains below. Here some of the finest rivers of New-England origin- ate. The Saco flows from the E. side of the mountains ; the branch- es of the Ameriscoggin from the N. ; the Amonoosuck and other tributa- vies of the Connecticut from the W .; and the Pemigewasset from the S., its fountain being near that of the Saco. The sides of the hills are in many parts covered with soil; but this is very superficial in all cases, and every spot, that can be reached by running water, is left destitute of every thing but rocks and pebbles, of which likewise the river-bottoms are exclusively composed. In these cold and elevated regions, the period for the growth of vegetables is extremely brief; the mountains must be forever sterile. Moss and lichens may be found near the sum- mits, but of meagre and scanty growth-looking as if they had wandered from their proper zone
below, into these realms of barren desolation.
The Notch of the White Moun- tains, is a phrase appropriated to a very narrow defile, extending two miles in length between two huge cliffs apparently rent asunder by some vast convulsion of nature-prob- ably that of the deluge. The entrance of the chasm is formed by two rocks standing perpendicular at the dis- tance of 22 feet from each other : one about 20 feet in height, the other about 12. The road from Lan- caster to Portland passes through this notch, following the course of the head stream of the Saco. The scenery at this place is exceeding- ly beautiful and grand. The moun- tain, otherwise a continued range, is here cloven quite down to its base, opening a passage for the waters of the Saco. The gap is so narrow, that space has with diffi- culty been found for the road. About half a mile from the entrance of the chasm is seen a most beautiful cas- cadc, issuing from a mountain on the right about 800 feet above the subjacent valley, and about 2 miles distant. The stream passes over a series of rocks almost perpendicular, with a course so little broken as to preserve the appearance of a uni- form current, and yet so far disturb- ed as to be perfectly white. This beautiful stream, which passes down a stupendous precipice, is called by Dwight the Silver Cascade. It is probably one of the most beautiful in the world. At the distance of three fourths of a mile from the en- trance of the chasm is a brook, call- ed the Flume, which falls from a height of 240 or 250 feet over three precipices-down the two first in a single current, and over the last in three, which unite again at the bot- tom in a small basin formed by the
NOTCH OF THE MOUNTAINS.
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hand of nature in the rocks. The rapid growth than any other town water is pure and transparent, and it would be impossible for a brook of its size to be moddeled into more diversified or delightful forms. It is by no means strange that the un- lettered Indian fancied these re- gions to be the abodes of celestial beings ; while the scholar, without a stretch of fancy, in calling to mind the mythology of Greece, might find here a fit place for the assemblies and sports of the Dryads, Naiads and Oreades. For a more particular notice of these moun- tains, the reader is referred to Bel- knap's Hist. N. H .; Dwight's Trav- els ; N. E. Journal ; and N. H. Hist. Coll. for 1823.
WILMOT, a township in the N. extremity of Hillsborough county, in lat. 43º 27', is bounded N. W. by Springfield, N. E. by Danbury New-Chester and Andover, S. by Warner, S. W. by Sutton and New- London, containing 15,000 acres, of which 9000 were taken from New-London and 6000 from Kear- sarge gore. It is 30 miles from Concord, and 87 from Boston. The streams forming Blackwater river have their origin in the vicinity of Wilmot. They afford a number of good mill seats. The 4th N. H. turnpike from Concord to Hanover passes through this town. It was made in 1803, through an entire forest without any inhabitants for 14 miles above, and about 6 miles below Wilmot. The land near the turnpike appears rude and bar- ren : but the acclivities on either side are susceptible of cultivation. The town is composed of hills and valleys, presenting a rough surface. There are no large collections of water, nor any mountains, except- ing Kearsarge, whose summit fornis the southern boundary. Wilmot, for the last 10 years has had a more
in the county, having more than doubled its population. The great- er part of Wilmot was originally included in a grant made in 1775, by the Masonian proprietors, to Jo- nas Minot, Matthew Thornton and others. It was incorporated June 18, 1807. It received its name in honor of Dr. Wilmot, an English- man, who, at one time, was suppo- sed to be the author of the celebra- ted letters of Junius. Pop. 670.
WILTON, a post-township, Hills- borough county, in lat. 42º 50', is bounded N. by Lyndeborough, E. by Lyndeborough and Milford, S. by Mason, and W. by Temple, con- taining 15,280 acres. It is 9 miles from Amherst, 37 from Con- cord and 58 from Boston. Sou- legan is the principal river. Its main branch enters this town near the S. W. corner and proceeds in a N. E. course till it forms a junc- tion with several branches running from Lyndeborough and Temple. These flow through the N. part, and are sufficiently Jarge for mill streams. This town has neither mountains, ponds, nor swamps. It is, in general, pretty rocky, but of a strong and excellent soil. The principal growth of wood is oak, pine, beech, maple, birch, hemlock. and some chesnut. Good clay is found in plenty near streams of water. There are several quarries of excellent stone for splitting and hewing. No uncommon sickness has ever been known here except in 1801, when a malignant and con- tagious fever prevailed, which was supposed to be introduced in a par- cel of old feathers brought into town and sold by pedlers. The whole nuinher of deaths, from 1:83 in July, 1820, was about 387. There is a female charitable socie- ty, a literary and moral society,
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and a library society. Wilton was owned by the proprietors of land purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esq., and by them was surveyed and laid out into 80 acre lots and designated by the name of Num- ber 2. The first settlement was made in 1738, by three families from Danvers, Ms., two by the name of Putnam, and one by the name of Dale. Hannah, the daugh- ter of Ephraim Putnam, was the first child born in town. She was born in March, 1741 ; married a Mr. Woodward of Lyndeborough, where she died in Oct. 1811, aged 70. The town was incorporated June 25, 1762, and derived its name from Wilton, an ancient borough in Wiltshire, England. A distres- sing accident occurred in raising the second meeting-house, Sept. 7, 1773. The frame fell, and 3 men were instantly killed ; two died of their wounds soon afterward, and a number of others were badly in- jured. On July 20, 1804, the same meeting-house was struck by light- ning and considerably shattered. A congregational church, consist- ing of 8 male members, was gather- ed Dec. 14, 1763. Rev. Jonathan Livermore was ordained the same day. He was dismissed in Feb. 1777, and died at Wilton, July 20, 1809, aged 80. Rev. Abel Fiske was ordained November 18, 1778, and died April 21, 1802, aged 50. Rev. Thomas Beede was ordained March 2, 1803. The number of ad- missions to the church, from its for- mation to 1820, was 472 ; baptisms 1197. A baptist church was form- ed April 7, 1817, over which Rev. Ezra Wilmarth was installed Nov. 11, 1818. There is a small society of universalists. Pop. 1070.
WINCHESTER, a post-township, in the S. W. part of Cheshire conn- ty, in lat. 42º 46/, is bounded N. by
Chesterfield and Swanzey, E. by Richmond, S. by Warwick and Northfield, in Mass., W. by Hins- dale, containing 33,534 acres, 600 of which are water. It is 15 miles from Keene, 70 from Concord, 83 from Boston, 80 from Hartford and 85 from Albany. Ashuelot river enters this town at its N. E. angle, and runs in a S. W. and W. course to Hinsdale. It receives on the E., Muddy brook, and on the N., Broad brook and several other small streams. Humphrey's pond is in the N. E. part of the town. It is 300 rods long and 80 rods wide. From the centre to the S. E., the land is very level. In other parts, the surface is more uneven. The soil is generally good. The prin- cipal forest trees are white and yel- low pine, chesnut, white and red oak, rock maple,&c. In 1822, there were sent to Connecticut market, from this town, 200 thousand white oak staves, from 8 to 10 hundred thousand feet of pine lumber, and large quantities of shingles, casks, &c. Winchester has two villages, both pleasantly situated on Ashuelot river, one in the centre, containing 27 dwelling houses, 1 meeting- house, with a clock, bell and well toned organ, a school house, the most elegant in the county of Cheshire, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and several mechanic shops, &c. ; the other, in the. W. part, containing 21 dwelling houses, 1 cotton facto- ry, 1 small woollen factory, 1 nail factory, 1 scythe factory, 1 large oil mill, 1 furnace, 1 tavern, 1 store, &c. The 6th N. H. turnpike pas- ses through Winchester. There is a respectable library in this town. Only one native has received a col- legiate education. It is a singular fact, recollected by the early inhab- itants, that Josiah Willard, one of the principal grantees of this town,
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refused to have Dartmouth college|| pond lies in this town and Salem- located in Winchester, on account of his belief that it would have a tendency to depreciate the value of his possessions. This town was probably first granted by Mas- sachusetts. Its first name was Ar- lington. It was chartered by N. H., July 2, 1753, to Josiah Willard and others, who had, about the year 1732, effected a settlement. In the Indian war, which commenced a number of years afterwards, the inhabitants had all their private buildings and their meeting-house burnt by the enemy. On the 7th of June, 1756, Josiah Foster and his family were taken captives by the Indians. A congregational church, consisting of 12 mem- bers, was formed November 12, 1736. Rev. Joseph Ashley, who graduated at Yale college in 1930, was ordained Nov. 12, 1736; re- moved in 1747, on account of the Indian war. Rev. Micah Law- rence, who graduated at Harvard college, was ordained Nov. 14, 1764; dismissed Feb. 19, 1777. Rev. Ezra Conant, who graduated at Harvard college in 1784, was ordained Feb. 19, 1788 ; dismissed Oct. 13, 1806. Rev. Experience Porter, a graduate of Dartmouth college in 1803, was ordained Nov. 12, 1807 ; dismissed Feb, 20. 1810. Rev. Salmon Bennet was ordained Sept. 10, 1817 ; dismissed 1822. Communicants about 100. There is a methodist society, and some universalists. Pop. 1849.
WINDHAM, post-township, in Rockingham county, lat. 42º 48'. is bounded N. by Londonderry, E. by Salem, S. by Pelham, W. by Nottingham- West and Londonder- ry. It is 35 miles from Boston, 34 from Concord, 30 from Exeter, 45 from Portsmouth, 22 from Amherst ; and contains 15,744 acres. Policy borough, S. by Autrim and W. by
[about one half in cach. Cabot's pond lies E. of the centre of the town. Golden pond is in the S., and Mitchell's in the N. E. part of the town. There is another small pond between Windham and Sa- lem, N. E. of Policy pond. Bca- ver siver or brook forms the W. boundary, upon which are some meadow lands. The town is also well supplied with small streams. The Londonderry turnpike passes over this town. Windham was originally a part of Londonderry : and was detached and incorpora- ted Feb. 25, 1739. The inhabi- tants, principally derived from the first settlers of Londonderry, have firmly adhered to the religious prin- ciples of their fathers-to the doc- trines and forms of the presbyte- rian church as originally establish- ed in Scotland, and administered in this country. A presbyterian church was organized, and Rev. William Johnston installed in 1747 : he was dismissed in July, 1752. In 1753, a meeting.l.oule was erected on the S. side of Cu- bot's pond. Rev. John Kinkcad was ordained in Oct. 1:00; and dismissed in April. 1765. Rev. Simon Williams was ordained in Dec. 1706 ; continued to preach 27 years, and died Nov. 10. 1793. aged 64. A new meeting-house was erected in 1798. Rev. Samu- el Harris was ordained by the Lon- donderry presbytery in Oct. 1805. The spotted fever appeared at Windham in 1312 From March 30, to April 18, there dicd 16-3 adults, and 13 children. 13 died in 8 days. Pop. 889.
WINDSOR, a small township of a triangular form, in Hillsborough county, in lat. 43º 6', is bounded N. by Washington. F. by Hills-
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Stoddard, containing 5,335 acres. ¡¡ cient depth to give them a proper It is diversified with hills; its soil is strong, good for grazing, and for bread stuffs, of which quantities sufficient for use at home, and some for the markets are raised. Black pond, near the centre, is said to be 160 rods long and 80 broad; and one near the S. E. corner of the town, is about 80 rods long and 40 wide. This town has 3 school dis- tricts, 2 school houses, 1 tavern, 1 grain mill, 2 saw mills and 1 ful- ling mill. The 2d N. H. turnpike passes through the N. part. Wind- sor was formerly called Campbell's Gore. It was incorporated with town privileges in Nov. 1798. A- mong its early settlers was Capt. Swett, whose posterity still reside here. Pop. 240.
· WINSLOW'S LOCATION, in Coos county, lat. 44º 34', is bounded N. by ungranted lands, E. by Dummer, S. E. by Paulsburgh and Kilkenny, W. by Piercy ; and contains 5,060 acres. It was granted Oct. 21, 1773, to John Winslow, of Marshfield, Ms. who served as Maj. Gen. Com. of the Prov. forces of New-Eng- land, New-York and New-Jersey. There were only 6 inhabitants, in 1820.
WINNEPISIOGEE LAKE, is sit- uated between lat. 43º 29/, and 43º 44 ; and between long. 71º 5', and 71° 25/, W. from Greenwich ; and a little E. of the centre of New- Hampshire. Its form is very irreg- ular. At the W. end, it is divided into three large bays ; on the N. is a fourth; and at the E. end there are three others. Its general course is from N. W. to S. E ; its length about 22 miles, varying in width from 1 to 10 miles. The townships on its borders may be seen by refer- ring to the map. The waters of the Winnepisiogee are remarkably pure ; and when taken from a suffi-
temperature, are perfectly sweet and palatable. This lake has a great number ofislands. Like those in Lake George, and in Casco Bay, they are here declared to be three hundred and sixty-five. Without supposing the days of the year to have been consulted, on the subject, we may naturally conclude that the number is considerable. Sev- eral of these islands are sufficiently large for farms-one containing 500 acres. The prospect of this lake from the mountains surrounding it, is enchanting, and in no degree in- ferior to that of Lake George, long celebrated, and visited by thous- ands. A variety of excellent fish are found in this lake. The waters are frozen during the winter, pre- senting a beautiful icy expansion. This lake might be connected by canals with the Pascataqua ; and open an immense field of business between Portsmouth and the inte- rior. See p. 14, Gen. View.
WINNEPISIOGEE RIVER is the great outlet to the lake of that name; and issues from the S. W. arm of the lake. It thence passes through two bays between Meredith and Gilford, entering the Great Bay in the N. E. part of Sanbornton. From thence it passes through two other bays, forming the boundary between Sanbornton on the N. W. and Gil- manton and Northfield S. E. ; and unites with the Pemigewasset a short distance below Webster's falls. The stream is rapid in its course, and has a fall of 232 feet from the lake to its junction with the other branch of the Merrimack : this name being given to the con- fluent stream. There are numer- . ous bridges over the Winnepisiogee; which also furnishes many excel- lent privileges for factories or other machinery. See Merrimack river.
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