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 8
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derives its name from Antrim in| into the Connecticut. Some at- tempts have been made to render this river navigable for boats. So far as they have extended, they have been successful. The ob- structions in the river from Keene to within six miles of its mouth have been removed; two sets of locks constructed, and it is now considered passable through this distance. But whether the great expense which will attend the re- moval of the obstructions, and ca- nalling the remaining six miles will not prevent further progress, and therefore render useless what has already been effected, is yet questionable.
the county of the same name in Ireland. It was incorporated March 22, 1777. The first settle- ment was made by Dea. James Ai- ken about the year 1768. Four years elapsed before a second fam- ily moved into the place. During these and several succeeding years, he endured various hardships re- sulting from the want of neighbors and the wilderness state of the country. For some time, he was obliged to go to Peterborough, New- Boston and other places in order to have his grain ground into meal. Dea. Aiken was a native of Lon- donderry, where he was born in 1731. He died July 27, 1817. He was a professor of the christian re- ligion more than 60 years, and ador ned it by a serious and exem- plary life. The people here are chiefly attached to the presbyterian form of doctrine and church govern- ment. A church of this kind was gathered in 1788. Rev. Walter Little, afterwards Fullerton, who graduated at Dartmouth College in 1796, was ordained Sept. 3, 1800 ; dismissed Sept. 1804. Rev. John M. Whiton, who graduated at Yale College in 1805, was or- dained Sept. 28, 1808. Pop. 1330.
ASHUELOT or ASHWILLET, a river in Cheshire county, which has its source in a pond in Wash- ington. It runs in a southerly course through Marlow and Gilsum to Keene, where it receives a con- siderable branch issuing from ponds in Stoddard. From Keene it pro- ceeds to Swanzey, where it receives another considerable branch which originates in Jaffrey and Fitzwil- liam. It pursues its course south- erly and westerly through Win- chester into Hinsdale, where, at the distance of about 3 miles from the S. line of the state, it empties incorporated Sept. 3, 1767, by its
ATKINSON, a post-town in Rock- ingham county, lat. 42º 51', is about 5 miles in length, 4 1-4 in breadth, and bounded N. by Hampstead; E. by Plaistow, S. by Haverhill, Ms. W. by Salem and Londonderry. It contains 6839 acres, lying 36 miles from Boston, 30 from Ports- mouth, and 32 from Concord. The surface of Atkinson is uneven; the soil of a superior quality, and well situated. The cultivation of the apple has received much atten- tion here, and the finest fruit is produced. Atkinson comprises a portion of the lands conveyed by the Indians, Nov. 15, 1642, to the inhabitants of Pentuckett, (now Haverhill). The deed was signed by two noted sachems, Passaquo and Saggahew, with the consent, of Passaconaway, their chief. When the dividing line between this state and Massachusetts was finally settled, the tract comprising Plaistow fell within the limits of this state, and Atkinson, on ac- court of difficulties respecting the location of the meeting house at the S. extremity of the town, was set off from Plaistow Aug. 31, and
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present name, in honor of Theo-[[island settles to its usual place." dore Atkinson, a member of the council and a large landholder. The first settlements were made in 1727 or 1728, by Benjamin Rich- ards, of Rochester, in this state, and Jonathan and Edmund Page and John Dow, from Haverhill, Ms. Several of the first settlers lived to a great age. The Rev. Stephen Peabody was the first and B. only settled minister in Atkinson. He was a native of Andover, Ms. born Nov. 11, 1742 ; graduated at Harvard University in 1769; was ordained Nov. 25, 1772, when the congregational church was formed, and remained in the ministry until his death, May 23, 1819. He was related by marriage to the late President Adams, having married for his second wife the sister of Mrs. A. He took an active part in the revolution, and served as chaplain in the regiment under Col. Poor, stationed at Winter-Hill. The academy in this town is one of the oldest and most respectable institutions in the state ; it was in- corporated Feb. 17, 1791. "In a large meadow in this town, there is an island, containing 7 or 8 acres, which was formerly loaded with valuable pine timber and other for- est wood. When the meadow is overflowed, by means of an artifi- cial dam, this island rises in the same degree as the water rises, which is sometimes six feet. Near the middle of this island, is a small pond, which has been gradually lessening ever since it was first known, and is now almost covered with verdure. In the water of this pond, there have been fish in plenty ; which, when the meadow hath been flowed, have appeared there, and when the water hath been drawn off, have been left on the meadow ; at which time the
The correctness of this account of the floating island, given by Dr. Belknap, and which was furnished Lim by the Rev. Mr. Peabody, has been doubted ; but there are per- sons still living who can substan- tiate the fact. The artificial dam is now in ruins. Pop. 563.
BACK RIVER. See Bellamy Bank.
BAKER'S river, a considerable stream in Grafton county, is form- ed of two branches. The N. branch has its source near Moosehillock mountain in Coventry. It runs southerly through Warren into Wentworth, where it unites with the S. branch which originates in Orange. After the union of these branches, the river pursues a S. E. and an easterly course through the S. part of Rumney and the N. part of Plymouth, where it forms a junction with Pemigewasset river just above Plymouth village. It was on this river, in the township of Rumney, that General Stark was captured by the Indians, on the 28th of April, 1752. See Rumney.
BARKER'S LOCATION, a tract of land in Coos county, containing 3,020 acres, granted Oct. 21, 1773, to Capt. Joshua Barker, of Hing- ham, Ms. It now composes a part of Lancaster, to which it was an- nexed June 22, 1819.
BARNSTEAD, post-town, Straf- ford county, in lat. 43º 21', is boun- ded N. E. by Alton, N. W. by Gil- manton, S. W. by Pittsfield, S. by Strafford, and contains 26,000 acres. It is 36 miles from Portsmouth, 26 from Dover, and 20 from Concord. Barnstead is not mountainous, but has large swells of land. The soil is
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easy and productive ; the original||have a granular structure. In the growth, pine, oak, beech, maple, &c. There are several ponds in this town-the largest are the two Suncook ponds, which lie near each other, Brindle pond, and Half- moon pond, on Alton line. These waters are stocked with fish, and are discharged into the Suncook. Barn- stead was granted May 20, 1727, to the Rev. Joseph Adams and oth- ers. Settlements commenced in 1767. A congregational church was organized Aug. 5, 1804; and Rev. Enos George settled on the 26th Sept. following. Elder David Knowlton was settled over the free- will baptist society in 1804; died 1809, and was succeeded by Eld. Nathaniel Wilson. The social library in this town was incorpora- ted in 1807, and contains 180 vol- umes. The number of deaths since 1804, has been 204. Pop. 1805.
BARRINGTON, post-town, in Strafford county, lat. 43º 12', is 20 miles from Portsmouth, 10 from Dover, 30 from Concord, 65 from Boston ; bounded N. E. by Far- mington and Rochester, S. E. by Madbury, Lee and Dover, S. W.by Nottingham and Northwood, and N. W. by Strafford. The surface of Barrington is somewhat broken and rocky, the soil being principal- ly a gravelly loam. The oak ridges, however, are a sandy loam, or hazel mould, and are very good for tillage. The town is abundantly supplied with ponds, of which there are no less than thirteen of considerable magnitude, from whence issue streams affording excellent mill- seats. At one of these mill-seats, on the Isinglass river, is a perpen- dicular fall of 30 feet, with a suffi- cient supply of water for an exten- sive factory. The rocks in this town are principally granite, are compos- ed of feldspar, quartz and mica, and ||vided, and the western section in-
composition of these rocks, quartz predominates. In some of them, very perfect and beautiful crystals of quartz, and in others, tourmaline and graphite are found. Bog iron ore is also somewhat abundant, and was formerly wrought here. There is, about two miles from the centre of the town, a remarkable cavern or fissure in a rock, commonly cal- led the Devil's den. The entrance is on the side of a hill, and is suffi- ciently large to admit a person in a stooping posture. Having entered 5 feet in a horizontal direction, there is a descent of 4 or 5 feet, on an angle of 45°, large enough only to admit the body of a middling siz- ed man. After squeezing through this passage, you enter a chamber 60 feet in length, from 10 to 15 in height, and from 3 to 8 in width .- Communicating with this, are sev- eral other fissures of equal height, and from 10 to 15 in length, which, wanting sufficient width, remain unexplored. In religious sentiment the inhabitants of this town are principally congregationalists and baptists. Over the congregational church, which was formed soon af- ter the settlement of the town, Rev. Joseph Prince was settled in 1755; dismissed in 1768. Rev. David Tenney was settled in 1771; dis- missed 1778, and soon after died. Rev. Benjamin Balch was settled in 1784, and died in 1815. The church is now vacant. Barrington was incorporated May 10, 1722, and the settlement commenced in 1732. The town is healthy-of the first settlers, fourteen, who were between 80 and 90 years of age, were alive in 1815. Barrington was originally 13 miles in length, 6 1-2 in breadth and in 1810 contained 3564 inhabi- tants ; but in 1820 the town was di-
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corporated into a new town of the dam is erected and several mills name of Strafford-thus reducing the territory and population more than one half. Present pop. 1610. BARRON'S ISLAND. See Pier- mont.
BARTLETT, post-town, Coos county, is in lat. 44º 4', 45 miles from Lancaster, 75 from Concord, and 85 from Portsmouth. It lies at the foot of the White Moun- tains, with Adams on the N., Chat- ham on the E., Conway and the public lands on the S. and W. It has an area of about 13,000 acres. Its soil is various, and on the Saco, in some parts, good. This river meanders through the centre of the town, which is also watered by other streams. Bartlett was in- corporated June 16, 1790 ; and re- ceived its name in honor of Gov. Bartlett. Pop. 511.
BATH, a post-township in Graf- ton county, on Connecticut river, in lat. 44º 10/, is bounded N. by Lyman, E. by Landaff, S. by Ha- verhill, and W. by Ryegate, Vt., containing 22,827 acres. Itis 42 miles N. E. of Dartmouth College, 82 N. N. W. of Concord and 148 from Boston. Bath is pleasantly situated in the vale of the Connec- ticut, between the Green moun- tains on the W., and the White Mountains on the E., by which it is effectually shielded from high winds and long storms. The Amonoo- suck river waters the S. E. part, affording many fine mill seats and water privileges. It falls into Ccll- necticut river at the S. W. angle of the town. It receives in its course, about 4 miles from its mouth, the Wild Amonoosuck river, which rushes down the lofty Mooschil- lock. The head of boat naviga- tion on Connecticut river is in Bath. It is interrupted by a very majestic fall of water, at which al
built. The Amonoosuck has a very convenient fall at the village, calculated to accommodate ma- chinery to any extent. At the principal village, there is a consid- erable bridge over the Amonoosuck, of 350 feet in length-built in 1807. There is a ferry across the river at the falls. Perch pond, having a surface of about 100 acres, is situated in the S. part of the town. At the S. W. corner of Bath, Gardner's mountain rises by a very bold ascent from the conflu- ence of Connecticut and Amonoo- suck rivers, and runs a N. course through the whole town, separating the inhabitants, who have no com- munication but by one pass in the mountain. Its height is generally about 500 feet. On this mountain, are various appearances of iron and silver ore. Strata of rock have been opened near the lower village, the most of which will dis- solve on being immersed in warm water. Alum and copperas have been made from this rock. The rocks here are principally granite, slate and flint. The soil on the hills is generally a reddish loam, on a bed of marl or hard pan. In the valleys, it is alluvial. In some parts, are clayey soils ; in others, sandy. There are but few swamps. About one sixth part of the whole town is interval land. The native forests, in the valleys and on the flats, are white pine, hemlock, spruce, elm, and somne ceda" ; on the hills, maple, beecli, birch, oak and mountain ash. Much improve- ment has been made in the agricul- ture of this place. Gypsum has been found highly useful on all the soils, except cold and wet land. The surplus produce is carried to Boston, Salem and Portland. In 1811, the spotted fever visited this
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place, but did not prove very fatal. derry. It passes S. through Pel- The annual average number of ham, and falls into the Merrimack in Dracut, nearly opposite ,the mouth of Concord river, in Mass. deaths is about 20. There is a so- cial library, containing upwards of 200 volumes. The original charter of Bath was granted Sept. 10, 1761, to Rev. Andrew Gardner and 61 others. In March, 1769, it was re-chartered to John Sawyer and others, on the assumption of the forfeiture of the first charter. The first settlement was made in 1765, by John Herriman from Haverhill, Ms. In 1766 and '67, Moses Pike and the family of Mr. Sawyer com- menced settlements. A presbyte- rian church was formed in 1778, which was dissolved in 1791, and a congregational church organized, embracing 19 members. Rev. Da- vid Sutherland, a native of Edin- burg, was installed Oct. 24, 1805. In 1811, a revival of religion oc- curred, which added to the church 77 members ; and in 1820 and '21, a further addition of 101 members was made to the church. There are some baptists and methodists in this town. Pop. 1498.
BEAN HILL. See Northfield.
BEARCAMP, a river, which is formed of several branches rising on the south sides of Sandwich and Burton mountains. The two principal branches unite in Ossi- pee, and fall into the Ossipee lake on its western border.
BEAVER BROOK, the name of several streams in this state. The largest has its source in a small pond in Unity, and running W. falls into the Connecticut in Charlestown. One other rises in Mont-Vernon, and falls into the Souhegan ; , and another passes from Stewartstown through Cole- brook.
BEAVER RIVER, has its princi- pal source in Beaver pond, a beau- tiful body of water, in London-
BEDFORD, a post-township in Hillsborough county, is situated on Merrimack river, in lat. 42º 53'. It is bounded N. by Goffstown, E. by Merrimack river, which divides it from Manchester and the N. part of Litchfield, S. by the township of Merrimack, and W. by Amherst and New-Boston, containing 20,- 660 acres. It is 8 miles from Am- herst, 21 from Concord and 52 from Boston. Merrimack and Piscata- quog are the only rivers in this town. The latter passes through its N. E. corner, where there is a pleasant and flourishing village, which will be noticed under Pis- cataquog Village. In the W. part of this town, the land is une- ven and abounds with stones, but the qualities of the soil are warm and moist. The E. part, border- ing on the Merrimack, is pine plain, with some very productive intervals. The principal forest
trees are white, red, and black oak, walnut, chesnut, maple, birch, pine, hemlock, &c. Of the white oak, great quantities of ship timber have been obtained, and conveyed to Charlestown, Ms. by means of the river and Middlesex canal. Great attention is paid to the cultivation of hops ; and there are raised in some years, 100,000 lbs. The ag- ricultural and general condition of this town has of late become flour- fishing. Linen and woollen are the, principal manufactures, of which there have been made cloths of a quality equal to foreign im- portations. On the W. line of Bedford, are a remarkable gulf and precipice, which are regarded as objects of curiosity. A consider- able brook passes over the preci-
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pice, and falls about 200 feet with-( in the distance of 100 yards. Here are found several excavations in solid stone, which are sufficiently large to contain many persons. Sibbins' pond is in the E. part of the town. Strictly speaking, there are three ponds, which appear to be united by their waters beneath the surface of an extensive bog, which floats upon the surface and rises and falls with the water. These ponds, taken together, are about 80 rods in diameter, and abound with most kinds of fresh water fish. There is in Bedford, a social library incorporated in 1802. Those who have recei- ved a collegiate education from this town, are, at Dartmouth Col- lege, Joseph Goffe, 1791; John Vose, 1795; Benj. Orr, 1798 ; Jo- seph Bell, 1807; John Walker, 1808; William Gordon, 1811 ; William Orr, 1815 ; Adam Gordon, 1817; John Aiken, 1819; Thorn- ton McGaw, 1820; Adams Moore, 1822 : at Yale College, Isaac Orr, 1818 ; Robert Riddle, 1818; Free- man Riddle, 1819; Robert Orr, 1820 : at Middlebury College, Isaac O. Barnes, 1820. In miner- alogy, this town affords a great va- riety of specimens. Iron ore is found in different places and in sev- eral varieties. Sulphiuret of iron, imbedded in common granite, and red oxide of iron combined with al- umine, are common. Black lead, (graphite) pyritous copper, schorl, hornblende, epidote, talc, mica, black, yellow and green, gneiss,crys- tallized quartz, &c. are found here. Fifty years since, iron was manu- factured in considerable quantities at the mouth of Crosby brook. Within a few years, iron ore in large quantities has been transport- ed to Billerica and other forges out of town. Bedford was one of the
Narraganset townships granted by Massachusetts in 1733, to the sur- viving officers and soldiers, and the heirs of those deceased, who were engaged in King Philip's war in 1676. The number of grantees was 120, all of whom except one belonged to Massachusetts. It was first called Narraganset No. 5, or Souhegan East. The first settle- ment commenced in the winter of 1737, by Robert and James Walker, who, the ensuing year, were follow- ed by Col. John Goffe, Matthew Patten, Esq. and Capt. Samuel Pat- ten. Several of the early settlers emigrated from the north of Ire- land. The first child born in town was Silas Barron, son of Capt. Mo- ses Barron-he was born Jan. 16, 1741. The town was incorporated by charter from Gov. Wentworth, May 19, 1750. Bedford was the , residence of many Indians in for- mer times. In 1745, as James McQuade and Robert Burns, who had been to Penacook to purchase corn for their families, were re- turning home, they killed McQuade in Pembroke; but Burns escaped by running in a zig-zag direction, by which means, he baffled the fire of the pursuers, and returned in safety to his family. On the bank of Merrimack river,opposite Goffe's falls, is a spot of ground, about ten rods long and four wide, which is supposed to have been an Indian burial place. The surface of the bank is about 40 feet above the riv- er. Human bones at various times have been washed from the bank. In the summer of 1821, Drs. Wood- bury and Riddle obtained a part of three skeletons from this place. Some of the bark in which they had been deposited remained. One of them appeared to have been put in the ground in a sitting posture. All of their heads lay towards the
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south. One was supposed to be a female. The hair was entire, and was done up in a bunch on the back part of the head in a manner similar to that practised at the pres- ent day. A presbyterian church was formed in 1757. Rev. John Houston was ordained about the same time, and remained the min- ister till 1778. From this period the church was vacant, but enjoy- ed occasional preaching, till Sept. 5, 1804, when Rev. David McGreg- ore, who graduated at Dartmouth College in 1799, was ordained. Hon. MATTHEW PATTEN, a gen- tleman of very respectable charac- ter, the second judge of probate in Hillsborough county, and one of the first settlers, died in this town. Hon. JOHN ORR, who died in Jan. 1823, at the age of 75, was a distin- guished citizen of this town. He was in the battle of Bennington under Gen. Stark, and received a wound in the early part of the en- gagement. Pop. 1375.
BELLAMY BANK, a river, one branch of which issues from Ches- ley's pond in Barrington, and the other from low and marshy lands in the vicinity ; these unite in Mad- bury, and after meandering through the town, the waters fall into the Pascataqua, on the W. side of Do- ver Neck, where the stream is cal- led Back river.
BELLOWS FALLS, a remarkable fall, in Connecticut river, in the township of Walpole, and former- ly known by the name of the Great fall. The breadth of the river, above the fall, is 22 rods ; in some places not more than 16. A large rock divides the stream into two channels, each about 90 feet wide, on the top of the shelving bank. When the water is low, the east- ern channel appears crossed by a bar of solid rock, and the whole
stream falls into the western chan- nel, where it is contracted to the breadth of, 16 feet, and flows with astonishing rapidity. There are several pitches, one above another, in the length of half a mile, the largest of which is that where the rock divides the stream. Notwith- standing the velocity of the cur- rent, the salmon pass up this fall,and are taken many miles above ; but the shad proceed no farther. Over this fall, in the year 1785, a bridge of timber was constructed by Col. Enoch Hale, Its length was 365 feet,and was supported in the middle by the great rock. In 1792, this was the only bridge across Con- necticut river, and now, in 1823, there are, in this state, sixteen bridges. In crossing the bridge from this town to Rockingham, Vt. the traveller has an interesting and sublime view of these falls.
BETHLEHEM, township,in Graf- ton county, in lat. 44º 15/, is boun- ded N. by Whitefield and Dalton, E. by Bretton-Woods and ungrant- ed land, S. by Franconia and Con- cord, and N. W. by Littleton, con- taining 28,608 acres. It is water- ed by Great Amonoosuck river, which takes its rise at the notch of the White Mountains, and runs in a W. and N. W. direction through nearly the centre of this town. A branch of the same river runs through the southerly part into Franconia. The mountains are called Round and Peaked. The soil produces good crops of grass and grain. There is plenty of pine timber and sugar maple. Iron ore, both of the mountain and bog kind, has been occasionally found. Two mineral springs have been discov- ered. Bethlehem was settled in 1790, by Jonas Warren, Benjamin Brown, James Turner, Thomas and
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John Hatch, Nathan and Amos !! Wheeler, Nathl. Snow and Lot Woodbury. It was incorporated Dec. 27, 1799. A congregational church was formed Oct. 15, 1802; a baptist church in Sept. 1800 ; and a freewill baptist, June 26, 1813. The number of members in each of the baptist churches is 46; in the congregational, 23. Pop. 467.
BISHOP'S BROOK rises in the S. E. part of Stewartstown, and me- anders N. W. through the town in- to Connecticut river.
BLACKWATER river, so called from its dark appearance, is formed by two small streams, one of which rises in Danbury, and the other issues from Pleasant pond in New- London. These branches unite soon after crossing the W. line of Andover, and form the Blackwater, which passes with considerable ra- pidity through the S. W. part of that town ; from thence through the W. part of the towns of Salis- bury and Boscawen into Hopkin- ton, where it empties into Contoo- cook river.
BLIND WILL'S NECK, is a point of land formed by the conflu- ence of the Isinglass and Cocheco rivers, in the south part of Roch- ester. Blind Will was a sagamore of the Indians living about the Co- checo. During the war with King Philip, the enemy having made their appearance in the vicinity, he was sent out by Maj. Waldron with seven other Indians, to make discoveries. They were all sur- prised by a company of Mohawks -two or three escaped, and the others were killed or taken. Will was dragged away by his hair, and being wounded, perished on the neck, which has since borne his name.
er, is so called from a quarrel which took place in 1631, between the agents of the two companies of proprietors about a point of land convenient for both ; and, there being at that time no government established, the controversy would have ended in blood, had the par- ties not been persuaded to' refer the dispute to their employers.
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