USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Portsmouth > Early Portsmouth history > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
Portsmouth had always thrived on difficulties, and Portsmouth emerged from the Revolutionary War period in a stronger position than ever. The town had taken a notable part in the events that led up to the war and during the war. Portsmouth had acted vigorously and patriotically. The town held a dis- tinguished position in the minds of Americans of the day. Moreover, a considerable degree of wealth existed in Portsmouth at this time. As the clouds of war rolled away, trade promised to increase in the near future. The Peace that brought the Revolution
253
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
to a close was signed in 1783. When, on October 30, 1789,3 President Washington visited Portsmouth, he found the town close to the peak of its distinguished civic position. With this visit of the first President of the United States to Portsmouth, the Revolutionary War period in the history of the town may be said to close.
CHAPTER XIII
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
P ORTSMOUTH entered the twenty-five year period, 1790-1815, in happy fashion. Her citizens had been reared in experience and in success of many kinds. There was wealth and culti- vation in the town. Trade flourished, especially the West India trade. As business conditions improved just after the war, Portsmouth enjoyed her full share of the resulting benefits. It was at this stage of the history of Portsmouth, 1790-1815, that the town was in the fullest of its vigor and relative success.
In the twenty-five year period, 1790-1815, a number of beautiful houses were added to the already large list in Portsmouth. One of the most distinctive of these was the Daniel H. Peirce house, built in 1799,1 now the home of Mr. J. Winslow Peirce. This was typical of the large, nearly square, high-studded, three- story house that was particularly characteristic of the best home building of this period. The Boardman- Marvin house was built soon after 1800. The Tread- well house, built by Hon. Jeremiah Mason,1 was erected in 1808.1 The Woodbury house, built by Capt. Samuel Ham, came in 1809.1 The Larkin-Rice house,7 on Middle Street, was built in 1811; the Rundlet-May house in 1806-1807. In 1798 there were six hundred and twenty-six dwelling houses in Portsmouth, sixteen of them only of three stories. "In the three years after, there were five of the latter class of houses
255
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
added."7 The Atheneum Building was built about 1803.1 The Academy, now the Portsmouth Public Library, was a noteworthy addition to Portsmouth buildings. It was erected about 1800.1 A teacher well remembered in the early life of the Academy was Mr. William C. Harris. The Academy has also served as a "Memorial Hall" of Storer Post, G. A. R. Many other pleasing houses not enumerated, still standing, and built prior to 1815, added to the charm of Portsmouth of that date.
"The New Hampshire Gazette," about 1794, carried much more advertising than previously. In 1792 the New Hampshire Bank was established in Portsmouth. 2 In 1794 a corporation was formed for the building of a bridge over that part of the Piscataqua flowing into Great Bay, thus connecting Portsmouth with Dover Point. The bridge connected Newington and Durham, just below the outlet of Little Bay.2 This, the Piscataqua Bridge, was two thousand three hun- dred and sixty-two feet long and thirty-eight feet wide.2 By November 25, 1794, this bridge could be passed over.2 Apparently, it was difficult to pay the repair expenses of this bridge, in spite of the tolls that were levied, and in May, 1804, a Piscataqua Bridge Lottery was advertised in "The New Hamp- shire Gazette," the profits to go to the benefit of the bridge.6 Harvard College also advertised a lottery in Portsmouth through the medium of the "Gazette." Under date of March 3, 1795,6 the College offered fifteen thousand tickets at five dollars each. There were to be five thousand and thirty-seven prizes and nine thousand nine hundred and sixty-three blanks. There was one prize of ten thousand dollars.6 The
256
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
advertisement of this lottery was headed: "Not Two Blanks to a Prize." In May, 1805, the "Portsmouth Bath" was opened.6
Among prominent names in Portsmouth, 1792, were George Gaines, Elisha Hill, John Goddard, Samuel Cutts. The name of Cutt was changed to Cutts in 1736.7 Mr. C. H. Cutts-Howard, a descendant of the Cutt family of Portsmouth, says that before the family came to this country from England the name was Cutts, "used as Cutt after their coming here for about three generations, presumably for political reasons." The following is from a letter penned in 1790, from Miss Eliza Eppes Cutts, a daughter of Samuel and Anna Holyoke Cutts of Portsmouth. It is included through the courtesy of Mr. C. H. Cutts-Howard. "I arrived here Thursday last. Friday I spent at Mr. John Langdon's; the description of Mrs. L's beauty has not been exagerated; she received me with polite- ness. The superbness and elegance of her house you have already heard."
An old society founded in Portsmouth shortly after the Revolution, the Federal Fire Society, con- tinues to this day. Originally organized in 1789 for the mutual protection of its members from fire, it has continued, as a social organization, with its motto "Esto perpetua." Its by-laws require that members shall have their fire buckets ready for use. The buckets are still inspected twice a year by the wardens, and reports as to their condition are read at the two dinners of the Society held each year. For the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Federal Fire Society, March 7, 1889, Mr. James Brackett Parrott wrote four verses, the first of which follows:
art
U. S. S. Portsmouth at the Portsmouth Navy Yard
Published through the courtesy of Mr. J. W. Newell
257
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
While stars shall burn, or girls shall smile, Or ships shall shake their sails, While tides do run, while winds do blow, Or ducks shall shake their tails; As centuries shall fill their count, Let time pass fast or slow,
We'll revel as our fathers did An hundred years ago!
The Mechanics' Fire Society of Portsmouth, with quarterly dinners, also continues old traditions.
The year 1799 brought the Portsmouth Aqueduct and its resulting benefits to the town.2 That same year an infantry organization known as "Governor Gil- man's Blues" was active.2 On May 14, 1806, there were presented at the "Theatre Portsmouth," "Stranger, or Misanthrope and Repentance," and "Rosina, or The Reapers." Tickets were seventy-five cents each. Doors opened at six-fifteen; the curtain rose at seven- thirty.6 In 1802 occurred a great fire in the town,2 though not to be confused with the still greater fire of 1813, which destroyed two hundred and forty-four buildings.2 In 1808 a livery stable was started. That same year, 1808, the brig "Dolphin" was advertised for passengers and freight for Charleston, South Carolina.6 Ships sailed from Portsmouth at this time fairly frequently on such long voyages as to New York. In 1801 Daniel Austin advertised for sale corn, rye, soap, starch, coffee, chocolate, teas, oil, iron, this showing what was available in certain mer- chandise as of about that date. That same year Samuel Hill advertised about the same list of commodi- ties. Among other advertisers in 1801 were Banj. Brierly, Edward Parry, Peter Coffin, Joshua Blake,
258
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
Henry Ladd, S. Larkin, James Rundlet. In 1801, also, the Bell Tavern was referred to in "The New Hampshire Gazette;" also the Portsmouth Marine Society.6 Daniel Webster was a resident of Ports- mouth in 1807.9 In 1806 the United States govern- ment bought Fernald's Island, this the first of the two islands now joined together forming the present United States Navy Yard. The price paid for Fernald's Island was five thousand five hundred dollars.7 The second island, Seavey's, was purchased much later, in 1866. Before 1806 the construction of naval vessels was carried on at the island north of these two, originally called Wither's Island, then Langdon's and later Badger's. "Here were built the Ranger and the frigate America, presented in 1782 to the French government."12
In 1798 the "Crescent," a frigate of thirty-two guns, built at Portsmouth in 1796,3 sailed for Europe. 2 She was being given as a present to the Dey of Algiers as compensation by the United States for unfulfilled treaty obligations on our part. The captain and many of the crew had been prisoners, previously, in Algiers. 3 In 1791 there were thirty-three vessels of over one hundred tons belonging to the port of Piscataqua, and fifty more of under a hundred tons.4 In 1790 eight vessels were built on the Piscataqua; 4 in 1791, twenty.4 The era of shipbuilding, the seeds of which had been sown long before, was now developing in earnest.
Only keen salt sea-odors filled the air.
Sea-sounds, sea-odors - these were all my world. - THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH.
259
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
Portsmouth furnished thirteen privateers in the War of 1812, the privateer "Portsmouth" being especially conspicuous. She was commanded by John Sinclair and T. M. Shaw.7 A relic of the War of 1812, still standing, is deserving of notice. Portsmouth, in the second war with England, more than ever needed pro- tection from attack by sea. When, in 1814, a British fleet was "hourly expected," 1 Walbach Tower at Newcastle, just to the west of Fort Constitution, earlier Fort William and Mary, was "planned' and constructed under the care of Colonel Walbach." 5 "He was a German Count who had fought against Napoleon in twenty-six battles."5
If you should turn your feet from yonder town Intent to bathe your eyes with healing sight Of open sea, and islands rising through, Mere heaps of shattered ledge that have withstood Eternal storm, though grey defiant still, The river shows the way that you must go; Its stream engrails the shores of twenty isles, And pleasant is the way as is the end; For you will idle on the bridges three, And loiter through the ancient village street, That crowns the harbor mouth; then you will come To beaches hard, and smoothed by each new tide Rolling between the low, port-cullised rocks, Rocks bare a-top, but kirtled at the feet With sea weed draperies that float or fall, As swells or sinks the lonely, restless wave. There, just above the shore is Walbach Tower, Its crumbling parapet with grass and weeds O'ergrown, and peaceful in its slow decay.
- JOHN ALBEE.
The files of "The New Hampshire Gazette" of 1812 afford interesting reading as to the war and the
260
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
successes of the United States on the sea. In its issue of March 24, 1812, the "Gazette" gives notice that England is trying to annex New England, and refers to American seamen impressed by British press gangs.6 The issue of November 3, 1812, gives a long list of British ships captured as prizes by United States vessels.6 Under date of December 8, 1812, the "Gazette" publishes the story of the fight between the United States frigate "United States," Commo- dore Decatur, and the British frigate "Macedonian," a brilliant victory for the "United States " and Decatur, that added great prestige to our navy.6
One of the smaller but most active of the United States naval forces in the War of 1812 was the frigate "Essex." "The New Hampshire Gazette" of Septem- ber 29, 1812, reads as follows: "A passenger of the brig Lyon from Havana to New York, captured by the frigate Southampton, Sir James Yeo Commander, is requested by Sir James Yeo to present his compli- ments to Cpt. Porter, Commander of the American frigate Essex, would be glad to have a tête-à-tête any- where between the capes of Delaware and Havana, where he would have the pleasure to break his own sword over his damned head, and put him down forward in irons."
"Cpt. Porter, of the United States frigate Essex presents his compliments to Sir James Yeo, command- ing his Britanic Majesty's frigate Southampton, and accepts with pleasure his polite invitation. If it is agreeable to Sir James Cpt. Porter would prefer meeting near the Delaware, where Cpt. Porter pledges his honor to Sir James that no American vessel shall interrupt their tête-à-tête.
"The Essex may be known by a flag bearing the
261
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
motto 'Free Trade and Sailors' Rights.' Note -the Southampton is rated 32 guns and probably carries over 40. The Essex is also rated 32. Cpt. Porter has been emphatically pronounced in our hearing by all his seniors an ornament to the American Navy." 6
Porter, later, impersonated Sir James Yeo in Brazil, under orders, which aggravated the earlier particular hostility of the British toward him. The "Essex" and Porter did not meet the "Southampton" in action. Shortly after 1812 the "Essex" under Porter went into the Pacific to destroy British shipping. The "Essex" was finally lost in action against a much superior force. 10
In 1820 a census gave Portsmouth a population of seven thousand three hundred and twenty-seven.2 On September 10, 1822, the bridge to Kittery was opened for passengers, and the ferry discontinued.2 This bridge cost thirty thousand dollars and took five months to build. 2
One might ramble on with personal enjoyment over bits of Portsmouth history. The Civil War, the Spanish War, the Russo-Japanese Peace Conference held at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, the part played by Portsmouth in the World War, these all afford ample themes; and the gaps are no less interesting. They do not, however, belong to the early history of the town. "History," said Voltaire, "is a fable which men have agreed upon."13 It is, perhaps, on the basis of this philosophy that early history has an especial charm, and may properly be separated from the accounts of more modern times. There is one factor, however, in later happenings on the Piscataqua that follows through directly from the earliest history of the river and of Portsmouth. It would be a not
262
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
wholly loyal narrator of Piscataqua River and of Portsmouth history who did not tell of the ships built in the Portsmouth district from about 1800 on.
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking. - JOHN MASEFIELD.
"The New Hampshire Gazette," on October 16, 1798, reads: "On Thursday last a most beautiful copper-bottomed, twenty-gun ship, called ‘Ports- mouth' and built for the service of the United States, was launched from the Continental Navy Yard, Langdon's Island." 6 The pride in the ship, expressed by the "Gazette," was undoubtedly justified, and the following years proved that the art of building fine ships on the Piscataqua was as evident as had been the art of building beautiful houses in Portsmouth.
The author hoped to list all vessels launched on the lower Piscataqua, but there are too many of them for anything like comfortable reading - really, an astonishing number. From 1800 to 1850, inclusive, four hundred and eighty-six vessels were built in the district of Portsmouth. Two hundred and eighteen of these were ships, nineteen of them barks, eighty- four of them brigs, one hundred and fifty-eight of them schooners, and seven sloops. Their total tonnage was 126,454.11
Shipbuilding has always come naturally to Ports- mouth and to Piscataqua men, but it seems to have come most naturally, of all the decades in which it flourished, between 1850 and 1860. In 1851 the
263
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
"Witch of the Wave," 1,499 tons, was built by George Raynes at Portsmouth. 11 She was built for owners at Salem, and after launching she was towed to Salem with a merry party on board, who celebrated her advent among the Salem witches. As they went around, a poem was recited in the ship's honor. It included the following lines:
They say she's bound to sail so fast That a man on deck can't catch the mast, And a porpoise trying to keep ahead Will soon be run over and killed stone dead.
Whittier also wrote a poem in honor of this vessel.8 In 1850, in the district of Portsmouth, the ship "George Raynes," 999 tons, was built; also the "Albert Gallatin," 850 tons, and the "Sea Serpent," 1,402 tons. In 1851 the ships "Globe," "Levi Wood- bury," "Typhoon," "Wild Pigeon" and "Witch of the Wave" were built, - a total tonnage that year of 8,778. The same year Portsmouth shipyards turned out the bark "What Cheer" and the schooner "Bell." In 1852 were built the ships "Frank Peirce," "Hope Goodwin," "J. Montgomery," "Josephine," "Judge Shaw," "Orient," "Piscataqua," "Red Rover" and "Samuel Badger." In 1853 the ship "Adelaide Bell" was built. Among other vessels built from 1850 to 1860 were the ships "Anna Decatur," of 1,045 tons, built in 1856; "Arkwright," of 1,244 tons, built in 1855; "Portsmouth," of 994 tons, built in 1859; "Granite State," "Governor Langdon," "Morning Glory," "Ocean Rover," "Emily Farnum," "Express," the schooner "Yankee Maid," etc. The largest was the "Sierra Nevada," of 1,942 tons, built in 1854. Most were of about 1,100 tons. In 1857 there were
264
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
six ships built, averaging 1,000 tons each. The ship- yards were at Badger's Island, where the builder was John Yeaton, at Peirce's Island, and Union Yard, Tobey & Littlefield's Yard and George Raynes' Yard. Fernald & Petigrew, Samuel Badger, Jno. Johnson, Sam'l Hanscome, Jr., Daniel Moulton and A. Tibbets were also building ships in the Portsmouth district.
Where would I be? Where the swift gallant ship sails the ocean o'er, And steers her proud course by the rock-bound shore; Where the tempest is fierce and the billows roar, There would I be.
- OLD SONG.
There were many names on the Portsmouth shipping list. The ship "Annie Sise," built in 1856, of 1,031 tons, is one that should be mentioned; also the "Ella E. Badger," of 1,120 tons, built in 1856. The "Henri- etta Marcy," of 1,099 tons; the "Kate Prince," of 991 tons, built in 1856; the "Alice Ball," of 898 tons, built in 1857; the "New Hampshire," of 999 tons, built in 1857; and the "Sagamore," 1,164 tons, were part of the Portsmouth fleet in 1857. That same year the "Sarah E. Pettigrew," of 1,193 tons, joined the fleet, and also the brig "Mollie Stark," of 160 tons, later lost at sea. We jump from such good New Hampshire names to that of the "Orozimbo," a ship of 890 tons, built in 1858, and to the ships "Othello," "Colorado," "Star of Hope" and "Venice." Then, too, there was the ship "Nightingale," 1,066 tons, built in 1851; the ship "Coeur de Lion," of 1,099 tons, built in 1853; the ship "Eagle Speed," of 1,113 tons, built by John Yeaton in 1856; the ship "Mary Washington," of 934 tons, built in 1856; and the ship
265
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
"Charger," of 1,131 tons, built by E. G. Peirce in 1856.11 The ships "Rockingham," "Georgianna," "Richard III," "Shooting Star" and "Liverpool Packet" were also Portsmouth vessels of about this date.11 From 1800 to 1860, inclusive, 575 vessels were built in the district of Portsmouth. It seems worthy of mention that during this period one " snow" only was built on the Piscataqua. She was the "Equator," of 154 tons, built by Mark Green in 1801.11 Later, after 1860, were built the "Appledore," the "Edwin I. Morrison," the "Meteor," the "Jean Ingelow," the "Yosemite," the "Clara E. Simpson" and the "Lizzie J. Call." The famous "Kearsarge," which defeated the "Alabama " and helped to save the Union, was built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
The impetus of shipbuilding on the Piscataqua in 1860 carried through into 1870 and beyond, but its peak was well passed at this latter date. It is of interest that during the World War the desire to build ships on the Piscataqua quickly reappeared, and that excellent wooden and steel vessels were launched at and near Portsmouth, to the considerable benefit of the allied cause. The following list of ships built on the Piscataqua during the World War, or as a result of our shipbuilding effort during the War, has been furnished through the courtesy of Mr. F. W. Hart- ford of Portsmouth:
266
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
Wooden Steamships of 3,500 Tons launched at the Shattuck Yard at Newington
Hull.
NAME.
Launched.
Sponsor.
391
Roy H. Beattie
July
4, 1918
Miss Helen Beattie.
392
Chibiabos
July
4, 1918
Miss Althea Shattuck.
393
Wesagye
May 29, 1919
Mrs. N. J. Pluymert.
394
Milton
July
4, 1918
Mrs. James Lawrence, Jr.
395
Haverhill
Aug. 24, 1918
Henry W. Keyes.
396
Silvanus
Apr. 14, 1919
Mrs. George S. Hewins.
397
Ammonoosuc .
Sept. 21, 1918
Mrs. Robert Jackson.
398
Yawak .
Nov.
9, 1918
Mrs. John Jameson.
399
Winapie
May
3, 1919
Mrs. F. A. Jones.
400
Woyaca
Dec.
7, 1918
Mrs. F. W. Hartford.
401
Newton .
Jan.
4, 1919
Miss Marjorie Nickols.
402
Yustan
June
2, 1919
Miss Virginia Shedd.
403
Ulak
June 28, 1919
Mrs. Mary I. Wood.
404
Dover
July 24, 1919
Mrs. F. C. Smalley.
405
Newburyport .
.
Aug. 14, 1919
Mrs. D. P. Page.
Steel Vessels of 8,800 Tons launched at the Yard of the Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth
NAME.
Launched.
Kisnop
Jan. 18, 1919
Babboosic
May
3, 1919
Portsmouth
July
4, 1919
Nipmuc
Oct. 28, 1919
Norumbega
Jan.
10, 1920
Brookline
May 1, 1920
Springfield
May 26, 1920
Tolosa
July 17, 1920
Pachet
Aug. 28, 1920
Pagasset
Oct. 9, 1920
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Through the courtesy of Rear Admiral W. D. MacDougall, Commandant United States Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the following list of vessels of war built on the Piscataqua is included.
267
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
Under date of October 19, 1926, Rear Admiral. MacDougall says: "I am enclosing a copy of a list. of ships built on the Piscataqua so far as we have been able to find out."
Built for the Royal Navy
NAME.
Guns.
Class.
Year.
Falkland .
54
Frigate
1690
Bedford
32
Frigate
1696
America
.
60
Frigate
.
1749
Built for the Colonial Navy
NAME.
Guns.
Class.
Year.
Raleigh
22
Frigate
1775
Ranger
18
Sloop .
1776
Crescent .
32
Frigate
1778
Congress .
38
Frigate
1799
America .
74
Ship of line
1776
Portsmouth
24
Sloop
1797
Scammel .
14
Schooner
1798
Built for the Navy of the United States
NAME.
Guns.
Class.
Year.
Washington
74
Ship
1814
Alabama .
74
Ship
1817
Launched (name changed to New Hampshire)
1864
Porpoise .
11
Schooner
1820
Santee
44
Frigate
1820
Launched
-
-
1855
Concord .
24
Sloop
1827
Preble
20
Sloop
1839
Congress .
50
Frigate
1841
Saratoga .
.
24
Sloop .
1842
-
-
.
·
.
.
-268
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
Built for the Navy of the United States - Concluded
NAME.
Guns.
Class.
Year.
Portsmouth
24
Sloop .
1843
Saranac
11
Steam frigate
1848
Light ship for Nantucket
-
-
1855
Jamestown (rebuilt) .
24
Sloop .
1857
Mohigan .
9
Steam sloop
1857
Port Fire
1
-
Ironclad
1864
Passaconaway .
4
Ironclad
1864
Piscataqua
15
Sloop of war
1864
Illinois
15
Sloop of war
1864
Ossipee
9
Steam sloop .
1861
Kearsarge
9
Steam sloop .
1861
Sebago
9
Steam sloop .
1861
Mahaska
9
Steam sloop .
1861
Sacramento
10
Steam sloop .
1862
Sonoma
10
Steam sloop .
1862
Connemaugh
10
Steam sloop .
1862
Sasacus
10
Steam sloop .
1863
Franklin
60
Steam frigate
1863
Patuxet
9
Steam sloop .
1863
Nipsic
9 Steam sloop .
1863
Shawmut
10
Steam sloop .
1863
Decota (rebuilt)
10
Steam sloop .
1863
Contoocook
15
Steam sloop .
.
1864
Behecia
11
Steam sloop .
1865
Monongahela (rebuilt)
10
Steam sloop
1869
Marion
10
Steam sloop .
1873
Enterprise
7
Steam sloop .
1873
Essex
7
Steam sloop .
1874
Boxer
-
Training ship for Cadets
1904
Submarines
NAME.
Date of Launching.
L- 8.
Apr. 23, 1917
0- 1 .
July 9, 1918
S-3.
Dec. 21, 1918
S-4 .
.
Aug. 27, 1919
1864
Blue Light
Agamenticus
4
Tug
1864
Minnetonka
15
Sloop of war
1864
.
.
269
LATER MARITIME AND OTHER HISTORY
Submarines - Concluded
NAME.
Date of Launching ..
S- 5
Nov. 10, 1919
S- 6
Dec. 23, 1919
S-7.
Feb. 5, 1920
S-8
Apr. 21, 1920-
S-9
June 17, 1920
S-10
Dec. 9, 1920
S-11
Feb. 7, 1921
S-12
Aug. 4, 1921
S-13
Oct. 20, 1921
V- 1 .
July 17, 1924
V- 2.
Dec. 27, 1924
V-3.
.
June 9, 1925
.
"U. S. S. V-4 and V-5 are now building," at the. Portsmouth Navy Yard, "October, 1926."
Today the Navy Yard at Portsmouth is building- submarines that are a credit to the will and the skill. of shipbuilders in the district of Portsmouth, as were: the ships in earlier days.
We now come to the close of this particular account. of the early history of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. May a more comprehensive story be written, for there is a large field as yet uncovered, and there is a mass of data on Portsmouth history still unassembled. The work holds agreeable employment for those who have at all the inclination.
The Hon. Joseph Hodges Choate said at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing of Governor Endicott: "Of course, Mr. President, it requires great foresight for a man to select a birthplace of which he shall always be proud; but he must indeed. be an unreasonable creature who, having America for a continent, Massachusetts for a state, Essex for a county, and Salem for a native town, is not entirely
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.