USA > New Hampshire > Gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire > Part 10
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 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
.
CANAAN, a township in Graf- ton county, of an area of 16, 049 acres, was incorporated 1761. Its number of inhabit- ants is 1094. Bounded N. by Dames Gore, E. by Orange and Grafton, S. by Enfield, and W. by Hanover. Hart's pond, situated nearly in the middle of the town, is about 400 rods long and 100 wide. On the W. shore of this pond is the house of public worship and a pleasant village, through which the Grafton turnpike leads. Goose pond, lying near Hano- ver line is about as large as Hart's pond, also Mud pond 300 rods in length and one
third in width lies near En- field. Mascomy river from Dorchester passes through this town. On it are 12 mills of various kinds. Elder Thomas Baldwin was settled here in the ministry 1783, and remov- ed to Boston 1790. Elder Wheat is their present pastor, and was settled here 1813.
CANDIA, Rockingham coun- ty, was incorporated 1763. Its whole population was, in 1810, 1290 souls. Bounded N. by Deerfield, E. by Ray- mond, S. by Chester, and W. by the same ; its area 17,734 acres. A branch of Lamprey river passes through the N. corner and the Chester turn- pike through the S. W. part of the town. It has 2 houses of public worship, one of which was erected in 1814, and bears · the name of liberty union meet- ing house. Here are 3 grain- mills, 6 saw-mills, a mill for dressing cloth, and a carding- machine. Rev. David Jewett was ordained here 1771, and removed 1780. Their late minister, Rev. Jesse Reming- ton, was ordained in 1790, and died March 1815. Elder Mo- ses Bean has been ordained here several years over a free- will baptist society.
CANTERBURY, a township in Rockingham county, incorpo- rated 1727, contained in 1810, 1526 inhabitants. Bounded N. E. by Gilmanton, S. E. by Loudon, S. by Concord, and S. W. by Merrimack river,
91
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
which separates it from Bos- cawen. This town has 26,245 acres. The soil of this town is generally good, producing corn, flax, and cider in abundance. A bridge over Merrimack riv- er connects this town with Boscawen village. A small branch of Suncook river cross- es the N.E. corner, and a num- ber of small ponds and streams water the W. part of the town. Here are two houses of public worship exclusive of the qua- ker church. Their present minister, William Patrick, is of the congregational order. A. Foster and F. Parker have been their former pastors. El- der Young, several years since, was settled here in the free- will baptist order. On the S.E. side of the town near Loudon, is the Shaker's village, and as the head of their family has furnished the compilers of this work with a particular account of their concerns, we take plea- sure in giving it in his own words. " The believers, (or people commonly called sha- kers,) in Canterbury have been in the faith we now profess up- wards of 30 years, and have had one Lord and one baptism, which is a crucifixion and death to the nature of sin, and unites the soul in the spirit and power of the resurrection of life. We have united our temporal interest in one for more than twenty years ; ex- cept some, who have since mis- believed, or those who did not choose so to do ; as there is no
case : we live together in love and union, as brothers and sis- ters in the spirit and not in the flesh ; and as we believe car- nal or self-pleasing gratifica- tions are of, and from the man of sin, who is now revealed, and is consumed, by the spirit and brightness of this present, second, and last appearing of Christ, in which we believe ; by which our former heavens are dissolved, and our former fleshly elements do melt with fervent heat, (See 2d Pe- ter, iii. 10th.) And we do rejoice in their destruction, and by believing and obeying this faith and revelation of Christ, we are saved from our sins, and constantly say Christ is our Saviour ; and by wear- ing his'cross, our motives are changed and our heaven and earth becomes new ; (2 Peter, iii. 13.) and in this manner of life we know in whom we be- lieve, and who and what is of this world, (John vii. 17.)
"As to marriages, we are all married to one, even to Christ, who is in, and is the head of his body, the church. (Eph. v. 30-32.) But external mar- riages, for the purpose of grat- ification, or for begetting or conceiving in sin, or being shapen and brought forth in iniquity, we have not any. It is the children of this world, who have the marriages. Luke xxii. 34, &c. ; but we labour to be of those who are duly qualified. (See Rev. xiv. 14. Yet we have a plenty of the compulsion with us in such a young of the flock; and that
92
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
-
scripture is fulfilled which saith, more are the children of the desolate, than of the mar- ried wife. (See Isa. liv. 1. Psa. cxiii. 7, 8. Luke xxiii. 29, &c.
"Death,-The souls who are in Christ, do not die ; and to the faithful soul, who departs this life there is no sting ; nor does the departing this life separate us in spirit nor in dis- tance; for heaven is where Christ is,and he is in his church, and that is terrestrial bodies joined and united to celestial bodies. (See Heb.xii.22.) But to answer your mind concern- ing deaths .- Within 30 years, 30 persons, old and young, have departed this life in our society here, for whom we do not mourn, believing they have the fruits of their labours.
"We have generally consist- ed of from 200 to 300 souls in this village. We have one meeting-house, open at all times for public worship,for all civil, discreet, candid, and well behaved people; but all who are otherwise minded, we wish them in better employ than to come among us. We have 7 dwelling-houses, 1 deacon's of- fice, and a number of work- shops, both for brethren and sisters, and several mills, &c. on an artificial stream.
"We occupy upwards of 1000 acres of land which is conse- crated to the Lord, to all which we hold a lawful and constitu- F. W. tional right to govern and pro- I.S. tect from all abuse ; and in In April 1752, two Indians, that we are assisted by the Sabatis and Christi, came to
ministers of the good civil au- thority to which we have re- spect, and from whence we de- rive suport.
" We manufacture many art- icles for sale, which we endea- vour to make worth what the consumer gives for them, such as linen and woollen wheels, measures, seives, candlesticks, brooms, wooden ware, boxes of wood, whips, cooper set work, cards for wool and cotton,rakes and sneads, leather of different kinds, &c. we also raise garden seeds, in which we take pains to propagate the best kind.
" For several years we have not made use of spirituous li- quors except for sickness or in- firmity seeing the evil it brings on the human race ; and to es- cape another obvious evil we have not made it a practice of trusting or being trusted. We believe the above sketches to be supportable in truth, and if it will answer your purpose ye will insert it without vary- ing the sense. Ye are also welcome to our names. In union and behalf of the people called shakers in Canterbury."
FRANCIS WINKLEY. ISRAEL SANBORN.
" We can say we love onean- other, and we do say that our be- loved brethren and sisters at Enfield, in this state, are near- ly of the same number, and are in the same faith and kingdom, and in similar circumstances."
93
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Canterbury, where they were ulation was,in 1810, about 349 entertained in a friendly man- inhabitants. Its boundaries ner for more than a month. At 'are Moultonborough N. E., their departure they forced a- Meredith neck S.E., and the way two negroes,one of whom made his escape and returned. The other was carried to Crown-Point and there sold to an officer. The next year Sa- batis with another indian Plow- sawa came again to Canterbu- ry, where being reproached for misconduct respecting the ne- groes, he and his companion behaved in an insolent manner. Several persons treated them freely with strong drink, and one pursued them into the woods, and taking advantage of their situation killed them and with the help of another person buried them, but, so carelessly that their bodies were discovered by beasts of prey and their bones lay on the ground. The two men that killed Sabatis and Plowsawa were apprehended and carried to Portsmouth. A bill was found against them by the grand jury and they were con- fined in irons, but on the night before the day appointed for their trial, an armed mob from the country with axes and crows forced the prison and carried them off in triumph.
CENTRE HARBOUR, a town- ship in Strafford county, situ- ated on the N. W. end of Win- nipiseogee lake and on the S. E. end of Squam lake, from which circumstance it has its appellation. It was incorpo- rated 1777, and its whole pop-
waters on the S.W., parting it from Meredith and New- Hampton, and N. by New- Holderness and Squam lake, having an area of 7,626 acres of land. There is a public house of worship for all orders of christians, 1 saw-mill, and 1 trading store. Part of Measley pond lies in the south-west part of this town.
CHADBOURNE AND HART'S LOCATION, Coos county. Be- ginning at the S.W. corner of land granted to Mr. Vere Royse, at a birch tree, thence running N. 470 rods, thence W. 285 rods, thence nearly N. till it meets the Notch of the White Hills. Saco river finds a pass- age through this location, and a turnpike road crosses it. It contains 3000 acres of land, and is 75 miles N. W. from Portsmouth.
CHARLESTON, a township in Cheshire county, on the easterly side of Connecticut river, bounded N. by Clare- mont, E. by Unity, S. by Langdon, and W. by Connect- icut river ; containing 24,100 acres. It was incorporated in the year 1753, and its whole population in the year 1810, amounted to 1501. A bridge denominated Cheshire bridge unites this town with Ver- mont. Nearly opposite to the town are Lovell's Fort-rouger,
94
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
and Half-moon islands. The principal settlement is about a half a mile from the river. It is handsomely built, and con- tains 50 dwelling houses, a court-house, meeting-house, and an academy. It contains two parishes, which are divid- ed by a line running from Ches- to this town Capt. Paine with hire bridge, S. 87º E. to the corner of Unity and Acworth. The meeting-house is in the north parish, and through this parish runs the Cheshire and Charleston turnpike, which is continued over the river by Cheshire bridge. The former ministers in this town were the Rev. John Dennis, and B. Al- cot. The Rev. J. Crosby is the present minister. Charles- ton contains 4 grain-mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 mills for dressing cloth, 3 carding machines, 2 oil-mills, a distillery, and 6 rc- tailing shops.
Charleston has been the scene, in former years of many Indian cruelties. In April, 1746, John Spofford, Isaac Parker, and Stephen Farns- worth were taken in this town by a party of Indians and car- ried to Canada. They after- wards returned to Boston with a flag of truce. In the course of the May following, a num- ber of women in this town, while employed in milking their cows, guarded by Maj. Josiah Willard and several sol- diers, were fired upon by sev- eral Indians who were conceal- ed, and who at this time kill- ed one of the number by the name of Putnam. While the
Indians were scalping Putnam they were fired upon by Wil- lard and his party. Two of them were mortally wounded, and were carried off by their companions. Immediately af- ter these bloody affairs, the Massachusetts assembly sent a body of men of whom about 20 fell into an Indian ambus- cade, while on their way to view the place of Putnam's murder. The Indians fired, and endeavoured to cut off their retreat. Capt. Phinehas Stevens immediately came to their relief. A skirmish ensu- ed, in which 5 were killed on each side, and one of the Charleston men was taken. The Indians retreated, leaving some of their guns and blan- kets. In June of the same year, as captains Stevens and Brown, and some others were searching for their horses, their dogs discovered a party of In- dians lying in ambush. An- other skirmish ensued, in which the Indians were defeat- ed, carrying off with them sev- eral of their killed, and leav- ing on the ground a quantity of blankets, hatchets, spears, and guns. The other side lost only one man. In the same year a person by the name of Phillips was killed in this town by the Indians.
In March, 1747, Capt. Phin- ehas Stevens, with a company of rangers, consisting of thirty men, came to this town and took possession of the fort, which they found in a good
.
95
GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
state of repair. In a few days
body of French and Indians, they were attacked by a large
under the command of a
Frenchman by the name of Debeline. The Indians took set fire to the surrounding log- advantage of a high wind, and
houses and fences. In this
They could not however suc- number of burning arrows. charged into the fort a vast with flames. They also dis- way they encompassed the fort
tering all the time their savage on the siege for two days, ut- fort, and after having carried ceed in setting fire to the
shouts and yells, they loaded a
walls of the fort. Before this it on fire and push it to the gots, probably intending to set wheel-carriage with dry fag-
attempt was made, Debeline demanded a cessation of arms till sunrise the next morning. This demand was granted. In the morning, Debeline present-
ed himself before the fort, ac-
companied by fifty men and a flag of truce. He requested and obtained a parley. A French officer then advanced
with an Indian and a soldier, and proposed that the besieg- ed should bind up a quantity of provisions, with their blankets, lay down their arms, and be conducted as prisoners to Mon- treal, and that the two com- manders should meet and an immediate answer be given to this proposal. Capt. Stevens accordingly had an interview with Debeline, who without waiting for an answer, renewed
Capt. Stevens answered that and put all therein to death. ed, he would storm the fort one of his party should be kill- should be rejected, or if any with a threat, that if his terms his proposal, accompanying it
nothing but extremities should
force him to accept such terms, that he was entrusted with the would not surrender it until he possession of the fort, and
was convinced that the besieg- ers could execute their threats, adding, that he had no encour- agement to surrender if all his
men were to be put to death for killing one of the enemy, when it was probable they had already killed many. Debeline replied, " go and see if your men dare fight any longer, and give me an immediate answer."
Capt. Stevens accordingly put
the question to his men,
surrender. They unanimously whether they would fight or
determined to fight. This was communicated to the enemy, who renewed and continued the attack all that day and the following night, accompanied with shouting and yelling. On the morning of the third day they requested another cessa- tion of arms for two hours. Two Indians came to Capt. Stevens with a flag of truce and proposed, that if he would sell them provisions, they would depart. Capt. Ste- vens answered, that to sell them provisions was contrary
to the laws of nations, but offer- ed to pay them five bushels of cora for every captive for
96
-GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
whom they would give an hos- tage till the captive could be brought from Canada. After the communication of this an- swer, a few guns were fired, and the enemy departed.
No lives were lost in the fort and only two men were wounded. Commodore · Sir Charles Knowles was so high- ly gratified with the conduct of Capt. Stevens, that he pre- sented him with an elegant and valuable sword. From this circumstance relating to Sir Charles, the township was in- corporated by the name of Charleston. Before its incor- poration it was called No. 4.
The next spring Capt. Ste- vens was again appointed to command at No. 4. with a gar- rison of a hundred men.
In the year 1749, near the close of this war and after the garrison was withdrawn, ex- cept 15 men, Obadiah Tort- well was killed, and a son of captain Stevens was captured and carried to Canada. At the expiration of the war he was set at liberty and sent home. This was in the year 1749. In the beginning of the year 1754, this devoted town was again visited by the savages. In Au- gust they broke into the house of James Johnson early in the morning before any of the fam- ily were awake. They seized upon him and his three sons. The Indians however tarried till the next day on account of the situation of Mrs. Johnson, who was then delivered of a daughter, to whom the name of
Captive was given. The whole family were then carried off with- out bloodshed. Mrs. Johnson was placed on a litter, and some- times on horseback. Provis- ions soon falling short the In- dians , killed the horse, and even the infant was driven to horse-flesh for its nourishment. They proceeded to Montreal, where Johnson obtained leave to return home on a parole of two months. The assembly of New-Hampshire granted 150l. sterling to purchase his ransom. The severity of the winter compelled him to defer his re- turn to Canada till the next spring. He was charged with breaking his parole, was de- prived of a large part of his money, and was cast into prison together with his fami- ly, where the small-pox at- tacked them. After eighteen months, Mrs. Johnson with her sister and two children were sent to England, and from thence they returned to Boston. Mr. Johnson was de- tained three years in prison, when he was released and went with his son to Boston. He there met his wife, and was again imprisoned, being suspected of treasonable de- signs against his country, but was soon discharged for want of evidence. His eldest daugh- ter was retained in a Canadian · nunnery. Mrs. Johnson as- serts in her narrative that her eldest daughter Susan returned a few days before the surren- der of Montreal, and she ex- presses her gratitude to the
97
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
two Miss Jasson's who had treated her daughter with great kindness by adopting her as their child and keeping her at school. Her daughter Captive, who is still living, afterwards married Col. George Kimball, and Susan married Capt. Sam- uel Wetherbee.
,
· In 1755, a number of cattle in this town were killed by the Indians, and in 1760, the fam- "ily of Joseph Willard were captured and carried to Mont- real.
CHATHAM, a township in - Coos county, incorporated in 1767, containing 201 inhabit- ants. Bounded N. by Gilman and Warner's location and Mount Royse, E. by the state line, S. by Conway, and W. by Bartlett and Adams. Itcontains 2,856 acres. A pond in this town, called Mountain pond, is 200 rods long and 40 wide ; Kimball's pond, in the S.E.part of the town, is about 250 rods long and 240 wide. Kearsarge mountain lies in the S.W. part of the town on. Bartlett line. This town contains 2 saw-mills, 1 mill for dressing cloth,2 corn- mills, and a carding-machine. Chatham is about 10 miles in length from north to south, and four miles in width. Its direction from the White mountains is east, 8 miles dis- tant.
CHESHIRE COUNTY lies on the easterly bank of Connecti- cut river, and is tounded by the state of Massachusetts on
the S., Grafton county on the N., and Hillsborough county on the E. It contains in land and water, 763,860 acres. Its number of townships is thirty- six, and its inhabitants a- mount to 41,042 of whom 7,478 are legal voters. It has 52 houses for public worship, 2 academies, 109 grain-mills, 155 saw-mills, 46 mills for dressing cloth, 9 oil-mills, 7 cotton and 5 woollen factories, 23 carding-machines, 2 paper- mills, 69 trading stores, and 15 distilleries. In 1813, this county contained 28 stud-hors- es, 5,771 horses of 5 years old, 498 of 4 years old, 5,169 oxen of full growth, 2,930 of 4 years old, 14,317 cows, 9,632 cattle of 3 years old, and 1,891 acres of orchard land.
The chief towns in Cheshire county are Charleston and Keene. The superior court and the courts of common pleas sit in these towns alternately, and the probate court holds three sessions in each of these towns every year. This coun- ty sends 35 representatives to the state legislature, and there is a gaol in each of the shire towns.
CHESTER, a township in Rockingham county, bounded N. and E. by Raymond, Can- dia, and Allenstown. E. by Poplin and Sandown, S. by Londonderry, and W.by Man- chester and Merrimack river. It contains 49,054 acres, of which 962 are water. Chester was incorporated in 1722,
13
98.
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
and contains 2,030 inhabit- ants.
Massabesick pond, containing 1,512 acres is situated in the westerly part of this town, a portion ofit however is in Man- chester. This pond is almost equally divided by a narrow strait, over which the London- derry turnpike passes. In Merrimack river, near the north-westerly part of this town, is situated the Isle of Hookset falls. Beaver brook has its rise in this town and falls into Merrimack river. So also does one branch of Exeter river which passes into Hawke. Another branch of Exeter river passes the northeasterly corner of this town. Chester contains 23 mills of various kinds. It has a congregational meeting- house, an academy, 60 dwell- ing-houses, 6 retailing shops, and one edifice for presbyteri- an worship. The Rev. Messrs. Hale, Flagg, and Wilson were formerly settled here. The Rev. N.Bradstreet is the pres- ent minister.
-
which upon the approach of & torch throw out a sparkling lustre of innumerable hues.
On the 2d of July, 1764, Mr. James Shirley of this town, while walking by the side of his horse, which was led by an- other person, was instantly killed by lightning. The flash was observed by persons at the distance of a number of rods to fall upon his head. It tore his hat into fragments, singed his hair, and entered his head just over his right temple. It is remarkable, that the money in his pocket was melted, and his buckles, which were of steel were broken. His horse was killed although the person who led him, escaped with slight in- jury.
In the course of the year 1724, a party of 5 Indians en- tered Chester and seized upon 2 persons by the names of Thomas Smith and John Carr. When they had brought them off about 30 miles, they bound them and laid themselves down to sleep. The prisoners seiz- ed this opportunity to escape, and in three days arrived safe- ly at a garrison in London- derry.
Rattle-snake hill in this town is a great curiosity. Its di- ameter is `half a mile, its form is circular, and its height 400 feet. On the south side 10 yards from its base is a CHESTERFIELD, a township in Cheshire county. It was incorporated in 1752, and in 1810, its population amounted to 1830. It is situated on Connecticut river opposite to Dummerston in Vermont. It is bounded N. by Westmore- - land, S. E. by Swansey and cave called the Devil's den, in which is a narrow apartment, 15 or 20 feet square, the floor- ing and ceiling of which are formed by a regular rock. From the wall of this apart- ment there are depending nu- merous excrescences, bearing the form and size of pears, a part of Keene, S. by Win-
$
99
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
chester and Hinsdale, and W. by Connecticut river. This town contains a pond of 526 acres, called Spafford's pond, and in the S. W. part of the town is a part of West riv- er mountain. The soil of this town is of various qualities, and its surface is rough. It produces different kinds of grain, and is well suited to grass, pasturing, &c. The Rev. Abraham Wocd, a con- gregational minister, was or- dained in this town Dec. 31st, 1772, and is still settled there. This town contains a baptist society, which however is des- titute of a public house of wor- ship. The village here is small, but it contains an academy, which is supported by its tui- tion money, subscriptions, and yearly donations. Its aver- age number of students is 40. There is also a cotton factory in this town, which was incor- porated in 1809, and has in op- eration 844 spindles. Besides this, there are 2 distilleries, 4 grist-mills, 7 saw-mills, 2 mills for dressing cloth, 2 carding- machines, 5 shops, and 10 school-houses.
West river mountain, which is partly in this town, is of some note. In the year 1730, the garrison at fort Dummer was frequently alarmed by ex- plosions heard from this moun- tain, attended by the emission of columns of smoke. Simi- lar phenomena have been no- ticed at various subsequent pe- riods. There are two places about this mountain where the
rocks bear evident traces of having been heated and calcin- ed. (See Belknap, Vol. III.)
CHICHESTER, a township in Rockingham county, is bound- ed N. E. by Pittsfield and Ep- som, S. W. by Pembroke, and N. W. by Loudon and a part of Concord. It was incorporat- ed in 1727, and contains 11,978 acres and 951 inhabitants. Suncook river flows through the easterly part of this town, into which river a small stream falls from the western side of the town. In this town are 7 water mills. The New-Hamp- shire turnpike passes through here to Concord. The settle- ment of this town was com- menced by Mr. Paul Morrill in the year 1758. The soil of Chichester is excellently adapted to the cultivation of rye, corn, and wheat. The only high ground of importance here is Beur hill, situated in the N. part of the town, the sides of which are covered with a rich and cultivated soil.
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.