USA > New Hampshire > Gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire > Part 15
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called isinglass, is found in a of this bay, Stratham and state of great purity in Glass Greenland on the southern, and Durham on the northern shore. hill mountain in this town. It adheres in the form of lamina to rocks of white and yellow GREAT ISLAND. (See New- Castle.) quartz. The usual size of these lamina is about 6 inches square, but some have been found 18 inches. This glass when prepared is transported to Boston, and from thence large quantities are exported to England, probably for ship lanthorns. It is found on the easterly side of the mountain, which is about 200 feet high. Many people are employed every summer in collecting it.
GREAT BAY. The western branch of Piscataqua river is formed by Swamscot river, which flows from Exeter, Win- nicot river which comes from Greenland, and Lamprey river which divides Newmarket frem Durham ; these streams empty into a bay 4 miles wide, called Great Bay. The water in its further progress is contracted into a lesser bay, and there re- ceives Oyster river from Dur- ham, and Black river from Do- ver. The whole branch at length meets the main . stream at Hilton's point. The tide flows into all these streams as far as the lower falls in each, and forms a very rapid current, especially at the seasons of the freshets, when the ebb contin- ues about two hours longer than the flood. Piscataqua bridge is thrown over the lower extremity of Little bay. New- ington lies on the eastern shore
GREENFIELD, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated in 1791, and containing in 1810, a population of 980. It is bounded N. by a part of Hancock and Francestown, E. by Francestown and Lyndė- borough, S. by Temple, and W. by Peterborough, and con- tains 16,904 acres, 187 of which are water. Contoocook river separates this town from Hancock. There is here one pond about 200 rods long and 100 wide, besides several oth- ers of less note. A part of Grotchet maintain rises from the north part of this town, and there is also a mountainous tract in the southerly part. Greenfield contains a congrega- tionalmeeting-house, (in which Rev. J. Walker was: ordained in 1812,) several mills, and 2 stores.
GREENLAND, a township in Rockingham county, incorpo- rated in 1703, and now con- taining592 inhabitants ; bound- ed N. by the Great Bay and Newington, E. by Portsmouth and Rye, S. by Northampton, and W. by Stratham, compris- ing 6,335 acres. The land here which borders upon the bay is of an uncommonly good quality, and in a high state of cultivation. This part of the
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town is celebrated for produc- by the falling of water through ing excellent cider, large quan- a box, &c. tities of which are sold here annually. The soil in other parts of the town is light and sandy but not unproductive.
Rev. William Allen, the first settled minister in this town, was ordained in 1707, and died in 1760, at the age of 84. His successors have been the Rev. Messrs. M'Clintock, Neal,and Abbot. The latter gentleman is the present minister. There is here a spacious meeting- house for the congregational- ists, and a very convenient one for the joint use of the metho- dists and baptists. There are also in this town 3 grist-mills, 2 saw-mills, and several trading shops.
GROTON,a township in Graf- ton county, incorporated in 1761. It was formerly called Cockermouth. Its population in 1810, was 549. It lies about 15 miles N. of Dartmouth col- lege, and is bounded N. E. by Rumney, S. E. by Hebron, S. W. by Orange,and W. by Dor- chester, and contains 16,531 acres.
The northerly part of the town is watered by several branches of Baker's river, and a number of streams which fall into New Found pond have their sources here.
There is in Groton an iron furnace for casting hollow ware. This furnace is heated bywood, and the fire is kept alive by the action of air put in motion
The first minister in this town was the Rev. S. Perley, who was ordained in 1779, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Rolf, who is the pre- sent pastor. There is here 1 congregational and 1 baptist society, 1 meeting-house, 2 grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, 1 carding-machine, and 1 dis- tillery.
H.
HALL'S STREAM rises in the high lands which separate Ver- mont from Lower Canada, and falls into Connecticut river at the N. W. extremity of Stew- artstown.
HALE'S LOCATION is situat- ed in Coos county, and is bounded N. and W. by un- granted lands, E. by Conway, and S. by Burton. It is 800 rods in length and 173 in width at its north, and 320 at its south extremity.
HAMPSTEAD, a township in Rockingham county, was in- corporated in 1749, and COR- tained in 1810, a population of 733. It is bounded N. by Hawke and Sandown, S. E. by Plaistow, S. by Atkinson, and W. by Londonderry, and con- tains 10,623 acres, 400 of which are water. There is here Wash- pond, containing about 200 acres, and a part of Island pond about the same size. The
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Rev. Henry True was settled here in '1752, and died in 1782. The Rev. John Kelly is the present minister. There is a pleasant village in this town comprising 10 or 12 dwelling- houses, a meeting-house, and several trading shops.
HAMPTON, a township in · Rockingham county, lying on the sea-coast. It was incorpo- rated in 1638, and contains a population of 990. It is bound- ed N. E. by Northampton, S. E. by the sea, S. W. by South Hampton, and N. W. by a part of Exeter, and contains18,129 acres.
Hampton was called by the Indians Winicowett. Its first minister was Stephen Bachel- der, who was› settled in 1638, and dismissed in 1641. His successors have been Timothy Dalton, John Wheelwright, (a brother of the celebrated Mrs. Hutchinson,) Seaborn Cotton, John Cotton, Nathaniel Gook- in, Ward Cotton, Ebenezer Thayer, William Pidgeon, Jes- se Appleton, (now president of Bowdoin college,) and J. Web- ster, the present pastor.
Hampton is a valuable and flourishing township, contain- ing two meeting-houses, and in its compact part, many hand- some buildings and several shops. An academy has re- cently been opened here, which has much promise of useful- ness.
Between the years 1731 and 1791, there were in this town 884 deaths and 1725 births, of
which latter 897 were males and 828 females. The largest number of deaths in any one year was 69, and the smallest number was 7. In the year 1737, 69 persons died here, 55 of them by the throat distem- per. On the same year there « died of that disease, 99 in Portsmouth, 88 in Dover, 210 in Hampton-falls, 127 in Exe- ter, 11 in Newcastle, 37 in Gosport, 44 in Rye, 18 in Greenland, 21 in Newington, 22 in Newmarket, 18 in Strat- ham, 113 in Kingston, 100 in Durham, and 22 in Chester, in all about one thousand deaths from July, 1736 to September 1737.
In the year 1754, the same disease again visited Hampton and carried off 55 persons.
In the year 1638, the gener- al assembly authorized Mr. Dummer of Newbury,together with John Spencer to erect a house in Hampton, which was afterward called the bound house, although it was intend- ed as a mark of possession rather than of limit.
This step having been taken toward population, a petition praying leave to settle here, was presented to the assembly by a number of persons chief- ly from Norfolk in England, and the prayer was granted. They commenced operations by laying out the township in- to 147 shares,and having form- ed a church, they chose Stephen Bachelder for their minister, with whom Timothy Dalton was afterwards associated.
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The original number of inhab- itants was 56, among whom were John Moulton, Christo- pher Hussey, William Sar- geant, &c.
In July, 1617, the Indians having commenced their work of depredation and death, the government ordered 200 friend- ly Indians and 40 English sol- diers under the command of Capt. Benjamin Swett of Hampton and Lieut. Richard- son to march to the falls of Taconee on Kennebeck river ; in the course of the march, Swett discovered in the place now called Scarborough, three parties of Indians stationed on a plain. He separated his men in the same manner and pre- pared to attack them. Theen- emy continued to retreat, till they had drawn our men about two miles from the fort, and then turning suddenly upon our youthful and unexperienced soldiers, they threw them into confusion. Swett, with a few of his most resolute companions fought bravely on his retreat, till he came near the fort where he was killed and 60 more left dead or wounded. On the 17th of August, 1703, a party of 30 Indians under Capt. Tour, killed 55 persons in Hampton, among whom was a widow Mussey, celebrated as a preacher among the quakers,by whom she was much lamented.
HAMPTON FALLS, formerly a part of Hampton, was incor- porated in 1712, and- now con- tains 570 inhabitants ; bounded
N.E. by Hampton, S.E. by the salt marsh, S. by Seabrook, W. by Kensington, and N. W. by Exeter, and contains 7,400 a- cres.
Theophilus Cotton, the first minister settled here, was or- dained in 1712, and died 1726. His successors have been Rev. Joseph Whipple, Jonah Bailey, Paine Wingate, Samuel Lang- don, D. D., and the pres- ent minister, Rev. J. Abbot. There are here 2 meeting- houses, 1 for congregational- ists and another for baptists, & grist-mills, 2 saw-mills, 1 cloth- ing-mill, and 1 carding-ma- chine. From July 26, 1730 to September 26, 1736, there were 210 persons destroyed here by the throat distemper, 160 of whom were under the age of 10, 40 between the ages of 10 and 20, 9 above 20, and several more than 30 years old.
HANCOCK, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated in 1779, and now contain- ing 1184 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Antrim, E. by Green- field, S. by Peterborough, and W. by the line of Cheshire county, which divides it from Nelson, comprising within the limits 19,372 acres. The south branch of Contoocook river separates this town from Greenfield. There is here a pleasant village, containing a- bout 15 dwelling houses,stores, &c. a meeting-house, a cot- ton and woollen factory, 5 grist-mills, 5 saw-mills,2 cloth- ing-mills, and 1 carding-ma-
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chine. Rev. Reid Page was ordained here in 1791, and is the present minister.
HANOVER, a township in Grafton county,incorporated in 1761, and now containing 2135 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Lyme, E. by Canaan, S. by Lebanon, and W. by Connecti- cut river. It is about 6 miles square and contains 27,745 a- cres of land and water. In the river in front of the town there are three small islands, the largest of which is 75 rods long and 20 wide. Moose moun- tain extends across the town from N. to S. at a distance of 5 miles from the river. Graf- ton turnpike passes through the N.E. part of the town to Or- ford. At a short distance from the colleges there is a handsome bridge, which con- nects this town with Norwich. There are in Hanover 2 meet- ing houses, centrally situated near the colleges, and 4 relig- ious societies, 3 of which are of the congregational, and 1 of the baptist denomination.
The edifices of Dartmouth college are situated on a hand- some plain in this town, about half a mile from the river in latitude 43º 33'. 'This institu- tion derived its name from the right Hon. William, Earl of Dartmouth, who was one of its first and most generous bene- factors. It was founded by the pious and benevolent Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, who in 1769, obtained a royal charter, wherein ample privileges were
granted and suitable provision was made for the education of Indian youth, in such a manner as should appear most expedi- ent for civilizing and christian- izing them, also for the instruc- tion of English youth in all the liberal arts and sciences. The institution, thus establish- ed,gradually grew into an use- ful and flourishing seminary.
In 1754, Dr. Wheelock, hav- ing collected large donations from different parts of England, Scotland, and America, and es- pecially from Mr. Joshua Moor of Mansfield, established a school for the instruction of In- dian youth in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, to which he gave the name of Moor's school.
As the number of candidates for this school increased, it be- came necessary to erect suita- ble buildings. That part of the country, where it was first established, having become populous, a removal was de- termined on. When this in- tention became publicly known, proposals were made by many private and public characters in several of the neighbouring col- onies. The prudent foresight of the founder, sanctioned by the adviceofthe trustees in England in whose hands the donations were lodged, and at the head of whom was the Earl of Dart- mouth, induced him to accept proposals, which were made by the governor of New-Hamp- shire and other gentlemen in this state. The town of Han- over was accordingly fixed up-
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on as the most convenient situ- ation for the school. His ex- cellency governor Wentworth soon annexed a charter for an university, December 13,1769, which received the name of Dartmouth college from its principal benefactor.
The college received large donations of land including the whole township of Landaff, be- sides many other wild tracts in different situations, amounting in the whole to 44,000 acres. A valuable lot of 500 acres in Hanover was selected as the site of the school and college. Besides these donations ofland, the sum of 340 pounds sterling was subscribed to be paid in labour, provisions, and materi- als for building.
In September, 1770, Dr. Wheelock removed his family and school into the wilderness. At first their accommodations were similar to those of other new settlers. They erected log-houses, which they occupi- ed till better edifices could be prepared. The number of scholars at that time was 24, 6 of whom were Indians.
In 1771, the first commence- ment was held, and degrees were conferred on four stu- dents, one of whom was John Wheelock, the son and succes- sor of the founder.
The funds of this institution consist chiefly of lands, which are increasing in value with the growth of the country. The annual revenue from these lands is not far from $2000 and that arising from tuition
has been$2100. The number of students has generally averag- ed100. A grammar school con- sisting of about 50 or 60 schol- ars is annexed to the college.
The immediate instruction and government of the college is entrusted to the president, (who is also professor of his- tory,) a professor of mathemat- ics and natural philosophy, a professor of languages, a
professor of divinity, and two tutors. During the forty-three years since the college was founded, it has conferred de- grees upon 1163 students, of whom 330 have been clergy- men. The whole number of students during that period has been 1387, of whom 225 have died.
There is attached to this sem- inary a handsome library and a complete philosophical appar- atus. In 1786, a new college . was erected three stories high, and 150 by 50 feet, containing 36 rooms for students. There are several other buildings be- longing to the institution .*
* In consideration of the present con- test, which is now pending on the con- cerns of this institution,a particular ac- count of its present government is omitted. In 1815, the trustees remov- ed from office the president (Hon. John Wheelock) and appointed Rev. Fran- cis Brown as his successor. In the course of the same year the legislative and executive government of New- Hampshire erected a new board of trustees and appointed a new set of executive officers, to whom the old trustees and the old officers refuse to surrender the property or the instruc- tion of the college, until it shall he ju- dicially decided, whether the legisla- ture have any power to make the above
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Commencement is holden on the first Wednesday of Au- gust. There are three vaca- tions, the first from commence -. ment three and a half weeks, another from the first Monday of January, eight and a half weeks. The medical depart- ment here is respectable and extremely useful. It was es- tablished in 1798. For the lectures on anatomy the pro- fessor is furnished with valua- ble preparations, and in the chemical department there is a well furnished laboratory. The lectures on anatomy, surgery, chymistry,materia medica, and the theory and practice of physic commence on the first Wednesday of October and continue eight weeks. There are about 4000 volumes in the college library, and about 2000 in the libraries formed by the students.
Moor's Indian school is con- nected with the college, having the same trustees and presi- dent. Its annual revenue is from $400 to $600.
interference. The students generally have followed the old government al- though the new-officers have taken possession of the public rooms, the li- brary, apparatus, &c. The old gov- ernment consist of president Brown, and professors Adams and Shurtleff. The new officers are the Rev. . William Allen (acting President,) and profess- ors Dean and Carter. We express no opinion on the merits of the unhappy controversy which has produced this singular situation of the college. It is ardently hoped, that the questions pending will soon be decided and the institution resume its former useful- ness and prosperity. Hon. John Wheel. ock died in April, 1817.
HAVERHILL, a township on Connecticut river in Grafton county, incorporated in 1713, and containing in 1810 a pop- ulation of '1105 ; bounded N. E. by Bath, E. by Coventry, S.W. by Piermont, and W. by Connecticut river, containing 34,340 acres. Sugar loaf moun- tain lies on the eastern side of the town bordering on Coven- try. Oliverian river passes through the southerlv extremi- ty of Haverhill and falls into Connecticut river at the com- pact village. Fisher's brook passes above the centre of the town and falls into the river at the GreatOx-bow or little bend. There have been three bridges thrown from this town to New- bury, (Vt.) There is a hand- some village in the southwest part of the town, containing 50 or 60 dwelling-houses, an elegant meeting-house, a court- house, a county-prison, an academy, 2 smaller meeting- houses, 3 grain-mills, 5 saw- mills,1 clothing mill, a carding- machine, and an oil-mill. Iron ore is found in this town and also a quarry of free-stone suitable for hearths and chim- ney pieces. The superior court hold its sessions here for the county of Grafton.
HAWKE, a township in Rock- ingham county, incorporated in 1769, and now containing 412 inhabitants : bounded N. by Poplin, E. by Kingston, S. by Hampstead, and W. by Sandown, extending over 7000 acres. Exeter river passes
,
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over the N. W. extremity of the town, and a part of Chub pond lies in that part of the town which borders on San- down. Hawke was formerly a part of Kingston. The Rev. John Page was settled here in 1763, and died in 1783, at the age of 43. There is here an ancient meeting-house and sev- eral mills.
HEBRON, a township in Graf- ton county, containing a popu- lation of 563. Its shape is ir- regular and is bounded N. by a part of Rumney, E. and N. E. by Plymouth, S. E. by Bridgewater and a part of Al- exandria, S.W. by Orange, and N. W. by Groton. It contains 13,350 acres, 1500 of which are water. Hebron has 1 meet- ing-house, several school-hous- es, mills, and a distillery.
HENNIKER, a township in Hillsborough county, situated on the banks of Contoocook river, containing in 1810, a population of 1608, and bound- ed N.W. by Warner and the S. E. extremity of Bradford, N. E. by Hopkinton, S. E. by Weare and the N. part of Deering, and S.W.by Hillsbo- rough, comprising an area of 26,500 acres, 135 of which are water.
the town is a pleasant village, containing about 25 dwelling- houses, 2 meeting-houses for congregationalists, and 1 for quakers, 1 oil-mill, and 1 dis- tillery. In another part of the town there is 1 meeting-house, 4 grist-mills, 6 saw-mills, 1 clothing-mill, and 1 carding- machine. Rev. Jacob Rice was ordained here in 1769, and his successor Rev. Moses Sawyer is still in office.
HILLSBOROUGH, a township in the county of that name, in- corporated in 1772, and now containing 1592 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Bradford, E. by Henniker, S. by Deering and Antrim, and W. by Wind- sor and a part of Washington, comprising an area of 27,320 acres, 500 of which are water. There are several ponds in this town, the largest of which, Lion pond, is about 300 rods long and 200 wide. Contoo- cook river waters this town, and the 4th N. H. turnpike passes through it. There is here a small village, containing 10 or 12 dwelling-houses,4grist- mills, 6 saw-mills, 1 facto- ry, 1 carding-machine, and 1 distillery. The Rev. J. Barnes was ordained here in 1773, Rev. Stephen Chapin and Seth Chapin the present minister have been his successors.
There are only two consid- erable ponds in this town, Long pond, 270 rods long and HILTON'S POINT on Piscat- aqua river forms the S. E. ex- tremity of the town of Do- ver where, the main river is 80 wide, and Round pond. Con- toocook river passes through the town from W. to E. On the banks near the centre of formed by the junction Ne-
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wichawannock and Cochecho rivers with the southern and western branches. From this point to the sea the distance is 7 miles, and the course S.to S. E. The current is here so rapid that it never freezes.
HINSDALE lies in the S. W. extremity of Cheshire county, and is bounded S. by Connect- icut river which separates it from Vernon (Vt.,) N. and E. by Chesterfield. Its southern line extends to Mas- sachusetts and adjoins North- field. Its area is 14,000 acres.
Hinsdale was incorporated in 1753, and in 1810, it con- tained 740 inhabitants. Ashu- elot river forms its junction here with the Connecticut. The 6th N. H. turnpike passes through this place to Brattlebo- rough (Vt.) West river moun- tain rises from the bank of the river,near the borders of Ches- terfield. This town was for- merly called Fort Dummer, and its situation is pleasant. There is here a baptist and a congregational meeting-house, several mills, and a few stores.
Fort Dummer was built in 1740, at the expense of Massa- chusetts, and there was also an- other fort here, called Hinsdale and Bridgeman fort.
On the 26th of June, 1746, a party of Indian's attacked Bridgeman fort,killed one per- son and captured several oth- ers. The inhabitants dared not go to mill without a guard, and several of them un-
der the command of captain Willard discovered a party of the enemy in ambush near the mill, whom they put to flight with the loss of their packs. On the 8th of December, 1747, Hinsdale fort was bravely de- fended by four families, a fort was burnt and several persons were killed and others taken prisoners.
In July, 1775, Mr. How and Mr. Grout of this town were attacked from an ambush, and How was killed. The Indians proceeded to the fort, where the families of these men resid- ed. The people within, hear- ing their approach and being anxious to learn the cause of the firing they had just heard, impatiently opened their doors upon the savages, whom in the dusk of the evening they mistook for their friends. The families consisting of 14 per- sons were made prisoners, a- mong whom was the wife of How. (See Belknap, Vol. III. )
HOLLIS, a townshipin Hills- borough county, incorporated in 1746, and containing in 1810, a population of 1529 ; bounded N. by Amherst and Millford, E. by Dunstable, S. by the line of the state, W. by Brookline, comprising 19,620 acres. There are here several ponds, viz. Flint's, Penechunck, Long, and Rocky ponds, averaging from 3 to 600 acres each. Nis- sitisset river crosses its S. W. extremity, and Nashua river its S. E. on which are two falls of eleven feet each. There is
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here a small village contain-
On the 27th of April, 1746, ing a congregational meeting- · a party of Indians entered one of the garrisoned houses in this town, the door having been ac- cidentally left open. Eight of the people were carried off, and several of them died in captivity.
house. Rev. Daniel Emer- son was settled here in 1943, and died in 1810, aged 86. Rev. Eli Smith, his successor, is the present pastor. There are in this town many valuable mill seats and several mills.
HOPKINTON, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated in 1765, and now contain- ing 2216 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Boscawen and Werner, E. by Concord, S. by Bow, Dunbarton,and Weare, and W. by Henniker, comprising 26, 967 acres. Contoocook river has a serpentine course through this town and receives Black water and Warner riv- ers. There is in this town a handsome village containing a- bout 50 dwelling-houses, a con- gregational meeting-house,sev- eral stores, mechanic shops,&c. There is also in other parts of the town a baptist and sev- eral other meeting-houses. The soil in Hopkinton is generally of an excellent quality. Rev. Stephen Scales was ordained here in 1757, and removed in 1770, his successors have been Rev. Elijah Fletcher, Jacob Cram, and Ethan Smith the present pastor. Elder Abner Jones was ordained over the baptist church in 1814. Hop- kinton is upon the whole a handsome and flourishing town. One term of the supe- rior court and one of the com- mon pleas is held here annu- ally.
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