USA > New Hampshire > Gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire > Part 17
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2 saw-mills, a clothing-mill, and a nail factory. Rev. S. Goodridge was ordained here in 1768, died in 1809, and was succeeded in 1810, by the present pastor Rev. N. Mer- rill.
M.
MAD RIVER has its source in a pond on a mountain in the ungranted part of Graf- ton county, about 10 miles N. from Sandwich. Taking a southerly course, it crosses the S. E. extremity of. Thor ton and falls into Pemigewasset river at Campton. O this junction from its source its course is southwest about 14 miles.
MADBURY, a township in Strafford county, incorporated in 1755, and now containing a population of 582 inhabitants; bounded N. E. by Dover, S. W. by Durham and Lee, and N. W. by Barrington, com- prizing an area of 8,125 acres.
Bellamy bank river has its source in Chelsey's pond in Barrington, passes through Mudbury in a serpentine course and is the only ; considerable stream which wars the place. The soil here is of a good qual- ity and under excellent culti- vation. The inhabitants are generally baptists and have a meeting-house, in which EI- der W. Hooper offfciates.
MANCHESTER, a township
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ed on the eastern bank of Mer- rimack river. It was incorpo- rated in 1752, by the name of Derryfield, and in 1810, re- ceived its present name. It is bounded N. and E. by Chester, S. by Londonderry, and W. by Merrimack river, which separates it from Bedford and Goffstown, comprizing an area of 15,071 acres, 550 of which are water. Massabesick pond lies partly in this town. Amuskeag falls and M'Gregore's bridge are on the Merrimack between this town and Goffstown. Blodget's canal is cutround the falls on the Manchester side. Through the lower part of the town Cohass brook flows from Massabesick pond to Merrimack river, and a canal is projected for the purpose of making this canal navigable for boats, rafts, &c. Manchester has 1 meet- ing-house, several mills, and a cotton and woollen factory.
This town is the residence of Maj. Gen. John Stark, the hero of Bennington. There is an anecdote related of this ven- erable man, which is not gen- erally known, and for that rea- son may not be unacceptable here. While hunting when a young man with three com- panions on the banks of Ba- ker's river he was captured by a party of Indians. He imme- diately 'gave the alarm to his brother William, who was in a canoë at some distance and who thereby escaped. For giving this alarm the Indians treated him with great cruelty and carried him to their head
quarters near Memphremagog lake. They then adopted him as a son and clothed him in fine robes. This early captivity, from which he soon escaped, qualified him for the duties of a partisan officer in the succeeding war, from which station he was afterwards exalted to the rank of major general of the conti- nental army.
MARGALLAWAY RIVER has its source among the high lands, which separate Maine from Lower Canada, in the N. E. extremity of New-Hamp- shire, about 30 miles N. from Errol. After a southerly course of nearly 20 miles on the wes- tern border of Maine, it en- ters New-Hampshire at the S. E. part of the 2d grant to Dartmouth college, where it forms a junction with the unit- ed streams of Dead and Di- mond rivers. Thence after a southerly course of about 6 miles to Errol it receives the waters of Umbagog lake. Af- ter this junction the main stream is the Ameriscoggin river.
MARLBOROUGH, a township in Cheshire county, incorporat- ed in 1776, and now contain- ing 1142 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Roxbury, E. by Dublin and Jaffrey, S. by Fitzwilliam, and W. by Swansey and a part of Keene. Its area is 20,749 a- cres. The 3d N. H. and the Fitzwilliam turnpikes pass through this town. There are here several ponds, which
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form the source of some of the branches of Ashuelot river. The soil is rocky, suitable for grain and flax and particularly for grass. Rev. Joseph Cum- mings, the first minister in this town, was ordained in 1778, and dismissed in 1780. His successor, Rev. H. Fish, was ordained in 1793, and is still in office. Marlborough con- tains 1 congregational meeting -- house, a manufactory of sithes and hoes, and another of earth- en ware, several mills, and 1 carding-machine. The annual average number of deaths in this town for 20 years past has been about 13. Capt. Andrew Calhoun, an officer killed in the revolutionary war, was of this town.
MARLOW, a township situat- ed nearly in the centre of Ches- hire county, was incorporated in 1761, and now contains 566 inhabitants ; it is bounded N. by Acworth and Lempster, E. by Washington and Stoddard, S. by a part of Gilsum, and W. by Alstead, comprising an a- rea of 15,737 acres. Several branches of Ashuelot river rise in the small ponds of this town, and its western part is watered by a branch of Cold river. There is here a meet- ing-house in which Elder Caleb Blood was ordained in 1777. He has been suc- ceeded by Elders Becket, Dus- tin, and Bates, the latter of whom is now in office and be- longs to the order of method-
ists. Here are several grist and saw-mills, and 1 trading shop.
MASCOMY POND lies princ- ipally in the town of Enfield, adjacent to Lebanon. It is 1200 rods long and about 250 wide and contains 2,375 acres. The surrounding lands fully indicate that the surface of the pond was once 30 or 40 feet higher than its present level. There are also appearances of a sudden rupture, as there are no marks of any margin between its present and former height. Nearly a mile from its present outlet there is a declivity of rocks 40 feet higher than the present level of the water. These rocks exhibit proofs, that the water once passed over them, but it has now formed a channel through the solid earth, nearly a mile in length.
MASCOMY RIVER has the source of its northern branch in Smart's pond between Lyme and Dorchester. This branch has a southerly course to Ca- naan, where it receives the wa- ters of Smart's and Goose ponds. In Enfield it receives the waters of East and Maid's ponds and several others, and empties itself into the south- east side of Mascomy pond. The outlet of this pond is its S. E. extremity in Lebanon and there receives the name of Mascomy river, which after a course of 7 miles, falls into the Connecticut a few miles below Lyman's bridge.
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MASON, a township in Hills- borough county, was incorpo- rated in 1768, and in 1810 con- tained 1077 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Wilton, E. by Milford and Brookline, S. by the state line, which separates it from Ashby and Townsend in Mass., and W. by New-Ips- wich, containing 18,860 acres. Several small streams rise here and water the town, on which are many valuable mill seats. The village here is called Sou- hegan village and contains 10 or 12 dwelling-houses and 2 stores. The 3d N.H. turnpike passes through the S. W. cor- ner of the town. The soil here is generally deep and loamy, suitable to orchards and grain. The surface is rough and stony. Mason contains a meeting- house, a large grain mill, and several other mills,and a cotton factory of 500 spindles. Rev. J. Searles the first minister in this place was ordained in 1772, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Hill in 1790, who is still in of- fice. Elder W. Elliot is set- tled over a baptist church in this town.
A species of ochre is found here, which in its natural state gives a good yellow, and after being burned yields a chocolate colour. In the northern part of the town is a remarkable gulf. A channel was dug to turn a small stream through a hill for the purpose of carrying of a small mill. Before it was completed, a sudden freshet raised the water in one night,
so as to carry off the earth to the depth of 60 feet. E.H.
MAYNESBOROUGH, an unset- tled township in Coos coun- ty, containing 34,106 acres, and bounded N. by Pauls- burgh, E. by Success, S. by Selburn and Durand, and W. by Kilkenny. Ameriscoggin river passes through its easter- ly part where it receives Levi's river from Success, and the south branch of the Upper Am- onoosuck from Paulsburgh. This township lies 12 miles N. of Mount Washington and the same distance W. from the eastern line of the state, and E. from Lancaster.
MEREDITH, in Strafford county, incorporated in 1768, contained in 1810, a population of 1940. It is bounded N. W. by New-Hampton and Centre- harbor, N. E. `by the Great bay which divides it from Moultonborough, S. E. by Long bay and Winnipiseogee river which separates it from Gilford, and S. W. by San- bornton bay and Sanbornton, comprising an area of 35,777 acres. Two large bays in this vicinity extend N. W. about 5 miles each, and on the line of Centreharbor is Meredith .pond 2 miles in length and 1 in breadth. Two miles S. of this is another pond 300 rods long and 100 wide. The first of these empties into Meredith bay, and the latter into San- bornton bay. They might
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be united by a canal of 2 miles. At Meredith bridge is a hand- some village containing about 15 dwelling-houses, several stores, mechanic shops, and a cotton factory. In the whole town there are 4 meeting- houses, several mills, a card- ing-machine, a nail factory, 2 distilleries, and 7 trading stores.
The inhabitants are gener- ally of the baptist persuasion. Elder N. Folsom is the only ordained minister in the place. A canal has been projected from Winnipiseogee lake to Merrimack river, which would pass through Meredith, west of the bridge. This plan if completed, would afford to lumber and other heavy articles a water carriage to Boston and Newburyport from the centre of New-Hampshire.
MERRIMACK RIVER is formed by two branches. The most northern of which, (Pem- igewasset river) has its source among the White mountains. The other branch is a short stream which flows from Win- nipiseogee lake. These form a junction at the S. W. extrem- ity of Sanbornton, on the line of Hillsborough county, and compose the Merrimack, the general course of which is S. ties itself. by E. about 52 miles on a di- rect line (but about 80 miles as the river runs,) to the southern boundary of the state. From Sanbornton corner it passes be- tween Northfield, New-Salis- bury, Canterbury, and Boscaw- 21
en. These towns are connect- ed by bridges. The Merri- mack receives the Contoocook river on the northern line of Concord. From this junction the Merrimack passes in a ser- pentine course through the c-n- tre of Concord, forming a large tract of excellent intervale. Two bridges are thrown over the river, connecting the east- ern and western parts of Con- cord. The Merrimack, after leaving this town passes be- tween Pembroke and Bow. In Bow there is a canal on the western side of the river round Garvin's falls, and just above these falls Turkey river emp- ties itself, as does Suncook riv -- er at the lower extremity of Pembroke. About 400 rods below the mouth of the Sun- cook are the Isle of Hookset falls and bridge, over which passes the Londonderry turn- pike leading to Concord. Am- uskeag falls are about 8 miles below ; these consist of three large pitches within the dis- tance of half a mile making a fall of 80 feet. There is a ca- nal round these falls on the eastern side of the river and at this place. M'Gregore's bridge connects Manchester and Goffstown. At the lower part of Goffstown Cohass brook emp- At the town of Merrimack, about 5 miles far- ther down, Sowhegan river empties itself, as does the Nashua river 7 miles lower on the western side, flowing from the town of Dunstable. At this town it takes an easterly
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direction, passing into Tyngs- borough, Chelmsford, &c. in Massachusetts, and at Newbu- ryport it falls into the sea.
MERRIMACK, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated in 1746, and containing a population of 1047 souls ; bounded N. by Bedford, E. by Merrimack river, S. by Dun- stable, and W. by Amherstand Hollis. Babboosuck and Penny- chunck ponds lie partly in this town, and Sowhegan river here unites with the Merrimack.
There are in this town a meeting-house, several mills, and 3 trading stores. Rev. Ja- cob Burnhap,D.D. was ordained herein 1772,and isstill in office.
MERRY-MEETING BAY forms the southeastern arm of Winni- piseogee lake, extending about 5 miles therefrom into Alton. (Vide Alton.)
MIDDLETON, in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1778, and contains 439 inhab- itants ; bounded N. by Brook- field, E. by 'Wakefield, S. by Milton, and W. by New-Dur- ham, comprising 9,840 acres. There is here a meeting-house in which Elder W. Buzzel officiates. The Great Moose mountain extends over the N. 'mill, and 3 trading stores. part of the town.
MILFORD, in Hillsborough county, is bounded N. by Mount-Vernon and Lyndebo- rough, E. by Amherst, S. by Hollis, and W. by Mason and
Wilton, comprising an area of 15,402 acres. This town was incorporated in 1794, and in 1810, its population was 1118. A large portion of its land is intervale, lying on Sowhegan river and its branches. Rev. H. Moore, the present minister was ordained over the congre- gational society here in 1812. There is also a baptist society without any settled pastor. There is here a meeting-house, a cotton factory erected in 1813, a screw factory, several mills, and 2 carding-machines.
MILTON, in Strafford coun- ty, was formerly a part of Rochester, and is bounded N. W. by Middleton, E. by Sal- mon falls river, which divides it from Shapley (in Maine,) and S. W. by Farmington. Its area is 25,000 acres, and its number of inhabitants 1005. It extends more than 13 miles on Salmon falls river. Branch river crosses the S.W. extrem- ity of the town. Teneriffe mountain lies on its easterly side, near which is Milton pond. The southerly extremi- ty of Milton is 9 miles and 82 rods distant from Wakefield. There are here 3 religious soci- eties, 1 meeting-house, 3 grain- mills, 3 saw-mills, 1 clothing-
MILLSFIELD, an uninhabit- ed township in Coos county, 7 miles W. of Umbagog lake and 35 N. from the White hills ; bounded N. by Dixville, E. by Errol, S. by Dummer,
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and W. by Erving's location. It comprises 24,100 acres, and was incorporated in 1774. Clear stream waters its north- ern extremity and Phillip's river with several branches of the Ameriscoggin its southern parts. There are here several ponds, the largest of which is 300 rods long and 140 wide.
MONADNOCK MOUNTAIN is in Cheshire county, on the line between Jaffrey and Dublin, 10 miles N. from Massachu- setts, 20 E. from Connecticut river. Its base is 1395 feet and its summit 3254 above the level of the sea. The diame- ter of its base is 5 miles from N. to S., 3 from E. to W. and its summit consists of a bald rock.
MOHAWK RIVER has its rise among Dixville mountains, and after a westerly course through Colebrook, receives some con- siderable streams from Stew- artstown, among which is Bea- ver river. It empties itself in- to the Connecticut near the N. W. extremity of Stewartstown.
MOOSE RIVER has its source on the N. side of the White mountains near the township of Durand, through which it flows into the Ameriscoggin. Its mouth is in Shelburn. Its source is within 5 miles of that of Israel's river, which falls in- to the Connecticut.
MOOSEHILLOCK, one of the highest ranges of mountains in
the state, deriving its name from the great numbers of moose which were formerly found here. It is situated in the E. part of Coventry near Peeling. Baker's river has its source on the easterly side of this ridge. Snow has been found on its summit in every month except July.
MOULTONBOROUGH, in Straf- ford county, lies on the N. ex- tremity of Winnipiseogee lake. It was incorporated in 1777, and its population in 1810, was 994 souls ; bounded N. by Sandwich and Tamworth, N. E. by a part of Ossipee, S. E. by Tuftonborough, and W. by Centreharbor and Squam pond, containing 32,163 acres.
This place derived its name from Gen. Jonathan Moulton of Hampton, who was one of its earliest and largest proprie- tors, and New-Hampton, which was taken from it, was also named at his request after the place of his residence.
Moultonborough lies near the S. W. side of the Great Ossi- pee mountain, and it is observ- ed, that in N. E. storms the wind passes over the mountain like water over a dam, and with such force, as frequently to unroof houses. The Rev. S. Perley was settled here in 1778, and removed the next year. His successor the Rev. J. Shaw is still in office. There is here a pleasant village of 10 or 12 dwelling-houses, a meet- ing-house, 1 store, 4 grain- mills, 5 saw-mills, 2 clothing-
1
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mills, and a carding-machine. unite in Paulsburgh and there Red hill is in the N. W. part of fall into the Ameriscoggiu- river.
the town, and Red hill river passes through its northerly part and falls into Winnipiseo- gee lake. The spotted fever prevailed here in 1813. It attacked some hundreds but carried off only 30 persons. Bears were formerly common in this town as in many other new settlements. In the au- tumn they frequently came down into the populous set- tlements and sometimes even to the maritime towns. It fre- quently devours young swine, but seldom attacks mankind.
MOUNT-VERNON, in Hills- . borough county, was incorpo- rated in 1808, and contains 762 inhabitants. It is bound- ed N. by New-Boston, E. by Amherst, S. by Milford, and W.bv Lyndeborough, and con- tains 7,975 acres. This town is watered by Beaver brook, which has its source here, as also have several branches of Sowhegan river. There is here a pleasant village containing a meeting-house, 12 dwelling- houses, 3 stores, &c. and sever- al mills. The 2d N. H. turn- pike passes through this vil- lage. Rev. J. Bruce was set- tlad here in 1785, and was suc- ceeded in 1809, by Rev. S. Chapin the present pastor.
N.
NARMARGUNGOWACK RIVER rises in the township of Suc- cess in several branches, which
NASH AND SAWYER'S LOCA- TIONS. This tract is bounded N. by Bretton Woods, E. by the White mountains, S. by Chadbourne and Hart's loca- tions, and W. by ungranted lands. It contains 21,084 a- cres. The Jefferson turnpike passes through it.
NASH'S STREAM has its source. in the N. E. part of the town of Stratford, and at Nor- thumberland it falls into, the Amonoosuck 6 miles from Connecticut river.
NASHUA RIVER has its source in the south part of Boylston, (Mass.) and after a northerly course of 40 miles it passes intoDunstable,(N.H.) and empties itself into the Connecticut, at Nashua village in Dunstable.
NELSON, in Cheshire coun- ty, was formerly called Pack- ersfield and received its pres- ent name in 1814, by an act of the legislature. It is bounded N. by Stoddard, E. by Han- cock and Antrim, S. by Dub- lin, and W. by Roxbury, con- taining 22,875 acres and 1076 inhabitants. There are sever- al ponds in this town, such as Spoonwood pond, which com- municates with Long pond by a strait about forty rods. long. Long pond runs circuit- ously into Hancock and then
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returns to Nelson ; its length is 1300 rods. There are also Fish, Pleasant, and Roaring brook ponds, Centre pond and Berkshire near Dublin, com- prising in all about 1,879 acres of water. In the S. part of this town a branch of the Ash- uelot river rises, and in its N. part a branch of the Contoo- cook. The surface of Nelson is mountainous like that of the adjacent country. Rev. J. Foster was ordained here in 1781. Rev. G. Newhall is the present minister. There is in this town a meeting- house, a cotton and woollen factory, 4 grain-mills, 3 saw-mills, and 1 clothing-mill.
NEW-BOSTON, in Hillsbo- - rough county, was incorporat- ed 'in 1763, and contained by the last census, a population of 1810 souls. It is bounded N. by Weare, E. by Goffstown and Bedford, S. by Amherst and Mount-Vernon, and W. by Lyndeborough, comprising an area of 26,538 acres.
Several branches of Piscata- quog river flow through its S. W. extremity into Goffstown, and thro' its S. E. part the 2d N.H. turnpike has its course. There is here a baptist and a presbyterian meeting-house, 7 school-houses, several mills, and a wire-factory incorporat- ed in 1812. Rev. Solomon Moore was settled in New- Boston in 1768, died in 1803, and was succeeded in 1806 by the Rev. E. P. Bradford the present pastor. Elder J.Stone
was ordained over the baptist church in 1806, and is still in office.
NEW-CASTLE, commonly called Great- Island, is in Rock- ingham county, 2 miles E. from Portsmouth. It was in- corporated in 1693, and con- tains 592 inhabitants and 45 acres. This is the largest of those islands which lie at the mouth of the Piscataqua. It has a meeting-house, about 100 dwelling-houses, and at its N. E. extremity a fort and light- house. Rev. Joshua Moody was ordained here previous to the revolution of 1689, and has been succeeded by the Rav. Messrs. Shurtleff, Blunt, Chase, and Noble. Elder Thomas Bell resides here at present and occasionally prea- ches.
NEW-CHESTER, in Grafton county, was incorporated in 1778, and contained in 1810, a population of 895 inhab- itants ; bounded N. W. by Danbury and Alexandria, N .. by Newfound pond, E. by Pemigewasset river, and S. by Andover, comprising 23,456 acres. Grafton turnpike and a branch of Blackwater river pass over the S. W. part of the town, and over its norther- ly part flows Smith's brook, which falls into the Pemige- wasset river opposite New- Hampton.
A ridge, called Ragged mountain, separates this town from Andover, There are
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here 3 religious societies, 1 - meeting-house, 3 grain-mills, and 5 saw-mills. In the year 1796, twenty-five persons died here of the dysentery. .
NEW-DURHAM, in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1762, and now contains 888 inhabitants ; bounded N. W. by Wolfeborough E.by Brook- field and Middleton, and S. W. by Farmington and Alton, comprising 22,625 acres. In 1749, this town, comprehend- ing a tract of land 6 miles square, was granted to Ebene- zer Smith and others, on con- dition that 40 families should be permanently settled in it within 5 years from the declar- ation of peace, and that within 2 years after, a meeting-house should be erected, public wor- ship supported, and a grain and saw-mill erected.
Maj. Thomas Tash made early exertions in forwarding the settlement of this town, and built the 2 mills at his own ex- pense. With the assistance of Paul March and others, the required number of settlers was obtained by a bounty of 50 a- cres of land to each settler. The town was incorporated by the name of New-Durham.
Within the compass of the original grant are 5 ponds, the largest of which is Merry- Meet- ing-buy pond containing about 1000 acres. The surface of the town is very mountainous and part of the soil so rocky as to be unfit for cultivation. Mount Betty rises 630 feet a-
bove the pond, which washes its base. Cropple-crown moun- tain is still higher. The soil here is generally too moist for grain, but suitable for grazing. Merry-Meeting ,river flows from the pond of that name and falls into Winnipiseogee lake. Ela's river flows from Cold rain pond and passes a- bout 4 miles through New- Durham to Farmington, on both which streams are many good mill seats. On the lat- ter is a fall of 14 feet, within 4 rods of which, mills are already erected. Cochecho river also has its source in this town. The principal roads passing through New-Durhamare from Wolfeborough and Gilmanton to Dover.
There are some curiosities in this town, one of which is a remarkable fountain of wa- ter, over which a part of Ela's river passes. By sinking a small mouthed vessel about 6 feet into this fountain, water mav be obtained extremely cold and pure. The depth of it has never been ascertained » although attempts have been made. Near the centre of the town is a mountain called Rat- tlesnake hill, the south side of which is nearly an hundred feet high, and almost perpen- dicular. In its fissures a vast number of rattlesnakes have their dens. Their numbers have recently diminished. A- bout a mile northeast from this mountain is March's pond, which abounds with a species of clay, much resembling when
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dried the common chalk in ap- pearance and qualities. On the N. E. side of Shaw's moun- tain is a remarkable cave, call- ed the Devil's den, the entrance of which is about three feet wide and ten high. The outer room is twenty feet square ; the inner apartments grow smaller, until at the distance of fifty feet into the mountain the passage becomes too small to be investigated. The sides both of the galleries and the rooms are composed of stone. They bear the appearance of having been once united, and were probably separated by some great convulsion of na- ture.
Several other mountains in this town contain precipices and cavities, some of which are forty or fifty feet in depth.
Col. Thomas Tash, who spent the last twenty years of his life in New-Durham, was born in Durham in 1722. He was en- gaged in the French war, first in the capacity of captain and afterwards in that of major. In 1755, the annual stores, while on their way to the north- ern army, were destroyed at a place called Half-way brook, between forts Edward and William Henry. Capt. Tash with 140 men was ordered to repair to this spot with assur- ances that the remainder of the battalion should immedi- ately follow. On arriving at the place of his destination he found the stores and waggons destroyed, the men killed, and the enemy gone off. Ascer-
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