USA > New Hampshire > Gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire > Part 21
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court is held also in these two towns. The county gaol is at Dover. Strafford sends 35 re- presentatives to the state leg- islature.
STRATFORD, in Coos,coun- ty, was incorporated in 1773, and contains 339 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Columbia, E. by ungranted lands No. 1., S. by Piercy and Northumberland, and W. by the Connecticut river, which separates it from Brunswick in Vermont. Its area is 48,931 acres. This town is watered by Roaring brook, Strong's brook, and Bay brook. Bow-back mountain, Peak's mountain, and several others are in this town. Strat- ford has one meeting-house be- longing to methodists, Rev. C. Sumner was settled here in 1773. In 1775, this town had only 40 inhabitants, and in 1790, there were 150.
STRATHAM, in Rockingham county,lies on the E. side of the western branch of Piscataqua ri- verand in1810,contained 876in- habitants; bounded N.by Green- land, S.E.by Greenland & Nor- thampton, S. W.by Exeter, and W. and N. W. by the river and bay, which separate it from Ex- eter and Newmarket. Its area is 10,120 acres. There are here 2 religious societies, 1 of baptists and the other of congregation- alists, each of them has a meet- ing-house. There are in this town 4 grain-mills, 3 saw-mills, and 1 clothing-mill. This
town was part of the grant to Edward Hilton in 1650, called Swamscot patent. The charter of Stratham was dated March 20th, 1716, and signed by George Vaughan then lieuten- ant-governor. The first town- meeting was on the 10th of A- pril, 1716, Deacon David Rob- inson was chosen town clerk and held that office 47 vears. Rev. Henry Rust was ordain- ed here in 1718, Rev. Joseph Adams in 1747, and Rev. James Miltimore in 1786, the latter gentleman has since re- moved. Elder S. Shepard was settled over the baptists in 1771. At present there is no settled minister in the town.
From the year 1798 to 1812, inclusive, the number of deaths in this town was 186. The greatest number in any one year was 20, and the smallest number 5, averaging about 12 annually. Between the years 1742, and 1797, inclusive, the number of deaths was 1080, averaging about 20 annually.
Stratham lies about 8 miles from the sea. The land is ev- en and well calculated for ag- ricultural purposes. Farming is so exclusively the employ- ment of the town, that, al- though a navigable river ad- joins it, there is not a wharf, vessel or boat belonging to the place. In the easterly part of the town, is perhaps the larg- est repository of peat in the state. It is a meadow com- monly known by the name of Temple meadow or swamp.
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This at some future day will probably become a valuable re- source.
In 1807, a bridge was erect- ed connecting this town with Newmarket. It cost about $6,000, and, the toll amounts annually to about $700.
In the revolutionary war this town lost 23 of its in- habitants.
SUCCESS, an unsettled town- ship in Coos county, incorpo- rated in 1773, and bounded N. by Cambridge, E. by the Dis- trict of Maine, S. by Shel- burne, and N. W. by Maynes- borough, comprising 29,813 acres.
In this town rises Narmar- gungowack river from a pond about 350 rods long and 225 wide, near the line of the state. Live river also has its source in this town.
SUGAR RIVER flows from the west side of Sunapee lake, and passing westerly into New- port, receives several branches from the north, and thence en- tering Claremont, falls into Connecticut river five or six miles below Cornish bridge. It is in contemplation to unite this river with the Contoocook.
SULLIVAN, a township in Cheshire county, was incorpo- rated in 1787, and contains 516 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Gilsum and Stoddard, E. by Stoddard and Nelson, S. by
Roxbury and Keene, and W. by Keene and Gilsum, com- prising 12,212 acres.
This town is watered by Ashuelot river, and has 2 religious societies, 1 meeting- house, and a settled minister. There are here 2 saw-mills and 1 grain-mill.
SUNCOOK RIVER has the source of its northern branch in a pond, which forms part of the boundary between Gilman- ton and Gilford, and passing through the easterly part of Gilmanton, it receives the two Suncook ponds and also Small's pond near the line of Alton. It thence enters Barnstead, where it passes through two other ponds of its own name, and receives the waters of Half moon and Brindle ponds. Just below these ponds it re- ceives a branch from Barring- ton, called Little Suncook riv- er, and another from Wild goose pond in the northeast part of Pittsfield. It thence flows through Pittsfield into Epsom where it receives an castern branch from Suncook pond in Northwood. From this junction it flows 8 or 10 miles through Epsom and be- tween Allenstown and Pem- by a canal, (see Sunapee lake.) · broke, and empties its waters -
into the Merrimack 7 miles below Concord near the southern extremity of Al- lenstown. There is a great variety of mills ou this riv- er and its branches. (See Pembroke.)
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SUNAPEE LAKE lies partly in Wendell,(Cheshire county,) and partly . in Fishersfield, (Hillsborough county.) 'It is eleven miles long and about one mile and a half wide. Its outlet is on its west side through Sugar river.
A canal has been contem- plated to connect the Connec- ticut and Merrimack river,and this lake has been proposed as the reservoir, it being situated on the height of land between the two rivers. It now dis- charges its waters through Su- gar river into the Connecticut. This would undoubtedly be the western course of the project- ed canal, but as to its eastern route there are differences of opinion. The most advantag- eous course has been said to be through Herrick's cove and Small pond in its vicinity, and thence through Keazer's pond near the north meeting-house in Sutton, and thence through Steven's brook into Warner's river, which empties into the Merrimack.
SURRY, a township in Ches- hire county, incorporated in 1769, and now containing 564 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Alstead, E. by Gilsum, S. by Keene, and W. by Westmore- land and Walpole, comprising 7,917 acres.
Ashuelotriver flows through this town, and is here between 80 and 100 feet wide. There is one pond in this town, which is near the summit of a moun- tain. Through Surry the turn-
pike passes from Chester to Keene.
Rev. B. Dalling, the first minister in this place, was set- tled in 1788. Rev. P. Howe is the present minister. There is here one religious society and a meeting-house, 2 grain- mills, 2 saw-mills, 1 clothing- mill, 1 carding-machine, 1 dis- tillery, and 2 trading stores.
SUTTON,a township in Hills- borough county, was incorpo- rated in 1784, and contains 1328 inhabitants ; bounded N. by New-London, E. by Kear- sarge Gore and Boscawen, S. by Warner and Bradford, and W. by Fishersfield, comprising 24,300 acres, 280 of which are water. Long pond in this town is 350 rods long and 80 wide. Hazen's pond is about 150 rods in diameter. A branch of Warner's river flows through this town.
Kearsarge mountain extends almost over the whole length of Sutton on its west side. Kearsarge hills are also in the same part of the town. On these high lands and in the meadows at their feet are found beds of excellent clay. Here also are found quarries of stones remarkable for their shape and qualities. They are prepared with little labour for hearths, &c.
The soil in this town presents all the varieties of productive- ness and sterility ; and,though the surface is diversified with a continued succession of hills and vales, and is often rough
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and mountainous, excellent crops of wheat are raised here, as well as the other staple pro- ductions of the state.
In 1798, a mineral resemb- ling black lead was found in this town, and it has been as- certained to produce a dura- ble and handsome slate col- our.
The principal road passing through Sutton is from Hop- kinton to Dartmouth college. The prevailing sect here are baptists, over whom Elder S. Ambrose was ordained in1782. Elder Taylor is also settled in this town. There are here 2 meeting-houses, 3 grain-mills, 2 saw-milis, 2 clothing-mills, 1 carding-machine, and 3 trad- ing stores.
The annual average number of deaths in this town for the last 10 years has been 12. Two persons lately died here, one over 99, and the other over100 years of age.
SWAMSCOT RIVER is the Indian name of Exeter riv- er as far as the head of the' tide, which is in the compact settlement of the town of Exe- ter. (See Exeter.)
SWANZEY,a townshipin Ches- hire county, was incorporated in 1753, and now contains 1400 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Keene, E. by Marlborough and Fitzwilliam, S. by Richmond, and W. by Winchester and Chesterfield : its area is 28,057 acres, 200 of which are water, Swanzey pond is 1 mile long
"and 100 rods wide. Ashuelot river in its passage through this town has a breadth of 6 or 8 rods. The branch turn- pike crosses the northeast ex- tremity of the town.
There are here 3 religious societies, 2 meeting-houses, 2 small villages, a cotton factory, distillery, carding-machine, 4 grain-mills, 12 saw-mills, and 3 clothing-mills.
Rev. T. Harrington was the first minister of this town. He has been succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Carpenter and God- dard. Elder Cutler is the on- ly minister here at present.
SWIFT RIVER has its source among the mountains in the ungranted lands northwest of Whiteface mountain, and 6 or 8 miles from Sandwich. It takes an easterly course through Burton into Conway, where it empties into Sacoriver. There is another small river of the same name in Tamworth.
T.
TAMWORTH, a township in Strafford county, was incorpo- rated in 1766, and contains 1134 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Burton, E. by Eaton, S.by Ossipee, and W. by Sandwich, comprising 28,917 acres.
Bear Camp river is the only considerable stream in this town. This has an easterly course into Ossipee pond. The rapidity of its current in times of freshets renders it almost useless for the purposes of
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mills. Swift river in this town is a fine stream and affords many valuable mill seats. A nail factory and a carding-ma- chine are erected on it. Con- way river falls into Bear Camp river near the centre of Tam- worth. It has its source in Burton and passes through Conway pond. This is also a valuable stream for mills.
A few rods from the meet- ing-house in this town, is a re- markable rock called ordina- tion rock, it being memorable as the place where the Rev. S. Hidden was ordained Septem- ber 12th, 1792. Its summit was sufficiently large to accom- modate the minister and the whole of the council. There is in Tamworth a large church and society under the pastoral charge of Mr. Hidden. There is also a free-will baptist soci- ety here under Elder Web- ster. There are in this town 9 school-houses. J.G.
TEMPLE, a township in Hills- borough county, was incorpo- rated in 1768, and contains 941 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Greenfield, E. by Lyndebor- ough and Wilton, S. by New- Ipswich and Mason, and W. by Sharon and Peterborough, comprising 13,700 acres. Sev- eral streams which fall into Sowhegan river, rise among the mountains in the westerly. part of this town. The prin- cipal road from Amherst to Peterborough passes through this town. There is here 1 congregational society and 1
meeting-house, 4 grain-mills, 3 saw-mills, and 1 fulling-mill.
Rev. S. Webster was ordain- ed here in 1771, and Rev. No- ah Miles, his successor, in . 1779.
THORNTON, a township în Grafton county, was incorpo- rated in 1781, and now contains 794 inhabitants ; bounded N. and N. W. by Peeling, N. E. by Thornton's Gore, S. by Campton, and W. by Ells- worth. Its area including Thornton's Gore is 28,490 a- cres. This Gore is bounded E. by ungranted lands, and N. W. by Lincoln. Pemigewas- set river flows through this town from north to south. The main road from Lancaster to Plymouth passes through Thornton. There are here 2 religious societies and 1 meet- ing-house, in which Rev. E. Esterbrook was the first or- dained minister.
TUFTONBOROUGH, a town- ship in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1795, and now contains709inhabitants; bound- ed N. W. by Moultonborough, N. E. by Ossipee, S. E. by Wolfeborough, and S. W. by Winnipiseogeelake,comprising 24,390 acres.
Beach pond is on the line of this town, about 250 rods long and 100 wide. Hale pond and Linious pond are also in this town : the latter is near Win- ter Harbour bay.
Near the southwest extrem- ity of this town, Melvin's riv-
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er, passing from Moultonbor- ough, falls into the Winnipi- seogee pond. There is here a baptist, methodist, and congre- gational society. There are 2 saw-mills and 2 grist-mills in this place.
U.
UMBAGOG LAKE. The up- per part of this lake is in the District of Maine, and only a small part is in this state,in the towns of Errol and Cambridge. On the eastern line of New- Hampshire it is 2700 rods long. It extends into Errol about 300 rods, and about the same distance into Cambridge. From northeast to southwest its 'whole length is about 20 miles. In some places it is 10 miles wide, and in others not more than 100 rods. Its outlet is on its westerly side in the town of Errol, and its wa- ters flow into Margallaway river.
UNITY, a township in Ches- hire county, was incorporated in 1764, and in 1810, it contain- ed 1044 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Claremont and Newport, E. by Goshen, S. by Lemp- ster and Acworth, and W. by Charleston, comprising 24,446 acres. The line which sepa- rates this town from Acworth, crosses Cold pond, leaving a- bout 150 acres of it in Unity. Perry's mountain lies in the southwest part of the town. Little Sugar river rises near this mountain, and a branch of
Sugar river in the easterly part ' of the town. The 2d N. H. turnpike passes through this place to Claremont, and also a very direct road from Goshen to Charleston. There is here a society of baptists and anoth- er of methodists ; each of them has a meeting-house. There are in this town 2 grain-mills, 5 saw-mills, 1 clothing-mill, and 1 distillery.
W.
WAKEFIELD, a township in Strafford county, lying on the eastern border of the state. It was incorporated in 1774, and now contains 1166 inhabitants ; bounded N. W. by Effingham and Ossipee, E.by the District of Maine, S. E. by Milton, and W. by Brookfield and Middleton. Lovell's pond is the largest in this town, and lies on its northeast side. It is 700 rods long and 275 wide. Province pond is about 450 rods long and 400 wide. Pine River pond is about 100 rods long and 100 wide. There are several others of a smaller size. The principal branch of Piscataqua river has its source in this town, (sce Salmon river.) The soil of this place is gen- erally good, but it is more fa- vourable for mowing and graz- ing than for tillage. There is here a baptist and a congrega- tionalist society. Rev. Asa Piper, the first minister in the place, was ordained in 1785. There is here a meeting-house, a cotton factory, a carding-ma-
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chine, 5 grain-mills, 3 saw- 'bridge in this town at Bellows' mills, 3 fulling-mills, and a handsome village containing several stores.
Lovell's pond in this town derived its name from Capt. John Lovell of Dunstable, who, in the year 1725, being on a scouting expedition in this quarter, with a company of 40 men, attacked by night, a party of Indians, whom they found encamped by the side of a pond. Lovell and his companions surprised the ene- my, who were eleven in num- ber, and by his dexterous movements destroyed the whole party.
Robert Macklin, a remarka- ble instance of longevity, died in Wakefield in 1787, at the age of 115. He was born in Scotland, and lived several years in Portsmouth in the oc- . cupation of a baker. He fre- quently walked from Ports- mouth to Boston (66 miles,) in one day and returned in another. This journey he performed at the age of 80.
WALPOLE, a township in Cheshire county, was incorpo- rated in 1752, and now con- tains 1894 inhabitants ; bound- ed N. by Langdon, E. by Al- stead and Surry, S. by West- moreland, and W. by the west- ern bank of Connecticut river. Its area is 24,301 acres.
In the northwest part of the town is Fall mountain, extend- ing from Charleston about 550 rods to Bellows' falls, and about 250 rods beyond. There is a
falls and another about 375 rods above Bellows' ferry. A turnpike from Charleston to Keene, and another from Wal- pole upper bridge to Keene, pass through this town. Cold river falls into the Connecticut a little below Fall mountain.
There is in this town only 1 religious society and 1 meet- ing-house. The first settled minister here was the Rev. - Leavitt, and the pre- sent pastor is the Rev. P. Dickerson. There are here 4 grist-mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 full- ing-mills, 1 cotton factory, and 2 carding-machines.
WARNER, a township in Hillsborough county, was in- corporated in1774, and in1810, contained 1838 inhabitants ; bounded N. W. by Sutton, Kearsarge Gore, and Salisbury, N. E. by Boscawen, S. E. by Hopkinton and Henniker, and S. W. by Bradford and Sutton, comprising an area of 27,571 acres.
This town was formerly cal- led Almsbury ; and Warner river, which passes through it was called. Almsbury river. This river is the central branch of the Contoocook, and a large. number of streams fall into it as it passes through this town and through a part of Bosca- wen into Hopkinton.
There are here 3 religious societies and 2 meeting-hous- es. Rev. William Kelly was ordained in this town in 1772, and died in 1813. The present
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ministers arethe Rev. J.Woods and Elder E. Wilmarth. There are in this place 7 grain-mills, 11 saw-mills, 2 clothing-mills, 2 carding-machines, and 5 stores. No town in the state has better grazing land than Warner.
WARNER'S LOCATION, in Coos county, is bounded N. by ungranted lands and Mount Royse, E. by the District of Maine, and S. by Chatham and ungranted lands : it contains 2000 acres. A stream which empties into Cold River pond passes over the easterly side of this location.
WARREN, in Grafton county, was incorporated in 1763, and contains 506 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Coventry, E. by Peeling and Ellsworth, S. by Wentworth, and W. by Piermont, comprising an area of 27,720 acres. The wester- ly branch of Baker's river flows through Warren from Moose- hillock mountain, and a large part of Carr's mountain lies in the eastern part of the town, and over its southeast extrem- ity the Coos turnpike passes. There is here 1 grain-mill and 3 saw-mills.
WASHINGTON, in Cheshire county, was incorporated in 1776, and contains 820 inhab- itants ; bounded N. by Go- shen, E. by Bradford and Hillsborough, S. by Stoddard, and W. by Marlow and Lemp-
ster, comprising an area of 30,760 acres, 1,550 of which are water. There are here no less than 20 ponds. Through the centre of this town,a ridge , of mountains extends from N. to S. on the summit of which a branch of the Contoocook has its source. A branch of the Ashuelot rises in a pond in the N.part of the town near Sunapee mountain. The Croydon and 2d N. H. turnpikes meet near the meeting-house in this place. Washington was formerly call- ed Campden. There are here 3 religious societies and 1 meeting-house. Rev. George Leslie was settled here in 1779, and Rev. C. Page is the pres- ent pastor. There are in Washington 2 grain-mills, 3 saw-mills, 1 clothing-mill, 1 carding-machine, 2 distille- ries, 2 oil-mills, and 3 trading stores.
WEARE, a township in Hills- borough county, was incorpo .. rated in 1764, and now con- tains 2630 inhabitants ; bound- ed N. by Hopkinton and Hen- niker, E. by Dunbarton and Goffstown, S. by New-Boston, and W. by Deering and Fran- cestown, comprising an area of- 33,648 acres.
A principal branch of Pis- cataquog river passes through this town. Near the centre of Weare is Mount William. Rev. Amos Wood was ordained here in 1789, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Cayford. Elders H. Buzzel and S. To-
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bie (pabtists,) and S. Streeter (an universalist) at present of- ficiate in this town.
There are here 5 religious societies and 3 meeting-houses, 7 grain-mills, 8 saw-mills, 3 clothing-mills, 1 cotton-facto- ry, 4 carding-machines, 2 dis- tilleries, 1 oil-mill, and 5 trad- ing stores.
WENDELL, a township in Cheshire county, formerly call- ed Saville, was incorporated in 1781, and contains 447 in- habitants. It is bounded N. by Springfield, E. by Sunapee lake, which separates it from New-London and Fishersfield in Hillsborough county, S. by Goshen, and W. by Croydon and Newport, comprising 15, 666 acres, 2,860 of which are water. . About 2,720 acres of Sunapee pond are in this town, and form a noble sheet of wa- ter. Here is the principal source of Sugar river. From the southern extremity of the pond in Fishersfield to the N. W. point of the north bay the distance is 7 miles. This is the length of the pond from N. to S. There are three small ponds here containing 140 a- cres. The outlet of Sunapee pond is little more than 2 miles south of the centre of the town. The whole pond contains 4,095 acres. Sugar river flow- ing from it has a westerly course into Newport. There are in Wendell 3 corn-mills, 4 saw-mills, and 1 clothing mill. Elder N. Woodward, a bap-
tist, was the first settled minis- ter în this town.
WENTWORTH, in Grafton county, was incorporated in 1766, and contains 645 inhabit- ants ; bounded N. E. by War- ren, S. E. by Rumney, S. W. by Dorchester, and N. W. by Orford, comprising an area of 22,522 acres. The north and south branches of Baker's riv- er unite in this town, and Pond brook, flowing from a small pond on the line of Orford, falls into the northern.branch. In the N. E. part of the town is a part of Carr's mountain. At Aiken's bridge, which is thrown over the north branch of Baker's river there is a · small village, containing 10 or 12 houses, &c. There is in this town 1 meeting-house, 4 grain- mills, 5 saw-mills, 1 fulling- mill, a carding-machine, and a distillery.
WEST RIVER MOUNTAIN. (See Chesterfield.)
WESTMORELAND lies on Connecticut river in the north part of Cheshire county. It was incorporated in 1752, and contains 1,937 inhabitants ; bounded N. by Walpole, E .. by Surry and Keene, S. by Ches- terfield, and W. by Connecti- cut river, which separates it. from Putney in Vermont. Its area is 22,446 acres. There are here 5 religious societies and 3 meeting-houses, 2 of them for baptists and the oth-
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er for congregationalists. The Rev. W. Goddard was the first minister of the place. Elders Bailey and Pratt have been his successors, both of whom still officiate. There is in this town a pleasant village, 5 grain- mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 clothing- mills, an oil-mill, 2. distilleries, and 4 trading stores.
WHEELWRIGHT'S POND is in the N. part of Lee and forms the source of Oyster river. This pond is memorable for the battle which was fought near it in 1690, between { scouting party of, Indians and two companies of rangers un- der Capts. Floyd and Wiswall, the engagement lasted 2 hours. Wiswall, his lieutenant, ser- geant, and 12 men were killed and several were wounded. Floyd continued the fight, till his men, wearicd and wound- ed, drew off and forced him to follow. The enemy also re- treated, without carrying off the wounded of our party.
WHITEFIELD, an irregular township in the S. W. part of Coos county, containing by the last census 51 inhabitants ; bounded N. W. by Dalton and Lancaster, E. by Jefferson, S. by Bretton Woods, and S. W. by Bethlehem in Grafton coun- ty, comprising 20,800 acres. A part of Round pond and sever- al others lie in this town, from each of which John's river re- ceives a tributary stream as it passes to Dalton. The main road from Plymouth to Lan-
caster passes over the west part of the town. From the N. W. extremity of Whitefield to Connecticut river the distance is about 4 miles.
WHITE MOUNTAINS. These mountains were first explored by Walter Neal and some oth- ers in 1631, who described them as a ridge extending a hundred leagues, on which snow lay the whole year. They visited them with the hope of finding precious stones, and having picked up something like crystal, this was sufficient to give the ridge the name of Crystal hills. Dr. Belknap, (the historian of New-Hamp- shire) describes these moun- tains in the following manner ;
The White mountains are the most elevated part of a ridge, which extends N.E. and S. W. an immense distance. The area of their base is an irregu- lar figure, the whole circuit of which is not less than 60 miles. The number of summits with- in this area cannot be ascer- tained at present, the country around them being a thick wilderness ; the greatest num- ber can be seen at once from Jefferson on the N. W. side. Here seven summits appear at one view, of which four are bald. Of these, the three high- est are the most distant, being on the eastern side of the clus- ter, one of these is the moun- tain, which makes so majestic an appearance all along the shore of the eastern counties of Massachusetts. It has late-
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