USA > New Hampshire > Gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire > Part 9
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making an average of more than 81 years to each. The oldest native of the town now residing here, was born in the year 1742. So prompt was this. town in furnishing men for the military service of the United States that previous to the first of April 1777, 120 persons had engaged, of whom were 2 colo- nels, 1 major, 5 captains, and 9 subaltern officers. J.F.
The second New-Hamp- shire turnpike passes from Claremont to this town.
" AMONOOSUCK, an Indian name given to two rivers in N. Hampshire : the one is called Upper Amonoosuck, passing through a tract of excellent meadow. It rises near the N. end of the White Hills, runs northerly about 15 miles, where is a carrying place of about 3 miles to Amariscoggin river. From thence the river runs S. W. and W. nearly 18 miles, and empties into the Connecti- cut at Northumberland, near the Upper Coos. The other is called Great or Lower Am- onoosuck, which rises on the west side of the White Mountains. It falls into the Connecticut just above- the town of Haverhill, in Lower Coos, by a mouth 100 yards wide. About 2 miles from its mouth it receives Wild Amon-
Franconia and Lincoln Moun- tains. Two or three hours rain raises the water in this last men- tioned river several feet, and occasions a current so furious
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as to put in motion stones of a foot in diameter, but its vio- lence soon subsides."(M.Gaz.)
ANDROSCOGGIN, or AMER- ISCOGGIN RIVER, has its sourc- es 35 miles N. of Errol in this state and N. of latitude 45°. Its most northerly branch is called Margalloway. Its course is S. for nearly 30 miles. This river enters the state near the S. E. corner of the second grant to Dartmouth college, where it also receives Dead river, passing thence through Wentworth's Location into Er .. rol where it mingles with the . impelled by the force of the de- waters flowing from Lake Um- bagog, about one mile from its outlet. From this juncture the confluent stream bears the name of Androscoggin. . Its course is S. till it approaches near to the White Mountains, from which it receives Moose and Peabody rivers, entering the District of Maine N. of Mount Moriah. It then turns to the E. and then to the S. E., in which course through a fer- tile country it passes within two miles of the sea-coast, and then turning N. runs over Pejepscot or Brunswick-falls into Merry- Meeting-Bay, a few miles from Bowdoin college, and forms a junction with the Kennebeck,20 miles from the sea. In its course through Paulsburgh and Mains- borough it passes within 2 or 3 miles of the Upper Amonoo- suck river.
" AMUSKEAG FALLS, in N. Hampshire, are on Merrimack
river, 16 miles below the ford, and 7 below Hookset Falls. It consists of three pitches, one be- low the other, so that the water falls about 48 feet 3 inches in the course of half a mile. The second pitch, which may be seen from the roads on the W. side is truly majestic. In the middle of the upper part of the fall, is a high rocky island, on the top of which, are a number of pits, made exactly round, like barrels or hogsheads, some of which are capable of holding several tons ; formed by the cir- cular motion of small stones, scending water. At the foot of the rapids, half a mile below the principal fall, is a bridge, 556 feet in length, and 20 in breadth, consisting of 2000 tons of timber, and made passable for travellers 57 days after it was begun." (M. Gaz.) " A canal has been formed around these falls, through which boats pass with ease and safety. Prior to 1670, these falls were much visited by the aborigines. The sachem Wonolanset resided here. The son of Wonolanset, engaged in hunting here about the middle of March, discover- ed 15 Indians on the other side who called to him in an un- known language, upon which he fled, while they discharged nearly 30 muskets at him with- out effect." (Belknap's N.H.)
ANDOVER, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated 1779, with a population of 1259 inhabitants, is bound-
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ed N. W. by New Chester, N. E. by Merrimack river which disunites it from Sanbornton,S. E. by Salisbury, and S. W. by Wilmot with an area of 29,883 acres. It has several ponds of water, the largest of which is Chance pond, in extent 230 rods and 130 in width. Black Wa- ter, a branch of Contoocook river, flows through the S. W. part of this town. Ragged mountain is partly in this town, the N. line of both town and county passing over its summit. The 4th New-Hampshire turn- pike leads through the S. W. part of Andover where Grafton turnpike meets it. Its soil is of almost every variety, for the most part broken and stony, but generally good, producing good crops of grain andEnglish grass. On the Pemigawasset and Black rivers are excellent tracts of intervale land. Rev. J. Babcock was ordained here
1782. Here are a meeting- house, 10school-houses,2 grain- mills, 6 saw-mills, 1 mill for dressing cloth, 1 carding-ma- chine, and 5 trading stores. Here were wintered last season 4000 sheep. Agreeably to a bill of mortality furnished by Rev. J. B. there have died in Ando- ver since the year 1782, under 70 years of age, 287 persons, over 70, 18 persons, over 80, 15, over 90, 2. J.B. .
ANTRIM, a township in“ Hillsborough county, was in- corporated 1777, and, in the year 1810, contained 1277 souls. Bounded N. by Wind-
sor and Hillsborough, E. by the river Contoocook, which severs it from Deering, S. by Hancock, and W. by Stoddard and a part of Nelson, of an area of 21,784 acres. Gregg's pond 400 rods long and 150 wide, lies in the S. part of the town. Its waters fall into Contoocook river. The soil of Antrim dis- plays great inequality of sur- face, but is generally produc- tive. This town annually win- ters about 2000 sheep, and cat- tle in proportion. The second N. H. turnpike bisects the N. angle of Antrim. Reverend J. M. Whiton is their minister. Here are a meeting-house, 4 grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, 2 mills for dressing cloth, 1 carding- machine, and 3 trading stores. In 1813, 45 persons died of the prevailing fever.
ASHUELOT or ASHWILLET RIVER has a number of branches, the most remote of which is S. of Sunapee moun- tain in the township of Goshen, thence running S. through Al- stead, Marlow, Washington, Stoddard, &c. to Swansey, where it joins with a large stream of water from Keene, another from the S. line of the state, &c. Below Winchester it runs W. by N. and at length empties into Connecticut river in the lower part of Hinsdale.
ATKINSON, a township in. Rockingham county, incorpo-' rated 1767, containing 556 inhabitants and 6,839 acres. Bounded N. by Hampstead,
GAZETTEER OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
N.E.by Plaistow, S. by Haver- hill, (Mass.) and W. by Salem. Atkinson was formerly a part of Haverhill, separated from it by the state line of demarca- tion. Its soil is prolific, and its situation highly pleasant. It is 30 miles from the mari- time town of Portsmouth, and has an academy which was founded in 1789, by Hon. Nathaniel Peabody of Exeter, who endowed it with 1000 a- cres of land. John Vose, A.M. is the preceptor. Here are a handsome congregational meet- ing-house, 1 grain-mill, and 1 saw-mill. " In this township is a large meadow wherein is an island of 6 or 7 acres, which was formerly loaded with val- uable pine timber and other forest wood. When the mea- dow is overflowed, by means of an artificial dam, this island rises with the water, which is sometimes 6 feet. In a pond in the middle of the island, there have been fish, which, when the meadow has been overflowed have appeared there, when the water has been drawn off, and the island settled to its usual place. The pond is now almost covered with verdure. In it a pole 50 feet long has disappeared, without finding bottom." (Morse Gaz.)
B.
BAKER'S RIVER .- Its most N. branch has its source in Coventry, and its most S. in Orange and Coventry. These branches unite in Wentworth,
flowing thence E. through Rumney and emptying into the river Merrimack at Plymouth village.
BARKER'S LOCATION 15 bounded N. by Lancaster, E. by Jefferson, and S. and W. by Kilkenny, and contains 3,090 acres.
BARNSTEAD, a pleasant lev- el township in Strafford county, incorporated 1727, and bound- ed as follows, viz. N. E. by Alton, N. W. by Gilmanton, S. W. by Pittsfield, and S. E. by Barrington, containing 26, 000 acres. Here are two ponds known by the name of Suncook, lying contiguous to each other, one 400 rods and the other 300 long ; also Bundle pond 250 rods in extent. Each of these in width willaverage their me- dium length. Half moon pond lies on Alton line, its centre about equi-distant from the two towns, 300 rods long and half as wide. . These ponds all discharge, their waters into Suncook river which traverses the town. Beaty's, Pink, Ad- am's, and Jacob's are small and nearly circular pools about 100 rods in diameter. The origin- al growth here is pine, oak, beach, maple, and hemlock. The soil is hard, but not very rocky, well adapted to the in- crease of corn and grain. Barnstead reckons 1477 souls for its population. Here are a congregational and baptist so- ciety. Elder David Knowl- ton was ordained here in 1804,
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and died in 1809. Enos George was ordained by a congre- gational council 1804, and is their present teacher. Barn- stead has 2 houses for public worship, a number of excel- lent sites for water machinery, and already mills of various kinds.
· BARRINGTON, a township in Strafford county, incorporated 1722, and bounded N. E. by Farmington and Rochester, S. E. by Madbury and Dover, S. W.by Nottingham and North- wood, and N. W. by Barn- stead. This town is thirteen and a half miles long and half as wide, containing 58,400 a- cres. It had in 1810, 3,564 inhabitants. Here are a large number of ponds, some of whose streams afford excellent mill sites. Bow pond the larg- est, is situated in the S.W. part of the town, in extent a- bout 650 rods and 400 rods in width. Its waters empty into Isinglass, a principal source of Dover river. Besides this are Chesley's Round, Mendum's, Nip- po, North river, Wild goose, Long, Ayer's, and Trout ponds, W. of the Blue Hills. The waters of these ponds discharge into Suncook river. The first ridge of Frost hills, commonly call- ed Blue hills, and one of the three inferior summits of Ag- amenticus, is continued through this town. The N. part of Barrington is hilly and broken, but the soil, for the most part is excellent,yielding corn,grain, flax, cider, &c. in abundance.,
Cattle and sheep are raised here in large numbers. In 1814, were wintered here 5,162 sheep. Chrystal spar, plum- bago, or black lead, iron ore, alum, and vitriol are found here. On the S.E. side of the town is a cave commonly call- ed the Bear's Den. Its mouth is 18 inches wide. The first course is an angle of descent of about 20 degrees, then press- ing through a narrow passage of about 4 feet in length and descending the same track a- bout 9 feet, you enter an apartment 21 feet in length, 3} in width, and 12 in height, in which you find a natural table 2 feet square,smooth and level, and about high enough to stand and write upon. Stepping up a few feet you then enter an- other room, 16 feet long, 4 wide, and 10 in height, encir- cled on each side by a regular wall of stone. The rocks form- ing the bottom of this cave so exactly correspond with the roof, that one needs no further evidence that they were once united. About a mile S. W. from this spot, on the margin of a pond, is a rock of 150 per- pendicular feet above the face of the water. S.B.
Here are 3 houses of public worship, 18 school-houses, 14 grain-mills, 2 mills for dress- ing cloth, 3 carding-machines, and 4 trading stores. The ma- jor part of the inhabitants are of the baptist order, having on- ly one society of a different denomination in town. Rev. Joseph Prince was settled over
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the congregational church1755, removed 1760. Rev. David Tenney was settled 1771, re- moved 1778. Rev. Benjamin Balch was settled 1784, and died 1814. Elder Smitn Bab- cock, Micajah Otis, and Jo- seph Boody are the present or- dained preachers in this town. This town, from its first settle- ment, has been very healthy. Several of the first settlers liv- ed to an advanced period of more than 100 years.
BARTLETT, a township in the county of Coos, incorporat- ed in 1790, situated at the S.E. angle of the White Hills, boun- ded N. by Adams, E. by Chat- ham, S. by ungranted land and Conway, and W. by Chad- bourn's and Hart's locations. Its surface is 13,500 acres. Sa- co river and the 10th N. H. turnpike road pass through this town. Kearsarge mountain lies on its E. line.
BATH, a pleasant township in Grafton county, situated on the E. side of Connecticut riv- er opposite Rygate in Ver- mont, 35 miles N. by E. from Dartmouth college ; is bound- ed N. E. by Littleton, E. by Landaff, S. W. by Haverhill, and W. by Connecticut river,
It containing 24,827 acres. was incorporated 1769, and has a population of 1316 souls. Great Amonoosuck passes the N. E. corner of Bath and falls into the Connecticut at its S. W. corner, near which it first re- ceives the waters of the Wild
Amonoosuck. The Bath turn- pike leads through the town, and, where the river and turn- pike intersect, is a very hand- some village. Rev. D. South- erland is their ordained minis- ter. Bath has 1 meeting-house, 3 corn-mills, 6 saw-mills, 1 mill for dressing cloth, 1 distil- lery, and 3 trading stores.
BEAR CAMP RIVER, whose W. branch rises in Sandwich and Burton mountains and Bear Camp pond, and whose W. branch in Eaton. In Os- sipee these two branches unite and fall into Great Ossipee pond on its W. side.
BEAVER BROOK, has its source from a pond in Unity, and, running W. 8 miles, falls into Connecticut river in the upper part of Charleston.
BEAVER RIVER, rises from Derry pond and several other small ponds in Londonderry, and passing S. through Pel- ham, falls into Merrimack riv- er in Dracut, opposite the mouth of Concord · river in Massachusetts.
BEDFORD, in Hillsborough county, situated on the W. side of Merrimack river, in- corporated in 1750, with a pop- ulation in 1810, of 1296 souls. Bounded N. by Goffstown, E. by Merrimack river, S. by Merrimack and Amherst, and W. by Amherst and New-Bos- ton. It contains 20,660 acres. Piscataquog river falls into the
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Merrimack at the N.E. corner of Bedford. Here is a socie- ty of congregationalists, over which Rev. D.M'Gregore was ordained pastor 1804. Rev. J. Houston was their former min- ister. Here is also a society of baptists. "Near the ferry from Manchester to Bedford, in the spring 1760, were taken 2500 shad-fish at one draught of a nett." (N.H.Gaz.) Here are a meeting-house, a cotton- factory, 6 grain-mills, 8 saw- mills, 1 clothier's mill, 1 card- ing-machine, and 5 trading stores.
BELLAMY BANK RIVER ris- es in Chelsey ponds, in Barring- ton, and, meandering through the N. part of Madbury, falls into Piscataqua river on the W. side of Dover neck.
BETHLEHEM, a township in Grafton county containing 422 inhabitants, bounded N. by Coos county line, which sepa- rates it from Whitefield, E. by Bretton Woods and ungranted lands, S. W. by Franconia and part of Concord, N. W. by Littleton, containing 28,608 a- cres. This town is very moun- tainous, well watered, and was formerly known by the name of Loyd's Hills. The N. branch of Great Amonoosuck passes through the N. part, and the S. branch waters the S. part of the town.
BISHOP'S BROOK, rises in and waters a considerable por- tion of Stewartstown and emp- . ties into Connecticut river.
BLACKWATER RIVER. The
most north branch called North brook rises in Danbury, another branch rises in Wil- mot, and a third proceeds from Pleasant pond in New-Lon- don. The streams unite in Andover and flowing through Salisbury and Boscawen fall into Contoocook river near the N. angle of Hopkinton.
BLIND WILL'S NECK, is formed by the confluence of Cocheco and Isinglass rivers. Sometime in March, 1677, a party of friendly Indians, of . whom Blind Will was one, were all surprised together by a party of Mohawks, and two or three only escaped. Blind Will was dragged by his hair until he perished of his wounds on this neck of land which still bears his name.
BLOODY POINT, is on New- ington side of Piscataqua riv- er. It was called Bloody Point from a quarrel between the a- gents of the two companies of proprietors about a point of land convenient for both, and, there then being no govern- ment established, the contro- versy had well nigh ended in blood.
BOSCAWEN, a township in the county of Hillsborough, in- corporated 1760, having in 1810, a population of 1829 souls. Bounded N. by Salis- bury, E. by Merrimack river, which separates it from Canter- bury and Northfield, S. by Con- · cord and Hopkinton, and W.by
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Warner, containing 32,230 a- cres. The largest pond in this town is called Long pond, 350 rods in length and averaging 50 rods in width. Great pond, near the centre of the town, is 250 rods long and 20 wide, its , leads from Concord through the E. part of this town, di- rectly to Boston. Here is a house for public worship and an ordained minister of the regular baptist order. Here are 2 grain-mills, 5 saw-mills, and 1 carding-machine.
waters falling into Black Water river on the N. edge of War- ner. Black Water river flows through this town from Salis- bury to Hopkinton, where it meets the Contoocook. Warner river crosses the extreme S. W. corner. A toll bridge unites Boscawen with Canter- bury. The 4th N.H. turnpike leads through the N.E. corner of this town. Here are 28 mills for grinding, sawing, full- ing, carding, &c. Their first ordained minister was Phine- has Stevens, who was succeed- ed by Nathaniel Merrill in 1775. At present there are two societies, Rev. Messrs. Wood and Price pastors. Here are 2 meeting-houses, and at the bridge near the river a handsome village with about forty dwelling-houses, and five stores. In 1746, two persons were killed and several taken captive and carried to Canada from this town.
Bow, a township in Rock- ingham county, incorporated 1729, containing 729 inhabit- ants. Bounded N.E. by Mer- rimack river which divides it from Pembroke, S.E.and S.W. by Dunbarton, and N. W. by Concord and part of Hopkin- ton, containing 15,753 acres. Turkey river empties into
Merrimack river at Turkey falls near the N. E. part of -Bow. About a mile below Turkey are Garvin's falls, now passable by locks on Bow side. The Londonderry turnpike
BRADFORD, a township on the W. side of Hillsborough county, incorporated 1760, with a present population of 1034. Bounded N. by Warner, S. by a part of Henniker and Hills- borough, W.by Cheshire coun- ty line, adjoining Washington, E. by Fishersfield and a cor- ner of Sutton,containing 18,919 acres, 469 of which are water. At the E. end of this town is a pleasant pond 500 rods long and 150 wide. A part of Todd's pond lies in this town and the other part in Fishers- field. These ponds are the most W. source of Warner's river. Sunapee and othermoun- tains border on the W. part of this town. Rev. Caleb Burge is settled here in the ministry. Here are two religious socie- ties, 1 house for public wor- ship, 2 corn-mills, 2 saw-mills, 1 carding-machine, and 2 trad- ing stores.
BREAKFAST HILL, in the township of Rye, is memora- ble on account of the follow-
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ing circumstances. Early in falls, is a cotton factory with. 800 spindles in operation. Though situate in the edge of Brentwood it is called the Ex- eter factory. There are two religious societies in this place, congregationalists and baptists, beside a considerable number of friends. Each order has its respective house of public wor- ship. Nathaniel Trask was ordained here 1752, and died 1780, aged 67. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. E. Flint, who died 1812 ; their present min- ister is Rev. C. Colton, who was settled 1815. Elder S. Shephard, recently deceased, had the care of the baptist church with several others. Here are 3 corn-mills, 6 saw- mills, 1 carding-machine, and a trading store. Vitriol is found here, combined in the same stone with sulphur.
the morning of June 26th, 1696, a large body of Indians made an attack on 5 houses on Portsmouth plains, by which 14 persons were killed on the spot, 1 scalped'and left for dead, and 4 taken prisoners. The enemy, having plundered the houses of what they could car- ry off, set them on fire and made a precipitate retreat through the Great Swamp. A company of militia under Capt. Shackford and Lieut. Libbey pursued and discovered them cooking their breakfast at a place ever since called Break- fast Hill. The Indians were on the furthermost side of the hill and had placed their cap- tives between themselves and the summit, that, in case of an attack, they might first receive the fire. Lieut. Libbey urged to go round the hill and come up- on them below and cut off their retreat, but the Capt. fearing in that case they would kill the prisoners, rushed upon them from the top of the hill, by which means he retook the cap- tives and plunder, but the In- dians escaped.
BRENTWOOD, a township in Rockingham county, incorpo- rated 1742, contained, in 1810, 905 inhabitants. Bounded N. by Epping, E. by Exeter, S. by Kingston, and W. by Pop- lin, of a surface of 10,465 a- cres. Exeter river, on which are many good mill-privileges, passes through this town. Here, at what are called Pick-pocket
BRETTON WOODS, a town- ship in Coos county, situated 8 or 10 miles S. E. from Con- necticut river, incorporated 1772,having but 20 or 30 inhab- itants. It is bounded N. by Whitefield and Jefferson, E. by ungranted land, S. by the county line and Nash and Sawyer's Location, and W. by the county line which separates it from Bethlehem, containing about 24,978 acres. John's and Israel's rivers receive sev- eral branches from this town. The Jefferson turnpike crosses the E. part, and Pond Cherry mountain is on the N. side next to Jefferson. Here is 1 corn-mill and 1 saw-mill.
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BRIDGEWATER is situated 12,664 acres, 240 of which are on the W. side of Pemigewas- set riven in Grafton county, in- corporated '1788, and contain- ed in 1810, 1104 inhabitants. Bounded N. by Hebron and Plymouth, E. by the county line dividing it from New- Hampton, and W. by New- found pond, dividing it from New-Chester. Bridgewater has 19,785 acres. .The Ma- how turnpike passes near New- found pond, through the W. part of the town. Here is a meeting-house, and, at the N. part a village with a number of mills.
BROOKFIELD, a township in . Strafford county, about 30 miles from Dover, incorporat- ed in 1795, with a present population of about 657. It is bounded N. W. by Wolfe- borough, E. by Wakefield, S.E. by Great Moose mountain, and W.by Alton, containing 13,000 acres. Cook's pond is about 300 rods long and 50 wide,and is the source of the W. branch of Salmon Fall river. Smith's river rises near the former seat of Gov. Wentworth, which is in the S.W. part of the place, near the upper line of Brook- field.
BROOKLINE, a township in Hillsborough county, incorpo- rated 1764, with a population agreeable to the census of 1810, of 538 souls. Bounded N. by Milford, E. by Hollis, S. by Massachusetts state line, and W. by Mason. Its area is 12
water. Nissitisset river pass- es through this town from the N. W. to S. W. and falls in- to Nashua river in Pepperell, Massachusetts. Potanipo pond, through which this river pass- es, is near the centre of the town, and about a mile long, and 120 rods wide. Here are a meeting-house, 3 corn-mills, 5 saw-mills, and 2 trading stores. Rev. L. Wadsworth, their present pastor was or- dained 1797.
BURNHAM'S RIVER rises in Lyman and Littleton and falls into the Great Amonoosuck in New-Concord.
BURTON, a township in the N. W. corner of the county of Strafford, incorporated 1766. Its population, conformable to the census of 1810, was 194 souls. It is bounded E. by Conway, N.E. by Eaton, S. by Tamworth, W. by Grafton county line, and N. by the line of Coos county. The White mountains lie N. and White- face mountain W. Swift river passes through Burton from W. to E.
C.
CAMBRIDGE, an uninhabited township in Coos county, situ- ated at the S. end of lake Um- bagog and bounded N. by Er- rol, E.by the District of Maine, S. by Paulsburgh and Success, and W. by Dummer. Incor-
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porated 1773, containing 23, 160 acres. Androscoggin riv- er passes through the W. part of this town.
CAMPTON, a township in Grafton county, situated on Pemigewasset river, incorpo- rated 1761, and containing 873 inhabitants. Bounded N. by Thornton, E. by Sandwich, S. by Holderness and Plymouth, containing 27,892 acres. Two small ponds here give rise to Mad river, also to Bether river which falls into the Pemigewas- set, which latter passes the cen- tre of the town from N. to S. Crotchet mountain lies on the W. and Northern mountain on the E. part of the town. Camp- ton has a public meeting-house, and an ordained minister ; 3 grain-mills, 3 saw, and 1 oil- mill, 2 mills for cloth dressing, and 2 carding-machines.
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