USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
Then at various eddies, or places of smooth water, from the "Namaoskeag Falls, to Goffe's Falls," were "rights" for drag- ging seines. One of the best was at the "Great Eddy" at the foot of the "Namaoskeag Falls," at which was an aquedah- can, or weir of the Indians. Near the centre of this "Eddy" is an island of Sand, its tap covered with willows. This island was built or formed by Mr. Jonas Harvey, as a "landing" upon which to drag his seine of shad and salmon. He informed the writer that he had often dragged upon this island five hundred shad to a "haul !" This "right" was owned by Mr. Jonas Harvey and others. On the east side of the river, just below the "Granite Bridge," at the foot of "Merrill's Falls," was an- other "Seine Right" known as the "Merrill" or "Musquash Seine."
There was another "Seine Right," on the east side of the river opposite the mouth of the Piscataquog, owned by Mr. Jonas Harvey and others, known as the "Harvey Seine." Still lower down on the same side was the "Baker Seine," at the
650
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
"Musquito Island," and still further down and at the head of "Griffin's Falls." was the "Griffin Right," where they "swept both sides of the river."
On the west side of the river, after leaving the "Eddy Seine" there was no ground fit for Seine fishing until they got below the mouth of the Piscataquog. There was a good fishio : right known as the "Piscataquog Seine." Still farther down and opposite the "Baker Seine" was the "Harvell Seine." And farther south yet, at the head of "Short Falls," was the "Pat- ten Seine."
The Provincial Government early took measures to protect the fishing at this place, and people were restrained by statute, from fishing upon certain days ; sluices were to be built in all dams upon certain rivers and rivulets emptying into the Merri- mack. and up which alewives and shad passed ; and in the "Cowas Brook," and in the Merrimack within sixty rods of the mouth of the "Cowas," people were forbidden to fish within a year at a time, such was the improvideut destruction of shad and alewives at the "spawning time ;" or to take fish at any time with "Seine, Fish Pot, or Were." thus interdicting the use of every kind of implement wherewith to take "fish ex- cept the Scoop Net."
And at a still later day, statutes were enacted by our state government for the preservation of fish in the Merrimack and its tributaries. Thus in June, 1790, one passed forbidding the catching of salmon, shad, or alewife, in the Merrimack, Win- nepesaukee or their tributaries, from sunrise on Saturday, until sunrise of the Wednesday following, and the building of any dam, or other obstruction more than half way across the Mer- rimack or Winnepesauke, from the first day of May, to the last day of October ; or the obstructing the free passage of fish dur- ing the same months, up the tributaries of those rivers; and forbidding the catching of such fish at any time within twenty yards of any mill-dam, or sluice-way upon said rivers or their tributaries. All this under penalty. This act was repealed in January, 1785, and a substitute enacted. It was found that in the neighborhood of large fishing-places, all were more or less interested in the fishing-rights; as a consequence, the statute re- mained a dead letter, as among the people in the immediate vicinity, while those from abroad were entirely interdicted, un- less they came to fish "during lawful days," and then the fish- ing places were sure to be occupied ; thus the business of fish- ing was monopolized by those in the immediate neighborhood of the Falls. By the statute of 1795, the catching of salmon,
651
MILLS AT AMOSKEAG.
shad, or alewife, was interdicted from sunrise of every Thurs- day, until sunrise of the following Monday, in the Merrimack, Pemegewasset, and Winnepesaukee, and their tributaries ; and also prohibiting the setting of wase, seine, net, or fish-pot, at any time in any of the tributaries of the Merrimack. All under penalty, to be recovered upon complaint of any person. But to secure the execution of the law, each town joining upon the Merrimack, Pemegewasset, Winnepesaukee, and their tributa- ries, were required to choose annually, not more than seven nor less than three persons, called fish-wards, whose duty it was to see the law put in force. And if a person thus chosen, neg lected or refused to be sworn, or neglected or refused to execute the office, he was subjected to the penalty of a fine of ten dol- lars for each and every offence. This law for a while stopped illegal fishing, but ways were soon found to elude the watch- fulness of the fish-wards, and the old fishermen usually had a plenty of fish for sale in the season of them, on "unlawful days" as well as upon others. This law was continued in force with occasional modifications until 1823, when all laws upon the subject were repealed ; it having been found that the legislature could not enact fish into or out of the Merrimack, or its tributaries, or prevent persons from catching fish on any day, or with any such instrument as they might choose, and that these fish acts are prolific sources of broils, tumults neigh- borhood quarrels, and immorality generally. The methods resorted to by the fishermen to elude the fish-wards were vari- ous, the most common one doubtless being that of bribery ; and a history of unlawful fishery at the Falls would be more voluminous than interesting.
MILLS AT AMOSKEAG.
Capt. John Stark built a mill at the falls somewhere about 1760. It stood on the north side of the Amoskeag Bridge, the large rock or ledge there running and forming a part of the western side of the canal being the foundation of the west side of the mill. The water from this mill passed through the Todd Gut. It was in this mill that Capt. Stark received the news of the battle of Lexington. During the Revolution it be- came decayed and worthless from want of use and repair. A few years subsequent, Gen. Stark and Hon. Samuel Blodgett built a mill upon the same side of the river, and operated it in com- pany.
652
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER,
This mill was purchased by Judge Blodget and the privi- lege flowed out, in forming the pool or pond for his Canal and for his "'Great Mill, the Industry," which was located upon the river's bank, a few rods below the "Guard Locks" of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. His son William owned another mill just above the Industry.
At this time there was, or had been, a saw-mill on the west side of the Falls, in Goffstown, owned if not built by a Mr. Patterson, and known as the Patterson mill. This mill prob- ably stood upon the same place where afterwards was built the Pollard or Harvey Mill.
A man by the name of Whittaker built the fourth mill erected at these Falls, long known as the Whittaker saw mill, which stood just below where the Old Blodget House, now stands. He sold it to Judge Blodget.
Judge Blodget ever had in view, in all of his extensive operations at these Falls, their great hydraulic power ; and with this object in view, he secured a title to the lands adjoining the Falls. And while talking of his canal and its great advan- tages, he ever kept in view its vast water-power, as one of its greatest advantages. "For," he would say, "as the country in- creases in population, we must have manufactories. and here at my canal will be a manufacturing town-the Manchester of America !"
People then called him an enthusiast, insane, and the like, but he heeded none of their remarks ; but kept onward in his im- provements, and trying to enlist the monied men in his enter- prise up to the day of his death.
He at one time contemplated establishing a nail factory, and intended to make use of the building now used as a barn, and at- tached to the old Blodget House, but which was then used as a Store House, or Hall, and was standing at right angles, to its present position-across the canal. The water to propel the factory was to have been brought from the river below the main falls.
He tried to induce capitalists to engage in his enterprise, and solicited the Hon. Wm. Gray, of Boston, better known as "Billy Gray."
653
ACCIDENTS AT AMOSKEAG.
After this time, the difficulties Mr. Blodget encountered with the managers of his Lottery, prevented his prosecuting his plans for the use of his water power, but it was ever the theme of his conversation until his death.
About 1795, Mr. James Pollard bought a "common right," of land in Goffstown, and upon it built a saw mill, upon the west side of the Falls, upon the bank of the river, and near the west abutment of the "Amoskeag Falls Bridge." As be- fore suggested, this was probably built upon the lot where was the "Patterson mill."
In 179S, Mr. Jonas Harvey purchased the "Pollard mill," built a substantial stone dam, and made other improvements. Mr. Harvey sold the mills in 1804, to the late Capt. Ephraim Stevens and his brother Robert, and who occupied it for some years, when the mill becoming decayed, the privilege was sold for manufacturing purposes.
In 1801 and 1802 another saw mill was built upon the Island by Isaac Rowell, Wm. Reeside and Samuel Wood. This privilege was purchased for manufacturing purposes.
Somewhere about 1800, Robert McGregor, Esq., built a saw- mill on the west side of the river, a few rods above the Mc- Gregor or Amoskeag Bridge. This mill was known as the "McGregor mill." It went to decay with his other property and was never rebuilt.
There have been many accidents at these Fal's, some of a serious, and others of a ludicrous nature. Of the latter the es- cape of William Ferson, or "Billy Bangup," as he he was called by the river-men, may be an instance :
Ferson was one day fishing upon the west side of the Falls, above the Pollard mill, sitting leisurely upon the bank, and smoking his pipe. Getting, drowsy or losing his foothold, he fell into the river below. The current is remarkably swift and boisterous, in that vicinity, and he passed over the first pitch, into the western channel, that at all times, is foaming and tumb- ling as from a "mill-tail." Ferson was an expert swimmer, and he managed to keep his head out of water occasionlly for breath, and to keep his mouth closed when under the foaming current. He exerted all his strength to keep in the channel, and thus managed to keep from being dashed against the rocks, He soon passed under the Island bridge, and in a few moments was in the still waters of the "Eddy," where he leisurely craw- led upon a rock, with his pipe still in his mouth! The wags used to say, that his pipe was still lighted ! At any rate, it was 46
654
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
soon after, for his first request was for tobacco, to fill his pipe with, his own having been a "leetle moistened." Ferson is still living and delights in telling of his miraculous escape.
Mr. David Quimby, of Goffstown, was upon a raft at the head of the Falls or rather upon a part of one, consisting of a crib of staves, attempting to get it to the shore. The crib got within the force of the current, and Quimby, either from fright or calculation, remained upon the raft, rather than attempt to swim ashore. Clinging to the crib, he went safely over the first pitch of the Falls, and plunged into the Pulpit Stream, as the east channel is called. By a miracle as it were, he passed through this engulphing whirlpool, without being torn from the crib or dashed upon the rocks, and his frail and unwieldly crib, following the boisterous current, lodged against the Island,- where Quimby, somewhat exhausted, made a safe landing, and from which he was soon taken in a boat by his friends.
Mr. James Aiken, of Bedford, while fishing at the Falls, on the west side of the river Jan., 12, 1823, by some mishap, fell into the river, and no one being near to lend assistance, he was was drowned. His body was found some few days after, be- low the Falls.
THE PISCATAQUOG RIVER .- This river empties into the Mer- rimack on its west side in the city of Manchester, and passes through, and gives its name to the " Piscataquog Village." It waters a rich and interesting section of Hillsborough County ; its north branch rising in Weare and Henniker, and its south branch rising in the mountains of Francestown. All along its branches are extensive meadows-affording, in former times, pasturage and refuge for innumerable deer ; hence its name, Piscataquog, being derived from pos (great) attuck (deer) and auke (a place) and meaning "The great deer place." And true to its name, it afforded a great supply of venison long after the English had settled upon the Merrimack-Halestown, now Weare, being noted for hunting ground. This river discharges the waters of the heights of land between the Contoocook and Merrimack in a distance of twenty-five miles, and hence its current is of necessity interrupted by rapids and falls, affording many excellent water privileges, many of which have been for a long time improved. Mills were built at Kelley's Falls, about a mile and a half up the river from the Merrimack, soon after the Revolution. These were a sawmill and a gristmill, and were built by Col. Moses Kelley of Goffstown, who was for many years Sheriff of the County of Hillsborough. These
655
THE COHAS.
mills were mortgaged to and became the property of a Mr. Fra- zer of Boston, were suffered to go to decay, and have never been rebuilt. At Piscataquog Village, just above the mouth of the river, are falls that have been occupied for mills of various kinds from a remote period, probably for near a hundred years. However, the first definite date of their being thus occupied, is 1779, when a saw and gristmill were upon the falls, owned by Mr. Samuel Moor. The mills passed from Mr. Moor into the hands of a Mr. Dow, since which time they have been owned by various individuals and devoted to various manufacturing purposes. In 1818, a Lock was built at the mouth of the Pis- cataquog, east of the lower end of Bass Island, by William P. Riddle, Esq., that boats might have access at all seasons of the year, to his store near the Piscataquog bridge ; and at one time the project was rife of building a canal up the valley of the Piscataquog, to unite the waters of the Merrimack and Con- necticut. Fish were for a long time abundant in this river, and large quantities of shad and alewives were caught at its mouth, but the Piscataquog was excepted in 1797, in the law for the preservation of fish in the Merrimack and its affluent streams, the fishing upon it had become of so little value in consequence of the many dams upon it that prevented their passage.
THE COHAS RIVER .- This river was originally called Massa- besic, and in the old records we find it so designated. Thus in the early records of Londonderry, is this certificate ;
Tuesday ye 23d of February, 1724,-5.
We the subscribers being upon oath, and being employed by the Committee of Chester and Londonderry, to run the line be- tween the sd two towns, we began at the Beech tree on the westerly side of Kingstown, which is ye corner bounds of ye above sd towne, we run ten miles on a west north west point without any allowance for crookedness of way, and run to Mas- sabesic River.
James Stevens, Benjamin Barker,
Surveyor. Chair- men.
John Carton.
$
Samuel Ingals, Thomas Smith. James Gregg,
Committee of Chester.
Committee of
David Cargill, John McMurphy.
Londonderry.
The above is decisive of the name of that river at that period.
656
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Subsequently it was called Cohasset, or Cohassack, very near the original Indian word, Cooashauke, which was derived from Coash, (pines,) aud aukce, (a place,) meaning the place of pines.
This name was applied to the land upon the Merrimack, be- tween Litchfield and the river, on account of its being covered with pines, It afterwards became to be applied to the falls in the Merrimack, and to this river. These falls still retain the name of Cohasset, while the name of the river has been cor- rupted into "Cohas," and the river itself has been diminished to a brook, in common parlance. It has thus been shorn of its dignity, the better to distinguish it from the Merrimack river into which it empties.
The name river applied to both streams of water, led to fre- quent misapprehension, and the smaller was designated as a brook, to prevent such misapprehension.
The Cohas is a rapid stream, some more than three miles in length, from the Massabesic to the Merrimack. In this distance there is a fall of one hundred and twenty feet, affording of course some fine mill-privileges. These have long been occupied. Webster's mills near the outlet of Lake Massabesic, have been noted mills in times past. At this privilege John McMurphy Esq. built mills in the early settlement of Chester, fifty acres of land at this place having been granted him in 1739, by the proprie- tors, upon condition that he should build a Grist Mill upon the privilege, within two years, and should "Grind for ye Proprietrs & inhabitants of Chester, aforsd & their successors before, & in preference of their Grists to ye Grists of any other prson or prsons wtsoever, for three days in every week forever, (viz :) every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday forever."* The pro- prietors reserved the right to build Iron Works, or a Saw Mill upon the privilege, not to interfere with the power necessary for the Grist Mill, and McMurphy to have the offer from the proprietors of building said Works and mill for himself. It is probable that McMurphy built a sawmill as early as 1742, for in 1743, in a deed of other lands from the Proprietors, to him, reference is made to his mills, plainly indicating, that he had more than a Grist mill. The Iron Works were never built, "as a sufficiency of oar or Iron mine" was never found. McMur- phy never moved upon the grant but carried on his mills in connection with his son Alexander, who probably moved here at the time of building the first mill, in 1741. Alexander Mc- Murphy at length bought the mills of his father, and subse- quently he sold them to a Mr. Sheldon. From Sheldon these
*Records of Proprietors of Chester.
had 1
gra
b
a
m C ch H
f
657
THE COHAS.
mills passed into the hands of Mr. John Webster, and for most of a century have been known as the "Webster Mills." They are still known as such, though the Messrs. Websters have parted with their interest in them, first selling one half of the saw mill to James M. Gregg, Esq., and subsequently their entire interest in the Mills, privilege, and adjoining lands, to William Fiske, of Lowell, Mass. Mr. Gregg's interest has also come into the possession of the same gentleman. In 1854, Mr. Fiske sold the mills and privilege, to Mr. John H. Moor and others, by. whom they are now owned. At an early date in the history of the manufacturing interest in our state, this privilege had been examined in reference to its capacity for manufacturing purposes, and it is probable, that it was purchased by Mr. Fiske for that purpose, though its ultimate use by the Lowell Manu- facturing Companies, in connection with the Massabesic, as a Reservoir, may have been in view. Still it is to be hoped that at no distant day, it may be used for a different purpose, that of furnishing the city of Manchester, with an abundant supply of pure water. It is estimated that by a dam at these falls, the water of the Massabesic can be brought into the city for $50,000. To say nothing of the advantages to the city of pure water, that amount of money would be saved to the city in a few years, in the decreased expenditures of our Fire De- partment, and it is to be hoped that our city will soon take the initiative steps to accomplish an object, every way so desira- ble.
The next falls upon the Cohas, were formerly known as the "Alewife Falls." These were early owned by the Hazeltines, upon which a mill was built by them, and continued in the family for a great many years, and is now known as the "Hazeltine Mill," though but little is left of it but rotten tim- bers. The fall is not sufficient to make this privilege one of any considerable value, and it is doubtful whether it will ever again be used for hydraulic purposes.
Next below the Hazeltine Mill, is the Harvey Mill, This mill is upon one of the best water privileges afforded by the Cohas. The first mill built within the present limits of Man- chester. was the saw-mill built upon these falls by Ephraim Hildreth, in 1735, or 1736, he claiming them by virtue of a grant from Massachusetts.
The falls were within the township of Londonderry, and had been reserved by that town for their water power.
In 1720, July 15, the Proprietors of Londonderry,
658
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
" Voted, that the Falls of Cohaset Brook reserved by the Proprietors out of Robert and Hugh Wilson Equivalent land with all the other privileges reserved to sd falls, shall be sold by cant to the highest bidder."
And the record goes on to state : " The aforesd falls being put to cant and no person appearing to overbid Patrick Douglass in what he proposes to give for it, which is ten pounds in bills of credit-Voted that Patrick Douglass or his assigns shall have the said falls for what he offers, which is ten pounds, with all the proferts, privileges and advantages reserved for the use of said falls, and shall have what assurance is needful for the same when he pleases, he having paid the said money at the same time the vote was passed." The deed was not executed to Douglass as appears by the entry on the records : "Monday, March 6, 1731-2-Voted that the selectmen for the present year, or the major part of them shall give and execute a deed to Patrick Douglass of the stream and privileges thereunto be- longing as its entered of the Falls upon the brook at Cohaset." The claim of Massachusetts to these Falls, and their occupation by Hildreth, deterred Douglass from improving his purchase, and we hear nothing further from him in relation to the claim. The title of Hildreth to the main falls passed to Mr. John Harvey, and they still remain in possession of the Harveys- Mr. Jonas Harvey, grandson of John Harvey, having purchased the farm upon which they are located in 1804. The Hildreth mill was up the brook from the present Harvey Mills, and in an easterly direction from them. Still further up the Cohas, in the bend of the river below the Harvey bridge, was the "Nutt Mill," a sawmill built and owned by Mr. William Nutt. This privilege was of but little account, as a dam sufficient to pro- duce effective head, flowed the meadows above the bridge. The Harvey privilege is valuable, and if not purchased by the city to carry into effect a system of " water works," will event- ually come into use for manufacturing purposes.
The next falls in use for hydraulic purposes are the well- known " Goffe's Falls." These are within a few rods of the Merrimack, and were first occupied by Col. John Goffe in 1749. In that year, Col. Goffe entered into an agreement with a Mr. Follansby of Haverhill District* to erect a mill upon these falls. Goffe was to furnish the privilege, and Follansby was to build the dam and mill, ready for use at his own expense, and the two were to own the mill in common, each having a moiety of the same, the privilege to revert to Goffe and the mill irons
* That part now Plaistow.
o fa W
659
THE , COHAS.
to Follansby, at the end of twenty years ; each one bearing an equal share of the expense of repairs during that time, and Goffe reserving the right to build a cornmill upon the privilege, not to interfere in any manner with the power necessary to carry the sawmill. At the end of twenty years, Follansby claimed one half the mill, denying that Goffe owned any of the land on the south side of the Cohas, or that he agreed to build the mill upon any other terms than that he should have one half of the privilege. A long and vexatious suit followed, which resulted in establishing Goffe's claim to the privilege.
Soon after building the sawmill, Col. Goffe built a cornmill, but in what year cannot now be ascertained. These mills were known far and wide as " Goffe's Mills," and at the death of Col. Goffe in 1786, passed into the hands of Capt. Samuel Moor, and have remained in his possession or the possession of his heirs to this day. After the mills passed into the pos- session of Capt. Moor, they became to be known as "Moor's Mills," and as the people increased in that neighborhood, the village and mills were designated as "Moor's Village." At the time this change was going on, the name of Goffe was gradually left from the designation of the falls upon the Cohas, and prefixed to those in the Merrimack above the mouth of the Cohas, and those have ever since been known as "Goffe's Falls." A building fitted up with carding machines for card- ing wool, and "clothing works" for the dressing of domestic cloths, was some years since erected at " Moor's Village" by Mr. John Calef, and subsequently machinery for the manufac- ture of satinets was put into the same mill by the same gen- tleman. This mill is now in operation under the direction of a Mr. Peters.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.