USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Dover > Landmarks in ancient Dover, New Hampshire > Part 10
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Twenty-eight acres were laid out to Nathaniel Davis Nov. 14, 1749, at a place called Freetown, where said Davis then lived, being part of a thirty acre grant to his father John Davis, deceased. Samuel Emerson of Dover and Dorothy his wife, Wm. Allin of Rochester and Hannah his wife, Joseph Tibbets of Rochester and Sarah his wife, and John Tomp- son, Jr., of Durham and Abigail his wife, conveyed to Wm. Dam, Jan. 10, 1751, 25 acres of land in that part of Dover called freetown, granted " Michal " Emerson of Dover, deceas- ed, in the division of the common lands, bounded on the S. E. by Joseph Jen- kins, and joining Nathaniel Davis, and the Hayes lands, on the S. E. and S. W., and running north to a rock called John Foy's. The inventory of Mrs. Sarah Dam's estate, July 16, 1767, mentions her land " at a place called Freetown, in Madbury."
At a public meeting in the parish of Madbury, March 31, 1757, it was voted that a school be kept two months " at M' Hill's House at Free- town."
FRENCHMAN'S CREEK. This creek is one of the bounds of the old Emerson and Leighton lands, in the lower part of the Back river district. The origin of the name is uncertain. John Winthrop, in his Journal, June 25, 1631, speaks of an English ship that had brought to Pascataqua some
Frenchmen to make salt. Henry Frenchman was taxed in Dover in 1665. John Frenchman, "smith," is on the Portsmouth rate-list of Sept. 24, 1681. Frenchman's creek is mentioned the 6th, 10 mo., 1656, when Thomas Layton's grant of 100 acres was laid out on the south side of "the frenchman's creek." (See Royall's Cove.)
Nicholas Harford couveyed to Samuel Emerson, March 20, 1711-12, land on the west side of Back river, near Frenchman's creek, which land had been bought of Moses Davis, to whom it was granted in 1701. It was between the land of Thomas Lay- ton and the land Samuel Emerson bought of Joseph and Thomas Hall, Dec. 18, 1700. May 17, 1714, Thomas Laiton sold Samuel Emerson the eastern portion of his land at Back river, " beginning at rocky Hill at ye turn of the fence, and so run- ning straight down to a white oak standing against a little orchard yt was Nich's Harford's on ye west, then straight to the turn of ye marsh and so to ye river." These tracts became the homestead estate of Capt. Sam- uel Emerson, and remained in the possession of his descendants about 175 years. The buildings, with part of the land, now belong to Mr. Mark Chase. Capt. Emerson, a direct ances- tor of the writer, was a native of Hav- erhill, Mass., and a brother of Han- nah Dustin, famous for her escape from the Indians in 1697. He married Judith, sister of Col. James Davis of Oyster River, who, after her mar- riage, was for several years a captive among the Indians. Capt. Emerson removed, early last century, to Oys- ter River, where he was appointed
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one of the first deacons of the church, April 3, 1818, the Sunday after its organization, and his wife was the first person admitted as a member, that same day. He was ordained "Elder" Nov. 16, 1721. The grave of Samuel Emerson,-cap- tain, deacon, and elder,-and that of his wife, Judith, may still be seen near the residence of his descendant, Deacon Winthrop S. Meserve, of Durham.
FRESH CREEK. This stream is a tributary of the Cochecho river, into which it empties on the east side, not far above the mouth. It is men- tioned in the Dover records as early as 1648. The mill privilege on this creek was granted the 5th, 10 mo., 1652, to Wm. Furber, Wm. Went- worth, Henry Langstar and Thomas Canney, together with the timber " from the head of tidewater three miles up into the woods betwixt the two freshets, the southernmost fresh- ett coming out of the marsh beside the Great hill at Cochecho, the northernmost freshett bounding Capt wiggins and Mr broadstreet's grant at Quomphegan," etc. (N. H. Town Pap., XI : 530.) Henry Tibbets, June 29, 1713, conveyed to John Drew, Sr., one half of the mill privi- lege at the head of Fresh creek, and half of his labor in building the saw- mill there, with the privilege of erect- ing a dam for the convenience of said mill, together with land for a log hill. This fall was within the line of Samuel Croumel's (Cromwell's) land, near ye place where Joshua Croumel's house formerly stood.
The name of Fresh creek is still retained, but the water power is now small. The lowest saw-mill thereon was at the crossing of the present road to Eliot. Flagg's mill, a tide mill, was the last that stood here. The tide, however, extends up to the old road laid out in 1709, where stood Fielding's mill. Another mill once stood farther up the stream, where it is crossed by the road of 1733. Between the site of Flagg's and Fielding's mills are the remains of an old beaver dam in a cove, at the foot of a hill covered with alders, poplars, and red oaks. The part of Fresh creek above the head of tide water to the mouth of Twombley's brook is often called Willow brook, from the number of ancient willows that border the stream for some dis- tance ; and sometimes Barbel brook, because in spring it is full of barbels, as well as lamprey-eels, etc. Barbel brook is crossed by the turnpike road to Portland. Above the mouth of Twombley's brook, it is called Rollins brook, to its source among the springs in the vicinity of Otis' Hill. (See Rollins' and Twombley's Brooks.)1
The whole brook above the head of tide water was in early times called Fresh creek brook. This name is given it Dec. 16, 1720, when Ger- shom Wentworth conveyed to Thomas Downs ten acres of land near said Downs' house, extending up fresh creek brook 31 poles. Ebenezer Wentworth conveyed to Benjamin Wentworth, June 27, 1737, all right and title to the estate of their
1 A description of Fresh creek and its tributaries, written with charming freshness (as the subject required) by Mrs. Baer of Rollinsford, is to be found in the Granite Monthly, Dec., 1883.
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honored father Benjn Wentworth, bounded northerly by Ephraim Went- worth's land, easterly by Fresh creek brook, etc.
FRESHI CREEK WOODS. Mentioned Nov. 28, 1729, when Ephraim Went- worth conveyed to Gershom Went- worth ten acres in a place called Fresh Creek woods, beginning at the highway side, near John Heard's land, and extending along said way over Fresh creek head 46 rods to Daniel Plummer's land ; and two acres more on the north side of said highway, beginning at a heap of stones near Richard Goodwin's east- erly corner.
FRESH CREEK NECK. This neck of land is in the lower part of Rollins- ford, between Fresh creek and the Newichawannock river. It is men- tioned March 19, 1693-4, when Thomas Tibbets had a grant of 40 acres "on Fresh creek neck." And Ap. 2, 1694, Joseph Jenkins had a grant of 20 acres "on Fresh creek neck, to butt on ye fore river." The lower part of this neck was granted Wm. Pomfrett in 1643, and the re- mainder to Richard Waldron and others in 1652. (See Cochecho Point.)
FRESHET BRIDGE. This bridge is across Johnson's creek, in the lower part of Madbury, and is so called in the town records to distinguish it from " Johnson's Creek bridge," which is not far off, on the boundary line between Durham and Madbury. The road from the Dover line above Dan- iel Pinkham's house is spoken of Ap. 6, 1815, as leading down by his house over freshet bridge.
FROG POND. Mentioned in Col. James Davis's will of Oct. 18, 1748, in which he gives his son Ephraim 15
acres of land granted to his father, laid out adjoining " a place commonly called and known by the name of Frogg Pond." This is probably the pond referred to July 24, 1771, when Nathaniel Lamos conveyed to James Lamos 15 acres and 100 sq. rods, part of a pasture near Johnson's creek, beginning at a Frog Pond by the land of Wm. Jenkins.
FURBER'S BRIDGE. So called in the town records of Lee in 1785. It is across Little river, on the road from Lee Hill to Wadleigh's falls. Its name was derived from Jethro Fur- ber, whose land on Little river is men- tioned when the above road was laid out in 1755. (See Little River.)
FURBER'S POINT and FERRY. Fur- ber's Point is on the Newington shore, at the Narrows between Great and Little Bays. The name is derived from Wm. Furber, who came from England in the "Angel Gabriel," which was wrecked at Pemaquid in August, 1636. He was at Dover in 1637, and belonged to the Combina- tion of 1640. He had a grant of land at Welsh Cove as early as 1652. In 1657, he had a grant of thirty acres more, which must have been beyond the boundary line at Hogsty Cove, as they were a part of the 400 acres along Great Bay granted to Dover by the government of Mass. Bay in 1643, and confirmed in May, 1656. These 30 acres were doubtless part of the land he afterwards gave his son Jethro. June 17, 1674, he gave his homestead to his oldest son William (see Pascataqua Rock), who, Dec. 11, 1694, was licensed to keep a ferry " from his house at Welchman's cove over to Oyster River." (See Mathew's Neck.) Furber's ferry, however, was
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in operation before May, 1694. (See N. H. Prov. Pap., 17: 668.) The ferry place on the Newington side is mentioned May 19, 1708, when " Joshua ffurber of Portsmouth, mar- iner, now bound to sea, upon a voy- age to the West Indies, and not knowing how the Lord may dispose of me," gives, in his will, unto his "dear and loving wife Elizabeth," till her son Joshua should be of age, his dwelling-house at Welch cove, and all his lands, " beginning at a pitch-pine tree standing below the point, about fifteen rodds or there- abouts below the ferry-place, where the turn of the tide begins at ebb and flow, and from there to a stake in the field, on the south side of the old barn, and so on to William's line, and from thence to the elm tree by the brick-yard home to the meadow of Thomas Roberts, being the house and land which my father William ffurber, deceased, gave me by his deed of Sept. 13, 1707." The old Furbers lie buried at the right, as you drive down to the point where Furber's wharf formerly stood. The way, now seldom traversed, is rough, but bor- dered with many fine walnut trees, and the view up Great Bay and down Little Bay amply repays all fatigue. Across the Narrows may be seen, amid the trees, the white house on Adams' Point, once called Mathews' Neck, the Durham terminus of Fur- ber's ferry.
FURBER'S STRAITS. This name is sometimes given to the Narrows be- tween Great and Little bays, across which Furber's ferry once ran.
GAGE'S HILL. This name is now generally given to Faggoty hill, from Capt. John Gage, who lived at the
foot of it, on the place now owned by Mr. Joseph Hutchins. It is other- wise called Dry Hill.
GAGE'S POINT. This name is given on Whitehouse's map of 1834, to a point at the mouth of the Cochecho on the west side. It is derived from Col. John Gage of Beverley, Mass., who came to Dover before 1725, and married Mrs. Elizabeth (Roberts) Hubbard, great-granddaughter of Thomas Roberts of the Dover Com- bination of 1640. He acquired land below the mouth of the Cochecho, on the west side, before Feb. 12, 1742, on which day Love and Mary Canney confirmed to him all right to 70 acres in Dover, bounded southerly on Gage's land to the mouth of the Cochecho, westerly on said river to Thompson's Point, and northerly by said river to a place commonly called Long creek, etc.
GALLOWS HILL. This hill is men- tioned May 30, 1699, as a little below the falls in Oyster river, where Sam- uel and Philip Chesley and others had liberty to build a saw-mill. (See Oyster River Falls.) This mill be- came known as "Chesley's mill," and was so called as early as 1701. At a later period it became a grist- mill. Gallows hill is just below, on the so-called "Mill road," that leads from Durham village to Packer's Falls. This sinister name is derived from some residents of former days, supposed to be morally qualified to undergo the highest penalty of the law.
Swazey's hill in Dover, just below Central square, between Central ave- nue and the Cochecho river, was often called Gallows hill after the execu- tion of Elisha Thomas, who was hung in 1788 for the murder of Capt. Peter
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Drowne of New Durham. The spec- tators assembled on this hill, but the gallows stood at the foot-where the print-works now are. 1See Sovasay's till'
GARRISONS. The garrisons men- tioned in this work are classified under the following heads : Back River, Dover, Greenland, Lee, Madbury, Newington, Oyster River (Durham), and Rollinsford Garrisons.
GARRISON HILL. This name was originally given to the small hill in Dover on which Heard's garrison once stood, but for more than half a century has been transferred to the height at the eastward, called in early times the Great Hill, and at a later period Varney's hill. If no garrison ever stood on the Garrison Hill of the present day, it was at least surround- ed by garrisons. Heard's was on the westerly side ; Otis's farther off, at the south ; and a little later, one, if not two, Wentworth garrisons were built at the eastward. And Varney's house probably had defences. Eben- ezer Varney acquired land here in 1696, after which it was generally called " Varney's hill." This name is given to it as late as 1834, on Whitehouse's map of Dover. (See Great Hill and Varney's Hill.)
Garrison Hill is about a mile above the Dover railway station. Eight and a half acres thereon were bought by the city in 1888, for a public park and a reservoir to supply the city with water. The reservoir, which contains about two million gallons, is supplied from Page's springs, and, when ne- cessary, from Willand's pond. The
Hussey springs have also been re- cently acquired. The Park has de- servedly become a popular resort. The view from the top of the hill, which is 298 feet above the head of tide-water, extends from the White Mountains to the Isles of Shoals. In every direction is a glorious range of hills-among them the Northwood hills and Saddleback mountain, the three Pawtuckaways in Nottingham, the Blue ridge in Strafford, with Blue Job at the head,2 Otis' or Ricker's hill in Rollinsford, Frost's hill in Eliot, and. further east, Mount Agamenticus of legendary fame.
GARRISON HILL VILLAGE. This name is given, on Whitehouse's map of Dover, to the settlement northwest of Garrison Hill.
GEEBIG ROAD, otherwise CHEBEAGUE and JEBUCTO. The first of these names is popularly given to a road that leads through the northeastern part of Nottingham to Geebig mill, on North river. It is called Jebucto road on Tuttle's map of Nottingham in 1806. " Jabeague upper mill " is mentioned Oct. 31, 1765, when Solo- mon Davis conveyed to Wm. Drew a tract of land on Cross street in Not- tingham, adjoining this mill. The name is said to have been derived from Chebucto, an Indian chief in the vicinity of North river, the first half of last century. Chebucto or Jebucto was also the ancient name of the place where is now the city of Hali- fax, N. S. Great and Little Che- beague islands on the coast of Maine have names akin.
1 Capt. Peter Drowne was a revolutionary officer in Col. Stephen Peabody's regiment, that went to Rhode Island in 1778. He was murdered Feb. 4, 1788, by Elisha Thomas, who had served as a private in Col. Tash's regiment in 1776.
2 The name of Blue Job is given to the highest part of the Blue Hill range in Farmington, from Job Allard, a former proprietor.
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
GEORGE'S CREEK. This creek, men- ioned in the Dover records of 1803, empties into the Cochecho river near Beach's soap-factory. See Plate's Hill. 4.109.
GERRISH'S BRIDGE. This is a well known bridge across Bellamy river in Madbury, below the Hook. A peti- tion for a bridge across Bellamy Bank freshet, " a little above Capt. Paul Gerrish's saw-mill," was made Oct. 12, 1756. This bridge is spoken of in 1787 as standing by " Benjamin Gerrish's corn-mill." Being long and high and difficult to keep in repair, Ger- rish's bridge is repeatedly mentioned in the town records of Madbury.
GERRISH'S MILLS. The first mills of this name were at the lowest falls in the Bellamy river. Capt. John Gerrish, through his wife, daughter of Major Richard Waldron, acquired one half of the water privilege here, Oct. 17, 1683, and became sole owner at a later day. At his death this property fell to his sons Timothy and Paul, who had two mills on the lower part of the Bellamy in 1719, and seem to have acquired exclusive pos- session of all the mill privileges on the river, within the limits of ancient Dover. (See Demerit's Mill and Bel- lamy Falls.)
Another Gerrish mill, frequently mentioned in the Dover and Madbury records, also stood on the Bellamy. It was in Madbury, below the Hook, directly southwest of Barbadoes Pond. A record of Jan. 7, 1758, speaks of it as " set up by Capt. Paul Gerrish and others." Among these was John Hanson, of Dover, who,
that same day, sold Daniel Hayes, of Madbury, one sixteenth part of this mill. " Log hill, adjacent to the mill," is spoken of in the deed of con- veyance. Agrist-mill was also erected here. One of these mills was swept away by a flood in 1798, and the other, June 24, 1799 ; but they were . both rebuilt soon after. Mrs. Sarah Meserve, of Dover, March 28, 1804, sold Daniel Hayes of Madbury, one twenty-fourth part of Gerrish's saw- mill-" the same," she says in her deed, " that was set up by my father, Benjamin Gerrish." Benjamin was the son of Paul. This saw-mill be- came a day-mill in time, and was taken down about 1833.
" The grist-mill and falls, with the privilege belonging to the same," were, in the early part of this century, acquired by Eli Demerit,1 who sold them at auction in 1832. This mill is now gone. The dam was removed in 1865 by the Messrs. Sawyer of Dover, who had acquired control of all the mill privileges on the Bellamy.
GILES'S CREEK. This creek, the first below Stevenson's, on the sonth side of Oyster river, is mentioned May 26, 1719, when James Davis, son of Moses, and Mary his wife, daughter of Bartholomew Stevenson, sold James Langley fifteen acres of land granted Joseph Stevenson March 19, 1693-4, beginning at an oak tree near the highway that goeth from a creek called Giles's creek, thence E. S. E. to a pine tree by the pen.2 This name, now discontinued, was derived from Matthew Gyles, who was taxed
1 This Eli Demerit was the great-grandson of the Eli who built the first saw-mill at Bellamy Hook.
2 Several "pens " are mentioned in the neighborhood of Durham Point and Lubberland. A tract of four acres called " the Pen," on the north side of the road to Durham Point, originally part of the parsonage land, was conveyed to Valentine Mathes by Robert Mathes, May 3, 1832.
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
at Dover in 1648. He died before June 30, 1668, when his estate was divided between Richard Knight and Matthew Williams. His land was afterwards acquired by William Pit- man, whose son Francis sold it to Edward Wakeham, May 2, 1695. The deed of conveyance describes it as " situate and lying, and being in ye place known by ye name of Gile's old field, lying between two creeks." (See Wakeham's Creek.)
GILMORE'S POINT. This point is on the upper shore of Oyster river, between the Smith land and the mouth of Bunker's creek. It was so named from James Gilmore, who lived in that vicinity the middle of last cen- tury. He seems to have married Deborah, widow of Joseph Smith, who died before Ap. 3, 1766. James Gilmore conveyed to Daniel Smith, July 23, 1792, the whole share that fell to Samuel Smith out of that part of his father Joseph Smith's estate that was set off to his mother Debo- rah Gilmore for her thirds. Daniel Smith married Mary Gilmore Dec. 7, 1780. This tract is now owned by Mr. Geo. Fowler.
GOAT ISLAND. This island is in the Pascataqua river, a little below the mouth of Oyster river, and, like Rock island, belongs to Newington. Wm. Pomfrett, the 5th, 5 mo., 1652, had the grant of "one island, lying in the river that runneth toward Oyster river, commonly called by the name of Gooett Iland, having Seder (Cedar) point on the north, and Red- ding Point on the east and Fox poynt on the southwestward." William Pom- frett gave this island to his grandson, Wm. Dam. "William Damme of Dover," and wife Martha, Aug. 5,
1702, gave their son Pomfrett Dam the island " commonly called and known by ye name of Goat Island, lying between Fox point and ye neck of land formerly granted unto Mr. Valentine Hill, deceased." In the ap- praisal of the estate of Samuel Dam, Ap. 18, 1751, mention is made of "one small island of about three acres, called Goat Island," valued 20 €. It is also mentioned in the in- ventory of Timothy Emerson's estate in 1755, and valued 60 €. It now be- longs to Mr. Cyrus Frink and others.
According to Dame's map of New- ington, Goat island is 48 rods long. At the west end it is 11 rods wide. Its greatest width is 12 rods, whence it tapers to the east end, where it is only 2 rods wide. This island was one of the links in the old Pascataqua bridge. On it was built the " Pascat- aque-bridge tavern " before Oct. 24, 1794, on which day the agents of the Bridge Co. advertised it " to be let," describing it as " a new, commodious, double house, with a large, conven- ient stable, and a well that afforded an ample supply of water in the dry- est season." This tavern was burned down many years ago, and no build- ings now remain on the island. There is another Goat Island in the Pascat- aqua river, off the Kittery shore.
GODDARD'S CREEK. This creek is on the southern shore of Lubberland, and was, till 1870, one of the bound- aries between Durham and New- market, and, of course, between Strafford and Rockingham counties. The dividing line, when perambulated March 4, 1805, " from Lampreyeel River Bridge to the great bay," began " at the picked rock under said bridge, and ran S. 56}° E. 264 rods, to the
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
head of Goddard's creek, so called, thence by the channel of said creek to the mouth at the bay aforesaid."
The name of this creek was derived from John Goddard, one of Capt. Mason's colonists, who came over with Henry Jocelyn and others in the Pied Cow, in 1634, and arrived at Newichawannock July 13, where he aided in erecting a saw-mill and corn- mill. (Tuttle's Capt. John Mason, p. 325.) He acquired land on the creek that afterwards took his name Sept. 22, 1647, when Joseph Miller conveyed to him the house where Miller then lived, together with 30 acres of marsh on the west side of Great Bay, near the Great Cove, and 100 acres of land on the west side of said marsh, all of which had been originally granted to Thomas Lark- ham. John Goddard died before June 27, 1667, on which day the in- ventory of his estate was made. "The old way from Lamprill-river falls to John Godder's," is mentioned the 28th, 2 mo., 1664, in the laying out of a road from said falls to the Great Bay. His creek is mentioned June 25, 1675, when all of Lamprey river neck was conveyed to Peter Coffin, extending from the head of " John Goddar's creek " to the head of tide water below Lamprey river falls, where Mr. Hill's works stood. An error having been made in laying out " a lot at Lubberland for old Richard York," and the old return being lost, the bounds were renewed Dec. 11, 1683, beginning at a marked tree by the creek called Goddard's creek, and running N. N. W. 60 poles to a val- ley or gutter, etc. Four acres of thatch-ground on the south side of " Gothard's creek," joining the south
side of " Lampreel river neck," were granted Wm. Furber, Sr., June 23, 1701.
This creek is called Lubberland creek March 10, 1740-41, when Samp- son Doe of the parish of Newmarket, in the town of Exeter, conveyed to his son Samuel, one fourth of a piece of salt marsh and flats in " ye creek commonly called Lubberland creek." There appears to have been a mill on this creek in early times. "Samson Doe" conveyed to Nathaniel Doe, Ap. 22, 1742, his land and marsh " between ye fence and Goddard's creek, from ye old mill, so called, up to an elm tree at Drisco's field."
GOLDING'S BRIDGE. Mentioned Dec. 21, 1721, when Maturin Ricker's grant in the " Trunnel country " was laid out to his son Joseph on the "east side of a way that leads from Quamphegan to goldins bridge." This name may be a corruption of Good- ing. Maturin and Hannah Ricker Aug. 29, 1721, conveyed to Richard Gooding 12 acres, part of a 20 acre grant to Joshua Cromwell, and laid out to said Maturin Dec. 14, 1720, on the north side of the way from Cochecho to Salmon falls, and two acres more on the south side of said way, beginning at an elm tree stand- ing by a bridge. This was no doubt Golding or Ricker's bridge. (See Fresh Creek Woods.)
Maturin Ricker conveyed to Ger- shom Wentworth, Oct. 27, 1729, twelve acres of land on the easterly side of the road from Cochecho to Salmon falls, beginning at an elm tree near a certain bridge called Rick- er's bridge, and running S. by E. to Joseph Ricker's fence, and thence easterly to Jeremiah Rawlin's fence.
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