USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire as it is. In three parts. Part I. A historical sketch of New hampshire. Part II. A gazetter of New Hampshire. Part III. A general view of New Hampshire. Together with the constitution of the State > Part 12
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Statistics of Labor. - The number of persons engaged in the following pursuits is, carriage manufactory, 340;
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in trade, 300 ; on railroads and depots, 270; shoemakers estimated at 200; makers of musical instruments, 52 ; printing and publishing, 60; bookbinding, 16 ; on granite quarry, 30 ; furnace and iron foundery, 24 ; manufacturers of cotton goods, 200 ; woollen do., 50 ; harness and trunk, 27 ; professional men, 71.
About 500 men are engaged in the occupations common to New England towns. There is a large number of house builders, painters, masons, &c. There are in this town 20 grist and sawmills. An idle man or a gentleman of leisure is a curiosity in Concord.
Manufacturing. - The manufacture of coaches and car- riages has been carried on extensively for several years, formerly by the firm of Downing & Abbott, latterly by several companies. The fame of Abbott & Co. and Down- ing & Co. is widespread. Their work, it is admitted, is unrivalled. All kinds of carriages are sent from their shops to every state in the Union, to Canada, Australia, Mex- ico, and South America. The establishments of Messrs. Ingalls, Griffin, & Titcombe are of recent date, though in good repute. The number of men employed by Abbott & Co. is 200. They manufacture annually 800 carriages of all sorts. Amount of sales per annum, $150,000. Cap- ital invested, $100,000. The number of men employed by Downing & Co. is 80; by Griffin, 30; by Ingalls, 25; by Titcombe, 5.
The manufacture of boots and shoes is carried on to a considerable extent, but mostly by private individuals or small firms. The number engaged in this branch of in- dustry, as near as can be ascertained, is 200.
The manufacture of musical instruments is an important branch of industrial pursuit in Concord. There are three firms engaged in this business - viz., Prescott & Brothers,
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employing 20 men ; Liscombe & Dearborn, employing 14 men ; Charles Austin, who employs 18 men.
Bookbinding. - Messrs. Merrill & Merriam employ 6 men ; Morrill & Silsby employ 6 men ; Crawford & Co. employ 4 men.
About a mile north from the city is the quarry from which was taken the stone for the construction of the State House. Several grand edifices in our southern cities have been constructed of granite taken from this quarry. Means have recently been taken to enlarge the business.
The manufacture of cotton goods is carried on in the vil- lage of Fisherville, in the northern part of Concord. The woollen manufactory is in the West Parish.
Distinguished Men. - Rev. TIMOTHY WALKER came with the first settlers to Concord - then Pennacook - in 1726, and was the settled pastor of the Congregational church until his death. During the 52 years of his minis- try here his labors were attended with abundant success. He was possessed of more than ordinary intellectual pow- ers - was enterprising and active. Wise in his counsels, prudent in his management, and full of the purest patriot- ism, he was eminently the man for his time and place. He lived to behold the triumph of American arms ; and when the news of the final defeat of the British at Yorktown was conveyed to him, he exclaimed, " It is enough ! ' Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.'"
Hon. TIMOTHY WALKER, son of the Rev. Timothy Walker, was born in 1737, graduated at Harvard in 1756, was intrusted with various civil offices by his townsmen, and in 1776 was one of the committee of safety for the state. During the war he commanded a company of min- ute men, was subsequently paymaster of the state forces, and served in a campaign under General Sullivan. He was
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member of the convention which framed our constitution in 1784, was for several years afterwards a member of the legislature, and for a long period sustained the office of chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1822.
BENJAMIN THOMPSON, afterwards known as Count Rum- ford, was for many years a resident of Concord, and mar- ried a daughter of Rev. Timothy Walker. In 1775 he went to England, and was a clerk in the office of an Eng- lish nobleman, who, pleased with his fidelity and capacity for business, procured for him a colonel's commission. He served in the British armies until 1784, when, his philo- sophical inquiries having attracted attention in foreign countries, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant gen- eral of horse in the service of the Duke of Bavaria. Here he distinguished himself in effecting discipline and econo- my among the troops, and in his efforts in the public ser- vice accomplished much in behalf of the poor. On leav- ing the service, the duke honored him with the title of count. He afterwards visited England, where he received the honor of knighthood. He died in France in 1814.
Hon. ISAAC HILL came to Concord in 1808, and com- menced life as a journeyman printer. He soon became ed- itor of a political paper, and for many years wielded a pow- erful influence throughout the state. He filled the offices of state senator, senator in Congress, and governor of New Hampshire. He was an enterprising and benevolent man, contributing liberally to the various benevolent and reli- gious institutions of his adopted town. He died in 1850.
Ex-Governor KENT, of Maine, who filled with great ability several important offices, was a native of Concord.
The President of the United States, FRANKLIN PIERCE, had been, for many years previous to the time of his en-
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tering upon the duties of his office as chief magistrate of this Union, a resident of Concord, and an active promoter of all its interests.
Population. - Until some eight years past, the increase of population was gradual ; but since that time there has been a rapid advance, as will be seen by inspecting the census returns. In 1840 the population was 4987; in 1850, 8584 ; in 1854, it is estimated at 10,400.
In March, 1853, the town of Concord adopted a city charter. This was long and violently opposed, principally from a belief that taxes would thereby be greatly increased. Experience, however, has proved otherwise, and the pru- dence of the measure is now almost universally admitted. Concord is one of the most healthy towns in the Union. Probably there is not another city of the same population whose bill of mortality would present so favorable an indi- cation of general health and longevity. This is doubtless owing to its beautiful location and the enterprise and in- dustry of the people.
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CONWAY, Carroll county. Bounded north by Chatham, east by Brownfield and Fryeburg, Maine, south by Eaton and Madison, and west by Madison and Albany. Area, 23,040 acres. Distance from Concord, 72 miles, north. Swift River, a large and rapid stream, Pequawkett River, and a stream flowing from Walker's Pond, discharge them- selves into Saco River in this town. Saco River here is about 12 rods wide, and on an average 2 feet deep ; its current is rapid and broken by falls. This river has been known to rise 27, and in a few instances 30, feet in 24 hours. The largest collections of water are Walker's Pond and Pequawkett Pond ; the latter is about 360 rods in cir- cumference. Pine, Rattlesnake, and Green Hills are the
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most considerable elevations in this town, situated on the north-eastern side of the river. On the southern side of Pine Hill is a detached block of granite, or bowlder, which is probably the largest in the state -an immense fragment, but which doubtless owes its present position to some vio- lent action of Nature. A spring near the centre of the town, on the bank of Cold Brook, discharges water strongly impregnated with sulphur, which has proved beneficial in some cases to invalids.
Considerable quantities of magnesia and fuller's earth have been found in various localities. The soil is interval, plain, and upland. . The interval along the river varies from 50 to 220 rods in width, and was originally covered with white pine and rock maple. The plain land, when well cultivated, produces abundant crops of corn and rye. The upland is rocky and uneven, and to cultivate it with success requires long and patient labor.
There are in this town 5 hotels, 10 stores, 1 lathe man- ufactory, and 1 paper mill. The Congregational church was established here in 1778. Rev. Nathaniel Porter, D. D., was settled in October of the same year. The Bap- tist church was formed in 1796. Rev. Richard R. Smith was ordained in the same year. He was succeeded by Rev. Roswell Means in 1799. There is also a society of Free- will Baptists.
This town was settled, in 1764, '65, and '66, by James and Benjamin Osgood, John Dolloff, Ebenezer Burbank, and others. On the 1st of October, 1765, Daniel Foster obtained a grant of this township on condition that each grantee should pay a rent of one ear of Indian corn annu- ally, for ten years, if demanded.
Population, 1769. Number of legal voters in 1854, 458. Amount of inventory, $423,045. Value of lands,
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improved and unimproved, $171,597. Number of sheep, 1017. Do. neat stock, 1660. Do. horses, 267.
CORNISH, Sullivan county. Bounded north by Plain- field, east by Croydon, south by Claremont, and west by Windsor, Vermont. Area, 23,160 acres. Distance from Concord, 50 miles, north-west; from Newport, 13. This town is watered in its western limits by the Connecticut River, over which a bridge connects with Windsor. The soil is generally fertile, and adapted to the growth of the grains, fruits, and vegetables generally raised throughout the state. The town is hilly, with the exception of that part which lies on the river. On Bryant's Brook specimens of silver ore have been found; also, on the bottom and along the margin of the brook, spruce-yellow paint is obtained in considerable quantities. Good limestone occurs in various locations. Crystals of red oxide of titanium have been discovered in this town. These are valued highly by jewellers, who sell them under the name of Venus hair stone.
There are in this town two hotels and two stores. The people are generally engaged in agricultural pursuits. Sever- al farms in this town are under excellent cultivation. This town was granted, June 21, 1763, to Rev. Samuel McClin- tock and 69 others. It was settled in 1765 by emigrants chiefly from Sutton, Massachusetts. When the first settlers arrived they found a camp, known for many years as the " Mast Camp," from its having been erected for a company engaged in procuring masts for the royal navy. Captain Daniel Putnam, a citizen highly esteemed, and for many years clerk of the town, came here in 1764. Cornish was one of the sixteen towns that seceded from New Hampshire and joined Vermont in 1778. During this year a conven-
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tion of delegates from several towns on both sides of the river met in this town.
A Congregational church was formed here in 1768. Rev. James Welman was the first minister. He was suc- ceeded in 1800 by Rev. Joseph Rowell. A Baptist church was formed here in 1791, and Rev. Ariel Kendrick was ordained in 1801. An Episcopalian society was formed in 1793. This society was incorporated, in 1795, under the name of "Trinity Church."
Population, 1606. Number of legal voters. in 1854, 386. Inventory, $584,644. Value of lands, improved and unimproved, $274,124. Amount of school fund, $580. Number of sheep, 6605. Do. neat stock, 1822. Do. horses, 368.
CROYDON, Sullivan county. Bounded north by Gran- tham, east by Springfield and Sunapee, south by Newport, and west by Cornish. Area, 26,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 44 miles, north-west. This town is very hilly and uneven, and its surface is in many places covered with huge masses of granite. Croydon Mountain stretches across the western part of the town, and is the highest elevation in Sullivan county. This town is well watered. It contains several ponds, the largest of which are Long Pond, Rocky Bound, Governor's and Spectacle Ponds. The north branch of Sugar River crosses it in a south-west- erly direction, dividing the town into two nearly equal parts. On this stream and its tributaries are some excellent mill seats. The soil, excepting the alluvial bordering upon Sugar River, has generally been considered stubborn and unproductive ; it, however, produces excellent grass, pota- toes, and wheat. This town enjoys the reputation of furnishing the very best qualities of butter and cheese.
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. Croydon was granted by charter to Samuel Chase, Ephraim Sherman, and 63 others, May 31, 1763. It was first settled, in 1766, by emigrants from Massachusetts. When the revolutionary war broke out, the inhabitants of this remote and sterile township were not idle and unconcerned spectators. No less than 55 of its citizens served in the war, several of whom laid down their lives in defence of their country.
A Congregational church was formed here September 9, 1778. In June, 1788, Rev. Jacob Haven was settled as pastor, who faithfully discharged the duties of his office until 1834. He died March 17, 1845, aged 82.
Population, 861. Number of legal voters, 215. Valu- ation, $264,520. Value of lands, improved and unim- proved, $153,672. Acres of improved land, 13,400. Bushels of potatoes, 14,285. Pounds of wool grown, 15,735. Do. of butter made, 50,970. Do. cheese, 1072. Do. maple sugar, 17,120. Capital invested in manufactur- ing, $17,700. Number of sheep, 3833. Do. neat stock, 1297. Do. horses, 188. .
DALTON, Coos county. Bounded north by Lancaster, east by Whitefield, south by Whitefield and Littleton, and west by Lunenburg, Vermont. Area, 16,455 acres. Distance from Concord, 125 miles, north ; from Lancaster, 8. The Fifteen Mile Falls in Connecticut River com- mence in this town, and flow tumultuously along its north-western border. This town is also watered by John's River and several large brooks. The western and southern parts are very uneven and hilly. The land originally was covered with a deep, heavy growth of maple, beech, birch, and ash. Along the borders of John's River the white pine is abundant. The soil on the highlands is deep and fertile,
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and in many places of easy cultivation. Blake's Pond lies at the south-east part of the town; it was named for a famous hunter, Moses Blake, who, with Walter Bloss, and their families, were the first settlers, and for many years were the only inhabitants.
There are two churches, -one Congregational and one Methodist, three hotels, two stores, and two saw mills, - one employing 20 men. This town was incorporated No- vember 4, 1784, and received its name from Hon. Tristam Dalton, a grantee.
Population, 750. Number of legal voters, 150. Valu- ation, $161,094. Value of lands, $91,877. Number of sheep, 889. Do. neat stock, 804. Do. horses, 141.
DANBURY, Grafton county. Bounded north by Grafton and Alexandria, east by Alexandria and Hill, south by Hill and Wilmot, and west by Wilmot and Grafton. Area, 19,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 30 miles, north- west ; from Plymouth 16, south-west. The shape of this town is that of a diamond. It is generally hilly and un- even. Along Smith's River, the only stream of note, is some very good interval. The soil is generally cold and sterile. The Northern Railroad passes through this town near its south-western border. There is in this town one Congregational society and one Methodist. There are three stores and one hotel. There is also a high school; average attendance, 60.
This town was first settled in November, 1771. It was incorporated in 1795. The first settlements were very gradual, and made in the easterly part of the town.
Population, 944. Number of legal voters, 251. Valu- ation, $217,031. Number of sheep, 2311. Do. neat stock, 1052. Do. horses, 146.
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DANVILLE, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Poplin, east by Kingston, south by Hempstead, and west by Sandown. Distance from Concord, 33 miles, south-east ; from Exeter, 10. Area, 7000 acres. The surface is uneven ; the soil generally light, but in some parts excellent. Squamscot River passes through the north-west corner of the town, and is the only stream of importance. Long Pond lies in the east part, and Cub Pond in the west. This town was formerly a part of Kingston, and was incorporated, February 22, 1760, under the name of Roake, in honor of a British admiral of that name. The first settlements were made in 1735, by Jonathan Sanborn, Jacob Hook, and others. Rev. John Page was ordained over the Congregational church here in 1763. He died of small pox January 29, 1782, aged 43 ; since that time no minister of that denom- ination has been settled. There is at present one Freewill Baptist society and one Methodist. This town received its present name in 1836. In 1775 it contained 300 more inhabitants than at any time since.
Population, 614. Number of legal voters in 1854, 155. Valuation, $196,587. Value of lands, improved and un- improved, $89,976. Number of sheep, 304. Do. neat stock, 454. Do. horses, 82.
DEERFIELD, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Northwood, east by Nottingham, south by Raymond and Candia, and west by Epsom. Area, 25,815 acres. Dis- tance from Concord, 18 miles, south-east ; from Portsmouth, 30, north-west. This town contains several ponds, which abound with fish. Pleasant Pond, a beautiful sheet of water, lies partly in this town and partly in Northwood. Its waters are very clear. Moulton's Pond, in the west part of the town, although small, is noted from the fact
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that it has no visible inlet ; its waters are supposed to be supplied by a subterranean passage. It has several times been sounded; but no bottom has yet been discovered. The outlets of this pond run in opposite directions - one in a northerly direction, discharging into Suncook Pond, in Epsom ; the other flowing into a branch of Limprey River, near the centre of the town. The surface of the town is uneven, diversified by large swells and intervening dales. The soil is durable and fertile. The growth of wood con- sists mainly of rock maple, white maple, beech, birch, red oak, and hemlock.
This town took its name from the fact that it abounded with numerous herds of deer, many of which, in its early settlement, were slain ; and while the petition for the char- ter of the town was pending before the General Court, a large fat buck was killed, and presented to Governor Went- worth by a Mr. Batchelder, and thus secured the act under the name of Deerfield. This town was first settled in 1756 and 1758 by John Robertson, Benjamin Batchelder, and others. The Pawtuckaway Mountains, lying on the line between this town and Nottingham, the summits of which are in the latter, consist of three distinct eleva- tions, rising somewhat abruptly from the shores of Round Pond, in Nottingham, and are known as the Upper, Mid- dle, and Lower Mountains. They are based on mica slate, which is rapidly decomposing, owing no doubt to the pres- ence of large quantities of iron pyrites. The farms on which the Messrs. Meloons reside in Deerfield are noted for the richness and strength of their soils, which consist of the natural deposits of the wash from the mountains. The highest of these mountains is 892 feet above the level of the sea. Saddleback Mountain, situated on the line between Deerfield and Northwood, consists of mica slate,
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and is elevated 1072 feet above the level of the sea. From the summit of this mountain, the ocean, which is 30 miles distant, may be distinctly seen with the naked eye in a clear day. It is a place of resort in the summer and fall months. Nottingham Mountain, bearing the name of the town from which Deerfield was taken, lies on the line be- tween this town and Epsom. On the southerly side of this mountain is a natural formation, for many years designated as "Indian Camp." It is a cave about 20 feet wide, 10 feet high, and 14 deep. In the back part is still another cavity, called the " Indian Oven," and is a refuge for wild animals. The sides of the camp are irregular, and the top is covered by a canopy of granite, projecting about 14 feet, and affording a shelter from the sun and rain. On the east side is a natural flight of stone steps, by which persons may easily ascend to the top of the ridge. There is a bed of iron ore in the south-easterly part of the town, which was formerly worked, but was found inadequate for practi- cal purposes. Iron ore, terra sienna, and particles of magnetic iron pyrites, disseminated in the rocks, are found in various localities, often rendering the management of the compass very difficult and perplexing. Near the shore of Pleasant Pond have been found fine specimens of black lead. In the town of Deerfield, for nearly twenty years past, there have been heard certain reports, or explosions, which appear to be subterraneous, and apparently of a vol- canic or gaseous nature. Sometimes the sound resembles the blasting of rocks or the report of distant cannon ; at other times it is more like the rumbling of a carriage driven furiously over frozen ground, accompanied with a tremulous motion and shake of the ground, and passing with the dip of the stratified rock, which is from a south- westerly to a north-easterly direction. In the fall of the
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year these sounds are more frequent ; and sometimes fifteen or twenty reports may be heard during a single day, and as many in the night. An investigation of the causes of these strange phenomena is now being made by the Hon. E. Merriam, an eminent geologist from New York.
The names of eighteen persons from this town who died in the revolutionary army are preserved. There are three religious societies in this town. The Congregational was formed in 1772, and Rev. Timothy Upham ordained. A Freewill Baptist society was formed in 1799. There is also a Calvinist Baptist society in this town. All these are in a flourishing condition. The sum of $1200 is appro- priated annually for the support of common schools, in addition to the proportion of the literary fund. There are two hotels, ten stores, eight grain and sawmills. There are four shoe manufactories, with a capital of about $12,000, in which nearly 300 persons are employed. There is also a convenient Town Hall, in which a high school is kept.
Population, 2022. Number of polls in 1854, 550. Do. legal voters, 537. Valuation, $555,251. Value of lands, improved and unimproved, $359,531. Number of sheep, 1345. Do. neat stock, 1974. Do. horses and mules, 368.
DEERING, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Hillsborough and Henniker, east by Weare, south by Francestown and Bennington, and west by Antrim. Area, 20,057 acres. Distance from Concord, 23 miles, south- west ; from Amherst, 22, north-west. This town is diver- sified with hill and valley; is well watered by numerous streams-too small, however, for manufacturing purposes to any extent. The soil is strong and productive. Dudley's Pond, near the north line, is 140 rods long and 50 wide. Peeker's Pond, near the centre of the town, is 180 rods
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long and 65 wide. In the north part of the town is a mine of plumbago, and supposed to be very valuable.
There are one clothing mill, one store, one grist and two sawmills, two hotels, and three wheelwright shops. There is one Congregational society, established in December, 1789, by Rev. Solomon Moore and Rev. Jonathan Barns. Rev. Messrs. Gillett, C. Page, and D. Long preached here, but were never settled. A second Congregational church was formed in 1801, and Rev. William Sleigh ordained the same year ; he was dismissed in 1807. There is also a Baptist and a Methodist society here.
This town was incorporated January 17, 1774. The name was given by the Hon. John Wentworth, in honor of his wife, whose name before marriage was Deering. The first permanent settlement was made in 1765, by Alexander Robinson. He was soon followed by William McKean, William Forsaith, Thomas Aiken, William Aiken, Francis Grimes, and others.
Population, 890. Houses, 179. Families, 194. Farms, 132. Value of lands, $268,480. Stock in trade, $2000. Inventory, $396,510. Number of polls, 208. Do. sheep, 1089. Do. neat stock, 1499. Do. horses, 183.
DERRY, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Au- burn and Chester, east by Sandown and Hampstead, south by Salem and Windham, and west by Londonderry. Dis- tance from Concord, 25 miles, south-east ; from Exeter, 18, south-west. This is an excellent township for grazing. The soil is productive, and well cultivated. This town contains some of the best farms in the region. The people are remarkable for their industry, general wealth, and longevity. The village in this town is pleasantly located, and presents a thriving, healthy appearance. Bea-
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ver Pond in this town is a beautiful sheet of water, one mile in length by 160 rods in width, nearly surrounded by gently rising hills, mostly covered with forest. There are in this town two academies - Pinkerton, with a fund of $16,000; and Adams Female Academy, with a fund of $4000. There are three religious societies in town, and a's many meeting houses - one Presbyterian, one Methodist, and one Congregational. The Manchester and Lawrence Railroad passes through this town. It was incorporated July 2, 1827, and originally formed a part of Londonderry. Population, 1850. Number of legal voters in 1854, 450. Amount of inventory, $668,861. Value of lands, $458,453. Number of sheep, 431. Do. neat stock, 1300. Do. horses, 278.
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