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 19
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Population, 906. Number of polls, 200. Inventory, $292,376. Number of sheep, 2446. Do. neat stock, 1029. Do. horses, 198.
LINCOLN, Grafton county. Bounded north by Franconia, east by Thornton and ungranted lands, south by Woodstock, and west by Landaff. Area, 32,456 acres. Distance from Concord, 70 miles, north ; from Haverhill, 20, east. The middle tract of the Pemigewasset passes nearly through the centre of the town. There are several ponds, the most important of which are Bog, Fish, and Loon Ponds. There are many elevations ; Kinsman's Mountain is the highest. This is a rough township, and the soil is poor. The crops are often injured by early frosts. Wild animals are abundant. There are numerous instances of land slips in this vicinity. They commence near the top of the mountain, and consist of vast avalanches of earth and mas- sive rocks, which slide downwards to its base, forcing their way against every impediment. This town was granted, January 31, 1764, to James Avery and others, but was not
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settled until the close of the revolution. Its population has increased but slowly. Many portions of the town seem to have been designed by Nature as a residence for creatures of habits different from those of man.
Population, 57. Number of polls, 19. Inventory, $21,158. Value of lands, $14,016.
LISBON, Grafton county. Bounded north by Littleton, east by Franconia, south by Landaff, and west by Lyman. Area, 29,130 acres. Distance from Concord, 89 miles, north ; from Haverhill, 20, north-east. It is watered. through its whole extent by the Lower Ammonoosuc River, which runs in a south-west direction, and by several other . small streams. Mink Pond, in the southern part, affords a few good mill seats at its outlet. The interval along the Ammonoosuc is very productive. The plain land has a light, thin soil, unproductive unless enriched with frequent dressing with manure. The upland is a strong, deep soil, affording many valuable farms for tillage and grazing. Blueberry Mountain is the principal elevation. Most of the iron ore which supplies the Franconia furnace is taken from veins in the south-eastern part of this town. Lime- stone exists in numerous localities, and in great abundance. Large quantities of maple sugar are made here annually. Lisbon was first granted, August 6, 1763, to Joseph Burt and others, under the name of Concord. It was afterwards granted to Leonard Whiting and others, November 20, 1768, under the name of Gunthwaite. Its former name was again resumed, and retained until 1817, when it re- ceived its present name.
Population, 1882. Number of polls, 372. Inventory, $436,285. Value of lands, $243,425. Stock in trade, $11,400. Number of sheep, 2818. Do. neat stock, 1839. Do. horses, 358.
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LITCHFIELD, Hillsborough county. Bounded north and east by Londonderry, south by Hudson, and west by Mer- rimack Area, 8426 acres. Distance from Concord, 30 miles, south ; from Amherst, 8, east. This is a small but remarkably fertile township. There is yet remaining con- siderable timber land of great value. Farming is almost the sole employment. The Merrimack washes its entire western border. This town was taken from Nashua, (then called Dunstable,) and incorporated by Massachusetts, in 1734. It was chartered by New Hampshire in 1749. It was formerly known by the name of Natticott. The set- tlement commenced in 1720. A Congregational church was formed in 1741. A Presbyterian. church was organ- ized in 1809, which is, at the present time, the only re- ligious society having a settled pastor.
Population, 447. Houses, 81. Families, 89. Farms, 55. Stores, 1. Mills, 3. Inventory, $229,363. Value of lands, $116,516. Stock in trade, $7290. Number of sheep, 249. Do. neat stock, 422. Do. horses, 56. Do. polls, 96.
LITTLETON, Grafton county. Bounded north by Dalton and Waterford, Vermont, east by Dalton and Bethlehem, south by Lisbon and Lyman, and west by Concord, Ver- mont. Area, 26,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 100 miles, north-west ; from Haverhill, 30, north. Connecti- cut River extends along the western border for 15 miles ; and so rapid is its course that it is impossible to ascend or descend in boats with safety. For several miles the water rushes almost like a cataract, foaming and dashing with fury over its rocky bed. Ammonoosuc River waters its southern part ; and along its banks are small patches of excellent m- terval. This river affords many very fine mill seats, sev- eral of which are occupied. The surface is in many parts
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uneven and rocky, but a large portion of the town is well adapted to tillage or grazing. Black, Iron, Palmer's, and Raspberry Mountains are the most considerable elevations. Large quantities of limestone are found in various locali- ties. Novaculite, or oilstone, is found in abundance. The oilstones are wrought and ground into proper shape, and sold for 25 cents per pound. It is a greenish and blue compact slate, with a fine siliceous grit. The quarry fur- nishes several kinds suitable for sharpening fine instru- ments and carpenters' tools of all kinds. It is very exten- sive, and of great value. The inhabitants are generally devoted to agriculture ; and many fine farms furnish un- mistakable proof that this pursuit is attended with skill and perseverance.
Considerable attention is paid to manufactures. There is a large woollen factory, in which about 75 operatives are employed ; an iron foundery and two machine shops, where 22 men are employed ; two sawmills, in which 10 men are employed ; one chair factory, cabinet, and carriage shop, in which 16 men are employed ; one sash and blind factory, furnishing employment for 10 men ; and one bedstead fac- tory, where 7 men are employed. There are also. thirteen stores, ten blacksmith shops, one extensive tannery, two meeting houses, and three hotels. The White Mountain House, recently erected, is a spacious, well-arranged, and handsomely finished building. The traveller may rest assured that here he will find a comfortable home. It is commodiously located on the route usually taken by visit- ors to the White Mountains and Franconia. H. S. Thayer proprietor.
The territory, including Littleton, was first granted, November 17, 1764, under the name of Chiswick. It waeregranted, January 18, 1770, by the name of Apthorp,
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and included Dalton. In November, 1784, it was divided, and the towns of Littleton and Dalton incorporated. A Congregational church was organized in 1803. There is also a Methodist society, numbering about 125 members. The White Mountain Railroad terminates here, and adds greatly to the mercantile facilities of this town, as well as to its general thrift and prosperity.
Population in 1854, 2148. Number of legal voters, 501. Valuation, $472,144. Value of lands, $267,296. Stock in trade, $14,450. Do: mills, factories, and ma- chinery, $16,500. Number of sheep, 2081. Do. neat stock, 1757. Do. horses, 353.
ยท LONDONDERRY, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Manchester and Auburn, east by Derry and Windham, south by Hudson, and west by Litchfield. It originally included 64,000 acres ; but several towns have since been taken from it. The largest stream is Beavers' River, issuing from Beavers' Pond -a beautiful sheet of water, nearly cir- cular in form, and about 300 rods in diameter. This town contains but very little waste land. The soil is unusually fertile and easy of cultivation. There are no high hills, ex- tensive plains, swamps, or stagnant waters of any consider- able extent. Its surface is varied by gentle swells and intervening vales. The healthfulness of its location is indicated by the longevity of the inhabitants. The village is very pleasantly located on a slight elevation. There are three meeting houses, - belonging respectively to the Pres- byterian, Baptist, and Methodist societies, - six stores, and two shoe manufactories.
This town was settled, in 1719, by a colony of Presby- terians from Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, whither their ancestors had emigrated from Scotland about the year
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1616. On the 11th of April, 1719, sixteen families, with the Rev. James McGregore, their pastor, took possession of this township, which was then called Nutfield. In 1720 they purchased a tract of land from Colonel John Wheel- wright, whose ancestor had purchased the same, together with other lands, from the Indians. Although this was long a frontier town, the inhabitants were never molested by the Indians. The proprietors of Londonderry received a grant of the tract on which they had located, and a charter of incorporation, June 1, 1722. The early settlers were generally farmers -intelligent, prudent, and of sound judg- ment. None were rich, but most were possessed of suf- ficient property to enable them to make an easy start and rapid progress in the improvement of their lands. They introduced the culture of the potato, a vegetable hitherto unknown in New England; and it was not until many years after this that, if a farmer laid by three bushels of - potatoes for his winter stock, he regarded this meagre quantity, as we should now term it, as more than sufficient for his wants. They also introduced the manufacture of linen cloth, which was for many years a source of no small profit.
A company of 70 men from this town, under the com- mand of Captain George Reid, were in the battle at Bunker's Hill; and about the same number were in that at Benning- ton, where Captain David McClary, one of their leaders, a brave and noble-hearted officer, was killed. The celebrated Major General John Stark and Colonel George Reid, officers of the revolutionary army, were natives of this town.
Joseph M. Keen, D. D., the first president of Bowdoin College, Arthur Livermore, Jonathan Steele, and Samuel Bell, judges of the Superior Court, the latter of whom
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was governor of New Hampshire from 1819 to 1823, were also natives of Londonderry. Among the descend- ants of the early settlers are Hon. Jeremiah Smith, chief justice of the Superior Court; Generals Miller and McNeil, distinguished officers in the war of 1812; Mat- thew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; and John Prentice, for several years attor- ney general of the state.
Population, 1731. Number of legal voters in 1854, 453. Do. common schools, 11. Inventory, $557,150. Value of lands, $275,055. Stock in trade, $3400. Money on deposit, &c., $29,701. Number of sheep, 328. Do. neat stock, 1200. Do. horses, 220.
LOUDON, Merrimack county. Bounded north-west by Canterbury, north-east by Gilmanton, south-east by Chi- chester, and south-west by Concord. Area, 28,257 acres. Distance from Concord, about 10 miles, north-east. Sou- cook River, running in a southerly direction through this town, affords several valuable mill privileges. There is considerable good interval along its banks. The soil is various. The natural growth of timber is maple, beech, pine, oak, and chestnut. Soucook village is the seat of the principal business. Loudon was formerly a part of Canterbury, from which it was taken and incorporated January 23, 1773. Settlements had been made, in 1760, by Moses Ordway and Abraham and Jethro Bachelder. A Congregational society was established here in 1784. There is also a Methodist and a Freewill Baptist society.
Population, 1553. Number of polls, 411. Inventory, $590,890. Value of lands, $276,741. Stock in trade, $4500. Money on deposit, &c., $34,551. Number of sheep, 1830. Do. neat stock, 2074. Do. horses, 302.
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LYMAN, Grafton county. Bounded north by Littleton, east by Lisbon, south by Bath, and west by Monroe. Dis- tance from Concord, 90 miles, north ; from Haverhill, 13, north. There are several ponds in this town, through the largest of which Burnham's River flows. The lower por- tion of the Fifteen Mile Falls is in Lyman. The soil is generally good for the grains and grass. The inhabit- ants are a sober, industrious, and enterprising people. This town was granted, November 10, 1761, to several individuals, among whom Daniel Lyman was conspicuous. From him the township received its name. From the first three families that settled here were 20 sons, 19 of whom lived to a great age.
Population, 1442. Inventory, $357,229. Number of polls, 305.
LYME, Grafton county. Bounded north by Orford, east by Dorchester, south by Hanover, and west by Thetford, Vermont. Area, 28,500 acres. Distance from Concord, 54 miles, north-west ; from Haverhill, 20, south. There are three small streams passing through Lyme, and dis- charging into the Connecticut River, upon one of which has been erected within a few years a large and valuable gristmill. Scarcity of water is provided against by several large reservoirs, built at great expense, by means of which abundance of water is obtained in the dryest seasons. The soil is different from that of other towns on Connecticut River in the proportion of interval, which is far less, the lands adjacent to the river being similar to those of other parts of the town. The most considerable elevation is Smart's Mountain, in the north-east part. Beds of lime- stone, of the granular, crystalline variety, are found in sev- eral locations, associated with which are large quantities of
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massive garnet, with crystals of hornblende. Some of these beds are six feet in thickness. A very curious mixture of granular quartz with carbonate of lime has been discovered. It exists in exhaustless quantities, and is highly valuable for the manufacture of plate or window glass. Very hand- some specimens of black tourmaline, or crystallized sulphu- ret of antimony, have been found in different parts of the town. Between the east and west villages is an extensive deposit of clay marl, of inestimable value for agricultural purposes. Lyme is a very fine farming town. It has been celebrated for many years for its large wheat crops and its numerous and superior flocks of sheep. The people are industrious, and generally independent. The principal village, which is pleasantly situated, is remarkable for the neatness and order which generally prevail.
Lyme was incorporated, July 8, 1761, and granted to Theodore Atkinson and others. It was settled, May 20, 1764, by Walter Fairfield, John and William Sloan, and others. The Congregational church was organized in 1772.
Population, 1618. Number of polls, 362. Inventory, $591,615. Value of lands, $352,210. Stock in trade, $12,650. Value of mills, $7125. Money on deposit, $51,615. Number of sheep, 13,176. Do. neat stock, 1414. Do. horses, 317.
LYNDEBOROUGH, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Greenfield, Francestown, and New Boston, east by Mount Vernon and Milford, south by Milford, Wilton, and Temple, and west by Temple and Greenfield. Area, 20,767 acres. Distance from Concord, 35 miles, south ; from Amherst, 10, west. This is an elevated township. A mountain range of considerable height divides it from east to west. The soil is stony, but deep and strong. For 24
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grazing, it is doubtless unequalled by any town in the county. The streams are small, originating mostly from springs within the town. The village, though small, is pleasantly situated on the banks of Piscataquog River.
Lyndeborough was originally granted, by Massachusetts, to Captain Samuel King and 59 others, who were engaged in the Canada expedition in 1690. It was then called Salem Canada, from the circumstance that many of those belonging to the expedition were from Salem. In 1753 Benjamin Lynde, Esq., purchased a considerable portion of the township and adjoining lands. It was incorporated April 23, 1764, and received its name from him. It was settled in 1750. A Congregational church was formed here in 1757. There is also a Baptist society, which has occasional preaching.
Population, 968. Houses, 199. Families, 203. Farms, 123. Inventory, $385,083. Value of lands, $204,946. Stock in trade, $5755. Number of sheep, 483. Do. neat stock, 1065. Do. horses, 171. Do. polls, 227.
MADBURY, Strafford county. Bounded north-east by Dover, south-west by Durham and Lee, and north-west by Barrington. This is a small, triangular-shaped town, con- taining about 12 square miles. Distance from Concord, 36 miles, south-east ; from Dover, 3, south. Its extreme easterly point extends to the tidewater of a branch of the Piscataqua. The soil is generally productive. In the valleys it consists of a proportion of clay, on the uplands of a mixture of sand and loam. Bog iron ore and red and yellow ochre exist in several localities and in considerable quantities. Bellamy Bank River is the only stream of im- portance, and Barbadoes Pond the only considerable body of water. This town originally constituted a part of Dover,
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but was set off from it and incorporated May 31, 1755. Agriculture is almost the only industrial pursuit.
Population, 484. Number of polls, 117. Inventory, $180,978. Value of lands, $120,150. Do. mills, $300. Money on deposit, &c., $11,499. Number of sheep, 338. Do. neat stock, 537. Do. horses, 88.
MADISON, Carroll county. Bounded north by Albany, east by Conway and Eaton, south by Freedom, and west by Tamworth. Distance from Concord, 64 miles, north- east ; from Ossipee, about 20, north. The surface is uneven, and in some parts rocky ; the soil is generally good. Six Mile Pond is the largest body of water. There is one meeting house, which belongs to the Freewill Bap- tist society. There are four stores and one hotel. This town was formerly a part of Eaton, and was set off from it and incorporated December 17, 1852. It is divided into nine school districts.
Population, about 840. Number of legal voters, 200.
MANCHESTER, Hillsborough county, lies on the east side of Merrimack River, which forms its western boundary for a distance of nine miles ; Hooksett touches it upon the north, Auburn upon the east, and Londonderry upon the south. Massabesick Lake lies partly in this town and partly in Auburn. This is a beautiful sheet of water, studded with islands, and affording some of the finest pros- pects in this part of the state. It is divided into two nearly equal parts by a narrow strait, which is crossed by a bridge ; each of these parts is about three miles long by one wide. It is a favorite resort as well with strangers as with those living in its vicinity. The soil is generally light, sandy, and unproductive. Had Manchester depended
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for its prosperity upon its agricultural resources, instead of enjoying the honor of having the largest and most flourish- ing city in the state within its limits, its rank would have been with the lowest class of towns. But while such astonishing progress has been made within a few years through the impulse given to almost every department of business, that attention which agriculture justly merits, as the foundation of every other enterprise, has by no means been forgotten.
The Amoskeag Falls, between Manchester and Goffs- town, are the largest on the Merrimack. In the ordinary stage of the water, the fall to the foot of the locks is 47 feet, and the whole fall in the space of a mile is 54 feet, furnishing power sufficient to run several hundred thousand spindles. This almost incalculable force is the nurse of the vigorous city which, though still in its youth, is the first in the Granite State; the largest in population; the most varied, extensive, and prolific in productive industry ; and among the cotton manufacturing districts in New England, it stands second only to Lowell. At the head of the Amoskeag Falls a stone dam has been constructed, on the east side of which guard gates of the most substantial masonry are built, through which the water passes into a spacious reservoir, or basin, connected with the upper canal, for the use of the mills, and with the Amoskeag Canal, which was built in 1816 for the purposes of navigation. The upper canal is 4950 feet long, 75 wide at the reser- voir, from which it is gradually diminished to 45 feet, is 10 feet deep, and is walled throughout with stone. The lower canal, which is the old Amoskeag Canal, is 7500 feet in length, corresponding in its other dimensions and construction with the upper canal. The fall from the upper canal into the lower is 20 feet; from the lower to
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the river, from 20 to 30 feet. The water power thus secured is estimated to be sufficient to drive 216,000 spin- dles, together with all other machinery necessary to com- plete the manufacture of cloth. The rapid fall of the river below prevents all obstructions from backwater. The falls are truly a curiosity of Nature. The width of the river is greatly increased, and is divided into several streams by numerous small islands. The water rushes through the various channels over a rugged bottom with great velocity, and the sound it produces is heard at a great distance. At the upper part, near the greatest fall, circu- lar holes of various sizes have been worn perpendicularly into the solid rock several feet, some of which are nearly 10 feet in diameter. It is said that the Indians, in time of war, concealed their provisions in these holes. Various kinds of tools used by the aborigines, such as axes, chisels, arrowheads, gouges, &c., have been discovered in the vicinity ; also skeletons and parts of the human frame have been dug up here, rendering it probable that the spot was a frequent resort of the Indians.
Manchester was incorporated, September 3, 1751, under the name of Derryfield. It was taken from Londonderry, Chester, and a portion of a tract called Harrytown. It received its present name in 1810. In 1822 its population amounted to 761 ; in 1830, it was 887; in 1840, 3325 ; in 1850, 13,933 ; in 1854, 19,897.
The city of Manchester was incorporated in June, 1846. Its present mayor is Frederic Smyth ; city clerk, George A. French. The city proper is divided into six wards. Its council and officers generally are the same as those in similar corporations. It is laid out in nearly square form, being the longest from north to south. The streets are 24 *
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regular and broad. The western portion is built almost exclusively of brick ; while the eastern abounds in wooden structures, many of which are elegant and tasteful resi- dences. It is situated on a plain, about 90 feet above the river, the boarding houses of the corporations occupying the slope towards the canals. The principal street, (Elm,) which may be termed the Broadway of Manchester, is 100 feet in width, extends more than a mile north and south, and presents an attractive and lively aspect. Four large squares have been laid out in different parts of the city, handsomely enclosed, and decorated with trees. In two of them are ponds of considerable size, which serve the double purpose of ornament and as reservoirs in case of fires. More particular notice will be given of the squares under the appropriate head.
The public cemetery, called the Valley, including an area of 25 acres, and situated a short distance from the city, is truly a beautiful spot. Notwithstanding its vicinity to the city, yet such is the natural formation of the adjacent grounds that a solitude both agreeable and appropriate, and which tends rather to impress the mind of the visitor with a sense of the intimate relations of the departed with the living, pervades its charming though sacred walks, and, for the time, shuts out from the not unwilling heart all consciousness of the bustle and activity of the gay and crowded streets. The surface is somewhat broken, afford- ing a pleasing variety of plain, woodland, lawn, and sloping declivity. A deep valley divides the enclosure, at the bot- tom of which a running stream winds its way, with gentle lullaby, to the busy waters of the noble Merrimack. It is laid out with winding paths and broad avenues, richly adorned with shade trees and shrubbery. It is always a
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place of resort, and is justly a source of pride to those who have so admirably succeeded in 'clothing with beauty and attraction the last home of mortals.
Religious Societies. - First Methodist Episcopal society - organized in 1829 ; house in Manchester Centre ; Rev. Elijah P. Wilkins, pastor. Elm Street Methodist society - chapel on Elm Street ; cost $16,000; Elisha Adams pastor. Universalist society - organized in 1839; house on Lowell Street ; cost $11,000; B. M. Tillotson pastor. First Congregational society - incorporated in 1839 ; house on Hanover Street ; cost $6500; C. W. Wallace pastor. First Baptist society - organized in 1839 ; house on Man- chester Street ; cost $7000; Isaac Sawyer pastor. Free- will Baptist society - organized in 1839 ; house on Merri- mack Street ; cost $5000. Unitarian society - organized in 1840 ; house on Merrimack Street, corner of Union ; Francis Le Barron pastor. Saint Michael's Church, Epis- copal - organized in 1841; church on Lowell Street, corner of Pine ; I. G. Hubbard rector. Franklin Street Church, Second Congregational society - organized in 1844 ; house on Franklin Street ; cost $11,000; Samuel C. Bartlett pastor. Second Baptist society - house on Elm Street ; cost $8000 ; J. M. Coburn pastor. Catho- lic church - erected in 1850 ; house on Union, corner of Merrimack Street ; cost $16,000. Wesleyan Methodist society - organized in 1849 ; meetings in Patten's Hall ; Thomas Latham pastor. Free Church - house erected by City Missionary Society in 1851; cost $2000; T. P. Sawin pastor.
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