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 22
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
date about 3000 spindles. The company will then have in operation more than 40,000 spindles.
An operatives' library and savings institution are con- nected with this company.
The Jackson Company employ about 450 hands, use 4000 bales of cotton, and make about 5,000,000 yards of cloth yearly. The present agent is Pliny Lawton; R. W. Lane clerk. Incorporated in 1830. Mill number 1 has 6656 spindles and 206 looms, and manufactures number 14 sheeting, 37 and 46 inches wide. Mill number 2 is also employed in the manufacture of sheetings and 30 inch shirtings, and runs 5888 spindles and 188 looms. There are thirty-seven tenements for boarding purposes and for the agent and clerk. The company have an ample saw and gristmill connected with their dam, rented by Roby, McQuesten, & Co. An extensive improvement is now being made by this company. A new mill, 3 stories high, and 284 by 48 feet, is in progress of erection. It is to be used for weaving and dressing. Another building, now nearly completed, will be divided into a counting room, re- pair shop, and cloth room. It will be 200 by 40 feet, and 2 stories high.
The Nashua Iron Company commenced operations in 1848. Daniel H. Dearborn superintendent ; Franklin Munroe clerk. Capital, $100,000. This company carry on the forging business, and manufacture car axles, shaft- ing, bowling locomotive tires, and all kinds of wrought- iron shapes. Employ 75 hands.
Edge Tool Company - G. W. Underhill superintendent of works ; T. G. Banks, Jr., clerk. Manufacture all kinds of edge tools. The works are operated by a new wheel of 100 horse power, called the jonval turbine. Employ 70
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
hands. Located on Salmon Brook, one mile and a half from the City Hall.
Nashua Gaslight Company. In the autumn of 1853 the gasworks went into operation. The buildings are sit- uated near the Concord Railroad, south of the river. The entire works are built in a thorough and substantial style. Capital, $75,000. W. D. Clerk agent ; Henry O. Winch clerk.
Bobbin and Shuttle Manufactory - Josephus Baldwin proprietor. Manufacture all kinds of bobbins and shut- tles. Number of hands employed, 200.
Universal Screw Chuck - newly invented, and manu- factured by E. B. White. This is so constructed as to be applicable in centric or eccentric work, and is pronounced a valuable improvement.
Machinists' Tools -J. H. Gage, D. A. G. Warner, and G. W. Whitney proprietors ; J. P. S. Otterson clerk. Manufacture tools, steam engines, &c. Employ 60 hands.
Nashua Iron Company - Williams, Bird, & Co. pro- prietors. Commenced operations in 1845. Capital, $40,- 000. Furnish castings of every description. Employ 60 hands. Consume 1500 tons of iron and 500 tons of coal per annum.
Sewing Machine Manufactory - T. W. Gillis and A. Taylor proprietors. Employ 100 hands.
Stove Foundery and Tinware Manufactory - Hartshorn, Ames, & Co. proprietors, Employ 50 hands.
Bedstead Manufactory - E. G. Sears & Co. Employ 25 hands,
Plain, Enamelled, Colored, Card, and Fancy Paper Man- ufactory - Gage, Murray, & Co. proprietors. Employ 25 hands.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Door, Sash, and Blind Manufactory - S. N. Wilson & Co. proprietors. Employ 35 hands.
Nashua Lock Company - Manufacture mortise locks, rim locks, door knobs, bell pulls, &c. Employ 110 hands. Platform, Scales, and Wrench Manufactory. Employ six hands, - Alexander proprietor.
Melodeon Factory - B. F. Tobin & Co. Employ 12
hands.
Machine Shop - Kelsey, Mack, & Co. Employ 12 hands.
Brush Factory - Joseph Goodwin.
Paper Staining - Thomas G. Banks.
Ticking Factory - T. W. Gillis.
Note Paper Embossing - W. F. Blanc.
Bed and Mattress Manufactory -Thomas Tolman. The largest bedding manufactory in New England. Employ 40 hands. Capital, $150,000. The spring mattresses manufactured here are unequalled.
Stove and Tinware Manufactory - Reuben Goodrich. Employ 16 hands.
Tin and Sheet Iron Working -Dodge, Boynton, & Co.
Iron Working - Jonathan Dustin ; Strong & Crafts ; E. B. White.
Steam Sawmill. John D. Kimball - Run saws, plan- ing, and shingle machines. Employ 25 hands.
Doors, Sashes, and Blinds-J. & S. C. Crombie. Man- ufacture 1,000,000 feet of lumber per annum. Employ 40 hands.
Palmleaf Hat Manufactory -F. S. Rogers, H. C. Rogers, and E. A. Haskins. Manufacture 30,000 dozen yearly. Employ 12 hands in shop, and 3000 in various parts of the state.
Lumbering and Sawing-Luther A. Roby, Cyrus T. Roby, and Samuel McQuesten. Employ 30 men.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Gristmills - Roby, McQuesten, & Co .; J. D. Kimball. Sawmill -- John and James Eayrs.
Jib Hanks - J. H. Everett.
Spring Bedstead Factory -Wesley E. Merrill and Free- man Tupper. This is a recent invention of the proprie- tors, and seems destined, and deservedly, to supersede all others. It can be taken apart and put together in a few seconds, admits of no retreat for vermin, requires no cords, screws, or mortises to hold it together, and stands firmly, and is not likely to become loose or rickety. A slight examination is sufficient to discover its merits and superiority.
The mechanical department of Nashua is varied and extensive, reaching into almost every branch of industry, and furnishing unquestionable vouchers for its future and permanent prosperity. There are besides 202 stores and shops of various descriptions.
Fire Department. - There are five engines, one hook and ladder, and one hose company. The reservoirs are capacious, substantially built, and conveniently located.
Hotels. - Pearl Street House, O. Bristol, Main Street ; Nashua House, A. Longley, Chestnut Street ; Little's Tavern, J. Little, South Nashua.
Newspapers. - Three newspapers are published in this city - viz., the Nashua Gazette and Hillsborough County Advertiser, the New Hampshire Telegraph, and the Oasis.
The Cemetery is beautifully located and enclosed. It is situated in a quiet and pleasant grove in the rear of the Unitarian church, including about two acres. About $5000 have been expended in the purchase of the grounds, construction of fences, walks, &c.
The City Hall is a spacious and splendid edifice, erected at considerable expense.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Many of the residences in this city are fine specimens of architectural skill .*
NELSON, Cheshire county Bounded north by Stoddard, east by Antrim and Hancock, south by Dublin and Rox- bury, and west by Roxbury and Sullivan. Area, 22,875 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 8, north-east. Situated on the height of land be- tween Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers. The surface is hilly, but good for grazing. The soil is generally hard, but productive. There are seven ponds, covering a surface of 1800 acres. Long Pond, the largest body of water, is four miles in length ; from this issues a branch of the Contoocook River. Several excellent mill privileges are furnished by streams flowing from these ponds. Plumbago is found in large quantities here. The mines yield on an average 220 tons annually. The inhabitants are princi- pally farmers, of industrious habits. Within a few years considerable attention has been paid to manufactures, which have added much to the growth and prosperity of the town. The cotton factory owned by Alvan Munson has 640 spindles and 12 looms. The capital stock is valued at $12,000. Manufacture 10 cotton sheetings ; number of yarn, 20; number of operatives, 20.
Harrisville, a pleasant and thriving village, is situated partly in Nelson, and partly in Dublin. It is named from Bethuel Harris, an active and enterprising man, who, in 1820, commenced business here without funds save his energy and perseverance. The village now contains a meeting house, school house, a store, public house, and a large wooden ware shop. It has a population of 350
· The valuation, &c., of the several cities in New Hampshire will be given in a separate table in a subsequent part of the Gazetteer.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
inhabitants. The woollen factory of Messrs. Harris & Hutchinson, also that of Milan Harris, Colony, & Sons, are widely known for the fine doeskins, of a truly superior quality, manufactured here. The capital stock of Messrs. Harris & Hutchinson is valued at $20,000; number of spindles, 300 ; do. looms, 7; do. operatives, 18. 30,000 pounds of fine wool are consumed annually. Agent, Charles C. P. Harris. There is also a chair factory, in which 10 hands are employed. Besides these already named, there are in Nelson two meeting houses, one store, three. shoe manufactories, one tannery, and one blacksmith's shop.
This town was formerly called Monadnock Number Six. It was granted by the Masonian proprietors February 22, 1774. The first settlers were Breed Batchelder and Dr. Nathaniel Breed, who came here in 1767. The Congrega- tional church was organized January 31, 1781.
Population, 751. Number of legal voters in 1854, 180. Common schools, 8. Inventory, $252,100. Value of lands, $142,296. Do. mills and factories, $6550. Stock in trade, $2730. Money at interest, &c., $23,595. Number of sheep, 3832. Do. neat stock, 740. Do. horses, 117.
NEW BOSTON, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Weare, east by Goffstown and Bedford, south by Mount Vernon and Lyndeborough, and west by Lyndeborough and Francestown. Area, 26,536 acres. Distance from Concord, 22 miles, south ; from Amherst, 9, north. This town is watered by several streams, the largest of which is the south branch of Piscataquog River. The soil is strong and fertile. The surface is uneven, affording excellent tillage and grazing. The scenery is varied and picturesque, partaking largely of the alpine character, with rocks piled.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
on rocks, and hills on hills. There are two villages, the lower and principal of which lies in a deep and narrow valley, through which the noisy Piscataquog winds its way. Overlooking it, on a level and grassy niche in the steep hillside, stands the other village, from which a tall church spire points skyward.
There are in this town 18 sawmills, four gristmills, three stores, one seraphine factory, one door, sash, and blind factory, one edge tool factory, one tannery, two coopers' shops, two blacksmiths' shops, three cabinet shops, one hotel, and two meeting houses. New Boston was granted, January 14, 1736, by Massachusetts, to inhabitants of Boston. It was incorporated by New Hampshire February 18, 1763. It was first settled, in 1733, by persons named Cochran, Wilson, Caldwell, McNeil, Ferson, and Smith. The Presbyterian church was formed about 1768. There is also a Baptist society here.
Population, 1476. Number of polls, 298. Inventory, $561,656. Value of lands, $379,975. Stock in trade, $18,387. Value of mills, $8326. Number of sheep, 982. Do. neat stock, 1682. Do. horses, 277.
NEWBURY, Merrimack county. Bounded north by New London and Sunapee Lake, east by Sutton, south by Brad- ford, and west by Goshen and Sunapee Lake. Area, 19,332 acres. Distance from Concord, 35 miles, west by north. A considerable part of Sunapee Lake lies within the limits of this town. Although it is well watered, yet there is no stream of noticeable size. Todd Pond, lying in the south-east part, is 500 rods in length and 60 in width. In the western portion the surface is hilly, and well adapted to grazing. The land is generally mountainous, and the soil hard and rocky. It was originally called Dantzic. In
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
1778 it received the name of Fishersfield, from John Fisher, one of the first proprietors. In 1837 its name was changed to Newbury. Zephaniah Clark was the first set- tler, in 1762. There are three Freewill Baptist societies here.
Population, 738. Number of polls, 168. Inventory, $236,630. Value of lands, $154,668. Stock in trade, $500. Number of sheep, 2541. Do. neat stock, 1152. Do. horses, 161.
NEW CASTLE, Rockingham county. A rough and rocky island, situated in Portsmouth Harbor, and formerly called Great Island. A handsome bridge connects it with Ports- mouth. It is a frequent resort for fishing, which is pur- sued with great success. The soil among the rocks, being of good quality, is made to produce abundantly. On this island is Fort Constitution and a lighthouse. It was in-
corporated in 1693, and contains 458 acres. Hon. Theo- dore Atkinson, for many years chief justice of the Province of New Hampshire, and secretary and president of the Council, was born at New Castle, December 20, 1697.
Population, 891. Number of polls, 167. Inventory, $144,919. Value of lands, $12,194. Do. vessels, $21,- 399. Stock in trade, $2150. Money at interest, &c., $20,589.
NEW DURHAM, Strafford county. Bounded north-west by Wolfborough and Alton, east by Brookfield and Mid- dleton, south-east by Farmington, and south-west and west by Alton. Area, 23,625 acres. Distance from Concord, 35 miles, north-east ; from Dover, 32, north-west.
The surface of this town is very uneven, and a portion of it is so rocky as to be unfit for cultivation. The soil is generally moist and well adapted for grazing. There are
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
five ponds, the largest of which - Merry Meeting Pond - is about 10 miles in circumference. A copious and perpet- ual stream issues from it, and discharges into Merry Meet- ing Bay, in Alton. Ela's River flows from Coldrain Pond, affording several fine water privileges. Mount Betty, Cropple Crown, and Straw's Mountain are the principal eminences. On the north-easterly side of the latter is a remarkable cave, the entrance of which is three feet wide and ten feet high. The first, or outer, apartment is 20 feet square. Those adjacent grow smaller, until at the distance of 50 feet from the first they are too small to admit of examination. The sides of the galleries and the rooms are solid granite. There is a fountain, over which a part of Ela's River passes, which is regarded as a curiosity. By sinking a small vessel into it, water may be obtained ex- tremely pure and cold. Near the centre of the town is Rattlesnake Hill, the south side of which is perpendicular and 100 feet in height. Agriculture is the chief employ- ment. Excellent fruit is raised here.
This town was granted, in 1749, to Ebenezer Smith and others. It was incorporated, December 7, 1762, under its present name. A Congregational church was established here in 1773. Elder Benjamin Randall, the founder of the sect of Freewill Baptists, commenced his labors here in 1780 and organized a church.
Population, 1048. Number of polls, 269. Inven- tory, $299,284. Value of lands, $176,306. Stock in trade, $7263. Value of mills, $7725. Money at inter- est, &c., $7250. Number of sheep, 402. Do. neat stock, 990. Do. horses, 160.
NEW HAMPTON, Belknap county. Bounded north by Holderness, east by Centre Harbor and Meredith, south by
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Sanbornton and Hill, and west by Bridgewater and Bristol. Area, 19,422 acres. Distance from Concord, 30 miles, north-west ; from Guilford, 15, north-west. Pemigewasset River is the only stream of magnitude in this town. Over it is the bridge which connects with Bristol. There is a remarkable spring on the west side of Kelley's Mountain, from which issues a stream of sufficient power to carry sev- eral mills. It is never affected by rains or droughts. The surface is broken and uneven. The soil is generally re- markably fertile, though in some parts it is dry and sandy. In the south part of the town is a high hill of conical shape, which may be seen, in any direction, a distance of 10, and even 50, miles.
The Academical and Theological Institution in this town was established, about the year 1820, under the pat- ronage of the Baptist denomination.
The Female Seminary was widely known and celebrated as one of the best institutions in the county, as well on account of its retired and healthy location as for the thor- ough and extended course of study pursued, including nearly all the various branches taught in our colleges.
The Theological Institution was finely located on & pleasant eminence about half a mile from the principal village. Within a short time past, both departments have been located in Vermont ; but, through the enterprise of the inhabitants, a flourishing and permanent academy has al- ready been established.
The village of New Hampton is pleasantly situated on a large plane, surrounded by hills and mountains. The scenery, especially in the warm season, is picturesque.
New Hampton was incorporated November 27, 1777. The first settler was Samuel Kelley, who moved here in 1775. The first religious society was the Baptist church;
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formed in 1782. A Congregational church was organized in 1800, but was dissolved in 1816. There are three meeting houses, four stores, and one hotel.
Population', 1612. Number of polls, 307. Inventory, $382,344. Value of lands, $244,042. Stock in trade, $2350. Money at interest, $11,230. Number of sheep, 1444. Do. neat stock, 1430. Do. horses, 220.
NEWINGTON, Rockingham county. Bounded north-east by the Piscataqua River, east by Portsmouth, south by Greenland, and west by Great and Little Bays. Area, 5273 acres. The soil is generally sandy and unproductive, excepting near the shores, where it. yields heavy crops of grain and grass. At Fox Point, in the north-westerly part of the town, Piscataqua Bridge extends over the river to Goat Island. This bridge was erected in 1793, is 2600 feet long, and 40 wide. Its original cost was $65,401.
Newington was formerly a part of Portsmouth and Do- ver, and was early settled. The surface is underlaid with clay slate, which rests upon sienitic granite. Large blocks of this rock are often found ; and being a handsome and durable building material, it is quarried for underpinning and other purposes. The centre of the town is about 150 feet above the sea. This town was incorporated in July, 1764. Rev. Joseph Adams, the first minister of Newington, was ordained here in 1715. Since 1810, with the exception of occasional preaching, the Congregational society have been destitute of a minister.' There is a large and flour- ishing society of Methodists here.
This town, like most of the new settlements, was ex- posed to the ravages of the Indians. In May, 1690, a party of Indians, under a chief called Hoophood, attacked Fox Point, destroyed several houses, killed fourteen per-
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
sons, and captured six others. They were immediately pur- sued by the inhabitants, who recovered some of the cap- tives and a portion of the plunder after a severe conflict, in which Hoophood was wounded.
Population, 472. Number of polls, 129. Inventory, $182,533. Value of lands, $122,532. Money at interest, $11,251. Number of sheep, 272. Do. neat stock, 493. Do. horses, 76.
NEW IPSWICH, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Sharon and Temple, east by Mason, south by Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and west by Rindge. Area, 20,860 acres. Distance from Concord, 50 miles, south-west ; from Am- herst, 18, south-west. Souhegan River is the principal stream, though it is well watered by numerous small rivu- lets. The soil is a clayey loam, very productive compared with that of most of the towns in the county. The water is good, and the water privileges abundant and valu- able, supplied chiefly by the Souhegan. A cotton factory was put in operation here in 1803, either the first or second in the state.
The New Ipswich Academy, a respectable and flourish- ing institution, was incorporated June 18, 1789.
The principal village is in the centre of the town, in a pleasant and fertile valley, containing four meeting houses, the Town House, and Academy. The public houses are finished in a handsome style. Many of the dwelling houses are of brick, and present an elegant and substantial appearance. There are forty stores and shops of various kinds, two hotels, five sawmills, and one gristmill.
Brown's Ticking Mills have 1952 spindles, 54 'looms, and furnish employment for 50 operatives. Manufacture 270,000 yards per annum, and consume 140,000 pounds raw cotton. E. Brown proprietor and agent.
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Mountain Mills - Hiram Smith agent. Number of spindles, 2232. Do. looms, 54. Do. hands employed, 66. Manufacture drillings. Number of yards manufac- tured, 44,000 per month. Do. pounds cotton consumed per month, 12,000. Pay roll per month, for labor, $980.
Columbian Manufacturing Company - Stephen Smith agent.
Match Factory - Stephen Thayer proprietor. This es- tablishment splits a cord of second growth pine into matches daily.
New Ipswich was first granted by Massachusetts. It was settled, before 1749, by Reuben Kidder, Archibald White, Joseph and Ebenezer Bullard, Joseph Stephens, and eight others. It was regranted in April, 1750, by the Masonian proprietors, and was incorporated September 9, 1762. This town sent 65 men to Bunker Hill. A Con- gregational church was gathered here in 1750.
Population, 1877. Number of legal voters in 1854, 408. Inventory, $736,429. Value of lands, $437,546. Do. mills and factories, $75,720. Stock in trade, $25,124. Money at interest, &c., $24,620. Number of sheep, 208 Do. neat stock, 1089. Do. horses, 226.
NEW LONDON, Merrimack county. Bounded north by Springfield and Wilmot, east by Wilmot, south by Sutton and Newbury, and west by Sunapee Lake and Sunapee. Little Sunapee Pond, in the west part, and Harvey's and Messer's Ponds, near the centre of the town, are the only considerable bodies of water. The two latter are the prin- cipal sources of Warner River, and are separated only by a bog, which in many places rises and falls with the water. The population of New London is principally concentrated on three large swells of land extending through the town in
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
a north-westerly direction. On these swells the soil is deep and fertile. In the north part the surface grows more un- even and hilly. In some localities it is rocky, though there is but very little land unfit for cultivation. Its location is healthy, and its scenery delightful. The inhabitants are chiefly devoted to agriculture, and there are some very productive farms. There is a large establishment where · scythes are extensively manufactured by Messrs. Phillips, Messer, & Colby, whose reputation as manufacturers of these implements of husbandry is world wide. A literary institution has recently been established here under the patronage of the Baptists. New London was incorporated June 25, 1779, under the name of Heidleburg. A Bap- tist church was formed October 23, 1788. A violent whirlwind passed through this region September 9, 1821. The damage sustained by the inhabitants was estimated at $9000. An immense block of granite, 100 feet long, 50 wide, and 20 high, was rent asunder, the two pieces being thrown a distance of 20 feet from each other.
Population, 945. Number of polls, 236. Inventory, $327,957. Value of lands, $194,491. Stock in trade, $6350. Money at interest, $30,600. Number of sheep, 2732. Do. neat stock, 1003. Do. horses, 170.
NEW MARKET, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Lee and Durham, east by Great Bay, south by South New Market, and west by Epping. Area, 4882 acres. Piscas- sick River flows through this town in a northerly direction. Lamprey River washes its north-eastern, and the Swamscot its south-eastern boundaries. These streams afford numer- ous fine water privileges. The surface is generally even, and the soil excellent. The pursuits of agriculture are crowned with abundant success. The south-western portion
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is somewhat hilly. The villages are pleasant and thriving. The houses are neat - many of them are of handsome structure.
The New Market Manufacturing Company - John Web- ster agent - were incorporated in 1823. Cotton sheetings and shirtings are manufactured here. Number of spindles, 18,000. Do. looms, 525. Do. yards of cloth manufac- tured per annum, 4,500,000. Do. bales of cotton con- sumed per annum, 4000. Do. operatives, 450.
The manufacture of machinery of various kinds is exten- sively carried on here. New Market is a very busy town. Mechanical labor, in its various departments, is quite ex- tensively pursued.
Mrs. Fanny Shute, who died here in 1819, will be re- membered, not only for her excellent qualities, but for her youthful adventures. When 13 months old, she was taken by a party of Indians, carried to Canada, and sold to the French. She was educated in a nunnery, and, after remaining 13 years in captivity, was redeemed and restored to her friends.
The Boston and Maine Railroad passes through the east- ern portion of this town, and connects with the Ports- mouth and Concord Railroad at the junction in South New Market.
New Market was originally a part of Exeter, and was separated and incorporated December 15, 1727. In 1849 a large portion of its territory was detached and erected into the township of South New Market.
The Congregational church was established here in 1730. There is also a Methodist and Freewill Baptist society, each containing respectable numbers.
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