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 25
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good as any in the land." It was also the name of the English city in which John Mason was born. The number of families was then between 50 and 60. " The line of the township was ordered to reach from the sea by Hamp- ton line to Wynnacot River." Our planters were so indus- trious and successful as to be able to send corn to the early sufferers at Plymouth.
The first edifice erected here for public worship was an Episcopal church. It was built, at least as early as 1639, on what is now called Church Street, and formerly Church Lane, northerly of the Court House. A parsonage house, erected at the same time, was situated in Pleasant Street, a few rods north of the Universalist meeting house. The parishioners made choice of Richard Gibson, an Episcopa- lian clergyman, as their pastor, being the first minister that was settled in this town, and the worship was according to the ritual of the English church. In the year 1634, Fran- cis Williams was appointed governor of the plantation. He was a discreet and sensible man, accomplished in his manners, and acceptable to the people. He collected about him many valuable men, whose example and influence were of the best order. These circumstances gave a high char- acter to the town. Its reputation was so great that it was always selected, in the days of the colonial government, as a most desirable place of residence, and for many years it was the home of the royal governors and the king's coun- cil. " It has been distinguished for men of patriotism. Here lived William Vaughn, who claimed to be the pro- jector of the siege of Louisburg, under Pepperell ; Dr. Cutter, who was a surgeon in that expedition ; Colonel Meserve, who was one of its mightiest spirits ; Major Hale, who was an officer in one of the regiments ; and the Rev. Samuel Langdon who was the chaplain of the New Hamp-
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
shire forces. General Whipple, who resided here for the largest portion of his life, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Governor Langdon was al- ways a devoted friend to his country ; went to Bennington as a volunteer in the army after the capture of Cornwallis, and was at Rhode Island with a detachment while the British troops were there stationed. He, with General Sullivan, seized, at the fort in the mouth of the harbor, 100 barrels of gunpowder, and so promptly conveyed them to Bunker Hill that they were of valuable service on the memorable 17th of June. He had the honor of presiding in the Senate when General Washington was elected presi- dent of the United States.' He and John Pickering and Pierce Long were delegates to the convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and most thoroughly supported it, long commanded a regiment in the revo- tionary war, and was a member of the old Congress."
Portsmouth has enjoyed largely the citizenship of litera- ary men, statesmen, scholars, and jurists. She points to a Buckminster, a Haven, a Sewall, a Penhallow, a Langdon, a Cutts, a Mason, a Bartlett, a Webster, - who here devel- oped and published his colossal powers to the world, - a Brown, Alden, Pickering, Sherburne, Woodbury, and Wentworths, and a host of others, who live in history, and whose memories are cherished by the gratitude and admira- tion of their posterity. Among the living she points with pride to the once penniless orphan, but now eminent schol- lar and sweetest of poets, James T. Fields. Its schools have always been of a high order, and at present are not sur- passed by those of any other city.
The Athenaum, instituted about 37 years ago, contains 8000 volumes of choice, valuable, and expensive books.
Portsmouth has long been celebrated for the skill of its
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
naval architects, as well as for its abundance of fine white oak timber and other materials for ship building. The merchant service, as well as the United States navy, is supplied from the ship yards here with many of the finest first-class vessels. It has always been noted for its enter- prise and commercial spirit, and is the immediate centre , of an extensive trade, which, by reason of its increased fa- cilities by railroad communication, is rapidly enlarging. Market Square is situated in the central part of the city, and is the principal seat of the country trade.
Portsmouth is remarkable for its noble, safe, and ca- pacious harbor. It contains forty feet of water, at low tide, in the channel, and is protected by islands and headlands from storms. The river opposite the city is three fourths of a mile wide ; its current is more than five miles per hour ; its depth, at low water, seventy feet. The tide rises here ten feet, and is so rapid as to keep the harbor free from ice, as well as the river for several miles above the town. Its great breadth and its delightful banks, in connection with all its other advantages, render it one of the most important and interesting naval stations in the country. The city is remarkable for the beautiful scenery with which it is surrounded. On every elevation is pre- sented a magnificent landscape. The rides are charming, always presenting objects of interest and delight. The climate is salubrious. Great crimes are rarely committed, and no execution has taken place since the year 1768. In- telligence, sound morality, and excellent manners pervade the community. There is also an agreeable harmony among the various religious denominations. The fields are generally well cultivated, and much attention is paid to the study of agriculture. Portsmouth has suffered much from fires. In December, 1802, 102 buildings were burned ; in December, 1806, 14, including St. John's
360
NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Church; and in December, 1813, 15 acres of the town were burned over, destroying 397 buildings. Among the public buildings in Portsmouth are seven hand- some churches, two market houses, an Academy, the Athenaum, and an Almshouse. The Custom House is situated at the corner of Penhallow and Daniel Streets. There are four lighthouses attached to this district - viz., New Castle, White's Back, White Island, and Boon Island. Fort Constitution is situated on the north-west point of Great Island, and nearly opposite is Fort McClay, in Kittery, Maine. It is connected with this latter place by a bridge, and also with the Island of New Castle.
The Navy Yard is situated on Navy Island, on the east side of the river, within the limits of Maine, and has every convenience and facility for the construction of vessels of the largest class. It is about three fourths of a mile south- easterly from the city. The territory embraced within its limits is about 65 acres, a large portion of which is en- closed with permanent quay walls of dimension-split gran- ite. At the wharves abundant depth of water is afforded for government ships of the largest class. The great ra- pidity of the tides has worn the channel very deep, so that the formation of bars is improbable, if not impossible. On the yard are three ship houses, one of which is 300 feet long, 131 wide, and 72 high from floor to ridge ; six timber sheds, 200 by 60 feet each, built of stone ; mast house and rigging loft, also of stone, 250 feet long by 70 wide ; a machine shop smithery, in which is a steam en- gine ; an engine house for woodwork, in which are a saw- mill, planing machines, circular saws, &c., of the most approved descriptions. In this building is a double steam engine of 50 horse power, of excellent workmanship and the best material, finished, fitted, and set up by workmen
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
in the government shop. Convenient and desirable quar- ters are provided for the commander, lieutenant, purser, surveyor, and sailing master, and also quarters for boat- swain, gunner, sailmaker, carpenter, and ordinary seamen. A corps of marines, with their officers, is stationed here, for whom barracks are provided. The magazine is a fine stone structure, well adapted to the purpose for which it was erected. The floating balance dry dock is an in- genious and costly piece of work. A basin for moving the dock is constructed of stone with hammered face, of rec- tangular form, 360 feet in length, 125 in width, the walls six feet thick at the base, abating to three feet, and 14 in height. The floor, as well as the walls, rests on 3000 piles, driven with a ram weighing 3500 pounds, 25 feet run. These piles are three feet from centre to centre, capped with timber, and covered with six-inch plank. Five courses of stone are laid lengthwise of the basin, and the spaces between them concreted six inches in depth. The dock is 350 feet long, 115 in width, and the side walls 38 feet in height. These walls are seven feet in thickness, in which are partitions forming chambers on both sides the entire length of the dock. On these walls and amidships of the dock on each side are steam engines of ten horse power for operating twelve pumps each. When a ship is to be received, the dock is floated from the basin into deep water, one of the end gates removed, the sinking gates opened, and the dock allowed to sink, if necessary, 32 feet, by adding to the specific gravity of the dock by filling the chambers with water, for which purpose the pumps are put in operation. The ship is then taken into the dock, received on the cradle, centred, and shored. The process of raising is now commenced. The end gate is replaced, the discharging gates opened, and the pumps
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
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again put in operation, and as the water is discharged the dock rises. When the water is removed from the cham- bers, the end gate opposite the one before spoken of is re- moved, and the dock returned to the basin and moored. During this operation some fifty gates are used in sinking, raising, and balancing the dock. The pumps by which the water is raised are 24 in number, three feet stroke, and the boxes 20 inches square. These pumps are capable of dis- charging 1,200,000 gallons of water per hour. At the head of the dock basin is a railway, on an inclination of one inch in ten feet, on which the ships may be drawn by an hydraulic machine, operated by steam. The ship, after being drawn upon this railway, is securely shored on a stone foundation laid for the purpose. After the ship has been duly repaired, she may be put afloat ; and the same means are used as in raising, the order of operation being simply reversed. The cost of the dock and appendages has. been about $800,000.
The facilities for ship building in this yard are not ex- celled by any other. The buildings, (some of the most important having been above mentioned,) together with the location, depth of water, and accessibility at all times of the year, - the terms on which competent mechanics can be obtained, (whose skill is proverbial in naval archi- tecture,) - render this station entitled to more consider- ation than it has heretofore received. The sloop of war Portsmouth, the steamer Saranac, and the frigate Con- gress, built here, do credit to the station, to the builders, and to the government. At the present time, however, more than 400 mechanics are employed in preparing the frigate Santee for launching, and reconstructing the ship of the line Franklin, which will be a screw propeller, and when completed will be the largest war steamer in the world.
GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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Table of Vessels built in the District of Portsmouth since 1800.
Year.
Vessels.
Ships.
Barks.
Brigs.
Schrs.
Sloops.
Tons.
1800
18
5
1
12
3403
1801
14
9
1
4
2925
1802
11
5
3
1
2045
1803
14
9
3
2796
1804
18
10
1
3288
1805
16
11
32
227524621
2702
1807
10
8453801
2151
217895
1
1612
1817
7
594
1818
20
10
1
2733
1819
13
9
1626
1820
3
1
1450
1821
979
24247
2874
1826
6
12
4495
1308
1831
3
1
993
1832
7
2
1798
1833
8
1
2630
1834
8
I
2348
1835
9
2
1
2813
1836
8
I
3853
1837
5
313
1
2959
1839
5
2603
1840
8
1
3243
1841
5
1
2667
1842
1
526
1843
3
841
1844
5
121
4113
1847
12
6822
1848
9
4277
1849
10
6010
1850
7
5857
1851
13
9977
1852
12
11
10271
1853
11
9
10708
1854
12
10
2
12797
534
256
20
86
165
7
170,207
3333445544512233446554444133474558
1132221
2113233412
2280
1845
7
2720
1846
11
2402
1828
10
2113
1829
10
332261221433111
2
1514
1810
2800
1811
4375
1812
626
1813
21
1814
1315
1815
13
2057
1816
14
122
1379
1822
1656
1823
10
2429
1824
12
2650
1825
15
1977
1827
916
1830
7
22321
2982
1838
9
3258
1806
13
1608
1808
1666
1809
1905411
9
1
364
NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Number of vessels belonging to the district of Ports- mouth on the 1st day of October,, 1850, 92 - ships, 17; bark, 1; brigs, 3; schooners, 70 ; sloop, 1. Ton- nage, 16,448. In addition to this list, there are several small vessels, from 5 to 20 tons, used for fishing, &c., and a number of packets which ply between Portsmouth and places at the head of the river - such as Dover, Berwick, Exeter, &c.
Banks. - Rockingham Bank - incorporated in Novem- ber, 1813 ; rechartered December 17, 1852. Capital, $160,000.
Mechanics and Traders' Bank - incorporated in Decem- ber, 1844. Capital, $120,000.
Piscataqua Exchange Bank - incorporated in 1844. Capital, $200,000.
Portsmouth Savings Bank - incorporated in 1823. Amount of deposits, $422,676.55. This institution is es- tablished for the benefit of all classes of individuals. De- posits are received in sums from $3 upwards, $300 being the largest sum that can draw interest.
Insurance Companies. - Portsmouth Mutual Fire In- surance Company - incorporated June 20, 1839. Icha- bod Rollins president ; John Salter secretary and treas- urer.
Railroads. - Eastern Railroad in New Hampshire - incorporated in June, 1836. Capital, $500,000.
Eastern Railroad - incorporated in Massachusetts. Cap- ital, $3,850,000.
Portland, Saco, and Portsmouth Railroad - incorporated in Maine, 1841. Capital, $1,500,000. .
Portsmouth and Concord Railroad - incorporated in July, 1845. Capital, $800,000.
Factories. - Portsmouth Steam Factory - William
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Stearns agent. Capital, $530,000. Erected in 1846. The present building is 204 feet long by 70 in width, and 6 stories high, with two L's, each 100 feet by 30, and 2 stories high. It runs 27,000 spindles, 450 looms, and manufactures lawns from yarns number 70 and 90. The machinery is driven by a high pressure steam engine of 200 horse power. 2,900,000 yards of lawn are manufac- tured annually. 1500 tons of anthracite coal and 395,000 pounds of cotton are consumed annually. Number of hands employed - males, 150; females, 230; total, 380.
Bridges. - Portsmouth Bridge - incorporated in June, 1819. Capital, $64,000.
Piscataqua Bridge -- built in 1794 ; original cost, $65,000.
New Castle Bridge - incorporated in 1821.
Maine Railway - incorporated in July, 1833. Capital, $100,000.
Portsmouth Pier Company - incorporated in 1795.
Hotels. - Rockingham House, 97 State Street, by S. A. Coburn. Franklin House, 43 Congress Street, Wil- lis Barnabee. Piscataqua House, 9 Pleasant Street, Josiah G. Hadley. Market Street House, 114 Market Street, Charles W. Walker.
Fire Department. - The Fire Department of Ports- mouth have under their charge six engines, five of them suction, with apparatus complete, and about 2000 feet of hose.
Portsmouth Aqueduct Company - incorported in 1798. By means of this aqueduct the town is supplied with wa- ter from a spring about two and a half miles from Market Square, which is conducted through wooden logs into most of the streets, and into dwelling houses.
Newspapers. - New Hampshire Gazette, Daily and
31 *
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Weekly Chronicle, Portsmouth Journal of Literature and - Politics, the Rockingham Messenger, and the American Ballot.
Religious Societies. - St. John's Church, Episcopal ; or- ganized about 1638 ; rector, Rev. Charles Borroughs, D. D.
The North Church - Congregational ; organized in 1671 ; pastor, Rev. Rufus W. Clark.
The South Congregational Church and Parish - organ- ized in 1713 ; pastor, Rev. Andrew B. Peabody.
Universalist Society - founded, in 1774, by Rev. John Murray ; pastor, Rev. S. S. Fletcher.
Methodist Episcopal Society -incorporated in 1808 ; pastor, S. Kelley.
Pleasant Street Christian Society - organized October 12, 1802, under the name of " The First Baptist Society in Portsmouth." In 1840 the corporate name was changed to " The Pleasant Street Christian Society."
Middle Street Baptist Church - incorporated July 3, 1827 ; pastor, William Lamson.
Hanover Street Chapel - Elder D. I. Robinson, a Second Advent preacher. No regular society has yet been formed.
Cemeteries. - The Auburn Street Cemetery, or " Pro- prietors' Burying Ground," is situated on two gentle swells of land at the foot of Auburn Street. It covers about 13 acres. In the centre is a. beautiful artificial pond, sur- rounded by an extensive lawn, ornamented with trees and shrubbery. The remainder of the ground is laid out in lots of various dimensions, divided by gravel walks, and the whole surrounded by a substantial stone fence, along which are rows of elm and maple trees. A large portion of the lots which have been taken up is enclosed by handsome and durable iron fences, and contains tasteful and elegant monuments.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Harmony Grove Cemetery is in the rear of, and an addi- tion to, Auburn Street Cemetery.
The city of Portsmouth was incorporated July 6, 1849. It is 54 miles north-east from Boston, the same distance south-west from Portland, 45 miles east-south-east from Concord, and 489 miles from the city of Washington. It is situated in latitude 43º 5' north, and longitude 70° 41' west from Greenwich, or 6° 23' east from Wash- ington. The population in 1790 was 4720; in 1800, 5339 ; in 1810, 6934 ; in 1820, 7327; in 1830, 8032; in 1840, 7887; in 1850, 9700. The wealth of the city is very considerable, and its present condition decidedly prosperous. The cleanliness of the streets, the neatness of the houses, the number of trees which ornament the streets, and the many fine gardens scattered throughout the town, give the place a pleasant and inviting appearance, while its quietness and proximity to the sea and neighbor- ing beaches render it a delightful summer resort. From 1623 until 1641, Portsmouth, including Kittery, Dover, and Exeter, was an independent republic. It then, with Exeter, placed itself under the jurisdiction of Massachu- setts. This connection continued until 1679, when New Hampshire was formed into a separate province. It was incorporated, with its present limits, May 28, 1643. Area, 9702 acres.
RANDOLPH, Coos county. Bounded north by Berlin, east by Gorham, south by White Mountains, and west by Kil- kenny. This is a cold and rugged township, situated at the northern base of the White Mountains. Area, about 26,680 acres. In some parts the soil is good ; but its pop- ulation has increased very gradually. Branches of Moose and Israel's Rivers are the only streams of importance, though there are numerous brooks well stored with trout.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
The sources of these two rivers are so near that a person of ordinary size may lie with his feet on the brink of one and drink out of the other. Moose River runs in an easterly direction, and Israel's in a westerly.
This town was granted, August 20, 1772, to John Du- rand, and others from London, under the name of Durand. It received its present name in 1824. Distance from Concord, 120 miles, north ; from Lancaster, 20, south- east.
Population, 113. Number of legal voters in 1854, 26. Do. common schools, 3. Hotel, 1. Inventory, $31,670. Value of lands, $23,224. Number of sheep, 114. Do. neat stock, 95. Do. horses, 17.
RAYMOND, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Deerfield and Nottingham, east by Epping and Freemont, south by Sandown and Chester, and west by Chester and Candia. Area, 16,317 acres. Distance from Concord, 28 miles, south-east ; from Portsmouth 25, south-west, by the Portsmouth and Concord Railroad. The principal streams are two branches of Lamprey River, and the Patuckaway. The surface is generally even ; the soil is various. The meadows are productive, and under high cultivation. In the north part of the town, near the sum- mit of a hill about 100 feet in height, is a cave, or fissure, in a ledge, which, from the appearance of its mouth, is called the Oven. It is a regular arch, about five feet in height and the same in width, and extends into the hill about fifteen feet.
Raymond was originally that part of Chester called Charming Fare. In 1762 it was made a distinct parish ; it was incorporated May 9, 1765, by its present name.
The names of 24 of the inhabitants of Raymond are found enrolled among the soldiers of the revolution ; besides,
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
numbers of the militia were engaged for short periods. Four were killed or died in the service.
The Congregational church was organized about 1800. There is also a Methodist and a Freewill Baptist society. There are ten common schools, three stores, one hotel, and one shoe manufactory.
Population, 1256. Number of legal voters in 1854, 300. Inventory, $269,958. Value of lands, $178,928. Stock in trade, $1350. Number of sheep, 670. Do. neat stock, 931. Do. horses, 139.
RICHMOND, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Swan- zey, east by Troy and Fitzwilliam, south by Warwick and Royalston, Massachusetts, and west by Winches- ter. Area, 23,725 acres. Distance from Concord, 70 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 12, south. It is watered by branches of Ashuelot and Miller's Rivers, which fall into the Connecticut. The surface is generally level ; the soil is favorable for the grains and grasses. Soapstone of a good quality is found here in considerable quantities. In the quarry from which the soapstone is taken are found quartz, felspar, phosphate of lime, pinite, rutile, iron py- rites, garnets, calcareous spar, and hornblende crystals. In the hornblende rock occur very perfect crystals of black tourmaline. Iolite of great beauty is found in the quartz. This is a rare mineral, and is highly valued.
Richmond contains three meeting houses, three stores, one hotel, twelve sawmills, two gristmills, four pail manu- factories, one wooden ware manufactory, and in the village at the " Four Corners " is a large steam mill, or shop, which is used for various purposes.
This town was granted, February 28, 1752, to Joseph Blanchard and others. The first Baptist church was formed
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
.
in 1768 ; the second in 1776. There are also societies of Quakers, Universalists, and Unitarians.
Population, 1128. Number of legal voters in 1854, 300. Inventory, $308,662. Value of lands, $185,376. Do. mills, $7750. Stock in trade, $5716. Money at interest, $13,589. Number of sheep, 403. Do. neat stock, 1048. Do. horses, 190.
RINDGE, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Jaffrey and Sharon, east by New Ipswich, south by Winchendon, Massachusetts, and west by Fitzwilliam. Area, 23,838 acres Distance from Concord, 50 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 20, south-east. The surface is very rocky, but the soil is in most parts deep and rich. There are 13 ponds, the largest of which are called Manomonack, Emerson, Perley, Long, Grassy, and Bullet. The three first discharge their waters by Miller's River ; the three last are drained into the Contoocook River. These ponds abound with fish, and are a favorite resort of anglers. There is a small ridge of land here, from which the waters issuing from one side flow into the Merrimack, and those on the other side into the Connecticut. Rindge was originally granted by Mas- sachusetts, and was called Rowley, Canada, or Monadnock Number One. It received its present name from one of its proprietors at the time of its incorporation, August 11, 1768. It was settled, in 1752, by Jonathan Stanley, George Hewitt, and Abel Platts. Rev. Seth Dean was ordained over the Congregational church in 1765.
Population, 1274. Number of polls, 300. Inventory, $515,413. Value of lands, $322,542. Stock in trade, $15,124. Money at interest, $49,650. Number of sheep, 415. Do. neat stock, 1164. Do. horses, 194.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ROCHESTER, Strafford county. Bounded north-east by Berwick, Maine, south-east by Somersworth and Dover, south-west by Barrington, and north-west by Farmington. Area, 22,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles, east ; from Dover, 10, north, by the Cocheco Railroad, which connects it with the Portsmouth and Concord and the Great Falls Railroads. Besides Salmon Fall River, which separates this town from Berwick and Lebanon, in Maine, the Cocheco River runs nearly the whole length of the town in a south-easterly direction, while the Isinglass River crosses its southerly corner just before its conflu- ence with the Cocheco. Both Salmon Fall and Cocheco Rivers afford several valuable water privileges; on the latter is situated the principal village. The soil is gener- ally excellent. There are many fine and well-cultivated farms. The surface is uneven, rising in numerous swells, the principal of which is Squamanagonnick Hill. Upon it are several valuable farms.
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