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 27
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Among the early settlers were Christopher Hussey, Jo- seph Dow, and Thomas Philbrick. Meshech Weare, the `first chief magistrate of New Hampshire after the revolu- tion, settled, it is believed, within the limits of this town. His grandfather, Nathaniel Weare, was an agent for the colony, and spent considerable time in England to prose-
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cute the complaints of the colonists against the royal govern- or, Edward Cranfield. His son, Nathaniel Weare, father of Meshech Weare, was much engaged in public business. Both lived within the present limits of Seabrook.
Edward Gove distinguished himself by his opposition to the British government. He was at length arrested, con- victed of high treason, and confined in the Tower of Lon- don. After three years of imprisonment he was released, and returned to his home in New England. . The order for his pardon is still preserved, of which the following is a copy : -
" James R.
" Where as Edward Gove was neare three years since apprehended, tryed & condemned for High Treason in our Colony of New-England, in America, and in June 1683 was committed prisoner to the Tower of London, we have thought fit hereby to signify our Will and Pleasure to you, that you cause him, the said Edward Gove, to be inserted in the next general Pardon that shall come out for the poor Convicts of Newgate, without any condition of trans- portation, he giving such security for his good behavior as you will think requisite. And for so doing, this shallbe your Warrant. Given at our Court at Windsor the 14 day of September 1685, in the first year of our Reign.
" By his Maj. his command. " SUNDERLAND. " To our Trusty and Welbeloved the Recorder of our Citty of London, and all others whom it my concerne.
" Edward Gove to be inserted in ye General Pardon."
The following letter, directed to him during his confine- ment, is interesting on account of its antiquity at least : -
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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Superscription : " for my honoured father Edward Gove. In the tower or elsewhere. I pray deliver with Care."
" From hampton The 31 of ye first month 1686.
" deare and kind father, through gods good mercy hav- ing this oppertunity to send unto ye hoping in ye Lord yt ye art in good health - deare father my desire is yt God in his good mercy would bee pleased to keep ye both in body and soul. Loving father it is our duty To pray unto god That hee would by his grace give us good hearts to pray unto him for grace and strength to support us so. yt ye Love of our hearts and souls should bee always fixed on him, whereby we should Live A heavenly Life while wee are upon ye earth so yt gods blessing may be with us always. as our Savior Christ says in ye world ye shall have Troubles but in mee ye shall have peace so in ye Lord Jesus Christ ye true light of yee world There is peace & joy & love and strength and power & truth to keep all those yt trust in him. so deare father I hope god in his good mercy will bee pleased to Bring us together Againe to his glory and our good. - intreet ye Let us heare from ye all oppertunities as may bee - for it is great joy to us to heare from ye father. I have one Little daughter - my husband is troubled with a could - hee Remembers his duty to ye - So no more at present. I Rest thy duti- ful son and daughter
" ABRAHAM CLEMENTS &
" HANNAH CLEMENTS."
Seabrook was granted, June 3, 1768, to Jonathan Weare and others. Settlement commenced here in 1638.
The society of the Friends was formed in 1701. A Presbyterian church was organized in 1764.
Population, 1393. Legal voters in 1854, 325. Inven-
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tory, $312,168. Value of lands, $136,520. Money at interest, $18,050. Number of sheep, 65. Do. neat stock, 474. Do. horses, 70.
SHARON, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Pe- terborough, east by Temple, south by New Ipswich and Rindge, and west by Jaffrey. Area, 10,000 acres. Dis- tance from Concord, 48 miles, south-west ; from Amherst, 18, west. The surface is uneven, and in some parts moun- tainous. It has no village, no tavern, and no store. There is in the south-easterly part of the town a spring strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur, and is in high repute for its medicinal virtues. Sharon was incorporated June 24,1791.
Population, 226. Inventory, $124,885. Value of lands, $73,114. Stock in trade, $1300. Number of sheep, 87. Do. neat stock, 401. Do. horses, 46. Do. polls, 45.
SHELBURNE, Coos county. Bounded north by Success, east by Riley and Gilead, Maine, south by White Moun- tain region, and west by Gorham. Area, 18,140 acres. Ameriscoggin River passes through the centre of this town, into which fall the waters of Rattle River and several small
streams. The soil on both sides of the river is excellent, producing 'grain, grass, and potatoes in abundance. A short distance from the river the land becomes broken by mountains, and is unfit for cultivation. Mount Moriah, an elevated peak of the White Mountains, lies in the south part of the town. Moses' Rock is a huge inass of granite, 60 feet high, 90 long, very smooth, and rising at an angle of 50°. In 1775 David and Benjamin Ingalls commenced a settlement here. In August, 1781, a party of Indians visited this town, killed one man, captured another,
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plundered the houses, and returned to Canada in triumph. The Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad passes through the southern part of the town.
Shelburne was incorporated December 13, 1820.
Population, 480. Number of polls, 70. Inventory, $101,832. Value of lands, $65,130. Stock in trade, $980. Value of mills, $200. Money at interest, $4400. Number of sheep, 541. Do. neat stock, 415. Do. horses, 70.
SOMERSWORTH, Strafford county. . Bounded north-east by South Berwick, Maine, south by Rollinsford, south-west by Dover, and north-west by Rochester. Distance from Concord, 45 miles, east ; from Portsmouth, 12, north-west. Since the separation of Rollinsford, this town is very small in area, including only about 5760 acres. It is situated on the Salmon Fall River, and is one of the most important towns in the county of Strafford. Here centre the Great Falls and Conway Railroad, a branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, the Great Falls and South Berwick Branch Railroad, which connects with the Eastern Railroad. Here also is the terminus of the York and Cumberland Rail- road. Most of the inhabitants of this town reside in the village of Great Falls, which has grown up since 1823. Prior to that time the only buildings in the vicinity were a saw and gristmill, and two dwelling houses. In 1823 the Great Falls Manufacturing Company was chartered, and commenced operations, with a capital of $500,000. This company have now upwards of 75,000 spindles, and are now erecting another mill, which will increase the number of spindles to 83,000, being a larger number than are in oper- ation by any other corporation in the United States. The goods manufactured are cotton, consisting of sheetings,
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shirtings, and drillings, the number of yards manufactured annually amounting to 17,000,000, valued at $1,300,000. About 5,000,000 pounds of cotton are consumed in the same time. Number of operatives, 2000. Amount paid monthly for labor, $33,000. There are also consumed per annum 100 tons of starch, valued at $9000; 3500 cords of wood, $14,000; 300 tons of coal, $3000; 300,000 feet of lumber, $4000 ; 6000 gallons of sperm oil, $9000 ; 200 tons of iron, $1750 ; leather for belting and other pur- poses, $3000. This company also have a bleachery, where 8,000,000 yards of cotton cloth are bleached annually.
The Great Falls Machine Company employ 80 men ; consume 4,500,000 pounds of iron per annum, and 600 tons of coal ; manufacture machinery, gas pipe, stove and all other kinds of castings. Value of products per an- num, about $150,000.
There is also a machine shop owned by several individ- uals, whose annual business is $50,000.
The Great Falls Bank has a capital of $150,000.
Somersworth Savings Bank -deposits $175,000.
The Great Falls Gaslight Company - capital, $60,000. The streets and principal buildings are lighted with gas.
The town of Somersworth has recently purchased .a tract of 40 acres, about a mile from the village, for a cem- etery. The sum of $3000 has already been expended in enclosing, laying out, and ornamenting the grounds. The location is retired, but inviting and beautiful.
Great efforts have been made in this town for the ad- vancement of common schools. The Somersworth Act, so called, which provides for the union of several school districts for the purpose of establishing high schools, on a graduated system, had its origin here. The excellence of this system has been most satisfactorily proved in this and
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other towns. The school house in this village is in all respects one of the best constructed in the state. Here the scholar may obtain as complete an education as is general- ly acquired in the academies of New England. Number of scholars in the high school, 80. Do. in all the depart- ments, 800.
The Manufacturers and Village Library Association has 3500 well-selected books. There are five meeting houses - one Congregational, one Baptist, one Freewill Baptist, and two Methodist. The village is named from the im- mense waterfall in Salmon Fall River at this place. Its descent within a very short distance is 100 feet, furnishing some of the most valuable mill privileges in the country.
The various departments of industry, especially the me- chanical and mercantile, are actively pursued, and impart a healthy vigor to the whole community.
Somersworth was settled between 1650 and 1700, by William Wentworth, John Hall, William Stiles, and others.
On the 7th of October, 1675, George and Maturin Rick- er were surprised and killed by a party of Indians lying in ambush about half a mile north-east from Varney's Hill. They were then stripped of their arms and garments. In 1724, Ebenezer Downs, a Quaker, was taken by the Indians, and carried to Canada. He was grossly in- sulted and abused because he refused to dance with the other captives for the amusement of the savages. He was redeemed in the following year. Jabez Garland was killed in the summer of 1710, on his return from public worship. Gershom Downs was killed by the Indians in 1711, in the marsh between Varney's and Otis's Hills. The first meet- ing house was erected in 1729.
The present population of Somersworth is about 6000. Number of legal voters, about 1200. Inventory,
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$1,726,253. Value of lands, $212,579. Stock in trade, $101,390. Value of mills and factories, $591,000. Money at interest, $43,592. Money in banks, &c., $112,200. Number of sheep, 96. Do. neat stock, 404. Do. horses, 172.
SOUTH HAMPTON, Rockingham county. Bounded north by East Kingston and Kensington, east by Seabrook, south by Amesbury, Massachusetts, and west by Newton. Dis- tance from Concord, 50 miles, south-east ; from Portsmouth, 18, south-west. The surface is uneven, but not rough. The land rises in moderate swells, and affords excellent pasturing and tillage. The inhabitants make but little pre- tensions, excepting in their skill in agriculture ; and their enterprise, industry, and success justly entitle them to greater credit than they claim.
Powow River passes through the western portion of the town, affording a few mill seats. The most valuable priv- ileges on this stream are in Amesbury, Massachusetts. There are, one meeting house belonging to the Baptist society, one hotel, two stores, and an academy, with a fund of $4200, a bequest of the late Hon. Benjamin Barnard, for the es- tablishment of an English High School, free to all the chil- dren in the town over seven years of age.
This town was incorporated May 25, 1742. A Congre- gational church was organized in 1743.
Population, 472. Number of legal voters in 1854, 115. Inventory, $268,496. Value of lands, $201,018. Stock in trade, $3445. Money at interest, $7150. Shares in banks, &c., $13,500. Number of sheep, 223. Do., neat stock, 422. Do. horses, 69.
SOUTH NEWMARKET, Rockingham county. Bounded north by Newmarket, east by Stratham, south by Exeter,
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and west by Epping. Distance from Concord, 36 miles, south-east ; from Portsmouth, 12, south-west. This was originally a part of Newmarket, from which it was sev- ered, and incorporated June 27, 1849. Its territory is small, comprising not more than 6000 acres. It contains two meeting houses, - one Methodist and one Congregational, -four stores, and one hotel.
The Swamscot Machine Company employ 90 men ; man- ufacture gas pipe, steam boilers, steam engines, and ma- chinists' tools of all descriptions. Capital $52,000.
There is also an iron foundery, in which 30 men are em- ployed.
The junction of the Portsmouth and Concord and the Great Falls Branch Railroads is in this town.
The principal streams are the Swamscot and the Piscas- sic Rivers, which afford several valuable mill privileges. The soil of this township is good and well cultivated.
Population, 516. Number of legal voters in 1854, 166. Inventory, $104,556. Value of lands, $120,244. Stock in trade, $13,460. Value of mills and factories, $3516. Money at interest, $16,172. Number of sheep, 200. Do. neat stock, 309. Do. horses, 66.
SPRINGFIELD, Sullivan county. Bounded north by Grafton, east by Wilmot and New London, south by New London and Sunapee, and west by Croyden and Grantham. Area, 28,330 acres, 2300 of which are covered with water. Distance from Concord, 38 miles, north-west ; from New- port, 13, north-east. A branch of the Sugar River has its source in this town, also a branch of the Blackwater Riv- er, the former discharging into the Connecticut, and the latter into the Merrimack. There are several ponds scat- tered through the town. The land is rough and stony, but
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not mountainous. The soil is strong, and produces well. There are two meeting houses belonging to societies of the Christian order, thirteen common schools, three stores, one planing mill, and several factories. There are still large tracts of excellent wood and timber land here. In the east part of the town is an excellent quarry of granite.
Population, 1270. Number of legal voters in 1854, 300. Inventory, $269,591. Value of lands, $146,714. Stock in trade, $1500. Value of mills, $3325. Money at interest, $12,857. Number of sheep, 4637. Do. neat stock, 1326. Do horses, 166.
STARK, Coos county. Bounded north by Stratford and ungranted lands called " Odell," east by Dummer and Mi- lan, south by Kilkenny, and west by Northumberland. Area, 20,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 135 miles, north ; from Lancaster, 10, north-east. In the north-east part of the town, the north and south branches of the Ammonoosuc form a junction. Nash's Stream falls into this river, in the north part of the town. The surface is much broken and hilly. In the valleys are some valuable farms. Near Mill Mountain is a ledge, which on its southern part breaks abruptly into a precipice of nearly 300 feet, while on the north cattle may be driven to its top.
This town was settled in 1788, by.Caleb and Benjamin Smith. It was incorporated December 28, 1832. Previ- ous to this time it was called Piercy.
Population, 418. Number of polls, 93. Inventory, 96,213. Value of lands, $50,935. Do. mills, $3075. Stock in trade, $220. Money at interest, $5615. Number of sheep, 648. Do. neat stock, 579. Do horses, 62.
STEWARTSTOWN, Coos county. Bounded north by
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Clarksville, east by Dixville, south by Colebrook, and west by Canaan, Vermont. Area, about 23,040 acres. Dis- tance from Concord, 150 miles, north ; from Lancaster, 40, north-east. Connecticut River passes along the west- ern border. It is also watered by Bishop's Brook, Dead- water, and Mohawk Rivers. Little and Great Diamond Ponds are the principal ponds ; both of these are well stored with salmon trout. In the north-east part of the town is an extensive tract of land, unsettled, which fur- nishes great quantities of excellent timber. There are five sawmills in operation here.
There are in this town two meeting houses, - one Con- gregational and one Christian, - one hotel, three stores, one woollen factory, one gristmill, one iron foundery, and one starch factory, at which a very large quantity of starch is annually manufactured.
Stewartstown was incorporated in December, 1799. It was settled prior to the revolution, but after the war broke out it was abandoned. The original grantors were Sir George Cockburn, Sir George Coleman, John Stewart, and John Nelson. During the war of 1812, a blockhouse or fort was erected here, and occupied until 1814. On the site of this fort the American and British surveyors and as- tronomers met to ascertain the 45th degree of north lat- itude, between the two nations, according to the terms of the treaty of Ghent.
Population, 747. Number of legal voters in 1854, 180. Inventory, $153,598. Value of lands, $74,940. Do. mills and factories, $3775. Stock in trade, $2200. Money at interest, $8235. Number of sheep, 1385. Do. neat stock, 1148. Do. horses, 167.
STODDARD, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Wash-
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
ington, east by Windsor and Antrim, south by Nelson and Sullivan, and west by Gilsum and Marlow. Area, 35,925 acres, 1100 of which are covered with water. Distance * from Concord, 42 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 14, north-east. It is situated on the height of land between the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers. Such is the loca- tion of some of the houses, that the rain falling upon one side of the roof runs into the former river, while that fall- ing upon the other side runs into the latter. The soil is deep, underlaid with clay. It is well adapted to grazing. The south branch of Ashuelot River has its source near the centre of the town. Long Pond, lying partly in this town and partly in Washington, is a pleasant sheet of - water, abounding with various kinds of fish. " Island Pond includes about 300 acres, and is studded with small islands. Branch River affords many valuable mill privileges.
There are in this town two hotels, three stores, five saw- mills, one gristmill, five shingle and clapboard mills, and one pail factory, furnishing employment for 20 men. There are two glass factories, each of which contains eight pot furnaces, which are kept constantly heated during six months in the year. The value of products amounts an- nually to about $10,000, and consists of window glass and glass ware of various kinds. The whole number of hands employed in the glass works, including both sexes, is 200. There are also three rake manufactories, two extensive tan- neries, and three blacksmiths' shops. Granite of a very fine grain is abundant, and is used largely for building and other purposes.
There are two religious societies - one Congregational and one Universalist - about equal in numbers and wealth. The former was organized September 4, 1787. The late Isaac Robinson, D. D., was ordained January 5, 1803, and
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continued his labors here until July 9, 1854, the time of his death. He was a man of remarkable mental powers, of untiring energy and perseverance. Although he en- joyed but very slight advantages for education, yet by close and unremitted application he became a sound and learned divine, as well as a scholar of unusual attainments in the various departments of science and literature. He was universally beloved, and his death was deeply regretted.
This town was formerly called Limerick. It was incor- porated November 4, 1774, when it received the name of Stoddard from Colonel Samson Stoddard, to whom, with others, it was granted. It was settled in June, 1769, by John Taggard and others. The hardships of the first set- tlers were very great.
Population, 1105. Number of legal voters in 1854, 250. Inventory, $399,408. Value of lands, $242,936. Stock in trade, $13,006. Value of mills, $3200. Money at interest, $36,348. Number of sheep, 4107. Do. neat stock, 1056. Do. horses, 200.
STRAFFORD, Strafford county. Bounded north-east by Farmington, south-east by Barrington, south-west by Northwood and Pittsfield, and north-west by Barnstead. Area, about 29,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 30 miles, north-east ; from Dover, 15, north-west. The sur- face is uneven, and in the north-west part mountainous. The soil is generally good. Bow Pond lies in the south- west part of the town, is 650 rods long and 400 wide, and is the source of one of the principal branches of Isin- glass River. Wild Goose Pond lies between this town and Pittsfield, and Trout Pond is west of the Blue Hills, which cross the north-west part of the town. The inhab- itants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. Great attention 34
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
is paid to the raising of stock. Strafford furnishes some very fine horses and cattle. There are two Freewill Bap- tist societies here, one Christian and one Methodist. Straf- ford was originally a part of Barrington, and was severed from it and incorporated June 17, 1820.
Population, 1920. Number of polls, 470. Inventory, $491,505. Value of lands, $302,661. Stock in trade, $3400. Value of mills, $3608. Money at interest, $12,510. Number of sheep, 1460. Do. neat stock, 2092. Do. horses, 333.
STRATFORD, Coos county. Bounded north by Columbia, east by ungranted lands, called " Odell," south by Stark and Northumberland, and west by Brunswick, Vermont. This is a large township, extending along the Connecticut River a distance of ten miles. The interval is very fertile, and varies from one fourth to one mile in width. The soil, except along the river, is rocky, gravelly, and cold. The " Peaks," two mountains of a conical form, situated in the south-east part of the town, are seen at a great distance. There are several streams, the largest of which are Bog Brook and Nash's River. Stratford was incorporated No- vember 16, 1779. First settlers, Isaac Johnston, James Curtis, James Brown, Josiah Lampkins, and Archippus Blodgett.
Population, 552. Number of polls, 183. Inventory, $146,233. Value of lands, $71,603. Stock in trade, $3788. Value of mills, $2770. Number of sheep, 517. Do. neat stock, 678. Do. horses, 204.
STRATHAM, Rockingham county. Bounded north and east by Greenland and North Hampton, south by Exeter, and west by Exeter and Great Bay. Area, 10,120 acres.
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Distance from Concord, 43 miles, south-east ; from Exeter, 3, north-east. The land is even, and well calculated for agricultural purposes. Fruits of all kinds are raised in greater abundance here than in any other town in the state. Stratham is celebrated for its extensive nurseries of fruit trees. From the summit of Stratham Hill, in this town, a beautiful and extensive prospect is afforded of the surrounding country, including the White Mountains, Great Bay, and the ocean. This town was a part of the Swamscot Patent, or Hilton's Purchase. In 1697 there were 35 families in the place. It was incorporated March 20, 1716.
"A Congregational church was organized at a very early date. First settled preacher, Rev. Henry Rust, ordained in 1718. There are at present two Baptist societies, and one Congregational.
Population, 843. Number of legal voters in 1854, 200. Inventory, $378,629. Value of lands, $185,137. Stock in trade, $150. Value of mills, $2330. Money at inter- est, $26,257. Number of sheep, 659. Do. neat stock, 735. Do. horses, 134.
SUCCESS, Coos county. Bounded north by Cambridge, east by Grafton and Riley, Maine, south by Shelburne, and west by Berlin and Milan. Area, about 30,000 acres. This is a rough and rugged township. In the south part it is mountainous. The soil is hard and difficult of cul- tivation. It was granted, February 12, 1773, to Benjamin Mackay and others. Distance from Concord, 143 miles, north-east ; from Lancaster, 30, east.
SULLIVAN, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Gilsum and Stoddard, east by Stoddard and Nelson, south by Rox-
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bury and Keene, and west by Keene and Gilsum. Area, 12,212 acres. Distance from Concord, 42 miles, south- west ; from Keene, 6, east. The south-east part of the town is watered by Ashuelot River. There are two small ponds, the one called Bolster, the other Chapman's Pond. The surface is generally even. The soil is very produc- tive, and well cultivated. The inhabitants are chiefly farmers, and are intelligent, industrious, and, for the most part, independent. In 1854 there was not a person as- sessed for his poll who was not taxed, besides, for property of more or less value - a circumstance, at least, of rare occurrence. There is one religious society - the Congre- gational. Sullivan was incorporated September 27, 1787, and received its name from President Sullivan, the chief magistrate of New Hampshire at that time.
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