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 28
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Population, 468. Number of legal voters in 1854, 107. Inventory, $213,718. Value of lands, $135,776. Stock in trade, $1605. Value of mills, $2500. Money at in- terest, $23,704. Number of sheep, 2784. Do. neat stock, 714. Do. horses, 101.
SUNAPEE, Sullivan county. Bounded north by Spring- field, east by New London and Newbury, south by Goshen, and west by Newport and Croyden. Area, 15,666 acres, 3000 of which are covered with water. Distance from Concord, 35 miles, north-west ; from Newport, 7, east. By far the larger portion of Sunapee Lake lies within the limits of this town. It is a beautiful sheet of water - abounding with fish - which, with the surrounding country, affords a charming prospect. This is the principal source of Sugar River, which flows through the centre of the town, through Newport and Claremont into the Connecti- cut, affording in its course numerous excellent water privi-
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leges. The surface of the town is uneven, and in some parts rocky and mountainous. The soil is strong and pro- ductive, if carefully cultivated. It was granted, November 7, 1768, to John Sprague and others, under the name of Saville. It was settled, in 1772, by emigrants from Rhode Island, and was incorporated April 4, 1781, when it re- ceived the name of Wendell from one of the principal pro- prietors, John Wendell. It received its present name in 1850. A Congregational society was incorporated June 24, 1819. There are at present two religious societies - one Christian and one Methodist.
Population, 787. Number of polls, 191. Inventory, $203,538. Value of lands, $125,451. Stock in trade, $1550. Money at interest, $4770. Number of sheep, 1402. Do. neat stock, 1061. Do. horses, 135.
SURREY, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Walpole and Alstead, east by Gilsum, south by Keene, and west by Westmoreland and Walpole. Area, 12,212 acres. Dis- tance from Concord, 52 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 6, north-west. This town is watered by Ashuelot River, along which there is a valuable tract of interval extending nearly the whole length of the town from north to south. On the east side of the river is a steep mountain of consid- erable height, upon the top of which is a pond of water, three acres in extent and about 25 feet deep. Surrey was originally a part of Gilsum and Westmoreland. It was in- corporated March 9, 1769. The first settlement was made in 1764, by Peter Heyward. He began clearing land and cultivating it in the summer preceding, making his home at the fort in Keene. He was accustomed to go to his farm in the morning, and return to the fort at night, guard- ed only by his dog and gun, though the savages were at 34 *
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that time lurking in the woods. A Congregational church was organized June 12, 1769. There are two meeting houses in this town, but there is no regular preaching in either. There are four common schools, two sawmills, one gristmill, two hotels, and one store.
Population, 556. Number of legal voters in 1854, 117. Inventory, $179,201. Value of lands, $93,633. Do. mills, $900. Stock in trade, $950. Money at inter- est, $15,200. Number of sheep, 2130. Do. neat stock, 493. Do. horses, 95.
SUTTON, Merrimack county. Bounded north by New London and Wilmot, east by Wilmot and Warner, south by Warner and Bradford, and west by Newbury. Area, 24,300 acres. Distance from Concord, 25 miles, north- west. The southerly branch of Warner River enters this town on the south, and the northerly branch passes nearly through the centre from north to south, and affords many valuable mill privileges. It is skirted by large and fertile
meadows, which produce grass and grain abundantly. A large branch of Blackwater River has its source in this town, near the western base of Kearsarge Mountain, a large portion of which is in this town. It is visited by hun- dreds, who climb to its summit, attracted by the rich and charming prospect it presents. There are several ponds ; the largest is Kezar's Pond, which is about 190 rods square, and Long Pond, which is 350 rods in length and 70 in width. At the foot of King's Hill clay of a superior qual- ity exists in great abundance. Granite of a fine quality, and of great value on account of the large blocks, free from seams, which can be obtained, is found here. Plumbago is obtained in considerable quantities. The surface is diver- sified with hills and valleys, and is in some parts rough and
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mountainous. The soil presents all the varieties of fertil- ity and barrenness.
This town was granted by the Masonian proprietors in 1749. It was called Perrystown, from Obadiah Perry, one of the principal proprietors. It was first settled in 1767, by Daniel Peaslee, who was soon followed by several oth- ers. The first settlers found many traces of the Indians, such as hearths skilfully laid with stone, gun barrels, ovens, stone pestles, mortars, and tomahawks. An Indian burial- place was also discovered near the west bank of Kezar's Pond.
A Baptist church was organized here in April, 1782, and a Freewill Baptist about 1818. There are at present three meeting houses, none of which is owned or occu- pied by any particular religious denomination, but all are occupied promiscuously by Baptists, Freewill Baptists, Methodists, Universalists, and Second Adventists. There are four stores, and several sawmills, where quite an exten- sive business is carried on in the manufacture of boards, shingles, laths, timber, &c. There are three considerable villages in this town, in one of which is a very large tannery.
Population, 1387. Number of legal voters in 1854, 360. Do. common schools, 14. Amount of school fund, $1800. Inventory, $407,438. Value of lands, $232,901. Stock in trade, $5175. Value of mills, $5059. Money at interest, $23,935. Number of sheep, 4047. Do. neat stock, 1800. Do. horses, 258.
SWANZEY, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Keene, east by Marlborough and Troy, south by Richmond and Winchester, and west by Winchester and Chesterfield. Area, 28,057 acres. Distance from Concord, 60 miles,
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south-west ; from Keene, 6, south. The principal streams are the Ashuelot and the South Branch Rivers, on both of which are valuable water privileges. The surface of the town is diversified with hills, valleys, and swells of upland. Nearly one third part is level, and consists of nearly equal proportions of plain and interval. The soil consists of the interval, plain, and upland. The first yields grass abun- dantly. The plains produce excellent crops of corn, rye, &c. The soil of the upland is strong and deep, and affords good pasturing, orcharding, and woodland. Great Pond and Lock's Pond, lying in West Swanzey, are each about a mile long, and 270 rods in width. Hyponeco Brook abounds with trout. There are three meeting houses, - a Baptist and a Universalist in West Swanzey, and a Congre- gational in Swanzey Centre, - three hotels, five stores, and four sash, door, and blind manufactories, with an aggregate capital of $10,000, where 25 hands are employed ; four bucket and pail manufactories, employing 80 hands, with a capital of $40,000 ; one box manufactory, employing 7 men ; one steam mill, employing 6 men; six blacksmith shops, besides several other shops, for the manufacture of various articles of merchandise. There are four vil- lages, - one called Factory Village, another Swanzey Cen- tre, another West Swanzey, and another West Port, - all of which are thriving and prosperous. The Ashuelot Railroad passes through the two latter villages. The in- habitants are industrious and enterprising:
Swanzey was first granted by Massachusetts, in 1733, to 64 persons. After the settlement of the divisional line, it was granted by New Hampshire, July 2, 1753. Until the latter date it had been called Lower Ashuelot, from the Indian name, Ashaelock. From 1741 to 1747, the inhab- itants suffered greatly from Indian depredations. Several
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were killed, and many were taken prisoners. Massa- chusetts, under whose jurisdiction the town of Swanzey remained for 13 years, at this trying period withdrew her protection, and left the settlers defenceless and exposed to the fury of the savages. They abandoned the settlement, and having collected together their furniture and household goods, concealed them in the ground, covering them with leaves, bushes, trees, &c. Scarce had they turned their backs upon the desolate dwellings before the Indians set fire to them. Every house except one was consumed. About three years afterwards the former settlers returned. The first Congregational church was organized in 1741.
Population, 2106. Number of legal voters in 1854, 477. Inventory, $579,921. Value of lands, $354,840. Stock in trade, $16,175. Value of mills, $22,341. Money at interest, $30,197. Number of sheep, 1065. Do. neat stock, 1416. Do. horses, 311.
TAMWORTH, Carroll county. Bounded north by Albany, east by Madison, south by Ossipee, and west by Sandwich. Area, 28,917 acres. Distance from Concord, 60 miles, north. The surface of this town consists of ridges and valleys, generally very rocky and fertile, thus rendering it one of the best grazing towns in the state. There are no mountains lying wholly within the limits of this town, though on the north are the mountains of Albany, and a portion of Ossipee Mountain is included within its southern border. The principal streams are Bear Camp, Swift, and Corway Rivers, on which are many valuable water privi- leges. Lead ore and argentiferous galena are found in sev- eral localities.
, Tamworth was granted, October 14, 1766, to John Web- ster, Jonathan Moulton, and others. It was settled in
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1771, by Richard Jackman, Jonathan Choate, David Phil- brick, and William Eastman. The early settlers endured great hardships and privations in consequence of an early frost, which cut off nearly all their crops, and reduced them almost to utter starvation. . They were a brave, hardy, and enterprising company, and amidst all their dis- couragements firmly resolved not to abandon the settle- ment. Fortunately they killed now and then a deer, or bear, or some other wild animal whose flesh was palatable, and thus sustained themselves until they were able to se- cure permanent relief.
The Congregational church was organized about 1792. There is also a flourishing society of Methodists.
Population, 1766. Number of polls, 354. Inventory, $287,875. Value of lands, $142,405. Stock in trade, $3000. Value of mills and factories, $3350. Money at interest, $11,950. Number of sheep, 1341. Do. neat stock, 1881. Do. horses, 279.
TEMPLE, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Greenfield and Lyndeborough, east by Lyndeborough and Wilton, south by Mason and New Ipswich, and west by Sharon and Peterborough. Distance from Concord, 40 miles, south-west ; from Amherst, 12, west. Area, 13,400 acres. Temple Mountains extend along its western and north-western border, among which are the sources of numerous small streams. From the summits of these mountains the prospect towards the east and south is ex- tensive and beautiful. The surface is generally rocky and uneven. The soil is of ordinary strength and fertility, and may be profitably improved either for tillage, grazing, or woodland. This town is the easterly portion of what was formerly called Peterborough Slip. It was incorporated
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August 26, 1768. A Congregational church was organ- ized October 2, 1771. There is also a society of Univer- salists. There are two stores, two sawmills, one gristmill, one tannery, and one hotel.
Population, 579. Number of polls, 119. Inventory, $244,614. Value of lands, $165,630. Stock in trade, $1900. Value of mills, $850. Money at interest, $17,- 500. Number of sheep, 203. Do. neat stock, 906. Do. horses, 95.
THORNTON, Grafton county. Bounded north-east by ungranted lands, east by Waterville, south by Campton, west by Ellsworth, and north-west by Woodstock and Lin- coln. Area, 28,490 acres. Distance from Plymouth, 12 miles, north ; from Concord, 58, north. It is watered by Pemigewasset River, which passes through the town in a southerly direction, by Mad River, and several smaller streams. On Mill Brook is a beautiful cascade, where the water falls seven feet in a distance of two rods, and then tumbles over a rock 42 feet perpendicular. The brooks are filled with trout, and afford ample amusement for the angler and pleasure seeker. The soil is generally fertile. The interval on the Pemigewasset is very productive. There are several elevations, but no mountains. Large tracts of land are covered with a heavy growth of maple, from which great quantities of maple sugar are made an- nually. The public house on the road from Plymouth to Franconia is a handsome and commodious building, and is, in all respects, well arranged for the comfort and enjoy- ment of the traveller. This town was granted, July 6, 1763, to Matthew, James, and Andrew Thornton, and others. It was incorporated November 8, 1781. It was first settled, in 1770, by Benjamin Hoit. A Congrega-
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tional church was organized August 10, 1780. At present the only religious society is the Freewill Baptist, which is large and flourishing.
Population, 1012. Number of polls, 236. Inventory, $230,306. Value of lands, $126,249. Stock in trade, $5200. Value of mills, $2000. Money at interest, $5800. Number of sheep, 1403. Do. neat stock, 1310. Do. horses, 187.
TROY, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Marlbo- rough, east by Jaffrey, south by Fitzwilliam, and west by Richmond and Swanzey. Distance from Concord, 54 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 12, south-east. This is a small township, possessing a variety of surface and soil. The inhabitants are industrious, and chiefly engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. There is a small woollen factory, four pail manufactories, five clothes pins do., and one rake do. The aggregate number of hands employed in these various enterprises is 42. There are six common schools, one academy, one hotel, and three meeting houses, belonging respectively to Congregational, Baptist, and Unitarian so- cieties. This town was severed from Marlborough and Fitzwilliam, and incorporated January 23, 1815.
Population, 759. Number of legal voters in 1854, 190. Inventory, $236,910. Value of lands, $126,452. Stock in trade, $7580. Value of mills, $15,200. Money at interest, $14,258. Number of sheep, 163. Do. neat stock, 642. Do. horses, 95.
TUFTONBOROUGH, Carroll county. Bounded north-east by Ossipee, south-east by Wolfborough, south-west by Lake Winnipiseogee, and north-west by Moultonborough. There are several ponds in this town, whose waters are
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discharged into the lake. The soil is various ; the surface in some parts even, in others exceedingly rough. There are several arms of the lake stretching far inland, and pre- senting to the spectator, from the summits of the hills, a succession of beautiful and lively views, some of which are unsurpassed by those from any other position in this re- gion. The inhabitants are industrious and frugal, direct- ing their attention chiefly to the care of their flocks and herds. This town was originally granted to J. Tufton Mason, was settled about 1780, and incorporated Decem- ber 17, 1795. Among the early settlers were Benjamin Bean, Phinehas Graves, and Joseph Peavey. A Congrega- tional church was organized about 1800. There are Free- will Baptist, Christian, and Methodist societies, all of which have regular preaching.
Population, 1305. Number of polls, 277. Inventory, $353,405. Value of lands, $222,766. Stock in trade, $3884. Value of mills, $6800. Money at interest, $15,990. Number of sheep, 1137. Do. neat stock, 1703. Do. horses, 325.
UNITY, Sullivan county. Bounded north by Claremont and Newport, east by Goshen, south by Lempster and Ac- worth, and west by Charlestown. Area, 24,447 acres. Distance from Concord, 50 miles, north-west ; from New- port, 9, south. Gilman's, Cold, and Marshall's Ponds are the largest collections of water. The latter is the source of Little Sugar River. Cold Pond is the head of Cold River. From Gilman's Pond flows a branch of Sugar River. Perry's Mountain is in the south-west part of the town, lying partly in Charlestown. This is an uneven and rocky township, and, with its strong, fertile soil, is well adapted to grazing and the raising of stock. Unity is cele-
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brated for its excellent cattle. There are numerous locali- ties in this town of a character highly interesting to the geologist and mineralogist. The rock formation consists of gneiss and granite, overlaid by strata of micaceous, horn- blende, and chlorite slate. The direction of the strata is north by east - dip, south, 80º. Near the north-western corner of the town the argillaceous slate rocks occur, over- lapping the older primary strata. . Granular quartz, in great abundance, of an excellent quality, and easily tritu- rated, is found here. There is a strong chalybeate spring in the eastern part of the town, which is quite celebrated ; it is highly charged with salts of iron, and possesses tonic properties. From the soil around this spring copperas has been manufactured by leaching and evaporation. Bog iron ore, in small quantities, is found in various localities. Near Little Sugar River is a large and valuable mine of copper and iron pyrites. Its location is favorable for working, and, from the fact that the vein is one foot nine inches in width three feet from the surface, and constant- ly widens as it descends, it is believed to contain almost an inexhaustible supply. Near this mine a new mineral was discovered by Dr. Jackson, and named by him chlo- rophyllite. It occurs in the sienite rocks, which are found embedded in gneiss. Crystals of magnetic iron ore, in octahedral forms, are found disseminated in green mica ; also garnets and radiated actinolite. Iolite, a fine, deli- cate, blue-colored stone, which is valued highly by jewel- lers, and titanium, valued in the arts of porcelain painting and in the manufacture of mineral teeth, are found here in considerable quantities.
Unity was granted, July 13, 1764, to Theodore Atkin- son, Meshech Weare, and 45 others. The first settlers were John Ladd, Moses Thurston, Charles Huntoon, Esq.,
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and Joseph Perkins. It was called Unity on account of a friendly adjustment of a dispute, which had existed for a long time, between certain inhabitants of Hampstead and Kingston; each party claiming the same territory under different grants. It contains two meeting houses, one academy, and one store. The religious societies are Methodists and Baptists.
Population, 961. Number of legal voters in 1854, 200. Common schools, 15. Inventory, $358,993. Value of lands, $197,355. Stock in trade, $450. Value of mills, $850. Money at interest, $23,860. Number of sheep, 5994. Do. neat stock, 1225. Do. horses, 218.
WAKEFIELD, Carroll county. Bounded north-west by Ossipee and Effingham, east by Newfield, Maine, south- east by Milton, and south-west by Middleton and Brook- field. . Distance from Concord, 50 miles, north-east ; from Ossipee, 10, south-east. Province Pond, between this town and Effingham, is 450 rods long and 400 wide. Pine River Pond is the source of a river of the same name. The principal branch of the Piscataqua River takes its rise from East Pond, in the south-eastern part of the state. Lovewell's Pond, 700 rods long and 275 wide, and lying in the south part of the town, received its name from Captain John Lovewell, who surprised and destroyed a party of Indians near its eastern shore. The soil is generally good, and is well adapted to grazing. The
surface is broken and hilly. It was formerly called East Town, and was incorporated August 30, 1774. There are several very valuable water privileges here; and along the streams there is considerable interval, which is very productive, and well cultivated.
The Congregational church was organized in 1785.
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There is also a Freewill Baptist society, which is large and flourishing.
Population, 1405. Number of polls, 299. Inventory, $309,165. Value of lands, $177,278. Stock in trade, $2900. Value of mills and factories, $3550. Money at interest, $9837. Number of sheep, 699. Do. neat stock, 1473. Do. horses, 240.
WALPOLE, Cheshire county. Bounded north by Charles- town and Langdon, east by Alstead and Surrey, south by Surrey and Westmoreland, and west by Westminster and Rockingham, Vermont. Area, 24,301 acres. Distance from Concord, 60 miles, south-west ; from Keene, 22, north-west, with which it is connected by the Cheshire Railroad. This town is beautifully diversified with hills and vales. The intervals, especially those on Connecticut River, are extensive, and afford excellent tillage. The uplands are inferior to none in the state. Walpole stands among the highest in New Hampshire as an agricultural town. Cold River passes through the north part of the town, and unites with the Connecticut about one mile south of Bellows Falls. Near these falls is a lofty hill, 800 feet above the surface of the river. The rock com- posing this mountain is plumbaginous mica slate passing into argillaceous slate on one side, and hard mica slate con- taining fibriolite on the other. The principal village is situated on a large plain, about four miles south from Bel- lows Falls. The main street runs north and south, and is bordered on either side with houses, stores, and shops. Its common, handsomely laid out and ornamented with trees ; its broad streets, adorned with majestic elms and maples ; its many elegant and costly residences, with their spacious and beautiful yards and gardens, and the neatness and
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order which generally prevail, together with the picturesque beauty of the surrounding country, render it one of the most delightful villages in New Hampshire. 'This town'is distinguished for its excellent schools, and its valuable efforts to promote the interests of education. It has within a few years adopted the Somersworth Act, and has erected a large, convenient, and handsome building for a high school. The school fund is $1577 50. 3 In the village are seven stores, one hotel, three meeting houses, - one Unitarian, one Congregational, and one Methodist -and about a mile south-east from the village is a meeting house owned by the Universalist society. There are two shoe manufactories, with a capital of $1700, furnishing employment for 15 hands ; one shirt manufactory, where about 250 hands are engaged; one carriage factory, employing 12 hands, besides some 12 or 15 other shops , for various purposes. At the bridge which crosses the river near this place, first erected in 1785, is a most sub- lime and interesting view. The river is confined in a narrow channel between steep rocks, and for nearly a quar- ter of a mile is forced onward with great impetuosity, and loud, deep roaring. The fall is in no place perpendicular, the waters falling 42 feet in the distance of 160 rods. On the west side of the falls is a canal, with nine locks. Around the falls is an interesting locality of minerals. The almost incredible effects of the current of the river at this place afford striking and beautiful illustrations of the science of geology. A channel has been worn into a solid rock, or bed of granite, to a depth of 10 or 15 feet; and this was in all probability effected while the water was pouring over the precipitous hillsides south of the present bed, and before the rocks which form the present cataract had ever been sprinkled by the foam of the dashing waves.
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Here the effects of the current upon the rocks are still ""more wonderful. Numerous holes are bored perpendicu- larly into them with all the symmetry and smoothness of the inner surface of a porcelain jar, some of which are capable of holding several barrels of water; and one is 18 feet deep. All these pot holes lie high and dry above the ordinary' height of water, and are only reached by high floods or freshets. Indian relics of various kinds are found in the vicinity of the falls, and upon the rocks are chiselled portraits of savages, variously ornamented. Near this place are the Abenaqui Springs, whose waters possess remarkable medicinal properties. They are highly tonic, and efficacious in scrofulous and nearly all cutaneous affections. These springs were formerly visited by the various tribes of Indians who dwelt in this region, and are named after the Abenaqui, or St. Francis Indians. From a chemical analysis, one gallon of this water was found to contain 13.34 grains of salts, which were decomposed into crenate of iron 7.10, crenate of lime 4.11, chloride of sodium, sulphates of soda, and lime, and silica 2.13.
At the base of Fall Mountain, and near the springs, is the Fall Mountain Hotel, located in a beautifully romantic and retired spot, for the accommodation of travellers, inva- lids, and persons of leisure. From the hotel a path leads directly to Table Rock, on the summit of the mountain, which commands an extensive and delightful view of the valley of the Connecticut. About two miles south of Bel- lows Falls is a cemetery, beautifully situated in a rural and quiet spot. Within these grounds a large marble monu- ment has been erected to the memory of Colonel Benjamin Bellows -- who was one of the first settlers of Walpole - by his numerous descendants.
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