USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 3 > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
The rattle fnake, the moft poifonous reptile in this part of the country, is circumfcribed in his limits, and cannot exift beyond a certain degree of north- ern latitude, nor.can he be tranfported acrofs the Atlantic. By what laws in nature he is reftrained we know not ; that he is reftrained is a fact, and is not known in one part of this Commonwealth while much dreaded in another. The fame reftraint lies on different reptiles in the fouthern States, and though one part are in a degree endangered by them, yet others are perfectly free from their poi-
المنصورة
341
APPENDIX.
fonous ftings. Thefe animals, neceffary on the whole, as are the flies, which multiply in proportion to the impurity of the air by which they are fur- rounded, make a part of the great whole, and have, I doubt not, a benevolent commiflion, in the execu- tion of which the happinefs of man is materially concerned.
Beafts of the moft ferocious kind, neceffary in the chain, are peculiar to certain climates, and are the leaft dreaded where moft known : A belief that they will not exceed the limits affigned them, prevents their giving terror to others ; while thofe of a dif- ferent kind ferve for our ufe, are fitted to live in the various climates in which they have been placed, and feem, by fome inftinct of nature to be perfect- ly fubmiffive ; and are bound with much eafe to the limits affigned them.
When we take a view of the whole of the order eftablifhed originally, and which has been preferv- ed in the world ; when we fee man difperfed over the face of the earth, and an evident defign that he thould remain fo difperfed, and when we behold, that in confequence thereof, care has been taken that under every circumftance of civilization, or barbarifm, a full fupply of food can be obtained by each, in a way beft fitted to themfelves ; when we fee the birds of paffage, anxious to perform their' part, and (which is important indeed to fome of the inhabitants in the higher latitudes) taught to fly in winter to climes more friendly to their exiftence, and led back to nourifh the waking Laplander, af- ter a winter of retirement and fleep. When we fee the care exercifed towards man evinced in the exift- ence of even the moft poifonous animals, fitted to inhale the more fubtil and pointed particles floating in air, which are too keen for our habits, and ob-
342
APPENDIX.
ferve the irritating fly, bufily employed in fipping the putrid matter, in the firft ftages of it, which otherwife would float incompatible with a falubri- · ous atmofphere, neceffary to our happinefs. When we fee the natural timidity implanted in the nature of the moft ferocious animals, fleeing at the ap- proach of man ; and the docility of thofe more im- mediately intended for our ufe. When we careful- ly review thefe things, and ftudy with attention the works of nature, the great book of GOD, which if underftood cannot miflead, and our minds are guid- ed by proper confiderations, we fhall be freed from all anxious fears, left one part of the fyftem fhould clafh with another, but inftead thereof we fhall find ourfelves perfectly fatisfied in the belief that each will occupy its own orb until the whole thall be diffolved.
I have little doubt in my own mind but that every river whofe fource is in a lake or pond, where the waters are quiet, might with great eafe be replenifh- ed with fome kind of fith or other. I think there was a time when they were filled. Could we fuc- ceed in this meafure the advantages would be impor- tant, for it would multiply our cod and other ground fifh about our fhores, in proportion as we increafe the finall river fith, for they are the proper food of the ground fifh, which in purfuit thereof, are allur- ed quite into our harbours, and give us a more eafy fupply. We have undoubtedly been criminally in- attentive to the propagation of the oyfter in different parts of our fhores ; we can probably fill our chan- nels with thefe fhell fifh with much more cafe than we can fill our paftures with herds and flocks.
I have a fatisfaction in fubmitting thefe obferva- tions to you, which is feldom to be enjoyed, viz. that I fhall receive a full compenfation-one fmile
343
APPENDIX.
will do it, that I am fure they will beget, for you muft long fince have been taught that we had better fmile than weep at the vanity of others. With efteem and affection, I am always your friend,
Rev. Mr. BELKNAP. B. LINCOLN.
No. XXXII. On the same subject.
A letter from the Rev. DANIEL LITTLE, of Wells, to the Author.
Wells, Dec. 13, 1791.
DEAR SIR,
GENERAL LINCOLN'S letters contain many curious and pleafing arguments to prove that "river fifh always return to the rivers and ponds where they were fpawned." The thought was per- fectly new to me, till I met with it, about three years ago in a manufcript of the General's, which I had the honour of perufing, and which gave rife to a correfpondence on that and fome other fubjects. I wifh your inquiries may occafion fome ufeful pub- lication on this head.
In the courfe of my information fince, I have met with nothing that militates againft the General's arguments ; but rather the contrary.
Some time ago, I lodged at the houfe of Col. Bald- win of Woburn, and fpent the evening with his aged father ; who, in the courfe of converfation, inform- ed me, that a canal was made, within the limits of his acquaintance, to extend the feeding ground of the river fifh from one pond to another ; but that
APPENDIX. 344
the fifh never removed from their original and na- tive pond ; though the communication was fhort and the waters plenteous.
When in the county of Lincoln, the laft fummer, I fpent feveral days among the people fettled on the banks of the Sebafteecook, ten miles from its junc- tion with the Kennebeck. The ftreams that fall in- to Sebafteecook are numerous, and abound with the fmall river fifh, fuch as alewives, &c. The people fay that at the time of the running of thefe fifh, they afcend the ftreams at diftinct periods in fucceffion ; and that the fchulls never feparate, interfere or tranf- grefs in their way to their refpective ponds or lakes. : The fifth ponds and the river fith might be greatly improved by removing the natural obftructions in fome rivers and carrying into the diftant ponds live fifh to generate a new clafs. By that means new fettlers inight conduct the fifh to the doors of the prefent and fucceeding generations.
I am, dear Sir, your fincere friend and brother, DANIEL LITTLE.
. No. XXXIII,
ON POPULATION.
A Letter from the Rev. JAMES FREEMAN, [ who had seen this work in manuscript ] to the Author.
Bofton, Feb. 29, 1792.
DEAR SIR,
THE principles, upon which you have calculated your Table of Population, for the State of New-Hampfhire, appear to me not to be juft. Suppofing that the annual increafe of inhabitants is
.
L
345
APPENDIX.
the fame, you conclude that their number has doub- led in lefs than nineteen years. It is faid to be a good rule which works both ways. But if the num- ber of people in New-Hampfhire increafed by the fame ratio previous to the year 1767, it doubled in lefs than feven years ; for diminifhing 52700 by 8883, your mean number, it is reduced in the year 1760 to 25519. And, on the other hand, fhould the annual increafe be no more in future than 3883, above fix and thirty years will elapfe before the in- habitants of New-Hampfhire will be double the number they were in 1790.
The inhabitants of a country augment, as far at leaft as depends upon natural increafe, in the fame manner as a fum of money put out upon compound intereft. A hundred pounds at 6 per cent. at the end of the year, become £106, which new principal, at the end of the fecond year, produces more than £6. Profeffor Wigglefworth, in his Calculations of American Population, has explained the manner of conftructing tables, from which the annual increafe of inhabitants, by natural population, may be efti- mated for a feries of years, provided their number at the beginning and end of the feries, be afcertain- ed by actual enumeration, or by any other accurate mode.
The number of inhabitants in New-Hampfhire in the year 1767 was 52700, and in the year 1790, 141885. Here we have the number afcertained at the beginning and end of a period of 23 years. Sup- pofe 52700 to be equal to 1. Then we have this fe- ries in geometrical progreffion, as
1 :4 :: a:02 :: 02 :a3 ;: a3 ;Q4 = to a23.
That is, As the number of inhabitants in the year 1767 is to their number in the year 1768, fo is that
S s
-
L
346
APPENDIX.
number to their number in the year 1769, and fo on in the fame proportion to the year 1790.
But'@23_14188 := 2,692315 ; the root of which or a is equal to 1,044001. By involving the value of @ to its 23d power, we have the amount of unity to the 23d year ; the index of the power denoting the particular year.
The value of a being thus involved we have the following :
TABLE I. year s'amounts of unity 1768 1,044001=2
1769 1,089939;
1770 1,137898: 23 .
177111, 187967 === @4
1772 1,240239-05
1773 1,294812 == 46
1774 1,351785-47
1775 1,441126-248
17761,473564 == @9 1777|1,538194=210 1778 1,605877_@11 1779 1,676538=@12 178011,750308 === 13 1781 1,827324 == @14 1782 1,907729 __ @15 1783 1,991672 __ @10 17842,079309 =< 17 1785 2,170802 == @18 17852,266320 == @19 1787 2.366042-@20 1788 2,470151-421
If the number correfponding to any particular power of a be multi- plied by 52700, the product will be the amount of the inhabitants of New-Hampfhire, for the year de- noted by the index of the power of a, and which in the table is placed in the fame line. For example, if we multiply 52700 by 1,351785, which in the table is placed in the fame line with 1774, the product, rejecting the decimal parts, will be 71239, which is a little more than one half of 141885. Confequently, upon the fuppofition, that the in- creafe of inhabitants in New-Hamp- fhire was uniform, during the peri- 1789 2,578812-422 1790 2,692315 == 42 od included in this table, it may be concluded, that their number was doubled in a lit- tle more than fixteen years.
But from the furvey taken in the year 1775, it appears that the increafe was not uniform. At that time the number of inhabitants in New-Hampfhire, was found to amount to 82200, whereas, if it be cal- culated by the table, it will be no more than 74373,
347
APPENDIX.
It is evident therefore, that the augmentation of the people was more rapid between the years 1767 and 1775, than between the years 1775 and 1790. This difference can eafily be accounted for. The late war undoubtedly checked the progrefs of popula- tion, as you have clearly fhown.
To afcertain at what rate the inhabitants of New -. Hampfhire increafed between 1767 and 1775, a pe- riod of 8 years, let us fuppofe, as before, 52700 to be equal to 1. Then a8= 1,559772, that is 8 .200 the
52700) root of which, or a, is 1,056928, which being in- volved to its 13th power, will give the amounts of unity as in the following :
TABLE II. years | amounts of unity
1768[1,056928=@ 1769 1,117098=42 1770 1,180692=@3 1771 1,248908=u*
1772 1,320007 == Q5 1773 1,395153 == @6
1774 1,474577=Q7 1775 1,559772=q8 1776 1,648568=@9
1777 1,743418 == @10 1778|1,842669 == @11 1779 1,948012=@12 1780 2,058910=@13
From this table it is evident, that the people of New-Hampfhire, if the progrefs of population had not been checked by the war, would have doubled their numbers in lefs than thirteen years ; for 2,058910, which correfponds to the 13th power of a, multiplied by 52700, will produce 108504.
The peace of 1783 prevented the further deftruc- tion of men. It may therefore be prefumed that the progrefs of population was the fame, or nearly the fame, between that year and the year 1790 as between the years 1767 and 1775. Allowing it .to be the fame, it will be eafy to determine the number of people in New-Hampfhire in 1783. . The difference between 1783, and 1790 is 7. If therefore we divide the number of inhabitants in the year 1790 by the fum correfponding to the 7th power of a, the quotient will be the number in 1783 ; but 141885 1474577=96220.
10
T
348
APPENDIX.
We have here found a 4th number, from which we may determine the progrefs of population from 1775 to 1783, a period of 8 years. Suppofe 82200, the number in 1775, to be equal to 1. Then 28-96220 6220 = 1,170559, the root of which or a, is 1,019880, which being involved to the 8th power, will give the amounts of unity, as in the following :
TABLE III. . years, amounts of unity 1776|1,019880=@ 1777 |1,040 156 == a2 1778 1,060832 == 43 1779 1,081924 == @4 1780 1,103433=a5 1781|1,125370=@6 1782 1,147742=47 1783|1,170559 == @8
Calculating the number of inhab- itants from 1767 to 1775, and from 1783 to 1790, by Table II, and from 1775 to 1788 by Table III, we may form the following Table of Popu- lation for New-Hampfhire.
TABLE of Population,
1767
52705
55700 1768
1769 58871
1770
62222
177 ] 65817 69564
1772
1773 73524
77710 1774 1775 1776 83834
82200
1777
85500
1778 87200
1779
88934
1780 90702
1781
92505
1782 94344
1783
1784
96220 101696 07485 113606
1785
17 86
1787 120170
1788 127061 1789 134241
1790|
141885
From this table it appears, that the number of inhabitants in New-Hamp- fhire has doubled in less than eighteen years : for the half of the number taken by the cenfus, viz. 70942, falls between the years 1772 and 1773.
This conclufion may be confidered as very near the truth. But it ought to be obferved, that this table of population is not perfectly exact : for the augmenta- tion of numbers in New-Hampfhire has undoubtedly arifen, in part, from immi- gration. It is impoffible to determine with precifion, what the amount of this immigration is. But we may give a prob- able conjecture as to the acceffion of in- habitants, which it has eventually pro- duced. For if we can afcertain the num- ber of years, in which the inhabitants of
ilante am'
349
APPENDIX.
the United States, collectively taken, have generally doubled their numbers by natural increafe, we fhall be furnifhed with data, by which we may eftimate the natural increafe of inhabitants in New-Hamp- fhire from the year 1767 to the year 1790, which number being fubftracted from the number taken. by the cenfus, the remainder will be immigrants, and the natural increafe which has arifen from them.
Dr. Wigglefworth fuppofes that the number of people in the United States is doubled by natural in- creafe in 25 years. Multiplying, therefore, 52700 by 1,89211529=a23 in his Table the product is 99714, the difference between which and 141885 is 42171.
But I have reafon to believe, that the inhabitants of the United States double their numbers, by nat- ural increafe, in a lefs period of time than Dr. Wig- glefworth imagines. In a Table, which I have cal- culated for eight of the United States, viz. New- Hampfhire, Maffachufetts, Rhode-Ifland, Connecti- cut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Maryland and Virgin- ia, including Kentucky, I have made a22 equal to 2,0291905 ; that is, by this Table, the number of inhabitants in thefe States, collectively taken, dou- bled in lefs than 22 years, during a period ending in the year 1790. Pennfylvania, one of the States not included in the calculation, eftimating by the increafe of its rateable polls from 1770 to 1786, doubles its numbers in lefs than 22 years. If this State, therefore, were added, it would render the period of doubling ftill fhorter, as Maffachufetts, Rhode-Ifland and Connecticut, compared with the other States contained in the calculation, increafe very flowly, on account of the perpetual emigra- tions which are made from them. The other States
-
٢
-
..
350
APPENDIX.
not included in the calculation are Vermont, Dela- ware, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, befide the Weftern Territory. I do not poffefs fuf- ficient materials, to eftimate with accuracy, the pro- grefs of population in thefe States. But it is well known that- Vermont, North-Carolina, and Georgia are rapidly increafing. If a calculation could be formed upon the whole of the United States, I am of opinion that it would be found, that, by natural increafe, and by emigration from foreign countries, they have actually doubled their numbers in 21 years, notwithftanding the deftruction of men by the late war. The acceffion of foreigners bears no perceptible proportion to the natural increafe of nearly four millions of people. Making however a very liberal allowance for it, I think I am juftifi- ed in concluding, that the natural increafe of inhab- itants in the United States, may be eftimated by the Table above mentioned. In this Table a22 is equal to 2,02919050, and a is equal to 1,03296843, confe- quently Q23 is equal to 2,09608972. If therefore, we multiply this number by 52700, the number of inhabitants in New-Hampshire, in 1767, the pro- duct will be 110463, the number they would have been, by natural increafe, in the year 1790 ; which being deducted from the number taken by the cen- fus, the remainder is 31422, which may be confider- ed as the flock formed by immigration and the nat- ural increafe arifing from it. Making ufe of the fame Table which I have juft, mentioned, there is no great difficulty in determining the number of immigrants, which New-Hampfhire has received, one year with another, for the period of 23 years, ending in 1790, Let z reprefent this number.
351
APPENDIX.
zaf1+za12+za13-|-za14+za15+za16+za11+za18+zu19+za20+za 11+2022=51422.
That is, in numbers, 33,53096515 z=31422.
Consequently z == 3 142 9 37353095613 =9371 TT
Multiplying this number by 23, the product is 21,- 553, the amount of immigrations into New-Hamp- fhire in 23 years. As it is your opinion, that the emigrations from the neighbouring States were not fo large during the five firft years of the war, as be- fore or fince, for the fake of a round number, I will fuppofe that New-Hampfhire, during the remaining 18 years, annually received an addition of 1000 per- fons, befide the children who were born in the courfe of the year. From thefe data a more accu- rate Table of population might be conftructed, than that which I have given ; but it would not differ fo materially from it, as to affect my general con- clufion ; for the half of the number taken by the cenfus in the year 1790 would ftill fall between the years '72 and "73. I would therefore confider it as an eftablifhed fact, that the number of people in New-Hampfhire has actually doubled in lefs than eighteen years.
It is a fentiment which I have heard you exprefs, that there will ftill continue to be a rapid popula- tion in New-Hampfhire for many future years. The State at prefent is thinly fettled in proportion to its extent, containing not quite fifteen inhabi- tants to one fquare mile. In Connecticut, which is increafing in numbers, there are fifty-one inhabi- tants to a fquare mile ; and probably as many in Rhode-Ifland. But there is not fo much water and unimproveable land in Connecticut as in New- Hampfhire. The latter State you inform us, page 13, contains 949I fquare miles ; from which, if we
-
352
APPENDIX.
deduct 156 fquare miles for water, and 480 fquare miles, for uninhabitable mountains, the remainder is 8855, by which, if we divide 141885, the quotient is I6. The habitable parts of New-Hampfhire then contain fixteen inhabitants to a fquare mile. You have therefore reafon to conclude, that the rapidity of its population will not be checked for many years. Prefuming that the State will annually re- ceive a thoufand immigrants, I will venture to cal- culate its population from the year 1790 to the year 1800, at or before which time a new cenfus will be taken, by which it will be difcovered whether my predictions be juft or not.
TABLE of Population. 1790|141885 1791 147562 1792153426 1793 159484
17941 165742
1795 172206
1796 178883
1797 185780
1798 192004
1799 200253
1800 207815
Calculated by the Table referred to above, in which a is equal to 1,03296843, and 1000 added annually for immigrants.
I fear that your patience is now exhaufted with my tables. I will not therefore trefpafs further up- on your time, than to add by way of apology, that no calculations can be too minute, which tend to demonftrate the increafing profperity of a State, the inhabitants of which have fo long been diftinguifh- ed for their bravery and love of freedom.
With fincere refpect, I am, dear Sir, your affectionate brother, JAMES FREEMAN.
Rev. Jeremy Belknap.
N. B. Since the foregoing letter was received, in- quiry has been made of the Secretary whether there be any documents in his office from which the num-
£
353
1
APPENDIX.
ber of people in New-Hampfhire, previous to 1767 can with any probability be afcertained. After fpending feveral days in fearching the books and files, the Secretary writes that 'The only numbers of rateable-polls to be found in his office from 1742 to1767 were as follows :
1742-5172, no returns from Nottingham, Barring-
ton and Gofport.
1753-6392.
1767-11964.'
It may be afked, what is the proportion between rateable polls and inhabitants ? If the number of inhabitants as eftimated in 1767, viz. 52700 be di- vided by 11964, the rateable polls, the quotient will be nearly 41, which gives the proportion for that year. But whether the fame will hold for other years is uncertain. New-Hampfhire was peculiarly circumftanced in refpect of population, for fifteen years preceding and fifteen years fucceeding the conqueft of Canada in 1760. During the form- er period the population was very flow, except- ing by the natural increafe. . During the latter the immigration " was extremely rapid: It is alfo to be noted that in the old towns there is a much greater proportion of old men, women and children, than in the new fettlements ; confequent- ly the new have more rateable polls in proportion to their numbers than the old towns.
Additions to the Table of Longevity, page 188, lately re- ceived.
Since that Sheet was printed, the Rev. Mr. PIKE of Somerfworth died, in the 89th year of his age ; and the Rev. PEARSON THURSTON is ordained in that place.
354
APPENDIX.
Of the first fettlers in Rochefter who have died within fixteen years laft paft the ages were as follorys ; Above 100 years 1
90 and 100 2
between
80 and 90- 14
70 and 80- 20 L 60 and 70 4
41
Now living. S
90 and 100 --- 1
between 80 and 90-9
70 and 80-5
4
15
Males 7. Females S.
Of the firft fettlers in Barrington the number now living and their ages are as follows :
90 and 100 -.- 1
between 80 and 90-10 70 and 80 --- 3 1
-
14
Females 3 Males 11,
FINIS.
.
6222 1
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.