USA > New Hampshire > The statistics and gazetteer of New-Hampshire. Containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and villages statistical tables with a list of state officers, etc. > Part 17
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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
Resources. Products of the soil, $91,111; mechanical labor, $5.100; stocks and bonds, $3,000; money at interest, $11,200; deposits in savings banks, $100,306; stock in trade, $18,848.
Churches and Schools. Baptist, Rev. Samuel Woodbury, pastor; Congregational, Rev. G. I. Bard, pastor; Episcopal, Rev. J. H. Coit, rector. There are eleven schools in this town; average length for the year, twelve weeks.
Libraries. Episcopal Parish Li- brary, 500 volumes.
First Settlers. The first settlers of Dunbarton were principally de- scendants of Scotch-Irish, so called from the fact that their ancestors emigrated from Scotland to Ire- land. The town was granted, in 1751, to Archibald Stark, Caleb Page, and others, by the Masonian proprietors. It was called " Stark's town," in honor of the principal proprietor. It received its present name from Dunbarton, in Scot- land. The first settlement was made about 1749, by Joseph Put- ney, James Rogers, William Put- ney and Obadiah Foster. The town was incorporated August 10, 1765.
First Minister. Rev. Walter Harris, ordained August 26, 1789.
Boundaries. North by Hopkin- ton and Bow, east by Bow and Hooksett, south by Goffstown, and west by Weare. Area 21,000 acres, improved land, 16,533 acres.
Distances. Nine miles south from Concord.
Railroads. By daily stage to East Weare station, three miles, on the Manchester and North Weare Railroad.
138
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
DURHAM.
STRAFFORD COUNTY. This town is favorably situated on the Piscat- aqua and Oyster rivers, both as to water power and transportation, as tide water comes up to the falls, at the village. Oyster River a branch of the Piscataqua, takes its rise in Wheelwright's pond in Lee, and after running nearly its whole course in Durham, furnishing several good mill sites, meets the tide water at Durham village. The river takes its name from the abundance of oysters formerly found near its confluence with the Piscataqua.
Lamprey River, another branch of the Piscataqua, runs through the westerly part of the town, over several falls well adapted for mill sites, then into the town of New- Market, and meets the tide water at Lamprey River village in that town.
Upon both sides of Oyster river there is a deep, rich loam, which is suitably adpated to the produc- tion of grass of which heavy crops are cut, and hay is an article of export, there being over 1,500 tons sent to the Boston market annu- ally. Good crops of corn, barley, potatoes, &c., are also raised. The town abounds in excellent granite, which is a source of much profitable employment to the inhabitants.
Manufactories. There is con- siderable manufacturing in town. One Paper Mill annually manu- factures 309 tons wall paper, valued at $69,365. Nut and Bolt manu- factory, annually manufactures 250 tons of nuts and bolts, valued at $40.000, eighteen thousand pairs of boots and shoes are annually made, valued at $22,500.
Summer Tourists. Durham is
quite a resort for invalids and pleasure scckers, some forty staying there through the warm weather.
Resources. Annual value of farm productions, $108,133; manufac- tured productions, $152,200 ; money in savings banks, stock and bonds on hand or at interest, $139,800; from summer tourists, $ 1,000.
First Settlers. Durham was originally a part of Dover, and was included in Hilton's grant,* but as the number of settlers in- creased, it soon became a distinct parish by the name of Oyster River. Before any settlement had been made by the white men, it was a famous rendezvous for the Indians, and for many years after the settle- ment it suffered exceedingly by Indian depredations and murders. We append a few extracts giving accounts of their deeds of cruelty, which the first settlers suffered.
In 1694, when a large part of the inhabitants had marched to the westward, the Indians who were dispersed in the woods about Oys- ter River, having diligently ob- served the number of men in one of the garrisons, rushed upon eighteen of them, as they were going to their morning devotions ; and, having cut off their retreat from the house, put them all to death except one, who fortunately escaped. They then attacked the house, in which there were only two boys, besides the women and children. The boys kept them off for some time, and wounded sev- eral of them. At length the In- dians set fire to the house, and even then, the boys would not surrender till the Indians had promised to spare their lives. The latter, how- ever, perfidiously murdered three
* See Dover.
139
EAST KINGSTON.
or four of the children, one of whom they fixed upon a sharp stick, in the view of its mother. The next spring, the Indians nar- rowly watched the frontiers, to de- termine the safest and most vul- nerable points of attack. The set- tlement at Oyster River was selected for destruction. Here were twelve garrisoned houses, amply sufficient for the reception of the inhabitants; but, not appre- hending any danger, many of the families remained in their unfort- ified houses, and those who were in the garrisons, were indifferently prepared for a siege, as they were destitute of powder. The enemy approached the place undiscov- ered, and halted near the Falls. One John Dean, whose house stood near the Falls, happening to rise very early for a journey, be- fore the dawn of day, was shot as he came out of his door. The attack now commenced on all points, where the enemy was ready. They entered the house of a Mr. Adams, without resistance, where they murdered fourteen persons, whose graves can still be traced. The house of John Buss, the minister, was destroyed, together with his valuable library. He was absent at the time, and his wife and fam- ily fled to the woods. Many other cruelties were perpetrated, when the Indians, fearing that the inhab- itants from the neighboring settle- ments would collect against them, retreated, having killed or cap- tured between ninety and a hun- dred persons, and destroyed twen- ty houses, five of which were garri- soned. Minute accounts of these disasters are given in Belknap's val- uable history of New-Hampshire, to which the reader is referred.
Major-General John Sullivan, of the revolutionary army, was a res- ident of this town, and died here Jan. 23, 1795. He was a native of Berwick, Maine, and was a dis- tinguished commander during the war; was President of the State three years, and afterwards Dis- trict Judge of New-Hampshire. On all occasions, he proved him- self the firm supporter of the rights of the country.
The Hon. Ebenezer Thompson, Col. Winborn Adams, and Hon. George Frost, were also residents of this town. The town was in- corporated, May 15, 1732.
First Ministers. Rev. Hugh Ad- ams, settled in 1718, dismissed in 1739; Rev. Nicholas Gilman, or- dained in 1741, died in 1748; Rev. John Adams, settled in 1748, dis- missed in 1778; Rev. Curtis Coe, settled in 1780, dismissed in 1805.
Boundaries North by Madbury, east by Little and Great Bays, south by New-Market, and west by Lee. Area, 14,970 acres; im- proved land, 9,948 acres.
Distances. Thirty-five miles south-east from Concord, eleven north-west from Portsmouth and five south from Dover
Railroads. The Boston and Maine Railroad passes through this town in a northerly and southerly direction.
EAST KINGSTON.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. The surface of this town is somewhat uneven, but the excellent soil is well adapted to the cultivation of grasses and grains.
River. Powow River, having its source from ponds in Kingston, passes through the south-west part of this town.
140
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Employments. Farming is the principal occupation of the inhab- itants, some of the farms being under a high state of cultivation. 96,000 pairs womens shoes are an- nually made. There is also quite an extensive manufactory of stiff- enings and inner soles, employing twenty hands. 700,000 feet of lum- ber are sawed annually.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 44,611; mechanical labor, $ 32,500; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 6,650; deposits in savings banks, $ 3,750; stock in trade, $ 9,415.
Churches and Schools. Metho- dist, Rev. J. W. Sanborn, pastor. There are four schools in town; average length for the year, twen- ty-two weeks. Jeremiah Morrill, Esq., bequeathed to this town, $ 2,000, the interest of which is to be applied for the benefit of pub- lic schools in East Kingston.
First Settlers. William and
Abraham Smith. Incorporated, November 17, 1738.
First Minister. Rev. Peter Cof- fin, ordained in 1739, dismissed in 1792.
Boundaries. North by Brent- wood and Exeter, east by Kensing- ton, south by South Hampton, and west by Kingston.
Area. 3,445 acres of improved land.
Distances. Forty-two miles south-east from Concord, six south from Exeter and twenty miles south-west from Portsmouth.
Railroads. Boston and Maine Railroad.
EATON.
CARROLL COUNTY. The surface of this town is uneven. The soil on the uplands is good, producing
fair crops of corn, potatoes, hay, &c. The soil on the plains is a sandy loam, and was formerly cov- ered with an excellent growth of pine.
Streams and Ponds. There are no streams of any note in this town. There are several ponds, of which Snell's Pond is the prin- cipal one.
Minerals. Iron ore of good quality is found here; also a vein of sulphuret of lead.
Employments. Nearly all of the inhabitants are engaged in ag- riculture. There is some lumber business carried on.
Resources. Agricultural prod- ucts, $92,614; mechanical labor, $4.500; money at interest, $3,988; deposits in savings banks, $3,441 ; stock in trade, $2,500.
Churches and Schools. Two Free- will Baptists, Rev. J. Fletcher and W. S. Merrill, pastors. There are eleven school districts and eight schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, sev- enteen weeks.
Hotel. Robinson's Hotel.
First Settlers. Eaton was grant- ed to Clement March and sixty-five others, November 6, 1766. It originally included the town of Madison, the whole with an area of 33,637 acres.
First Church. A Baptist Church was formed in 1800.
Boundaries. North by Conway, east by Broomfield, Maine; South by Freedom, and west by Madison.
Distances. Seventy - one miles north-east from Concord, and twenty-two north from Ossipee.
Railroads. The Great Falls and Conway and Portland and Ogdens- burg Railroads form a junction at North Conway, ten miles distant.
141
EFFINGHAM-ELLSWORTH.
Six miles to depot at Conway Cor- ner, on the Gt. F. & C. R. R.
EFFINGHAM.
CARROLL COUNTY. The surface of this town is uneven, there be- ing several mountains of consider- able elevation. The soil in some parts is very good, and excellent crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay are produced.
Rivers and Ponds. Ossipee River and a few of its tributaries. are the only streams. Near Ossi- pee River is a pond four hundred rods long, and two hundred and seventy wide. Between Effiing- ham and Wakefield lies Province Pond. There are three small vil- lages in town, with post-offices, viz. South, Center, and Effingham Falls.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the in- habitants. There are various kinds of manufactories in town, of which lumber, shoe pegs, bobbins, rakes, and grist mills are the principal ones.
Resources. Agricultural prod- ucts, $93,306; mechanical labor, $5,000; money at interest, $4,459; deposits in savings banks, $29.95; stock in trade, $5,900.
Churches and Schools. Chris- tian, Rev: J. M. Colburn, pastor ; Freewill Baptist, Rev. J. P. Stinch- field, pastor; Methodist and Con- gregational, - -. There are nine schools in town; average length for the year, fifteen weeks.
Hotel. Green Mountain House.
Literary Institution. Masonic Institute, at the Center, J. M. Co- burn, principal.
First Settlements. Effingham was formerly called Leavitt's Town. The first settlement was
but a few years before the Revo- lution. Incorporated August 18, 1788.
First Ministers. Rev. Gideon Burt, Congregational, settled in 1803; died in 1805.
Boundaries. North by Freedom ; East by Maine line; south and west by Ossipee. Area, 30,000 acres; improved land, 9,025 acres.
Distances. Sixty miles north- east from Concord, and five north from Ossipee.
Railroads. Great Falls and Con- way
ELLSWORTH.
GRAFTON COUNTY. This is a romantic hamlet situated high up in a great basin among the hills, isolated from the rest of the world, and full of tarns, brooks and moun- tains. Ellsworth Pond, in the south-east part of the town, con- tains about one hundred acres, and affords a fine mill stream called West Branch brook. Moul- ton brook, from Warren and Buz- zell brook flows into this pond. One of the three Glen Ponds is on the western boundary, and a por- tion of Stinson Pond on the south line. Stinson brook flows through the west part, and in the north part is Kineo brook and Hubbard brook, an affluent of Hubbard Pond, in Woodstock. Mt. Kineo, 3,557 feet high, so called from an Indian chief, is in the center, and Black hill, formerly a great place for moose, is in the valley between Mt. Kineo and Mt. Carr. In the south part is a portion of Stinson mountain.
Indians. This basin was for- merly a noted resort of Indians who visited it for the purpose of hunt- ing. Relics of them have been
1
.
S
E
e
ยท
142
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
found on the shores of Glen ponds. Kineo, the chief, named from Kun- nawa, meaning the bear, hunted on the mountain bearing his name.
First Settlers. Ellsworth was granted to Barlow Trecothick, May 1, 1769, and was called Trecothick until 1802, when it was incorporat- ed. It was settled in 1792, by Col. Craige. Shortly after, Jonathan T. Downing, Aaron Straw, and Gideon Hill, moved into town. The inhabitants, although not very rich, enjoy the comforts of life, and are a contented, frugal, virtuous and happy people.
First Minister. A Freewill Bap- tist society was formed previous to 1820, and Israel Blake was the first minister.
Employments. Agriculture is successfully carried on. Much maple sugar is made and consider- able lumber sent to market. Clo- ver seed in large quantities was formerly sold.
Resources. Agricultural prod- ucts, $20,800; mechanical labor, $1,700; stock in trade, $900.
Churches and Schools. Freewill Baptist, no pastor. There are two schools in town; average length for the year, six weeks.
Summer Resorts. Ellsworth has always been a noted summer re- sort. Hundreds of hunters, trap- pers and fishermen visit it every year, and the basin in which Glen ponds are situated is alive with tourists each season. There are no hotels, but the spruce camp and the lodge of green boughs answer every purpose.
Minerals. In the neighbornood of Stinson pond are numerous ores and minerals, and on some of the streams gold has been found.
Railroads. The nearest railroad
station is Rumney, six miles dis- tant.
Boundaries. North by Wood- stock, east by Thornton and Camp- ton, south by Rumney and West by Warren.
Distances. Fifty-two miles from Concord, and eighty-four from Portsmouth.
ENFIELD.
GRAFTON COUNTY. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is considered good, producing ex- cellent crops of corn, wheat, oats. hay and potatoes. On many of the hills and mountain sides are fine pastures for sheep and cattle.
Enfield is noted among northern towns for its diversified and beau- tiful scenery, its rivulets, lakelets, valleys and hills-the hills culti- vated to their tops, and, in the western part, rising into a consid- erable elevation, known as Mount Calm, whose summits embosom a pond two thirds of a mile long and a third of a mile wide, and here and there sink down into quiet glens, fertilized by streamlets, and dotted with farm houses. East, Choate's, Jones, Shaker, Goodhue and George, are the names of the principal hills, and Mascomy Lake, East Pond or Crystal Lake, Spec- tacles, George, Mountain, and Mud ponds, are the principal bodies of water, with mills at their outlets. Mud Pond is mostly in Canaan. Mascomy River, taking its rise in Dorchester, and running through Canaan, is a considerable stream, emptying into Mascomy Lake in the north-west part. From marks of a former shore running round it, and logs found a dozen feet be- low the surface of the plain, ex- tending about a mile south, this
-
143
ENFIELD.
beautiful lake, four miles in length, and of various breadths, would seem to have been anciently con- siderably longer, and some thirty feet higher than it now is at high water mark, and its fall to have been caused by a disruption and lowering of its outlet in Lebanon. At its head it receives a brook run- ning from George Pond through Centre Village, on which stream are mills and factories. The other principal brooks are Bicknell's, flowing into, and Johnson's, flow- ing out of, East Pond, on both of which are saw mills. At the foot of East Hill, about two miles east- erly from the head of Mascomy Lake, is East Pond or Crystal Lake, with its single islet, whose deep, clear water, about two miles in length and three-fourths of a mile in width, once abounded in salmon trout weighing from two to ten pounds, but which have been exterminated by pickerel, intro- duced into the pond about half a century ago. At the outlet of this lake is one of the best unimproved water privileges in the county. Here was erected the first grist mill and store in the town. The village here was long known as Johnson's mills, but now as East village. It was once the centre of business of this and the adjoining towns.
Here stands the mansion of Judge Jesse Johnson, erected in 1803, and the occasional summer residence of his surviving children and descendants. The old man- sion house of Judge Johnson is now owned by his son, George W. Johnson, Esq., of Gasport, N. Y. And here also resided two of the town's early and worthy citizens, George Conant, Esq., Justice of
the Peace, its first clothier, and Captain Richard Currier, whose house, erected before 1800, is in possession of one of his grandsons.
Villages. North Enfield* is one of the most enterprising and im- portant villages in the southern part of Grafton County. It is located on Mascomy river, about one half mile from where it discharges its waters into Mascomy Lake. The river at this village produces some very fine water power, which is generally improved. There is one card printing and job office, large bedstead manufactory, two flannel and hosiery mills, one of the larg- est grist mills in the State, large tannery, lumber mill and various other small shops. These various manufactories employ about one hundred males and females, who annually receive for their labor about $40,000, and produce goods valued at $365,000. There are also six stores of all kinds, one hotel, two churches, one large graded school house, and about one hundred dwelling houses. The Northern Railroad passes- along the southern border of the village, where there is a depot, telegraph and express office. At the Centre there is quite a pretty village, with considerable manufacturing. Here is one hosiery manufactory, car- riage and sleigh manufactory, tan- nery, two lumber mills, marble shop, grist mill, printing office and other small shops. There are also two stores, one good hotel, post- office, one church, a large school house, and about fifty dwelling houses, some of which are very fine dwellings. The Hon, James W. Johnson resides here, and has
* The post office address of this village is Enfield.
144
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
one of the finest country residences in the State. This village lies three miles south-east from North Enfield depot, and is connected with it by stage, twice, daily.
At East Enfield there is a church, school house, saw mill, two or three small shops, and eight or ten dwellings.
Shaker village is located on the south-western shore of Mascomy lake. This village is divided into what is termed three families, viz., North, Center or Church, and South families. The village is lo- cated about midway between the two extremes of the lake, and they own all the land on the lake for nearly two miles. The plain where the village is situated is very narrow between the lake and the hill (which rises quite abrupt- ly), but the soil is very rich and productive. About twenty acres of their land, they devote to the raising of garden seeds, and botan- ic medicinal herbs. The hills af- ford some of the finest pasturage in the State. Every thing about their farms has an air of neatness. Their cattle, horses and sheep are of the very best quality, showing, with all their peculiarities, that they are husbandmen whom it would be for the interest of every New-Hampshire farmer to imitate. Their home farm contains about 1,500 acres. Their buildings are modestly neat, and built more for convenience and durability, than beauty, although some of their buildings have an expensive ap- pearance, which is the fact. In 1837, the middle family built a large stone building, four stories high, 100 feet long and 56 wide. It is surmounted by a cupola, in which is a bell weighing 800 lbs.
Every stone in the building is ce- mented and further fastened to- gether with iron trunnels. The whole expense of the building was $ 35,000. At the time of its erec- tion, it was considered the most expensive building in the State, except the State House. It is de- voted to family use. There are some other very good buildings, among which is a large barn, the most convenient of any in the State. Their manufactures are not very extensive, but their goods are of the very best quality. They con- sist of knit goods, tubs, pails, brooms, and distilled valerian, &c. The annual value of valerian sold is about $4,000. The estimated amount of all goods sold annually, including garden seeds, is over $ 30,000. All of the families wor- ship together, and are under one general board of Trustees. Their number is about 200. As to their religious creed, please see Canter- bury, and for their early settlement in Enfield, look at the early set- tlement of the town. One of the greatest tragedies which ever oc- curred among the Shakers in this town, was the murder of Caleb M. Dyer by one Thomas Weir, in 1864. Mr. Dyer was their chief man in all their business affairs, and was extensively known throughout the State, and noted for his business tact, and honesty. Weir was an unprincipled fellow, and volunta- rily placed his children under the protection of the Shakers, but after his return from the war he wished to regain them. Weir was suffer- ed to see them once or twice, but he still called and insisted on hav- ing the children. At length his frequent visits became a nuisance, and Mr. Dyer refused to let him
145
ENFIELD.
see the children,* at an unseason- able hour, and as the children did not wish to leave their benefactors. Of course Weir was more irritated, and the next time came prepared to see the children or seek revenge. As before, he was refused, and while Mr. Dyer was trying to rea- son with him, he drew his pistol and shot Dyer, the wound proving fatal in a short time. The loss of Mr. Dyer was deeply felt by the Shakers, and all business circles who had the pleasure to know him. Weir is expiating his crime in the State Prison under a sen- tence of thirty years and one day. He was 52 years of age when he committed the crime, which vir- tually makes it a life sentence.
Employments. The people are generally employed in agriculture, but, as can be seen, the manufac- tures are valuable, amounting to over $ 450,000 annually.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 125,460; mechanical labor, $ 54,300; stocks and bonds, $13, 900; money at interest, $ 49,550; deposits in savings banks, $ 77, 520; stock in trade, $ 40,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. V. J. Hartshorn, pastor; Methodist, Rev. C. H. Chase, pastor; Universalist, Rev. S. C. Hayford, pastor; Shakers, Henry Cummings, elder.
There are 15 school districts and 16 schools in town; average length for the year, 22 weeks; annual amount appropriated for school purposes, $ 2,420.73.
Hotels. Granite State House at Enfield, and Mount Calm House at the Center.
* It is stated, on good authority, that the two girls were opposed to leaving. One still remains with them.
Historical Society. There is a historical society organized in this town.
The Town's Early History. In 1761, the year following the con- quest of Canada by England, which put a stop to the frequent murder- ous raids of the French and In- dians from that quarter, upon the outlying New-England settlements, preventing their extension north- wards, a rush of emigration took place in that direction from Mass- achusetts, Connecticut and South- ern New-Hampshire, the Govern- or of the latter State, having in that one year chartered 60 towns west and 18 east of the Connecti- cut and Enfield, among them, July 4th, exactly 15 years before the Declaration of Independence.
Enfield, in the charter spelled Endfield, named probably after Enfield in Connecticut, was grant- ed to 60 persons, all of whom, (except 10 who were doubtless the Governor's favorites, and resided in or near Portsmouth), were well- to-do inhabitants of Eastern Con- necticut, and most of them of Windham County. The meetings of these proprietors, were held at the inn of Amariah Storrs, at Mansfield in that County, the first twelve years, till December 1773, after which they took place in En- field or vicinity. But two or three of the original proprietors, ever resided in town. The book con- taining their proceedings from December, 1773 to April 1781, has been lost. The Governor in this, as probably in his other charters, secured to himself the lion's share -a select 500 acres, as marked on the charter map-and among other conditions, required, under penalty of forfeiture, that the proprietors
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.