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 37
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tor; Baptist, William Hurlin, pas- tor. There are four schools in town. Average length of schools, for the year, twenty-four weeks.
Hotel. Union House.
First Settlement. Plaistow was originally a part of Haverhill Mass., and was part of the terri- tory, in the Indian purchase of 1642. After it became annexed to New-Hampshire, a charter was granted Feb. 28., 1749. Its set- tlements commenced early, but there is no definite date given. Captain Charles Bartlett, Nich- olas White, Esq., Deacon Benja- min Kimball, and J. Harriman were among the first settlers. It is said that Deacon J. Harriman was the first man in New-Hamp- who embraced the Baptist persua- sion.
First Ministers. Rev. James Cushing, (Congregational) set- tled in 1730; died in 1764. Rev. Gyles Merrill, ordained in 1765; died in 1801.
Boundaries. North and north- east by Kingston, east by Newton, south by Haverhill, Massachusetts, and west by Atkinson. Area 6,839 acres. Area improved land 2,609 acres.
Distances. Forty miles south east from Concord, eighteen south from Exeter, and four north from Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Railroad. Boston and Maine Railroad passes through this town.
PLYMOUTH.
GRAFTON COUNTY. Plymouth is half shire town of the county. Owing to its central position on the great railway line of travel to the western sections of the White Mountains; the fine natural scen- ery which surrounds it, and the
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energy and public spirit of its citi- zens, it is becoming one of the most important towns in the coun- ty, and it might be said, in the State.
The surface is generally uneven, but the soil is very good, especial- ly the interval land, and, usual- ly, the farms are well cultivated. Many of the hillsides are suitably adapted to the growing of fruit, and there are but two towns in the county that raise as many apples.
Rivers. Besides numerous small streams, in various parts, it is watered by the Pemigewassett on its western border, and Baker's River, flowing through the north- ern seetion of the town, joins the Pemigewassett in the north-eastern part. Baker's River has its rise in Benton and Orange, and is thirty miles in length. At the mouth of this river, it is said, a party of men, from Haverhill, Massachusetts, under command of Captain Baker, attacked and defeated a party of Indians, killing a number and se- curing a large quantity of fur; hence the name of the river.
Village. On the Pemigewasset, and on the line of the Boston, Con- cord, and Montreal Railroad, is situated the beautiful and growing village of Plymouth. It is situat- ed in the midst of some of the fin- ›st scenery in the State, and this, to- gether with the generally neat ap- pearanee of the streets and build- ings, makes it a desirable place to live in. Here is located the State Normal School. The building is of brick, of modern architecture, and with every convenience for a school of this character. The of- fice of the Montreal Railroad is also located here, and while the managers have in view the inter-
ests of their own road, they have never forgotten to lend their influ- ence and their money, for the pro- motion and welfare of this village. They have erected here one of the largest and finest hotels in the State, which is an honor to the town, and to New-Hampshire. Through the warm season this house is generally filled with guests, many of them staying front two weeks to three months. The passengers on the trains north and south dine here; and one train from the north, and two from the south stay over night; and with these advantages more people know this house than any other hotel in the State. This village is the centre of a large mercantile trade, and has also been noted, many years, for the manufacturing of buck and leather gloves, and, the "Plymouth Glove" is known through the larger portion of the Northern States. There are elev- en firms in this village, engaged in this business, with a capital of $ 70,000. The annual value of gloves manufactured is $ 120,000. There are two church edifices, one large graded school house, fifteen or twenty stores, of all kinds, two hotels, express and telegraph of- fiee, three lawyers, four physicians and two dentists. Blaeksmiths, tin workmen, carpenters, painters, tailors, and all kinds of mechanies common to a thriving New- England village are found here. The number of tourists who stop in and around this pleasant village from one week to three months is estimated at 500, besides the thous- ands who stop for dinner or for a day. The most noted places of in- terest, for travellers to visit, besides the pleasant drives in any direc- .
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STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, PLYMOUTH, N. II.
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PORTSMOUTH.
tion from the village, are Walker's Hill, Livermore Falls, and Pros- pect Hill. No person will be sat- isfied with his tour through New- Hampshire, until he makes a visit to this delightful town.
Employments. Mercantile trade, manufacturing, hotel business, keeping summer boarders, and professional business are the chief occupations of the inhabitants, but farming is by no means neglected. There are 6,527 bushels of corn, 9, 000 bushels oats, 15,000 bushels po- tatoes, 32,000 lbs. butter, 29,000 lbs. maple sugar, and 3,000 tons of hay, annually produced; 5,740 doz- en buck, and 11,000 dozen leather gloves, annually manufactured, valued at $ 120,000; lumber, $ 46, 800; flour and meal, $10,300; be- sides various other small mechan- ical shops. The total value of goods, annually manufactured, is $ 224,000. (See tables.)
Resources. Agricultural pro- ductions, $ 104,175; mechanical la- bor, $ 57,400; money at interest and stocks, $ 9,125; deposits in sa- vings banks, $51,154; stock in trade, $ 36,678; from summer tourists, $ 50,000 ; professional bus- iness, $ 60,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. Cyrus Richardson, pastor; members, 149; church val- ued at $ 10,000; Methodist, Rev. M. W. Prince, pastor; members, 220; value, $ 19,000. There are eleven schools in town, two of which are graded; average length, for the year, twenty-two weeks.
Literary Institution. State Nor- mal School, Silas H. Pearl, the popular principal of this Institu- tion, died in July, 1873.
Libraries. Private libraries of over 400 volumes, are Colonel H.
W. Blair, William Leverett, Esq., Joseph Burrows, and Samuel A. Burns.
Hotels. Pemigewasset House, valued at $ 75,000 and Plymouth House, valued at $ 10,000. Each Hotel has a livery stable attached, with from fifteen to twenty horses apiece.
First Settlements. This town was granted to Joseph Blanchard, and others, July 15, 1763. Zacha- riah Parker and James Hobert commenced the first settlement, in August, 1764, and in the following autumn, they were joined by Jo- tham Cumings, Josiah Brown, David Webster, Stephen Webster, James Blodgett, and Ephraim Weston. They organized a Con- gregational Church in 1765.
First Ministers. Rev. Nathan Ward, Congregational; ordained in 1765, dismissed in 1794; Rev. Drury Fairbanks; ordained in 1800, dismissed in 1818. In 1803, a Methodist church was formed.
Boundaries. North by Rumney and Campton, east by Holderness, south by Bridgewater, and west by Hebron and Rumney. Area, 16, 256 acres; area of improved land, 10,103 acres.
Distances. Fifty-one miles north from Concord, by railroad; and thirty-five south-east from Haver hill.
PORTSMOUTH.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. Ports- mouth is the only seaport town in the State, and is half shire town of the county. In 1872, with the exception of Manchester, it was the wealthiest city in the State, and the fourth in population. The first white man, who was ever known to step foot on the soil
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of New-Hampshire, was Captain Martin Pring, of Bristol, England, in 1603, who landed in the vicinity of where the city now stands. In 1614. Captain John Smith sailed up the Piscataqua and examined its waters; but the regular settle- ment did not commence until 1623. It is situated on the south side of the Piscataqua, about three miles from its mouth. The river, at this point, is over one-half mile wide, and, at low water, is seventy feet deep, with a current of over five miles an hour. The tide rises about ten feet, and consequently, with the strong current, the river is kept clear of ice in the harbor, and for many miles up the river. The river, at its mouth, is protect- ed by head lands and islands, thereby debarring heavy seas from the Atlantic. The channel of the river has never less than forty-five feet of water, at low tide. With these advantages, the harbor is considered one of the best and safest on the Atlantic coast. The location of the city is very pleas- ant; the land gently sloping to- wards the harbor. There is no pleasanter country, nor finer roads in New-England than are seen around Portsmouth. The country is thickly settled with good farm houses, nearly all of them betoken- ingan air of wealth (and it might be said luxury,) while the streets are wide, level and beautifully shaded. Portsmouth has not increased in population quite as rapidly as some of her sister cities, who have been extensively engaged in manufac- turing for the past thirty years, but has steadily grown in wealth. It is an old town, and was an hun- dred years of age before Concord or Manchester were chartered, con-
sequently many of the buildings have an antique appearance; but there are many fine structures of modern architecture. The Custom House, Athenæum, Rockingham House, and several churches, are nice buildings. Many of the streets are wide, clean, and orna- mented with shade trees, while the residences are adorned with fine yards and gardens, which give the place a pleasant and inviting appearance. The proximity to the sea and neighboring beaches renders it a delightful summer resort.
Portsmouth, from 1802 to 1813, was visited with several disas- trous fires. In 1802, one hundred and two buildings were burned. In December, 1806, fourteen, in- cluding St. John's church; and in 1813, fifteen acres of the town were burned over, destroying three hundred and ninety-seven buildings.
It has been the seat of consider- able mercantile trade for many years, and for a number of years past it has increased quite rapidly in manufacturing.
Kearsarge Mills, employ 134 males and 237 females; annually manufacture goods to the value of $ 450,000; wheat and corn ground, $ 115,000; leather tanned, $20,000; boots, shoes and slippers, $40,000; clothing, $ 100,000; foundry and machinery, $ 40,000; cod liver oil, $8,000; stone and marble work, $30,000; gas, $32,000; bakery, $ 31,000; ship building, $ 55,000; soap and candles, $ 12,000; tin ware, $ 18,300; printing, $ 55,000; besides cigars, ale, brass foundry, patent grapplers, anchors, furni- ture, doors, sash and blinds, car- riages, coopering, masts and spars,
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tents and awnings, and various other small shops. The total cap- ital invested in manufactories is $ 1,437,000; males employed, 624; females, 401; annual value of pro- duction, $ 2,944,500.
Portsmouth is so situated in its business, many being engaged in commerce, and in the fishing bus- iness, that it is impossible to give any accurate account of the re- sources of the city. The receipts, no doubt, from these two sources, are several hundred thousand dol- lars, annually.
There is no doubt but that the individual wealth of this city ex- ceeds that of any other city in the State, with the exception of Man- chester.
The agricultural products are valuable. But three towns in the county raise as many apples. The improved land is about 2,000 acres. The average value of crops to each acre of improved land, is $ 45; this includes pasturage.
The mercantile trade is very large, having an extensive territo- ry of a rich and populous farming country, both in Maine and New- Hampshire. The number of stores, of all kinds, is over two hundred and fifty, with a capital invested of over $ 1,000,000.
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions $ 98,300; mechanical labor, $ 406,000; stocks and bonds, *$ 991, 952; money at interest $ 473,442; stock in trade, $ 1,436,301; de- posits in savings banks, $ 1,099, 389; from professional business, $ 700,000; value of toll bridges, $ 27,500; ferries, $40,000 ; wharves, $ 46,734.
Churches and Schools. Advent,
* This does not include U. S. bonds which it is said, amount to over a million of dollars.
-; Baptist, Rev. W. H. Alden,
pastor; Christian, -; Con- gregational, Rev. C. S. Martyn, pastor; Episcopal, Rev. J. F. Bingham, rector; Freewill Bap- tist, Rev. L. L. Harmon, pastor ; Methodist, Rev. A. C. Hardy, pas- tor; Unitarian, Rev. James De- Normandie, pastor; Universalist, Rev. O. Van Cise, pastor; Catho- lic, Rev. F. C. Walsh, priest. There are twenty-seven schools in town, twenty-two of which are graded; number of scholars, 1,974; aver- age length of schools for the year, forty-four weeks; value of school- houses, $ 80,000; total amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $ 22,377.39.
There are two high schools in con- nection with the public schools ; viz. Girl's High School, A. M. Payson, Principal ; Boy's High School; Lewis E. Smith, Princi- pal. The schools of Portsmouth are of a high order, and rank as some of the best in the State.
Banks. First National Bank, capital, $ 300,000; National Me- chanics and Traders' Bank, $ 300, 000; Rockingham National, $ 200, 000; New-Hampshire National, $ 150,000; Total Stock, $ 950,000; Portsmouth Savings Bank; de- posits, $ 2,087,997.55; Portsmouth Trust and Guarantee Company ; due depositors, $247,619.97; Cap- ital, $ 100,000; unpaid dividends, $ 77,60; borrowed, $2,386.27; to- tal, $350,083.28; Rockingham Ten Cents Savings Bank; due deposi- tors, $ 449,425.42; (See tables.) The Portsmouth National Bank was the first bank granted by the government, and issued the first national bank notes in the United States, at the time of the rebell- jon. Portsmouth Savings Bank
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was the first Savings Bank char- tered in New-Hampshire, viz. in 1823. The capital invested in National Banks is $300,000 more than that of any other city in the State.
Newspapers. Portsmouth Jour- nal, Daily Chronicle, New-Hamp- shire Gazette, Daily Times, and States and Union. (See tables.)
Maritime. The number of for- eign vessels entering the port of Portsmouth, for the year ending June 30th, 1871, was 49; tonnage, 7,306; crew, 295; American ves- sels, 9; tonnage, 1,446; crew, 49; Coastwise Trade and Fisheries- Trade; Steamers, 49, tonnage, 9, 713; vessels of all kinds, 540; ton- nage 58,776; crew, 2,532; fisher- ies-vessels, 306; tonnage, 5,580; crew, 2,770.
In 1872, the tonnage of the coast- ing trade had increased to 72,533; and fisheries tonnage to 7,948. The number of registered, enrolled and licensed vessels, belonging to the port of Portsmonth, was 73, with a tonnage of 12,994. Five of these were steamboats, with a tonnage of 429; number of vessels built, 3; tonnage, 1,207.
The maritime business of this harbor is constantly increasing, and some predict it will nearly double within the next ten years.
Hotels. Rockingham House, Kearsarge House, National House, Franklin House, American House. The Rockingham House is one of the largest and finest furnished hotels in the State. All the hotels are of the first order, and compare favorably with the public houses in other towns and cities in New- England.
Lawyers and Physicians &c. There are eleven lawyers, eleven
physicians, and five dentists, be- sides various other professions, in the city.
Early History. We append a few quotations of the early settle- ment of Portsmouth. " In the be- gining of the seventeenth centu- ry, some merchants of Bristol, England, having formed a private company for the investigation of this country, employed for that service, Captain Martin Pring, of Bristol, a skillful navigator" and of considerable note. " They plac- ed under his command two ves- sels, auspiciously named the Speedwell, and the Discoverer. In the year 1603, he set sail for America, and was enabled to be the first discoverer of New-Hamp- shire. Just 270 years ago, ( from 1873,) he entered the channel of the Piscataqua, and explored it for three or four leagues. He landed, and doubtless, with his compan- ions, trod the soil of this city. The city of Portsmouth therefore, just- ly boasts of her antiquity of 270 years, and of being the first soil in New-Hampshire that was touched by the feet of Englishmen. In 1614, the celebrated John Smith, saved from death by the Indian girl Pocahontas, examined and extolled the deep waters of the Piscataquoag. In 1623, the com- pany of Laconia, in England, con- sisting of Gorges aud Mason and many eminent and enterprising merchants of London and other cities, selected some choice per- sons, and sent them to establish a plantation on this river. They were high minded men, who had enlarged views of government, re- ligion and religious toleration. They were not of the Puritan par- ty, for Gorges and Mason had not
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the same religious views with the Massachusetts planters.
John Mason, the London mer- chant, member of the Portsmouth Company, for the planting, ruling and governing of New-England, and first governor of this province, advanced a large sum of money, for the welfare of this place, and, may be said to have laid the foun- dation of its commercial prosperi- ty. David Tomson, a Scotchman, who seems to have been promi- nent among the planters who first settled here, built a house on Odiorne's Point, a few rods north of the evident remains of an ancient fort. It was built the year of his arrival here, was the first house erected on this plantation, and was afterwards called Mason Hall. About eight years afterward, Hum- phrey Chadbourne built the Great House, which was situated on the bank of the river at the corner of Court and Water streets. It was afterwards occupied by Warrenton & Cutts." "On the 28th of May 1653, the plantation, which was accidently called Strawberry Bank, by reason of a bank where straw- berries were found," on petition of Brain Pendleton, was changed by the General Court at Boston, and called Portsmouth," as being a name most suitable for this place, it being the river's mouth, and as good as any in the land. It was also the name of the Eng- lish City in which John Mason was born." The first edifice erect- ed here, for public worship, was an Episcopal Church. It was built as early as 1639, on what is now called Church Street, (form- erly Church Lane,) northerly of the Court House. A parsonage erected at the same time, was sit-
uated on Pleasant Street, a few rods north of the Universalist Church edifice. The Rev. Richard Gibson was the pastor, and was the first minister settled in Ports- mouth. The worship at this church was according to the ritual of the English Church. Francis Williams was appointed Governor of the plantation in 1634. He wa a sensible and accomplished man, and popular with the people. He collected about him many valua- ble men, whose example and in- fluence was of the best order. These circumstances gave a high character to the town. Its reputa- tion was so great that it was al- ways selected in the days of colo- nial government as a most desira- ble place of residence, and for many years it was the home of the royal governors and the king's council." " It has been distin- guished for men of patriotism. Here lived William Vaughan, who claimed to be the projector of the siege of Louisburg, under Pep- perell. Dr. Cutter was a surgeon in that expedition. " Colonel Meserve, and Major Hale, took an active part, and Samuel Langdon was the Chaplain of the New- Hampshire forces. General Whip- ple was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Governor Langdon was always a devoted friend to his country. He, with General Sullivan, seized one hundred barrels of Gunpowder at the fort, in the mouth of the har- bor, and conveyed them to Bunker Hill, where they proved very val- uable on the memorable 17th of June. Governor Langdon had the honor of presiding in the Senate when General Washington was elected President of the United
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States. He and John Pickering and Pierce Long were delegates to the Convention, for the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and ably sustained it.
Portsmouth points with pride to Buckminister, Haven, Sewall, Penhallow, Langdon, Cutts, Bart- lett, Webster, Brown, Alden, Pickering, Sherburne, Woodbury, and the Wentworths who were na- tives or residents of the town.
Navy Yard. "The navy yard is situated on the east side of the Piscataqua, within the limits of Maine, and has every convenience and facility for the construction of vessels of the largest class. It is about three fourths of a mile north east from the city. The ter- ritory embraced within its limits is about 65 acres, and is nearly en- closed with permanent quay walls of dimension split granite." The water at the wharves is of suffi- cient depth to float the largest class of government ships, at the lowest tide. There are three large ship houses, seven large tim- ber sheds, a mast house, and a rig- ging house; machine shops and wood shops on the most extensive scale and improved plans. The quarters for officers and men are not excelled by those of any navy station in the country. There is a floating dry dock, for the repair of the largest government ships. This dock is 350 feet in length, 115 in width, 38 feet in height, and cost $800.000. The number of hands employed in this yard varies from 300, to over 2,000.
Old Organizations and Societies. Portsmouth Aqueduct Company, organized in 1798; Portsmouth Marine Society, organized in 1808; Portsmouth Athenæum, January,
1817 owned in 100 shares of $ 100 each, contains over 11,000 vol- umes; Portsmouth Bridge, 1819; Howard Benevolent Society, 1829. The old fire societies were organ- ized respectively in 1789 and 1811.
Forts and Light Houses. Fort Constitution is situated on Great Island and nearly opposite to Fort Mc Clay in Maine. These forts protect the harbor from any for- eign invasion. There are four light-houses attached to this dis- trict viz., Whales Back, New Castle, White Island, and Boon Island.
Bridges. Portsmouth Bridge, connects the city with Kittery, Maine. Incorporated in 1819; Capital $ 64,000. New Castle Bridge incorporated in 1821. This bridge connects New Castle, with Portsmouth.
Cemeteries. Auburn Street Cemetery has an area of thirteen acres. It is situated on two gentle swells of land at the foot of Au- burn Street. In the centre of the ground is a beautiful artificial pond surrounded by a lawn, and orna- mented with trees and shrubbery. The grounds are laid out in lots divided with gravel walks, shaded with the oak and maple. Har- mony Grove Cemetery, is an ad- diton to Auburn Street Cemetery.
July 4th, 1873, the sons and daughters of Portsmouth celebra- ted the 250th anniversary since the first permanent settlement was commenced. Almost every city and almost every section of the country was represented in the great meet- ing of the natives of this ancient town. It was the largest and most important gathering of people ever held in the city of Portsmouth and was considered a success.
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RANDOLPH.
First Ministers. Rev. John Gib- son, installed in 1639; Rev. Joshua Moody, settled in 1671, died in 1697; Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, set- tled in 1699, died in 1723; Rev. Jabez Fitch, settled in 1725, died in 1746, Rev. S. Langdon, D. D. settled in 1747; dismissed in 1777; Rev. Joseph Buckminister D. D. settled in 1779; died in 1812.
Second Church. Rev. John Em- erson, settled in 1715, died in 1732; Rev. William Shurtleff, settled in 1733, died in 1747; Rev. Job Strong, settled in 1749, died in 1751; Rev. Samuel Haven, set- tled in 1752, died in 1806.
Boundaries. North-west by Newington, north-east by Piscat- aqua River, which separates it from Kittery, Maine, south-east and south by Rye, and west by Greenland and Newington. Area 9,000 acres. Portsmouth, includ- ing Kittery, Dover, and Exeter, was an independent republic until 1641. It then, with Exeter, placed itself under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, until 1679, when New-Hampshire was formed in- to a separate province. It was incorporated with its present limits, May 28, 1653. It was incor- porated as a city, July 6, 1849.
Distances. Fifty-four miles north from Boston, and four hun- dred and eighty-nine miles north- east from Washington, D. C.
Railroads. The railroad facili- ties of Portsmouth are very good. The Eastern New-Hampshire, has its terminus here, and connects the city with Boston. The East- ern connects with the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad, which leads to Portland, and from thence to all sections of Maine; the eastern section of New-Hamp-
shire is reached by the Great Falls and Conway Railroad, which forms a junction with the P. S. and P. about twelve miles from Ports- mouth. The Portsmouth and Con- cord Railroad connects it with Central New-Hampshire and the western and northern sections of the State.
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