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 39
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Railroad. The Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad passes through the southern part of this town.
RYE.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. Nearly one third of the sea-coast of the State, is in this town, extending for six miles along the Atlantic. On the shore, are three pleasant beaches, viz. Sandy, Jenness, and Wallis. Near Goss' Mills, there is a small harbor, into which ves- sels of 80 tons burden may enter at high water. The soil is hard, but is in a high state of cultivation, and yields good crops.
Employments. But very little manufacturing is done. Nearly all the people are engaged in farming, and, in the warm season, keeping summer boarders. Nearly every farm house is a boarding house, and their own tables furnish a good market for their farm prod- ucts, at first-class prices.
Resources. Annual productions of the soil, $76,296; mechanical labor, $ 10,500; fisheries, not known; deposits in savings banks, $ 130,660; stocks, bonds, and mon- ey at interest, $ 32,910; from sum- mer tourists, at boarding houses, $ 60,000; guests at hotels, $ 75,000,
Summer Tourists. Rye is be- coming widely noted as a summer resort for invalids, lovers of sea- side views, and those who are de- lighted by the music of the ocean wave. The beaches are large and safe for bathing. The roads are good, and the drives delightful.
No finer country can be found in New England than in the vi- cinity of Rye. It is six miles to Portsmouth, and nine to Exeter,
both pleasant and large towns. It was estimated that fifteen hundred tourists stayed in Rye, through the warm weather in 1873. There are five large and commodious hotels viz., the Farragut, Atlantic, Sea- View, Washington and Ocean *. The number of arrivals at all the hotels last season were 10,000. People who visit Rye once are apt to come again.
Churches and Schools. There are four churches in town viz., Con- gregational, Christian, Methodist, and Advent. There are four schools; average length, for the year, twenty-six weeks.
First Settlements. Rye was or- iginally a part of Portsmouth, Greenland, Hampton and New- Castle. Settlements commenced within the present limits of the town, as early as 1635, but it was not incorporated till 1719. The inhab- itants suffered much in early times from frequent attacks by the In- dians. In 1694, John Locke was killed while reaping grain in his field. Twenty-one persons were killed or captured, at one time, at Sandy Beach in 1696. In this in- vasion, in 1696, the Indians had been down to the sea-shore for the purpose of fishing, and, returning, they encamped upon the top of a hill. While preparing their break- fast, they were surprised by a par- ty of rangers, and captured. This hill has ever since, been called " Breakfast Hill."
First Ministers. Rev. Nathan- iel Morrill, ordained in 1726; left in 1733. Rev. Samuel Parsons, ordained in 1736; died in 1739.
* The Ocean House was burnt in the season of 1873. It was one of the largest, and most expensive hotels on the New-England coast, costing nearly $ 100,000.
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SALEM.
Rev. Huntington Porter, D. D., settled in 1784.
Boundaries. North and north- west by Portsmouth, north-east by Little Harbor, east by the Atlantic Ocean, south by North-Hampton, and west by Greenland.
Distances. Six miles south from Portsmouth, and fifty south-cast from Concord.
Railroads. The Eastern Rail- road. At the June Session, 1872, a charter was granted for a rail- road to run through Rye, to be called the Eastern Branch Rail- road.
SALEM.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. The surface of this town is uneven, af- fording a fair proportion of inter- val and upland. The soil is good, and well cultivated, producing ex- cellent crops of corn, grain and grass. Its proximity to the large city of Lawrence, Mass., affords a fine market for the farmers to sell their surplus productions. But four other towns in the county sell as much garden produce.
Ponds and Rivers. There are several ponds, the largest of which is Policy Pond, partly in this town and partly in Windham; World's End and Captain Ponds are the principal. Spiggott River passes through this town in a southerly direction, and receives in its course many branches, which afford good water power.
There are three villages, in dif- ferent sections of the town, viz. Sa- lem, North Salem and Depot Vil- lage. At Salem village are two churches, a school house, shoe factory, woolen mill, lumber mill, several small mechanical shops, three stores, one hotel, a post of-
fice, etc. At North Salem there is a church, school house, three woolen mills, a lumber mill, two stores, and a post office. At De- pot Village are two churches, a school house, shoe factory, lumber mill, wheel-wright shop, five or six stores, of various kinds, and a post office.
Employments. The inhabitants are about equally divided between farming on one side, and manufac- tories and mercantile trade on the other. Woolen goods, such as flannels, frocking, water-proof, and woolen yarn are manufactur- ed, to the value of $ 260,000 annu- ally; 168,000 pairs of sale boots and shoes, valued at $ 179,000 are made; 800,000 feet of lumber, val- ued at $ 11,500, are sawed, and there are many small mechanical shops. The total value of goods, annually manufactured, is $ 460, 000. (See tables.).
Resources. Annual agricultural productions, $ 100,137; mechan- ical labor, $ 85,400; money at in- terest, $ 12,400; deposits in sav- ings banks,* $ 13,174; stock in trade, $ 31,635; professional busi- ness, $ 35,000.
Churches and Schools. Salem : Methodist, Rev. H. Dow, pastor ; Congregational, Rev. A. M. Gates, pastor. North Salem : Methodist, Rev. S. J. Robinson pastor. De- pot : Methodist, Rev. J. H.
Haines, pastor; Baptist, Rev. Mr. Eaton, pastor. There are eleven schools in town, two of which are graded; average length of schools, for the year, twenty-six weeks; total amount of money annually appropriated for school
* A large portion of the surplus earnings of the people, finds its way into the savings, banks in Massachusetts.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
purposes, $ 1,967.14; value of school houses, $ 8,850,
Hotels. Salem House and Chee- ney House.
First Settlements. Salem was orig- inally, a part of Methuen, Mass., but came into New-Hampshire in the State division in 1741. It was incorporated May 11, 1750. The town contained, as early as 1775, 1,084 inhabitants. Hon. Silas Belton, a distinguished man, died here in 1822.
First Ministers. Rev Abner Bagley, ordained in 1740; died in 1798. Rev. John Smith, D. D., or- dained in 1797; dismissed in 1816.
Boundaries. North by London- derry, north-east by Atkinson, east and south by Methuen, Mass., south-west by Pelham, and west by Windham.
Distances. Forty miles south from Concord, and twenty south- west from Exeter.
Railroad. The Manchester and Lawrence Railroad passes through the town, in a northerly and south- erly direction.
SALISBURY,
MERRIMACK COUNTY. Salisbury is one of the best farming towns in the county, and is especially noted for its excellent apple or- chards. But two towns in the State equal this town in its apple production. The surface is gener- ally, uneven. The soil is strong, deep, and loamy. On Blackwater River is some very fertile interval land. The more hilly portions af- ford most excellent pasturage, but there is, however, some very fine tillage land, producing good crops of wheat, corn, potatoes etc. 16,000 lbs. of wool is produced an- nually. But very few towns in the
State hold out better inducements to husbandmen, than Salisbury. There are two very pleasant vil- lages located on rising ground about one mile apart, and situated on what was originally called the Fourth New-IIampshire Turn- pike.
River. It is watered by Black- water River, which flows nearly through the centre of the town.
Mountain. Kearsarge ranges within the bounds of Salisbury, the north-west corner of which ex- tends nearly to its summit.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants. There is but very little manufacturing in the town. The railroads have had a tendency to injure the mercantile trade, which thirty years ago was very extensive.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 129,914; mechanical labor, $ 10,400; stocks and bonds, $ 12, 500 ; money at interest, $ 17,500; deposits in savings banks, $ 62,445; stock in trade, $ 8,250.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. J. B. Cook, pastor ; Baptist, -; Christian, Rev. A. H. Martin, pastor. There are eleven schools; average length, for the year, fifteen weeks.
Hotel. Elm House.
First Settlers. Salisbury was granted by the Masonian proprie- tors under the name of Stevens- town, October 25. 1749, and in- cluded within its grant part of the town of Franklin. It was settled in 1750, by Philip Call, Na- thanial Meloon, Benjamin Pettin- gill, John and Ebenezer Webster, Andrew Bohonon, Edward East- man and others, mostly from Kingston. It was incorporated,
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SANBORNTON.
by its present name, March 1, 1768.
Noted Men. Hon. Ebenezer Webster was one of the first set- tlers. He was a patriot of the revolution, an officer of the mil- itia, and held responsible offices in the State, such as Senator in the Legislature, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1806. He was the father of the Hon. Ezekiel and Daniel Webster, names well known throughout the country. Hon Ichabod Bartlett, Hon. Thomas H. Pettingill, and Hon. Charles Haddock were na- tives of this town.
Indians. The first inhabitants suffered much from the inroads of the Indians. On the 16th of May, 1753, Nathaniel Maloon, living in the west part of the town, was cap- tured, together with his wife, and three children viz. Sarah, Rachel and Daniel. They were taken to Canada, where, himself and wife were sold to the French in Montreal. The children were re- tained with the Indians, one of whom returned, after an absence of nine years. After the parents had resided in Montreal about a year and a half, they had a son born, who was baptized by a French friar, by the name of Jo- seph Marq. Mr. Maloon returned from captivity after four years and a half, to his farm in Salisbury. Sarah died with the Indians. No record is given of the mother and son. In August, 1753, the wife of Philip Call was killed, and on the same day, Samuel Scribner, and Robert Barker were captured, and taken to Canada.
First Ministers. Rev. Jona- than Searle, (Congregational,) or- dained in 1773; dismissed in 1791.
Rev. Thomas Worcester, ordained in 1791; dismissed in 1823.
Boundaries. North by Wilmot, Andover and Franklin, east by Franklin, south by Webster, Bos- cawen and Warner, and west by Sutton. Area, 26,000 acres.
Distances. Sixteen miles north- west from Concord.
Railroads. Five miles from North Boscawen depot on North- ern Railroad. The Blackwater Railroad, when built, will pass di- rectly through this town.
SANBORNTON.
BELKNAP COUNTY. In 1828, the southern corner of Sanbornton, ly- ing between the Pemigewasset and Winnipiseogee rivers, was taken to help form the town of Franklin, and thereby taking valuable water power on both rivers. But it still retained enough territory and water power, to make it the best farming town, in the State, and to have a flourishing manufacturing village. In July, 1869, the south-eastern portion of the town, bordering on the Winnipiseogee River, was dis- annexed, and incorporated into a town, under the name of Tilton. This last depletory movement, severed from its territory, 8,600 acres of improved land, nearly all of its water power, and a thriving manufacturing village. If the ter- ritory of the town was the same as forty-six years ago, the value of its agricultural productions, would now be over $ 340,000 annually, by far the largest of any town in the State; and its manufactured goods would be valued at nearly $2,000, 000, and it would have a population of nearly 4,000.
But notwithstanding this large draft on its territory, it is still one
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
of the most important farming towns in the State, ranking as the fifth in the value of its agricul- tural productions. The surface is generally uneven, but not mountainous, nearly all the high- est hills are suitable for cultiva- tion. Much attention has been given to the growing of the apple, and the value of its productions ex- ceeds that of any other town in the State.
Streams and Ponds. Salmon Brook rises in Salmon Pond, in the north part of the town, and flows nearly through the centre, in a southerly direction, into Franklin, and discharges its waters into the Pemigewasset. In its passage, it furnishes some water power for small mills, and is the only stream of note. Lake Winnisquam washes its eastern border.
Sanbornton Square was the first settled part of the town, and at one time, was the seat of considerable trade, but Tilton, and Laconia, have taken nearly all of its former prestige, as to trade and other bus- iness. There are two church edi- fices, a school house, store, post- office, and several dwelling houses.
Employments Nearly all of the inhabitants are engaged in agricul- ture. There are a few saw mills, : grist-mills, and some mechan- ical shops. There are annual- ly produced, 1,500 bushels of wheat, 11,500 of corn, and 25,000 bushels potatoes; apples to the value of $ 14,000; besides 51,000 lbs butter, 14,000 lbs. cheese and 5,200 tons of hay.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 215,204; mechanical labor, $ 5,000; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 18,575; deposits in sav- ings banks, $ 93,466; stock in
trade, $ 2,257; from summer tour- ists, $ 1,000.
Churches and Schools. 1st Bap- tist, Rev. A. Rankin, pastor; 2d Baptist, Rev. V. B. Bunker, pas- tor; Congregational, Rev. M. T. Runnels, pastor; F. Baptist, -. There are fourtecn schools in town; average length, for the year, eighteen weeks.
First Settlements. Sanbornton was granted by the Masonian pro- prietors, in 1748, to several persons by the name of Sanborn, and was settled in 1765, by John Sanborn, Andrew Rowen, David Duston and others. It was incorporated, March 1, 1770.
First Minister. Rev. Joseph Woodman, (Congregational,) or- dained in 1771; died in 1807. The first Baptist Church was formed in 1793.
Boundaries. North by New- Hampton and Meredith, east by Lake Winnisquam, south by Til- ton and Franklin, and west by Hill and New-Hampton. Acres, of improved land 20,935.
Distances. Twenty-one miles north from Concord, and six west from Gilford.
Railroad. Three miles to Til- ton, on the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad.
SANDOWN.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. The surface of this town is uneven, but the soil is well adapted to the growing of grain or grass.
Ponds and Rivers. There are several ponds, the largest of which is Philip's Pond, lying in the south part of. the town, about 340 rods long, and 200 wide. Angle Pond in the south-east part, is about 200 rods long, and 100 wide. Squam-
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SANDWICH.
scot River flows from Philip's Pond, and unites with another stream of about the same size, about one half mile from the pond. These two are the principal streams in town.
Employments. In the summer months, the larger portion of the people are engaged in agriculture, but many in the winter are engag- ed in shoe making and lumbering. About 120,000 pairs of shoes are made. The stock, ready fitted to be bottomed, is brought, principally, from Haverhill, and Lynn, Mass. There are annually sawed, 1,000,000 feet of lumber, valued at $13,000.
Resources. Productions of the soil, annually, $ 30,694; from me- chanical labor, $ 22,200; deposits in savings banks, $ 8,345; money at interest, $ 10,625; stock in trade, $ 11,437.
Churches and Schools. There are two churches, viz. Methodist, and Congregational. Methodist. W. H. H. Collins, pastor. The students furnish the Congregation- al. There are four schools; aver- age length, for the year, eighteen weeks.
First Settlers. This town was originally a part of Kingston. Moses Tucker, Israel and James Huse, and others, settled here in 1736. It was incorporated April 6, 1756.
First Ministers. Rev. Joseph Cotton, ordained in 1759; died in 1780. Rev. Samuel Collins settled in 1781; left in 1788. Rev. John Webber, settledin 1795: removed in 1800.
Boundaries. North by Chester and Fremont, east by Danville, south by Hampstead, and west by Chester and Derry. Area, 8,522 acres.
Distances. Thirty-one miles south-east from Concord, twenty- six south-west from Portsmouth, and thirteen from Exeter.
Railroads. Eight miles to Plais- tow, on the Boston and Maine Railroad. The Nashua and Roch- ester Railroad, now being built, will pass through this town.
SANDWICH.
CARROLL COUNTY. The surface is uneven, but the soil is deep, strong, and produces excellent crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay. Sandwich is situated in a basin, being nearly surrounded by moun- tains, and affording some of the finest and most picturesque scen- ery in the whole mountain region of New-Hampshire.
In the summer months, nearly every farm-house is filled with city visitors, who spend their summer vacation, in this quiet town, among the hills, and beside the mountain streams. It is estimat- ed that nearly one thousand per- sons, from all sections of the coun- try, spend their summer vacation here. Sandwich is the best farm- ing town in the county. Its moun- tain pastures are excellent, and seldom affected by drouth. The town is noted for its fine horses and cattle, and the farmer finds a ready sale for all his surplus prod- ucts at home.
Rivers and Ponds. There are numerous streams, many of which are well stored with trout. Bear Camp, Swift, and Red Hill Rivers. are the principal. The waters of the Bear Camp and Swift, find their way to the ocean, through the Saco,-the Red Hill, through the Merrimack. About one fourth of Squam Lake, lies in
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
the south-west corner of the town, and this and Bear Camp and Red Hill Ponds, are the principal bod- ies of water.
Mountains. Sandwich Moun- tains are a lofty range, extending in a north-casterly course, and terminating at Cochorua Peak in Albany. Part of Ossipce Moun- tain lies in the south-easterly part of the town. Squam Mountain ex- tends front Holderness, through a corner of Campton into Sandwich. There are many elevations which would be called mountains, with geographical names, in many lo- calities of the State, but here, un- der the towering Whiteface, they are considered only hills. In Oc- tober, 1820, after a long drouth, a heavy rain set in, and continued for a number of days, causing a heavy slide from Whiteface Moun- tain, cutting a deep ravine in its sides, for several miles in extent, and sweeping rocks and trees in promiscuous confusion into the meadows, at its base. The traces of this slide, on the side of the mountain, can be distinctly seen, for nearly forty miles from the base of the mountain. As in those days when Cochorua and his tribe, roamed through this trackless waste, the sides of these moun- tains, and the ravines among them, are shaded with deep, dark forests, and are still the haunts of the bear, panther, and deer. But the whiz of the red man's arrow, which often pierced the heart of the ino- cent fawn has long since ceased.
Village. There is a very pleas- ant village, in this town, at a point called Hoyt's Corner. Here are several stores, one hotel, offices of various kinds, three churches, an academy and about 60 dwellings.
Employments. The people are generally, engaged in farming, and keeping summer boarders, from which they receive good returns for their labor. About 30,000 pairs of shoes are annually made, and 300, 000, shingles. and 500,000 feet of boards &c., annually produced. A large mill for the manufacture of excelsior and salt boxes, has commenced operations. (See
tables.)
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 181,475; mechanical labor, $ 12,500; stocks, bonds, and money at interest, $13,688; deposits in savings banks, $ 10,964; stock in trade $ 12,450; from summer tour- ists, $ 30,000. Some persons, who reside here, are considered very wealthy, but the town does not have the honor of showing it on paper.
Churches and Schools. There are one Congregational, two Quaker, two Freewill Baptist, and two Methodist churches. Elder G. N. Bryant, Methodist; Rev. C. L. Tappan, Congregational ; and Rev. L. B. Tasker. and H. R. Beede, are pastors. There are twenty- three school districts. and twenty- one schools; average length, for the year. eighteen weeks. Amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $ 2,420.53.
Literary Institution. Beede's Lit- erary Institute. (See Literary In- stitutions.)
Banks. There are two banks in town, Carroll County National Bank, and the Sandwich Savings Bank. (See tables.)
Hotel. Eagle Hotel.
First Settlements. This town was originally granted by Gover- nor Benning Wentworth, in 1763, and comprised six miles square.
329
SEABROOK.
On September 5, 1764, the grantees, having represented that the north and west sides of their grant were rocky and mountainous, received an additional grant of territory, on the east and south side, called " Sandwich Addition." It was incorporated, October 25, 1768. Hon. Daniel Beecher, a useful cit- zen, resided here many years.
Early Minister. Rev. Daniel Smith, settled in 1827; dismissed in 1832.
Boundaries. North by Water- ville, east by Albany and Tam- worth, south by Moultonborough, and west by Holderness, Campton and Thornton. Area, 64,000 acres ; improved land,23,900 acres.
Distances. Fifty-two miles north from Concord, and twenty- two north-west from Ossipee.
Railroads. It is sixteen miles to Meredith railway station, on the Montreal Railroad. A stage runs to this station six times a week. In the summer, this stage connects with the boats, at Centre Harbor. The Portland, Rutland and Otsego Railroad, when built, will pass through Sandwich.
SEABROOK.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. Sea- brook is one of the ocean towns, of the State, and has extensive plains of salt marsh. The middle and eastern portions of the town are comparatively level, being in many sections gentle swells, The soil is light, easy of cultivation, and productive. The farmers find a good market for their farm pro- duce in Newburyport, Mass., five miles distant. But few towns in the State, in proportion to the number of acres under improve- ment, produce as valuable crops.
The land averages $ 20.90 to every acre under improvement, while the average in the whole State is only $ 9.32.
Streams. Carn's Brook has its rise in Salisbury, Mass., and flows through the south-east part of the town, and in its passage affords a few water privileges of moderate power. Several small streams rise in this and adjacent towns, and form the Seabrook River, in the marshes. In its course, it unites with the Hampton River, and thence, in a few miles, joins the ocean. The beach is a favor- ite resort in the warm season.
Elevations. Titcomb's Hill, which lies partly in this town and partly in South-Hampton, and Grape Hill, in the south-west part of the town, and partly in Massa- chusetts, are the principal eleva- tions. From the summit of these hills an extensive and delightful view of the surrounding country can be obtained.
Employments. Agriculture is a valuable occupation of the people, but the manufacturing of women's and children's boots and shoes, is the most extensive branch of busi- ness. The stock is cut out and prepared for bottoming, and put into cases of 60 pairs each, in Lynn and Haverhill, Mass., and sent to the workmen in Seabrook, to be finished into shoes. . There are three large shoe manufactories having machines, and employing 65 men and boys, and 15 women. These three factories annually make over 300,000 pairs. There are many shoe shops, in vari- ous sections of the town, which are filled with workmen. There are over 1,000,000 pairs of boots and shoes annually made, giving em-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
ployment to over 250 men and women. Many thousand pairs of shoe uppers are sent to Seabrook, to be fitted, which gives employ- ment to a large number of fe- males. It is estimated that there are over 200 sewing machines, in town. Quite a number of men are engaged in making boats. The lumber business is impor- tant. 70,000 shingles, and 1,100, 000 feet of boords and dimension timber are annually sawed.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 69,370; mechanical labor $ 124,250; money at interest, $ 1, 700; deposits in savings banks,* $3,115; stock in trade $ 10,500; from summer tourists, $ 5,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. Wm. Rand, pastor ; Baptist, Rev. H. H. Beman, pas- tor; Methodist, Elder W. C. Bart- lett, pastor; Congregational of Seabrook and Hampton Falls. There are five schools in town; average length, for the year, twen- ty-five weeks.
Academy. Dearborn Academy is located in this town, and was founded in 1854, being endow- ed with $ 15.000 by Edward Dearborn, an eminent physi- cian, and a distinguished cit- izen of Seabrook. It is situated in the pleasant village of Sea- brook, and commands a fine view of the ocean, and the neighboring villages. Dr. Dearborn, also left $4,000, the income of which is to be used for the support of the Gospel.
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