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 66
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Baker's River is an important stream in Grafton County, and is formed by two branches uniting in Wentworth. The north branch has its source near Moosehillock, in Benton, whence it runs, in a southerly course, through Warren, to Wentworth, receiving in its passage a considerable stream issuing from Baker's Upper Pond, in the east part of Orford. The south branch rises in Orange, thence flowing north through the easterly part of Dorchester, and uniting with the north branch at the easterly part of Wentworth ; thence it pursues a south-east and easterly course, through the southerly part of Rumney and northerly part of Plymouth, where it forms a junction with the Pemigewasset, just above Plymouth Village. Gen. John Stark was captured by the Indians on this river, in the township of Rumney, April 28, 1752 Captain Baker at one time, also, attacked a party of Indians and defeated them at its mouth. (See Plymouth.)
It drains a part or the whole of twelve towns, comprising an area of about 150,000 acres, and has an improved horse water power of about 1,250.
Back River, or Bellamy Bank, has its rise in Chesley Pond, in
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Barrington, and from a stream coming from low and marshy land in the vicinity. These two streams unite in Madbury, and, after winding through the town the stream thus formed falls into the Pis- cataqua, on the west side of Dover Neck. It has some valuable water power in Dover, where there is a large woolen manufactory, situated about one half mile from the City Hall.
Beaver River has its principal source in Beaver Pond, in Lon- donderry. . From this pond it passes south, through Pelham, and falls into the Merrimack, in Dracut, Massachusetts. Its waters flow from the whole or part of six towns.
Bear Camp River has its source from several streams flowing from the south side of the Sandwich and Albany Mountains. It passes through Tamworth in an easterly direction and receives a considerable stream, coming from Albany, in Ossipee, and falls into Ossipee Lake, on its western border.
Black Water River. (See Contoocook River.)
Clear River. (See Androscoggin River.)
Cold River has its source in Unity, Acworth and south-west corner of Lempster ; thence it passes through the southerly part of Langdon and the north-westerly corner of Alstead and mingles with the waters of the Connecticut, in the northerly part of Walpole. It drains a basin of nearly 60,000 acres, and has an improved horse water power of 650.
Connecticut River is the largest and most important River in New- England. For richness and fertility of soil, and fine and beau- tiful scenery, the Connecticut valley is not surpassed by any valley in this country. From its mouth nearly to its source its banks, on either side, are dotted with large and substantial farm houses and beautiful cities and villages.
Its principal source is among the highlands in the northern part of the State. Its name, in the Indian language, is said to signify Long River, or as some render it, the River of Pines, and pro- nounced Quonektacut. Its general course is north and south, and its western bank forms the boundary line between New-Hampshire and Vermont ; thence it crosses the western part of Massachusetts, passes through the State of Connecticut, nearly in the center, and, after a fall of 1,600 feet from its head, it empties into Long Island Sound in latitude 41º 16', having traversed, by a meandering course, a dis- tance of nearly 450 miles.
Before the days of railroads, by means of canals and other im-
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provements, the River was made navigable for boats to Fifteen Mile Falls, in the town of Monroe, N. H., being nearly 350 miles from its mouth. The locks and canals are all going to decay, as rail- roads have supplanted their usefulness. The most considerable rapids in the river, in New-Hampshire, are Bellows' Falls, at Wal- pole, Queechy, at Plainfield, White River, below Hanover, and Fif- teen Mile Falls.
Its principal tributaries, in this State, are Hall's stream at Stew- artstown, Upper Ammonoosuc at Northumberland, Israel's, at Lan- caster, John's, at Dalton, Lower Ammonoosuc, at Bath, Mascomy, at Lebanon, Sugar and Little Sugar, at Claremont, Cold, at Wal- pole, and Ashuelot, at Hinsdale.
The basin of the Connecticut, in New-Hampshire, is narrow, extending back from one to four towns, and it drains part or the whole of about ninety towns, in the State, having an area of nearly 2,300,000 acres or 3,600 square miles. The water power of the tributaries of the Connecticut is valuable, and the improved horse water power is 19,800. For the agricultural facilities of the Connecticut valley please see page 403.
The total area of the basin of the Connecticut is estimated at 12,000 square miles.
Contoocook River, a stream of considerable length and impor- tance, waters most of the towns in the west part of Hillsborough County. It has its rise from severel ponds in Rindge and Jaffrey- its extreme southern source being near Massachusetts line. It re ceives, in its course north, numerous streams flowing from Sharon, Dublin, Peterborough, Greenfield, Hancock, Deering, Bennington, Antrim, Washington, Stoddard, Windsor, and Hillsborough. In Hillsborough it takes a northeasterly and easterly direction, and passes through Henniker to Hopkinton, where it receives " War- ner" and "Blackwater" rivers. From Hopkinton it pursues a meandering course through Concord, and unites with the Merrimack between Concord and Boscawen, nearly sixty miles north of the line between New-Hampshire and Massachusetts. The whole length of the Contoocook, in its meandering course, is about eighty miles. Its most important tributary is Nubanusit river, having its rise from ponds in Nelson, Harrisville and Dublin, and discharging itself at Peterborough. Its water power is valuable. “Branch river" has its source from ponds in Stoddard, and passes through the northern section of Antrim into Hillsborough, and empties into
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the Contoocook near the line between the latter town and Antrim. Warner river, a considerable stream, becomes a tributary of the Contoocook in Hopkinton, and flows from New London, Sutton, Newbury, Bradford, Warner and Hopkinton. Two miles farther east it receives the waters of the Blackwater, having its source in the towns of Springfield, Wilmot, Danbury and New London, and in its course receives numerous streams flowing from Andover, Salisbury, Webster and Boscawen.
The waters which form the Contoocook flow from a part or whole of thirty-two different towns, parts of five different counties, and drain a surface of territory comprising an area of nearly 470,000 acres, or 734 square miles. With its tributaries its waters turn about 270 water-wheels, having a horse power of 5,976. Nearly one half of its available water power is still unimproved. From its highest source, at Harrisville, to its mouth it has a descent of over eight hundred feet.
DUSTIN'S ISLAND.
Near the mouth of the Contoocook is Dustin's Island, celebrated as the spot where Mrs. Hannah Dustin, in March, 1697, destroyed ten Indians. A fine and expensive granite monument is being erected here to the memory of Mrs. Dustin and her valorous deed.
Cocheco River takes its rise in several small streams in New Durham which unite in Farmington, whence it flows in an easterly and southerly direction through Rochester, there receiving as a tributary the Isinglass river flowing from Long pond in Barrington and Bow lake in Strafford; thence passing through Dover it joins the Salmon Falls river, the principal branch of the Piscataqua. Its waters come from parts of nine towns, and together with its tributaries, it furnishes some excellent water power, amounting to about 1,500 improved horse power.
Dead River .- See Dimond River.
Dimond River has its principal source in Dimond pond, in the easterly part of Stewartstown; thence flowing easterly through Dixville and Dartmouth College Grant; receiving, in its passage, several tributaries, it joins Dead river and crosses Maine line into the Magalloway.
Ellis River has its rise on the eastern and southern side of the White Mountains, and, passing southerly through Jackson, it falls into the Saco, in Bartlett. In Jackson it receives several consid-
DUSTIN.
This monument is of solid granite, and is to be erected on the island at the mouth of the Contoocook river, near and in sight of the Northern Railroad, and on the precise spot where the wigwams stood when Mrs. Dustin dealt the death-blows on her cruel captors. The base of the monument is eight by nine feet square, and, including the statue (which is seven feet), is twenty-four feet high.
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erable tributaries; the largest of which is Wildcat river, coming from the mountain passes and near the head waters of Peabody river, running into the Androscoggin.
Hall's Stream or River rises in the highlands which separate this State from the British dominions, and forms the north-west bound- ary between New-Hampshire and Canada from its source to its junction with the Connecticut, at Stewartstown.
Indian Stream is in Coos county and is the most northerly source of the Connecticut; it rises in the highlands near the north-west limits of the State, and flows in a south-westerly direction till it joins that river in Clarksville.
Isinglass River .- See Cocheco River.
Israel's River is formed by the waters which descend in cataracts from the summits of Mounts Adams and Jefferson. It flows in a north-westerly direction through Jefferson, and passes into the Con- necticut at Lancaster village. This beautiful mountain stream receives its name from Israel Glines, who, with his brother, fre- quented this region for hunting, long before any settlement in this part of the country. It furnishes some valuable water power in Jefferson and Lancaster, which is generally improved.
John's River has its principal source in Pondicherry pond in the town of Jefferson. Its southerly branch rises in Carroll and unites with the main branch in Whitefield; whence it flows through Dal- ton and into the Connecticut river. Its proximity to steep and high mountains makes it a fearful river in time of freshets, but mild enough in dry weather.
Lamprey River is formed by two sources, called the North and South branches, which form a junction in Epping. The source of the North branch is on the north side of Saddleback moun- tain, in Northwood; thence passing westerly around the base of the mountain into Deerfield; thence in a southerly direction through Nottingham into the north-east corner of Epping, where it meets the waters of the South branch coming from the north- easterly part of Candia and southerly portion of Deerfield, through Raymond, into the westerly part of Epping, where it receives the waters of Pautuckaway river, flowing from Pautuckaway pond in Nottingham ; thence it pursues an easterly and northerly course to its confluence with the North River branch. From the junction it takes a northerly course through Lee; thence south-easterly through Durham, where it meets the tide water at Lamprey River village,
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after a meandering course, from its extreme source, of over thirty miles, and a descent of over 1,000 feet. Its water power is valua- ble, being over 1,500 horse power, now improved.
Mad River takes its rise among the mountains in Waterville, thence flowing southerly through the north-westerly part of Sand- wich, the south-easterly part of Thornton, into Campton, where it joins the Pemigewasset River.
Mascomy (or Mascoma) River has its rise in Dorchester, thence flowing southerly through Canaan, it falls into the Mascomy Lake in Enfield ; from thence it runs a westerly course through Leba- non, and discharges into the Connecticut, opposite Hartford, Vermont. The water power is valuable before it reaches the lake, which has been dammed, and affords a fine reservoir for manufac- tories along the river from the outlet of the lake.
Its course is about twenty-five miles, and it waters a territory of over 100,000 acres. From its source to its mouth, it has a fall of over 600 feet, and an improved horse water power of 2,743.
Magalloway River. See Androscoggin River.
Merrimack River. This is one of the most important rivers in New England, and it is said that it, together with its tributaries, turns more machinery than any river in the world. It is formed by the junction of the Pemigewasset and Winnipiseogee rivers, at Franklin. The Pemigewasset has its source in the White and Franconia Mountains, and' passes through, or borders the towns of Lincoln, Woodstock, Thornton, Campton, Plymouth, Holderness, Ashland, New Hampton, Bridgewater, Bristol, Hill, Sanbornton, to Franklin. Its most important tributaries are Ba- ker's, Mad, Newfound, Squam, and Smith's Rivers. It drains the whole or part of thirty-three towns, covering an area of over 632, 000 acres, or nearly one thousand square miles. The Winnipiseo- gee River is the outlet to Winnipiseogee Lake. It flows (and is the dividing line) between Laconia and Gilford, and passes into Lake Winnisquam; from thence between Tilton and Belmont, and through the north-east corner of Northfield, and Southern part of Tilton, to Franklin. It waters part or the whole of sixteen towns, and, together with the lake, drains a territory of nearly 360,000 acres, or 562 square miles. From the lake to its confluence with the Pemigewasset it has a rapid descent of about 232 feet, and fur- nishes some of the best and most permanent water power in New- Hampshire.
4
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From Franklin the Merrimack runs through or touches the towns of Northfield, Boscawen, Canterbury, Concord, Bow, Pem- broke, Hooksett, Goffstown, Manchester, Bedford, Londonderry, Merrimack, Litchfield, Hudson and Nashua, to Massachusetts line, seventy-eight miles ; thence, in a north-easterly course, thirty- five miles, to the Atlantic, at Newburyport.
* Its principal tributaries, in New-Hampshire, are Contoocook, which discharges its waters on the north line of Concord ; Soucook, between Concord and Pembroke ; Turkey River, in Bow ; Suncook, at Pembroke ; Piscataquog, in Manchester ; the Souhegan in Mer- rimack ; and the Nashua, at Nashua.
The large basin of this river extends from the gorges of the white and Franconia Mountains, on the north, through the centre of the State, to its southerly boundary, and reaches nearly to the eastern and western limits of the State. It drains, in New-Hamp- shire, about 2,293,000 acres, or 3,582 square miles, the waters com- ing from a part or the whole of 130 towns. As it has been said, while nature has not endowed this basin abundantly with fertile soils and precious minerals, she has lifted its surface into succes- sions of hills, and in places, into lofty peaks, which condense the vapor of the atmosphere into clouds, and cause them to yield frequent and copious showers. These numerous hills with their interlying valleys, and broad lakes, elevated above the ocean, are the gatherers and dispensers, continuously, of unmeasured powers which the skill of man may put in place of animal strength and muscle, and make subservient to the comfort and wealth of the community.
The utilized water power of the Merrimack and its tributaries amounts to over 37,500 horse power, and although the area of this basin is only a little over one third of the State, it contains over 170,000 inhabitants, or over one half its population. Not any more than one half of the available water power is now used. There are fine privileges on the Merrimack, at Hooksett, Garven's Falls, between Bow and Pembroke, and Sewell's Falls, in Concord ; Bab boosuc Falls, on the Souhegan, in the town of Merrimack ; in · Hillsborough and Henniker, on the Contoocook ; at Franklin, Northfield, Tilton, and Gilford, on the Winnipiseogee, besides many other powers, on its various tributaries, too numerous to. mention. There are, on the banks of this beautiful river, the cities of Concord, Manchester, and Nashua, in New-Hampshire, and
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Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Newburyport, in Massachusetts, containing, in the aggregate, a population of 141,849.
Mohawk River has its source in the mountains in Dixville, pass- es west, through Colebrook, and falls into the Connecticut. The land bordering this river is noted for its fertility.
Moose River has its rise on the north side of the White Moun- tains, near the town of Randolph, through which it passes, and joins the Androscoggin, in Shelburn.
Nashua River has its source in Massachusetts, whence it meän- ders in a south-easterly direction, thence it takes a northern course and passes into New-Hampshire, at Hollis, and, thence, through Nashua, into the Merrimack. Its water power is valuable, at Nashua, and is generally improved.
Nash's River rises in Odell, thence flowing south, through the western section of Stratford, it passes into Northumberland, and falls into the Upper Ammonoosuc.
New Found River is the outlet of New Found Lake, and after a passage of two miles, falls into the Pemigewasset, in Bristol. Some of the best water power in the State, is on this river.
Nubanusit River, or Goose Brook, has its source in a pond lo- cated in the west part of Hancock and eastern section of Nelson ; from thence it flows in a southerly and easterly direction, through several ponds, which have been made large reservoirs, by expen- sive dams. At the outlet of the last pond, in the village of Har- risville (over twelve hundred feet above tide water), have been erected four large woolen mills, capable of doing a business of over $ 750,000 annually. From Harrisville, the river pursues a south-easterly course, to Peterborough Village, where it falls into the Contoocook, making a descent of over 500 feet, in nine miles. Nearly all the manufactories in Peterborough, are on this stream, which never fails in a drought. Probably no stream, of its size, in this country (which can be utilized for machinery), has as much valuable and permanent water power, as this river, from its conflu- ence, to Harrisville.
Oliverian River is formed of two branches both having their source in the town of Benton ; the east branch from the west side of Moosehillock Mountain, and the north branch from Owl's Head Mountain. These branches unite near the east line of Haverhill, and thence the main stream passes through the south part of the town and falls into the Connecticut.
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RIVERS IN NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Oyster River has its source in Wheelwright's Pond, in Lee; and after running nearly its whole course through Durham, it meets the tide water at Durham village, and joins the Piscataqua, near Piscat- aqua Bridge. At high tides, vessels of considerable burthen can come up to Durham village. There are some very good mill-sites on this river.
· Ossipee River has its rise in Ossipee Lake, and flows east between Effingham and Freedom, passes into Maine and forms a junction with Saco River.
Peabody River. (See Androscoggin River.)
Peqwawket River, an Indian name of a small river flowing from two ponds in Eaton, north into Conway, where it joins the Saco. A large tract of territory in the vicinity of this river, was called Peqwawket many years ago.
Pemigewasset River. (See Merrimack River.)
Phillip's River. (See Upper Ammonoosuc.)
Piscataqua River the only large river whose entire course (after it receives its name) is in New-Hampshire, is formed by the junc- tion of several smaller rivers in a wide and deep bed, hollowed out partly by these rivers and partly by the flow of the tide.
The names of these streams, beginning at the north-east, are Salmon Falls, Cocheco, Bellamy Bank, Oyster, Lamprey, Squam- scot, and Winnicut Rivers. The five last unite their waters in a large bay between Durham and Greenland. The waters of this bay, meet those of Salmon Falls and Cocheco at Hilton's Point, a few miles below Dover, and after this junction, proceed in a direct line about ten miles to the Ocean, three miles below Portsmouth.
Few rivers in their passage of ten miles, make a more magnifi- cent appearance. The river is broad, very deep and moves with a strong current, so much so, that in this frigid zone, it seldom freezes over. Its banks on either side are moderately high and spread over with fertile farms and dotted with beautiful farm houses and other buildings. At Portsmouth, it affords one of the best harbors on the Continent. With its tributaries, it drains a territory, in this State, of nearly 500,000 acres, comprising a part or whole of forty- one towns, in four different counties. Its whole water drainage, in- cluding the portion drained in the State of Maine, is over 600,000 acres. Its improved water power is very valuable, amounting to 9,600 horse power.
Piscataquog River has its principal source in the southern part of
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Henniker and north-westerly part of Deering, whence it passes east- erly and southerly, through Weare, into Goffstown, where it receives a considerable tributary coming from Lyndeborough and Frances- town, through "New Boston; thence it pursues a south-easterly course, and joins the Merrimack in the south-westerly part of Man- chester, at a point formerly called Piscataquog village. It is a rap- id stream, and affords some valuable water power.
Powow River takes its principal source in Great and County ponds, in Kingston, and passes over the south-west part of East Kingston into South Hampton, thence into Amesbury, Massachu- setts, and falls into the Merrimack betweeen Salisbury and Ames- bury. It furnishes some valuable water power at Amesbury Mills.
Red Hill River has its source in a pond in the town of Sandwich, thence running southerly it falls into the Winnipiseogee lake, in Moultonborough.
Saco River ranks as one of the largest in New-England, but its rapid descent from the Mountains to the Ocean, renders it not nav- igable to any extent. It springs from three sources in the White Mountains ; the branch issuing from the south-west side of the mountains, near the old Crawford House, and passing through the notch, is considered the main stream. . The Saco at the Crawford House, is nearly 1,903 feet above tide water at Biddeford, Maine. Next to this is the middle or Rocky Branch, and beyond is the branch called Ellis' River. These two branches join the main branch (or Saco) in Bartlett ; thence it pursues a southerly course to the western part of Conway, thence easterly through the town, and passes into Maine, thence south-easterly through Maine, and discharges its waters into Saco Bay, after a course of 160 miles. It receives the waters of Swift River, coming from Waterville, through Albany to Conway, and Ossipee River, flowing from Ossipee Lake nto Maine, near Hiram. As it passes out of the State, it is from ten to twelve rods wide, with a rapid current. Owing to the rapid rush of waters down the mountain steeps, in time of heavy rain storms this river, in Conway, has been known to rise thirty feet in twenty-four hours. It drains a basin of nearly 380,000 acres, which flows from the whole or part of fifteen towns and locations.
Smith's River rises from several ponds in Grafton and Orange; thence pursuing an easterly course through Danbury, the southern part of Alexandria and passes into the Pemigewasset, between Bris- tol and Hill.
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Salmon Falls or Newichawannock River, the principal branch of the Piscataqua, takes its rise in ponds in Wakefield, and forms the eastern boundary of New-Hampshire, from the north-east corner of Milton to its confluence with the Piscataqua, at Hilton's Point. It borders on the towns of Milton, Farmington, Rochester, Somers- worth, Rollinsford and Dover. Its waters flow from the whole or part of twelve towns, in New-Hampshire, and it drains a surface of over 130,000 acres. Some of the largest manufacturing establish- ments in the State are located on this river, which has an improved horse water power of over 4,200.
Soucook River has its source in three ponds, lying in the south- erly part of Gilmanton, whence it flows, in a southerly course, through Loudon, receiving several branches, and forms the bound- ary line between Concord and Pembroke, falling into the Merri- mack River below Garvin's Falls.
Souhegan River has its principal source from a pond in Ashburn- ham, Massachusetts ; thence it passes through Ashby into New Ipswich, through the north-west corner of Greenville, in a north- erly course, thence in an easterly course, through Wilton, Milford, Amherst, and Merrimack, falling into the Merrimack River. Babboosuc Brook, flowing from a pond of the same name in Am- herst, becomes a tributary, in Merrimack. It drains a part or the whole of eleven towns, comprising an area of about 150,000 acres, having an improved water power of 2,300. (See Merrimack.) *
Spiggot River takes its rise in Hampstead, and the south-east part of Derry, whence it flows southerly, through Salem and Methuen, Massachusetts, and joins the Merrimack in the city of Lawrence.
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