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HISTORY OF

NEW HAMPSHIRE

BY

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JOHN Nf MCCLINTOCK

BOSTON

B. B. RUSSELL, Coenhili.

1889

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F 34

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By John- N. McClintock.

■JtlBonqlim {BicM, 55oiton.

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ERRATA.

Page 264, fourth paragraph from bottom of page./c/' ''i/Cs" read "June, iy66;^' for "Jesse Kelley " /r«t/ " Jesse Kel- sey ; " and after " Connecticut " insert " Ezra Parmelee."

Page 577, Edmund Burke died January 25, 1882.

Page 630, Hon. E. H. Durell was candidate for Vice-President in 1868.

Page 680, second line, "read iaw with Hon. Daniel Clark" should read " with Hon. Daniel Clark, read law."

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To

HIS EXCEitENCY CHARLES H. SAWYEP,

GovniNoii or Nnr Hampshibe,

TAi! IMI-* it mfectMfy drdkaled by tki

AUTHOR,

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ERRATA.

e 21. For " Mohegan" read " Monhegan."

39. For " Cape Anne" read "Cape Ann."

40. For "Rev. William Eurdet " read "Rev. George

Burdet"

58. Title of illustration should read " House of the Seven- teenth Century."

6g. For " George" read " Governor."

71. For "Rev. James Langdon" read "Rev. Samuel Langdon,"

76. Illustration, " First Fort at the mouth of the Piscata- qua," was omitted.

gi. Illustration, "The Bell House, New Castle," was omitted. ' 108. Illustration, "Our Alley," was omitted.

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PREFACE.

The Author and Compiler of this work desired to produce a laook of reference for the home, for the office, and for the public library, which would be available for the student and of interest to the general reader. For his facts he has drawn liberally upon Rev, Dr. Jeremy Belknap's History of New Hampshire, George Barstow's History, John M, Whiton's His- tory, Prof. E. D. Sanborn's History; the ten volumes of the Provincial and State Papers, edited by Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bou- ton ; the six volumes edited by Isaac W. Hammond, A. M, ; the eight volumes issued by the New Hampshire Historical Society ; the three volumes, published by Farmer and Moore ; the five volumes of the Adjutant-General's Reports, 1865, 1866, .and 186S; Major Otis F. R. Waite's New Hampshire in the Rebellion ; the Life of William Plumer ; the Life of Jeremiah Mason; the works of John Scribner Jenness;. the many town histories, county histories, and registers ; Manuscript Records in the Office of the Secretary of State ; Official Succession, by Hosea B. Carter ; the Author's unpublished History of Pem- broke ; and the eleven volumes of the Granite Monthly. From the last he has taken bodily many sentences, paragraphs, and whole articles, which he considered especially worthy of repro. Juction, from the pen of ex-Governor Charles H. Bell, LL, D. Samuel C. Bartlett, LL, D., President of Dartmouth College ex-Chief Justice J. Everett Sargent, LL. D. ; ex-Judge George W, Nesmith, LL. D. ; Hon. Joseph B. Walker ; Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury ; Mr. - George Wadleigh ; General George Stark Rev. Dr. Alonzo H. Quint ; Mr. John Albee ; L. A. Morrison^ A. M. ; Mr. Fred Myron Colby ; Mr. C. S. Spaulding ; Rev. Dr. F. D. Ayer ; John M. Shirley, Esq. ; Rev. Dr. C. W. Wallace ; Mr, Asa McFarland ; Mr. C. C. Lord ; Dr. William

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G. Carter.; Rev. Daniel Rollins ; Mr. W. F. Whitcher ; Mr. L. W. Dodge ; and many others, — proper credit to whom is given in footnotes.

By an oversight, several corrections were not made as marked in the proof, and errors" have been printed in the whole edition but are noted among the Errata,

Necessarily many facts and events of interest in New Hamp- shire history have been omitted ; many have simply been alluded to which would require many pages for their proper recital. There is enough history connected with every town in the State to require a large volume to contain it, A history of every regimental organization during the Rebellion should be, and is to be, printed. Hon. Charles H. Bell is preparing a History of the Bench and Bar of New Hampshire ; and Dr. Irving A. Watson is to issue an account of the doctors and the medical profession of the State.

This work, such as it is, is submitted to the Public with the hope, on the Author's part, that it will be kindly received, and awaken an interest in historical research and in the preservation of the history of New Hampshire.

J. N. M.

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Discovery and Sbttlkments, 1623-1641.

J Introduction — Description — Early Voyagers ~ Martin Pring — Cap- tain John Smith— Winter Fisiieries— Aborigines— Virginia— Coun- cil of Plymouth— Sir Ferdinando Gorges — Captain John Mason- Mar i ana— Maine— David Thomson- The Hlltons — First Settle- ment—Little Harbor — Dover Neclt— Landing— Character — Pro- gress—Thomas Morton— MaBBachusetts Charter— New Hampstilre Grant — Laconia — Hilton's Patent— Isles of Shoals — Piscataqua Grant— Walter Neal — White Mountains — Dixy Bull — Division of Patent — Death of Mason — Thomas Wiggin — Dover — Captain John Underbill- Rev. John Wheelwright — Exeter — Rev. Stephen Batcbeior — Hampton — Union with Massachusetts ....

CHAPTER H.

Union with Massachusetts, 1641-1679-

Ij„y6_ Courts — Judges — Masonian Claim -Deputies- MagUtrmtea -Dover — Norfolk County — Town Lines — Roads — Portsmouth — Survey of Northern Boundary — Endicott Rock — Market — Dun- stable—Witchcraft— Quakers— King's Commissioners — Corbel- Masts — Sabbath Laws — Harvard College— Oyster River — Indian War — Effect of Union — Church History: Hampton — Exeter- Dover- Portsmouth —Massachusetts Governors — Magistrates and Deputies . .

CHAPTER III.

Kii G Phh-ip's War, 1675-1678.

Long Peace — Character of Indians — Edward Randolph — Frencli— Dutch — New York-Mohawks — Causes of War- Indian Vicei — Sachem Philip -Mount Hope — Rum — Indian Shortcomings — Lic- ensing the Sale of Arms — Loss to the Coloniea — Loss to the Indian* —Philip's Straita- Terms of Peace — French Estimate o( Indian

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8 CONTENTS.

Character — KindncBs to Quakers — Injustice to Indians — Indian Youth anxious for War— Squando-— Insult to Squaw — Attitude of Penacooks and Cochecos — Praying Indians — Their Loss — Murder of their Old People — Indian Depredations in New Hampshire — ■ Peace — Death of Philip — Simon, Andrew, and Peter — War in Maine— Treachery at Major Waldron's Garrison — Expedition to Ossipee — Mohawks warring on Friendly Indians — Defeat at Black Point — Major Andros and Peace — Independence of the Colonists — St. Castine

CHAPTER IV.

Royal Province, 1680-169J.

Condition of affairs — John Cutt — Council — ■Assembly — Laws — Capital Offences — Penal Offences — Grants Confirmed — Randolph

— Barefoote — MaBon — Richard Waldron — Tai-Payers in New Hampshire- Cranfield — Edward Gove's Rebellion — Lawsuits — Appeal to King — Riots — Joshua Moodey — Dudley — Andros — Re- volution — Union with Massachusetts — King William's War

CHAPTER V.

King William's and Quben Anne's Wars, 1689-1713.

Cause* — St. Castine — Grievances — Richard Waldron's Death — Dover — Oyster River — Salmon Falls — Newington — Lamprey River — Wheelwright's Pond — Sandy Beach — Portsmouth — Ran- gers—Durham Massacre — Widow Cutt — Breakfast Hill — Return of Captives— Treatment of Captives — Queen Anne's War — Peace at Pemaquid — Eastern Settlements ravaged — Hampton — Kingston

— Removal of Indians to Canada — Dunstable — Death of Colonel Winthrop Hilton — Peace — Condition of Parties . . , .

CHAPTER VI.

Royal Provincb, 1692-1715.

Samuel Allen — John Usher — New Council — Small Pox — Post Office

— New Castle incorporated — Kingston incorporated- William Part- ridge — Pis cataqu a Rebellion — Earl of Bellomont — Governor Allen — John Usher- Mutilation of Records— New Trial of Claim- Appeal to King — Joseph Dudley — Decision of English Courts — Nashua- Offers of Compromise — Death of Allen — Renewal of Suit— New Trial — Death of Thomas Allen — Hampton Falls— Newington ,

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CHAPTER Vir.

Royal Province, 1715-1713,

Page Introduction — George Vaughan — Samuel SKute — John Wentworth

— Commerce — Two-Mile Slip — Scotch-Irish — Londonderry — Earl/ Settlers — CheBter 136

CHAPTER Vin.

Royal Province, 1722-1740,

Lieutenant-Governor John Wentworth — Governor Samuel Shute — Fourth Indian, or Love well's War — Indian Grievances — Depreda- tions in NewHampshire — Attack on Nashua— John Lovewell's Three Expeditions — Suncook — Peace — Penacook — Rve — Rumford — Timothy Walker — First Ciiurch of Concortl —Hollis —Bow — Sun- cook Settled — Other Settlements — Newmarket — William Burnet — Jonathan Belcher — Death of Wentworth — Character — David Dun- bar— Durham — Amherst — Boscawen — Charlestown — Riot at Exe- ter— Commerce — ^ Episcopal Chapel — Throat Distemper — Suncook

— Boundary Line adjusted — Massachusetts Documents — Windham

— Retirement of Belcher 151

CHAPTER IX.

RoVal Province, 1741-1760.

Governor Benning Wentworth — Wentworth Hall — Martha Hilton — A Cold Winter — Epping — Windham — Brentwood — French and Indian War — Lou is burg — SirWiiliam Pepperrell — Pepperrell Hou»e

— William Vaughan — Number Four — Incorporation of various Towns — Rumford (Concord) — Wrestling Matches — Old Style and New Style — The Bow Case- Coos County- The "Seven Year*' War"— -Rogers' Rangers — Rev. John Houston — An Audacious Re- connaissance—A Fierce Fight in the Woods— John Stark — Con- quest of Canada — Saint Francis Indians — Quebec and Montreal — Pontiac and Major Rogers — Rogers House 189

CHAPTER X.

Royal Province, 1760-1775.

Hampshire Grants — Taxation by Parliament — Stamp Act — Its Re- peal— Resignation of Governor Benning Wentworth — Governor John Wentworth — His Popularity — Early Settlers — Their Custom*

— Gilmanton — Marlboro — Canaan — Enfield — Lyme — Orfonl — Bath— Lebanon — Hanover — GoiTstown — Newport — Plainfleld — !

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lO CONTENTS.

I Danville — Peterborough — Bow Controverey — Suncook — CandJa — Wilton — New Ipswich — Lisbon — Gilsum — Lancaster— Clare- mont — Wentworth — Salisbury — Milan — Berlin — Hillsborough — Fitiwilli am —Annals of Portsmouth — Paul Revere — Capture of Fort William and Mary — Holdcrness and the Livermores — While- field— White Mountain Notch— Colonial Laws

CHAPTER XI.

The Revolution, 1775-1783.

Lexington — Portsmouth Fortified — Bunker Hill — General Stork — General Reed — Nottingham — Meshech Weare — House of Repre- sentotives — Gov. John Wentworth — Gen. John Sullivan — Siege of Boston — Exeter in 1776 — Committee of Safety — Bennington^ — Stillwater — Saratoga — First Schoolmasters — Keene Raid — Free- will Baptists — Samuel Livermore and Family — Slavery — North- field — Shakers — Canterbury — General Stark

CHAPTER XII.

State wnder First Constitution, 1784-1792.

Constitution of 1784 — First Legislature — First President — Council — Senate — House of Representatives — Lawlessness — Trouble at Keene — Mock Convention at Concord — John Langdon — John Sullivan — Mob at Exeter — Federal Constitution — Littleton — United States Constitutional Convention — Election under Constitu- tion — Members of the Continental Congress — Officials at Ports- mouth—Josiah Bartlelt — Town of Bartlett — Orange — Revision of Statutes — Constitutional Convention — Ancient Singing

CHAPTER XIII.

State Government, 1793-1812.

John Taylor Gilman — Waipole — Mr. West — Milford- Turnpikes — Portsmouth — Methodists — Centre Harlior — Tithing Men — ■ Death of Washington — Second New HarapEhire Turnpike — Banks — Laws — Judge Smith — Middlesex Canal — Judge Pickering — Fed- eral Judges — Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike — Republicans — Post-Oflices — Daniel Webster — Burnham — Navigation on the Merrimack — Embargo -~ Patriots — Governor Jeremiah Smith — Crow Bill— William Plumer

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CHAPTER XIV.

War Of 1812 — 1813-1815.

Causes of the War — Right of Search — Orders in Council — Declara- tion of War— Governor William Ptumer — State Militia — Daniel

Webster — Governor John Tajlor Gilman — Federalists restored to Power — Change of the Judiciary — Jeremiah Mason — Defence of Portsmouth — False Alarms — Hartford Convention — Peace . . 487

CHAPTER XV.

Struggle for Toleration, 1815-1819. The Federalists disband as a Parlj — Dartmouth College — September Storm — Middlesex Canal — Dartmouth University — State House — - Chief Justice Richardson — Daniel Webster — Baptist Denomina- tion— President Monroe's Visit — Governor Samuel Bell — Bristol

— The Town House — The Toleration Act — Colonial Laws for the Support of the Ministry and Public Schools 507

CHAPTER XVI. Era of Good Will, 1819-1828. Power-Loom at Amoskeag — ^ Shelburne — New Hampton Hurricane

— Levi Woodbury — David L. Morril — Great Freshet — Militia — General Lafajette's Visit — The Farmer — Governor Benjamin Pierce and Family —John Beil — Franklin ^y>

CHAPTER XVIL

Turnpikes. Canals, Railroads, 1818-1840. lourney from New Hampshire to Philadelphia — War against Turn- pikes — Matthew Harvey — Concord — Canal and River Navigation

— Samuel Dinsmoor ^~ Visit of Andrew Jackson — Murder in Pem- broke — New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane — William Badger

— Nathaniel P. Rogers — Parker Pillsbury -Railroads — Isaac Hill

— Surplus Revenue — Judge Boswell Stevens —End of Turnpikes

— John Page — Edmund Burke — James Wilson — Eastern Railroad 5S&

CHAPTER XVIII. Anti-slavery Agitation, 1841-1860. Stephen S. Foster— Harry Hubbard — Pittsburg— Indian Stream War — John H. Steele— John P. Hate — Anthony Colby — Man- chester ^Jared W. Williams ^ Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr. — Dr. Noah Martin -Franklin Pierce — Kansas — Counteia Rumford — Nathan- iel B. Baker- Ralph Metcalf— Daniel CUrk — William W. Haile

— Ichabod Goodwin — Reminiscence! 582

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12 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX.

War of thb Rebellion, 1861-1S65.

P Election of Abraham Lincoln — Seceding States — Firing on Sumter

— Firet Regiment — Mason W. Tappan — Old Militia — Governor's Horse Guards — Thomas L. Tullock — Second Regiment — Oilman Marston — J. N. Patterson — Natlianiel S, Berry — Third Regiment

— Enoch Q. Fellows —John H. Jackson —John Bedel — Fourth Regiment — Thomas J. Whipple — Louis Bell — Fifth Regiment — Edward E. Cross — Charles E. Hapgood — Edward E. Sturtevant — Sixth Regiment — Simon G. Griffin — Henry H. Pearson — Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Regiments — Colonel Henry O. Kent— Joseph A. Gil more — Eighteenth Regiment — Cavalry, Artillery, and Sharpshooters — Summary of Number of Volunteers

— E. H. Durell — George Hamilton Perkins t

CHAPTER XX.

Irish ln New Hampshire.

Early Irish Settlers — Soldiers in Indian Wars — At Louisburg — Con- quest of Canada — Revolution — Emigration of J840-60 — Ship Fever — Terrors of the Plague — Hawthorne's Description — Mob in Manchester — Rebellion — Growth of Catholic Church — Bishop Bradley (

CHAPTER XXI.

Since the Rebellion, 1865-1888.

' Frederick Smyth — Sylvester Marsh— Provincial Papers — Rev. Dr. Bouton — Walter Ha rri man — Public Instruction — Academies and High Schools— John B. Clark —J. C. Moore — People — News- papers — Onslow Stearns — James A. Weston — Bishop Baker — E. A. Straw- Asa Fowler — J. E. Sargent — Charles H. Burns- P. C- Cheney — Phillips Exeter Academy — Constitutional Convention

— B. F. Prescott — J. F. Briggs — White Mountains — Natt Head

— Charles H. Bell — Frank Jones — Ossian Ray — S. W. Hale — C. H.Bartlett — J. H.Gallinger— Moody Currier — C. H. Sawyer — Jonathan Sawyer -Joseph Wentworth —Jonathan Kittredge — W. E. Chandler — Harry Bingham — Railroads —J. W, White —Dr. Edward Spalding — Summer Resorts — Manufacturing — George H. Emery <

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ILLUSTRATIONS.

Seal of Province .....

Seal of State .....

Old Langdon Farmstead ....

White Mountain Range, from Milan

Great Ba/ ......

Scene in White Hills ....

Summit of the Ravine, White Mountains

Farmhouse of Seventeenth Century

Governor John Winthrop

The First Fort at the Mouth of the PiBcataqua .

An Indian visiting the Settlers

Garrison House, built about 1645

Treaty of Peace between the Indians and the Settlers

Death of King Philip

The Conflict ....

The Bell House, Newcastle

Our Alley ....

Garrison House in King William's War

Hannah Dustln at the Massacre .

The Well . . .

Rev. John Emerson

Portion of Old Province House .

Old Church, New Castle .

Autograph and Seal of Theodore Atkinsor

Seal of Richard Jose

Map of New Castle

Cape Road, New Castle .

New Castle Fishermen

First Congregational Church at Concord

Plan of Eastern Part of Suncook, or Lovewell's Township

Rural Scene

Piscataqua Gundalow

Old Wentworth House, Rye

Mantel, Old Wentworth House

Frontier Block House, 1746

White Mountain Scene

Scene in Cooa County

New Hampshire Farm Scene

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ILLUSTRATIONS.

LancaBter

Plymouth .

View from Bridge in Rerl...

Governor John Wentworth's House, Portsmoutli

Paul Revere's First Ride

Notch of White MounUins

Battle of Lexington

Post Rider of the Revolution

Jaffrej Cottage, New Castle

Governor John Taylor Gilman's House. Eieter

Town House, Eiteter

Residence of Mr. Joseph B, Walker, Concord

Littleton . . ■ ■ ■

View of Portsmouth Harbor

Giant Stairs, Bartlett

Old Blodgett Manhion, Amoskeag Canal, Mam

With Wind and Current .

Boat entering Locks

Tow-path of the Canal

Mending Lobster Nets

Port McClary . ■ . ■

On the Beach . ■ - ■

Whaleback Light . ■ ■ ■

Walbach Tower . . ■ -

Daniel Webster . ■ ■ -

Gateway of Fort Constitution

Shot ofLumber coming out of a Lock .

Pushing against the Current

State House, Concord

Squam Lake and Mount Chocorua

New Hampton Institute .

Residence of Prof A. B. Meservey

Mount Carter, from Gorham

New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane

Railroad Cut . . . ■

View near Meredith Village

Mount Washington Railroad

Phillips Exeter Academy

Echo Lake, Franconia Notch

Caitellated Ridge of Mount JefTerson .

Governor Charles H. Bell

Hookiett .

Concord Depot

George H.Emery Pembroke Academy

567 S8.

665 669

67s

694 696 697

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LIST OF STEEL ENGRAVINGS.

Governor Charles H. Sawyer

Chief Justice Jeremiah Smith

Hon. John P. Hale

Hon. Abraham P. Olzendam

General Oilman Marston .

Hon. Thomas L. Tullock

Colonel Henry O. Kent

Judge Edward H. Durell .

Right Rev. Dennis M. Bradley, Biihop

Governor Frederick Smyth

Colonel John B, Clarke -

Hon, Joseph C- Moore

Governor Onslow Stearn*

Governor James A. Weiton

Chief Justice J. Everett Sargent

Hon. Charles H. Burns .

Governor Person C. Cheney

Hon. Daniel M. Christie .

Hon. Jam^s F. Brigg. .

Hon. Aretas Blood

Hon. Frank Jones

Hon. Virgil C. Oilman

Hon. Ossian Ray .

Governor Samuel W. Hale

Hon. Charles H. Bartlett

Hon. Jacob H. Gallinger .

Governor Moody Currier

Mr. Jonathan Sawyer

Colonel Joseph Wentworth

Hon. William E. Chandler

Hon. Harry Bingham

Mr. Jeremiah W. While .

Hon. Edward Spalding .

630 631 64G

6SS

674 677

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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENTS, 1623-1641.

Introduction — Description — Early Voyagers — Martin Prino — Cap- tain John Smith — Winter Fiskeribs — Aborigines — Virginia — CotTNCiL of Plymouth — Sir Ferdivanho Gorges — Captain John Mason— Mariana — Maine— David Thomson — The Hiltons — First Settlement — Little Harbor — Dover Neck — Landing— Char actbr

— Progress — Thomas Morton — Massachusetts Charter — New Hampshire Grant — Laconia — Hilton's Patent — Isles of Shoals

— PiscATAQUA Grant — Walter Nbal — White Mountains — DixT Bull — Division of Patent— Death of Mason — Thomas Wiggin— Dover — Captain John Underbill — Rev. John Wheelwright — Exeter — Rev. Stephen Batche lor— Hampton — Union with Mass a-

'T~'HE history of New Hampshire involves an account of the first settlements at the mouth of the Piscataqua and on the shores of Great Bay, their growth into tdwns and their union under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Colony ; the forma- tion of the Royal Province of New Hampshire ; the woful conflict with the Indians and with the French ; the inroad into the province of the Scotch-Irish and the spread of Massachusetts settlers up the valleys of the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers ; the contest of the inhabitants with the Masonian proprietors ; the part taken by the people of the province in achieving national independence ; the formation of an independent State govern- ment ; the compact settlement of the State and the growth of

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l8 HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. [^S^5

manufactures, railroads, and cities ; the share taken in the Great Rebellion ; the changes in the laws, habits and customs of the people; together with some account of those men who, in the different generations, have guided and directed the destinies of the people in church, state and municipal affairs. It is the story of the evolution of a settlement of poor, unedu- cated, bigoted and brave people, fresh from the tyranny of the laws of the old world, and imbued with the prejudices of their time, into a sovereign state, a liberal and enlightened common- wealth, one of the partners in the great Republic, the United States of America.

New Hampshire, one of the New England States and one of the original thirteen colonies which formed the American Union, lies between 70° 37' and 72° 37' west longitude, and between 42° 40' and 45° 18' 33" north latitude, and has an area of 9,336 square miles. It is bounded on the north by me Province of Quebec, the line following Hall's stream to its source and the watershed between the valley of the St. Law- rence and the Atlantic coast; it is bounded on the east by the state of Maine and the ocean, the Salmon Falls and Piscataqua rivers forming a part of the boundary ; it is hounded on the south by the State of Massachusetts, the line running north of, parallel with, and generally three miles from, the Merrimack river, from its mouth to where the course of the river is south, thence due west by compass to the Connecticut river ; and it is bounded on the west by the State of Vermont, the west bank of the Connecticut river being the boundary line. The general shape of the State is that of a triangle, with a base of one hundred miles and a length of one hundred and eighty-five miles. It is drained on the west by the Connecticut river, pn the east by the Androscoggin, the Saco and the Piscataqua rivers, while the central and southern part of the State is drained by the Merrimack river and its tributaries. Between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers there is a high ridge, frequently rising to lofty elevations, extending from the Massa- chusetts line to the Franconia and White Mountain ranges, the loftiest summits on the Atlantic seaboard. The northern

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30 HISTORY OF NEW HAMI-SHIRE. ['542

section of the State is very mountainous, In the central part there are many large ponds and lakes, the grandest of which is Lake Winnipiseogee, with an area of seventy square miles, elevated five hundred feet above the ocean. The height of Mount Washington is 6,293 feet, and the mountainous tract of which it is the highest elevation occupies a territory of fourteen hundred square miles, sometimes called the Switzerland of America. The average elevation of the State above the sea is estimated to be twelve hundred feet.^

Soon after the discovery of land beyond the Western Ocean by Christopher Columbus, in 1492, adventurous sailors from Spain, Portugal, France, Holland and England hastened to imitate the great discoverer and crossed the Atlantic in search of fame and fortune. As early as 1523, Verazzano, an Italian captain in the employ of the French government, sailed from Europe and struck America south of Cape Hatteras ; thence he followed the shore northward. From his accurate descrip- tion of the prominent landmarks, he probably landed, the fol- lowing summer, at or near the mouth of the Piscataqua river, and traded with the natives. He stated that the Portuguese had been before him in these parts. It was admitted by contem- porary writers that for half a century, from as early as 1504, the Basques were whaiing and fishing on the American coast. The patent authorizing a settlement in Newfoundland, in 1610, says that the coast had been used for more than fifty years for the fishery by the English. In 1527, John Rut, sent by Henry VIII to explore, reported that he saw in the harbor of St. Johns "eleven sail of Normands, one Breton and two Portu- guese barks, all a fishing." A French fisherman rescued his party from starvation. Jacques Cartier, in 1534 and 1535, explored the gulf and river of St. Lawrence, and reported that he met many ships of France and Brittany. Robeval, in 1 543, found "seventeen ships of fishers" at St. Johns.

The official explorers found on their voyages fleets of fisher- men already practical pilots of the coasts and harbors.^

Martin Pring, with two small ships, sailed into the Piscataqua

' Prat. C. H. Hiichcock. ' Chuki Levi Woadbui;.

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l6l4] DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENTS. 21

in June, 1603. The French discoverer, De Champlain, visited the river in July, 1605, and claimed the discovery of the Isles o£ Shoals.i

Of the voyagers who visited the northern coast of America, for the sake of its furs and fish, one of the most remarkable was Captain John Smith, who ranged the shore from Penobscot to Cape Cod, in 1614, and, in his route, discovered the river Piscatacjua, which he found to be a safe harbor with a rocky shore.^ He states that, prior to this voyage, he had procured seven or eight charts from the fishermen and traders, who had ' been in the habit of frequenting the coast of New England, and that he did not enter the Merrimack river because two French ships were lying there. The French had traded with the natives in the vicinity for several years.*

The map which Captain Smith made was presented to . (•rince Charles, who gave to the whole country the name of New England.

Early in the seventeenth century it was discovered that fish- .ng along the New England coast was more profitable in winter ':han in summer, a fact which soon led to permanent settle- ments, not only at the Isles of Shoals and at Little Harbor, but at Dover Point, York, Portland, Pemaquid and Mohegan, and at other points to the eastward. In fact, voyagers coming west attempted to make their landfalls at Mohegan and the Isles of Shoals, and took their departure from them, when returning to Europe,^

Before the advent of the .first white settlers, there were living within the present limits of New Hampshire a powerful tribe of Indians. For how many generations they had occupied the country and who were their predecessors, are unsettled ques- tions. There are few or no traces of a more civilized race having lived here before the Penacook Indians, a tribe of the Algonquin family. Their chief rendezvous was in the neighbor- hood of Concord, where they rudely cultivated the Indian corn. They subsisted chiefly on fish and game, and made annual migrations from the interior to the seaboard. In prehistoric

' John K. Lord. ' John Famer'. Bclknsp, p. .. J Charlei Levi Woodburr.

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23 H15TORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. I162O

times there is a tradition that a fierce battle occurred between them and their enemies, tlie Mohawks of the west, on the east bank o£ the Merrimack, near the village of East Concord. In the early part of the seventeenth century their number is said to have been greatly reduced by a plague. One of their favorite haunts was about the shores of Lake Winnipiseogee, where many traces of them may yet be found. The names they gave to the lakes and streams and mountains have been adopted by those who came after them. They continued to live within the limits of the State for a hundred years after the first settlement by Europeans, and their history is closely linked with that of the settlers, until the remnant, left after many disastrous wars, withdrew and joined their people on the banks of the St. Law- rence. In the main they were friendly to the colonists, but seem to have-been drawn into hostilities by neighboring tribes, under the influence of the French,

The importance of effecting permanent settlements on the coast having become apparent, King James, in 1606,^ granted a patent limiting the dominion of Virginia from the thirty-fourth to the forty-fourth degree of northern latitude. This territory was subdivided into North and South Virginia ; South Virginia was assigned to certain noblemen, knights and gentlemen of London ; North Virginia was granted to others of Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth.^

In-1620,® the King, by his sole authority, constituted a council of forty, by the name of " The council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing of New England, in America."^

They were a corporation with perpetual succession, by election of the majority, and their territories extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of northern latitude. This patent, or charter, is the foundation of all the grants that were made of the country of New England. For some unexplained reason, their affairs were transacted in a confused manner from the beginning, and the grants which they made were so inaccurately

• April 10. J Finder's Belknan.

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l62l] DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENTS. 2$

described and interfered so much with each other as to occasion difficulties and controversies of a serious character.^

Two of the most active members of this council were Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason. The former had been an officer in the navy of Queen Elizabeth, intimately connected with Sir Walter Raieigh, and had been appointed by King James governor of the fort and island of Plymouth. While he resided there. Captain Weymouth brought from Pemaquid into the harbor of Plymouth five American Indians, whom he had treacherously kidnapped.^ Three of these Gorges retained' in his service several years, treated them kindly, won their affection, and learned from them the character of New England. ■ He became very enthusiastic about the new world, fitted out several expeditions to visit this coast, and upon the formation of the Plymouth Council was elected its president. Captain John Mason was a merchant of London, who became a sailor and was appointed governor of Newfoundland. While there he befriended two Indians, who had been forcibly abducted from New England and sold into slavery by Thomas Hunt, a lieuten- ant of Captain John Smith, and won their good will by sending them to their homes.

While in Newfoundland he acquired a knowledge of America, it being asserted by late writers that, in company with his friend Gorges, he personally explored the coast of his future province, and upon his return to England, receiving the appointment of governor of Portsmouth in Hampshire, he became interested in the Plymouth Council. A vacancy occurring he \ias elected a member and became the secretary. He procuced a grant from the council, in i62i,*of all the land from the river Naumkeag, now Salem, round Cape Ann to the river Merrimack, and all land embraced by these two rivers to their heads, and all out- lying islands within three miles of the shore. The district was called Mariana, and was granted on the supposition that the two rivers forming its bounds flowed directly east from their source to their outlet. The following year* Gorges and Mason received

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34 HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, [\62I

jointly the grant of territory, which included all the land between the Merrimack and the Sagadahock rivers, from the ocean to the great lakes and rivers of Canada.^

The grant of that date in the l^ew Hampshire Provincial Pa- pers* gives the name The Province of Maine to the territory, which is thus described : " Ail that part of the main land in New England lying upon the sea-coast betwixt ye rivers of Merrimack and Sagadahock, and to the furthest heads of the said rivers, and soe forwards up into the land westward until three-score miles be finished from ye first entrance of the aforesaid rivers, and half way over : that is to say, to the midst of the said two rivers."

Under the authority of this grant. Gorges and Mason, who united with them several merchants of London, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Shrewsbury and Dorchester, attempted the establish- ment of a colony and fishery at the river Piscataqua.

^Thetime when, the manner in which, and the individuals by whom the first settlements were made by Europeans at Little Harbor and Dover Point, where, it is generally acknowledged, the original " planting" of New Hatnp- ehire was commenced, are so obscure, and have been so frequently a matter of controversy, that historians gladly welcome all attempts which are made to elucidate them. .

For more than two hundred years, on the authority of Hubbard, Prince, and other early historians, followed by Belknap, the facts in relation to these settlements, briefly stated and generally accepted, were, that Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt, John Mason, having obtained from the Council constituted by the King of England, " for the planting, ruling and governing of New England," a grant of all the land between the rivers Merrimack and Sagadahock, extending back to the great lakes and river of Canada, formed a company with several merchants of London and other cities, and styling themselves " The Company of Laconia," attempted the establishment of a colony and fishery at the mouth of the Piscataqua river. For this purpose, in the spring of 1623, they sent out David Thomson and Edward and William Hilton, who had been fishmongers in London, with a number of other people, in two divisions, furnished with all the necessaries for carrying out the design. Thomson landed at the river's mouth, at a place which he called Little Harbor, where he built a house, afterwards known as " Mason Hall," erected saltworks, and made other preparations for carrying on his business, but the Hiltons set up their fishing stages eight miles further up the river, on a neck of land which the Indians called Winni- chahannet. but they named it Northam and afterwards Dover. Thomson,

1 Palfrey and Belknap. > Prov!n;:iil Papers, vol. i, p. lo. } George Wadleigh.

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i62i] ■ "discovery and settlements. 35

not being pleaied with his company or Eiluation. removed the next apring. "or ix short lime after, to an island in MasBachusetts Bay, where he lived and soon al^er died, while the Hiltons and their asGociatea remained and made a. permanent settlement at Dover.

All efTorts to ascertain the precise date of their arrival, or the ship in which they came, had proved unavailing. The day oi' the month and the- month were unlcnown. In 1823, at the celebration of the Jooth anniversary of the settlement of the State, at Portsmouth, when it was considered desir- able to fix upon the day of their arrival, if possible, for the purpose of suit- ably observing it, all eHbrts to do so were found lo be in vain. It was then, declared that •■ Prince, the most laborious of all antiquaries in New England, in 1736, could give no precise dale, and no discovery of documents since has made it more definite" than that they arrived in the spring- of the year. From the fact that no vessel was known to have arrived from England In that year until about June 1, it was conjectured that the colonists might, have been landed at the Piscataqua late in May, and May 23 was accord- ingly selected for the celebration.

These statements remained unquestioned and were incorporated in all our histories and school books, until a document found among the ancient, papers of Gov. Winthrop' gave a different reading to our early history. This document is an indenture, dated Dec. 14, 1632, between David Thomson on the one part, and three merchants, Abraham Colmer, Nicholas Sherwill and Leonard Pomroy, all of Plymouth, England, on the other part.

The indenture recites that the Council for New England had granted to Thomson (Oct. 16, 1622) six thousand acres of land and one island in New England, and that Thomson had conveyed one quarter part of the island to the three merchants named and agreed also to convey to them one quarter part of the six thousand acres, on these conditions^ —

1. That the three merchants, at their own charge, should provide and send that present year two men with Thomson, in the ship Jonathan of Plymouth, to New England, with such victuals, provisions, &c., as shall suffice them till they are landed.

1. The three merchants, at their own charge, were also to provide and send the same year three additional men in the ship Providence ofPlymouth, if they could so soon be gotten, or in some other ship, to New England; the- charges of these three men to be borne equally by all the parties.

3. Two other men were also to be sent the same year in the Jonathan j the charges to be borne by all the parties equally.

4. Thomson,' with the seven men, as soon as landed, was to lind a lit place and make choice of six thousand acres of land and a St place to settle- and erect buildings.

Further provision was made for dividing the property at the end of five- years agreeably to the indentures, three fourths to Thomson and one fourth

■ Now in Ihe posMuion of h» d»«ndanl, Han. Robert C. Winlhrop. A copy of It hai betn