Belknap County, New Hampshire Town Entries from Merrill's 1817 Gazetteer of the State of NH Source: The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late Phinehas Merrill, Esq., Printed by C. Norris & Co. , Exeter, NH, ©1817, pg 79 Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00 **************************************************************************** * * * * Notice: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. **************************************************************************** Part Two of Gazetteer: ALTON - a township in Strafford county, about 25 miles N.W. from Dover, was incorporated 1496, and reckons 1279 inhabitants. This town has Winnipiseogee lake and bay for its N. boundary, E. it is bounded by New-Durham, S. by Barnstead, W. by Gilmanton and Gilford. Its surface 35,783 acres. Wolfeborough joins Alton on the N.E. corner 1 mile and 216 rods. Merry meeting bay has a S. declination of 1800 rods into Alton, where it receives an excellent stream, on which Barker’s and Wiggin’s mills are erected. This bay is about 200 rods in width. Half-moon pond, between Barnstead and Alton is 300 rods long, and 150 wide. It has several ponds of less note. Its soil is hard and rocky, adapted to corn and wheat. White and red oak beach, maple pine, and hemlock are its principal growth. The inhabitants are, for the most part, of the Baptist order. Elder John Page was ordained here 1811. Here are 2 grain mills, 6 saw-mills, and 1 mill for dressing cloth. Alton winters about 250 sheep. BARNSTEAD - a pleasant level township in Strafford county, incorporated 1727, and bounded as follows, viz N.E. by Alton, N.W. by Gilmanton, S.W. by Pittsfield, and S.E. by Barrington, containing 26,000 acres. Here are two ponds known by the name of Suncook, lying contiguous to each other one 400 rods and the other 300 long; also bundle pond 250 rods in extent. Each of these in width will average their medium length. Half Moon pond lies on Alton line, its centre about equi-distant from the two towns, 300 rods long and half as wide. These ponds all discharge their waters into Suncook river which traverses the town. Beaty’s Pink, Adam’s, and Jacob’s are small and nearly circular pools about 100 rods in diameter. The original growth here is pine, oak, beach, maple, and hemlock. The soil is hard, but not very rocky, well adapted to the increase of corn and grain. Barnstead reckons 1477 souls for its population. Here are a congregational and Baptist society. Elder David Knowlton was ordained here in 1804, and died in 1809. Enos George was ordained by a congregational council 1804, and is their present teacher. Barnstead has 2 houses for public worship, a number of excellent sites for water machinery, and already mills of various kinds. CENTER HARBOUR - a township in Strafford county, situated on the N.W. end of Winnipiseogee lake and on the S. E. end of Squam lake, from which circumstances it has its appellation. It was incorporated 1777, and its whole population was, in 1810, about 349 inhabitants. Its boundaries are Moultonborough N.E., Meredith neck S.E., and the waters on the S.W., parting it from Meredith and New Hampton, and N. by New Holderness and Squam lake, having an area of 7,626 acres of land. There is a public house of worship for all orders of Christians, 1 saw-mill, and 1 trading store. Part of Measley pond lies in the south-west part of this town. GILFORD - a township in Strafford county, formerly a part of Gilmanton, incorporated in 1727, and now containing about 1,200 inhabitants. it is bounded N. by Winnipiseogee lake, E. by Alton, S. by Gilmanton, and W. by a long bay which divides it from Gilmanton. There are here several large mountains. The summits of two of them are within 200 rods of each other, and about 2,000 feet above the level of the town. On the southerly part of Gunstock mountain is Suncook pond, which forms the northerly source of Suncook river. Gilford has two meeting houses, which belong to no particular denomination of Christians, 3 trading stores, 4 grain mills, 3 sawmills, and a carding machine. The free will Baptists have here a large church and society under the care of Elder Richard Martin, an aged and respectable minister. There is also a society of the regular Baptist under the care of Elder Morrison. At Meredith bridge, which unites this town to Meredith, is a handsome village containing about 25 dwelling houses, stores, etc. A meeting house was lately erected here by the inhabitants of the two towns for the common use of all orders of Christians. GILMANTON - a township in Strafford county, incorporated in 1727, and containing in 1810, 4,338 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Gilford, E. by Alton, S.E. by Barnstead, S.W.. by Rockingham line, and N.W. by Winnipiseogee lake and bay which separates it from Sanbornton, comprising an area of 58,448 acres. Suncook river rises here in a pond of that name on Gilford line, the waters of which fall into another pond of the same name, which is larger than the former, being about 350 rods long and 175 wide. From thence it falls into a third pond of the same name 500 rods long and half as wide. There are several smaller ponds in this town, in one of which is the source of Bow Cook river. There are in Gilmanton 5 meeting houses, 20 schoolhouses, a court house a cotton factory, a nail factory, 9 grain mills, 10 sawmills, 2 clothing mills a carding machine, an oil mill and 9 trading stores. A handsome academy was incorporated and built here in 1794, and opened for the reception of students December, 1797. It has generally from 30 to 50 students. its funds are about $5,000, raised by subscription. There is here a congregational church and society recently under the charge of the Rev. Isaac Smith, who died in March, 1817. there are several Baptist societies, and one of friends. One term of the common pleas for the 1st district, is Holden here annually. Hon. Joseph Badger, who settled in this town in the year 1760, was its first magistrate, and was highly instrumental in its growth and prosperity. He was for many years judge of probate, and resigned that office at the age of 70. MEREDITH - in Strafford county, incorporated in 1768, contained in 1810, a population of 1940. It is bounded N.W. by New-Hampton and Centreharbor, N.E. by the Great bay which divides it from Moultonborough, W.E. by Long bay and Winnipiseogee river which separates it from Gilford and S.W. by Sanbornton bay and Sanbornton, comprising an area of 35,7777 acres. Two large bays in this vicinity extend N.W. about 5 miles each, and on the line of Centreharbor is Meredith pond 2 miles in length and 1 in breadth. Two miles S. of this is another pond 300 rods long and 100 wide. The first of these empties into Meredith bay, and the latter into Sanbornton bay. They might be united by a canal of 2 miles. At Meredith bridge is a handsome village containing about 15 dwelling houses, several stores, mechanic shops, and a cotton factory. In the whole town there are 4 meeting houses, several mills, a carding machine, a nail factory, 2 distilleries, and 7 trading stores. The inhabitants are generally of the Baptist persuasion. Elder N. Folsom is the only ordained minister in the place. A canal has been projected from Winnipiseogee lake to Merrimack river, which would pass through Meredith, west of the bridge. This plan if completed, would afford to lumber and other heavy articles a water carriage to Boston and Newburyport from the centre of New Hampshire. NEW- HAMPTON - formerly called Moultonborough-Additon, lies in the west part of Strafford county, incorporated in 1777, and now contains 1,293 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Pemigewasset river which separates it from Bridgewater and New-Chester, N. by Holderness, N.E. by Centreharbor, and S.E. by Sanbornton and Meredith, comprising an area of 19,422 acres. Pemigewasset pond lies on the border of Meredith, and is about 200 rods in diameter. There are several other smaller ponds in this town. In the westerly part of the town is a remarkable spring, from which a stream issues and falls into Pemigewasset river after running about a mile. This stream is sufficient for the sue of several mills, and is not affected by rains or droughts. A toll bridge unites this town to Bridgewater, from which there is a turnpike leading to Sanbornton. The soil here is rich and light and very favorable to various kinds of grain and grass. There are in New Hampton 2 meeting houses, 2 schoolhouses, and 2 distilleries. Rev. S. Hubbard was ordained over the Congregational church here in 1800, and is still in office. Elder Dana, a Baptist, is also settled in this town. S.H. SANBORNTON - in the S.W. part of Strafford county, was incorporated in 1770, and contains 2,884 inhabitants; bounded N.W. by New Hampton, N.E. by Meredith, E. by the Great bay, which divides it from Gilford, S.E. by Gilmanton, S. by Winnipiseogee lake, and W. by Pemgeway river, which divides it from Salisbury, Andover, and new Chester; this river unites with Winnipiseogee lake in the S.W. part of the town, at which place the confluent streams become the Merrimack river. The bays and rivers, which almost encircle this town measure nearly 30miles, and the bay between this town and Meredith is 3 miles wide. Salmon brook pond is the only pond in this town, and is 130 rods long and 50 wide. Salmon brook mountain is in Sanbornton. Republican ridge connects this town with Salisbury and Union bridge unites it to Gilmanton. There are in this town 3 religious societies, 2 of Baptists and 1 of Congregationalist, each of them owning a handsome meeting house. Rev. J. Woodman The first minister in this town was ordained in 1771. The present ministers are Rev. J. Bodwell, Elders Crocket and Cheney. Sanbornton has 11 grain mills, 13 sawmills, 3 clothing mills, 2 carding machines, 1 nail factory, an oil mill, a distillery, and 6 trading stores.