Carroll County Town Descriptions from Merrill's Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1817) Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00 Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ From 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 85 Part Two of Gazetteer: BARTLETT - a township in the county of Coos, incorporated in 1790, situated at the S.E. angle of the white Hills, bounded N. by Adams, E. by Chatham, S. by ungranted land and Conway, and W. by Chadbourn’s and Hart’s locations. Its surface is 13,500 acres. Saco river and the 10th N.H. turnpike road pass through this town. Kearsage mountain lies on its E. line. BROOKFIELD - a township in Strafford county, about 30 miles from Dover, incorporated in 1795, with a present population of about 657. It is bounded N.W. by Wolfeborough, e. by Wakefield, S.E. by Great Moose mountain, and W. by Alton containing 13,000 acres. Cook’s pond is about 300 rods long and 50 wide, and is the source of the W. branch of Salmon Fall river. Smith’s river rises near the former seat of Gov. Wentworth, which is in the S.W.. part of the place near the upper line of Brookfield. BURTON - a township in the N.W. corner of the county of Strafford, incorporated 1766. Its population, conformable to the census of 1810, was 194 souls. It is bounded E. by Conway, N.E. by Eaton, S. by Tamworth, W. by Grafton county line, and N. by the line of Coos county. The White mountains lie N. and Whiteface mountain W. Swift river passes through Burton from W. to E. CONWAY - a township situated in the N.E. corner of Strafford county. It was incorporated in 1715, and 1810 it contained 1,080 inhabitants. It is bounded N. by Chatham and Bartlett, E. by the line of the District of Maine, which separates it from Fryburgh(Fryeburg), S. by Eaton, and W. by Burton and Hale’s grant, containing 34,728 acres. it was called by the Indians, Pigwacket. A small part of Walker’s pond and Little Pigwacket pond lie in this town. the latter is about 175 rods in diameter. Saco river passes through this town, where it receives Swift river and several other small streams. The Rev. Mr. Porter was ordained here in 1778, and still continues the minister of the place. Conway has 3 religious societies and 2 meeting houses. It contains 4 corn mills, 5 saw mills 1 mill for dressing cloth, 2 carding machines, 3 distilleries, and 3 retail stores. EATON - a township in the northerly part of Strafford county, incorporated in 1766, and containing in 1810, 535 inhabitants; bounded N. by Conway, E. by the eastern line of the state, S. by Ossipee Gore, and W. by Tamworth, containing about 27,637 acres. There are several ponds in this town; Six miles pond, in the western part of the town, Cook’s Little, Blair’s, etc.; and in the S.E. extremity of the town rises Legion mountain. There are 5 saw-mills, 5 grain mills and 1 clothing mill. Elder Jackson is the only settled minister here. EFFINGHAM - a township in Strafford county, incorporated in 1678, and now containing 876 inhabitants: bounded N. W. by Ossipee Gore, E. by the state line, which separates it from Parsonsfield, S.E. by Wakefield, and S.W. by Ossipee, comprising an area of 34, 938 acres. The great Ossipee river passes through this town in a westerly course, over which is here a toll bridge 500 feet in length. There is a pond near this river 400 rods long and 270 wide. On the western side of this town lie the Green mountains. Rev. G. Burt was ordained here in 1803, and dismissed soon after. There are in Effingham three religious societies and 2 meeting houses, 4 grain mills, 4 sawmills a clothing mill and a carding machine. MOULTONBOROUGH - in Strafford county, lies on the N. extremity of Winnipiseogee lake. It was incorporated in 1777, and its population in 1810, was 994 souls; bounded N. by Sandwich and Tamworth, N. by Sandwich and Tamworth, N.E. by a part of Ossipee, S.E. by Tuftonborough, and W. by Centreharbor and Squam pond, containing 32,163 acres. This place derived its name from Gen. Jonathan Moulton of Hampton, who was one of its earliest and largest proprietors, and New Hampton, which was taken from it, was also named at his request after the place of his residence. Moultonborough lies near the S.W. side of the Great Ossipee mountain, and it is observed, that in N.E. storms the wind passes over the mountain like water over a dam, and with such force, as frequently to unroof houses. The Rev. S. Perley was settled here in 1778, and removed the next year. His successor the Rev. J. Shaw is still in office. There is here a pleasant village of 10 or 12 dwelling houses, a meeting house, 1 store, 4 grain mills, 5 saw mills, 2 clothing mills, and a carding - machine. Red hill is in the N.W. part of the town, and Red hill river passes through its northerly part and falls into Winnipiseogee lake. The spotted fever prevailed here in 1813. It attached some hundred but carried off only 30 persons. Bears were formerly common in this town as in many other new settlements. In the autumn they frequently came down into the populous settlements and sometimes even to the maritime towns. It frequently devours young swine, but seldom attacks mankind. OSSIPEE - a township in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1785, and now contains 1,205 inhabitants; bounded N. by Tamworth, N.E. by Great Ossipee pond, S.E. by Wakfield, and S. by Wolfeborough, Tuftonborough, and Moultonborough, comprising 36,795 acres. This place was formerly called new Garden. Its form is very irregular, its length being nearly 15 miles from N. W. to S.W. and its width in some places not more than 4 or 5. There are here several ponds, of which Dan Hole pond on the borders of Tuftonborough is the largest being about 400 rods long and 200 wide. The others are on an average 100 rods each in diameter. Bear pond has no discoverable outlet. Pine river flows through the easterly part of this town, and Bear Camp river passes its northern extremity, emptying itself into Great Ossipee lake. The soil here is generally fertile. Ossipee contains 2 religious societies, 1 Baptist meeting house, 5 grain mills, 3 sawmills and 1 carding machine. PIGWACKET - the Indian name of Conway, Fryburgh, and the towns adjacent. SANDWICH - in the N. part of Strafford county, was incorporated in 1763, and contains 2,232 inhabitants; bounded N. by Sandwich mountains an unlocated tract, E. by Tamworth, S. by Moultonborough, and W. by Campton, Holderness and Thornton, comprising an area of 54,600 acres. Red Hill pond and Bear Camp pond are in this town, forming the sources of two rivers of the same names. In the northwest part of the town is part of Squam mountain and of Squam lake, (See Squam lake). There are here three religious societies; one of Baptists, one of Methodists, and one of friends. Elder Quimby is a settled preacher here. There are in Sandwich 6 grain mills, 6 saw mills, 1 clothing mill, 1 carding machine, and 3 trading stores. TAMWORTH - a township in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1766, and contains 1,134 inhabitants; bounded N. by Burton, E. by Eaton, S. by Ossipee, and W. by Sandwich, comprising 28,917 acres. Bear Camp river is the only considerable stream in this town. This has an easterly course into Ossipee pond. The rapidity of its current in times of freshets renders it almost useless for the purposes of mills. Swift river in this town is a fine stream and affords many valuable mill seats. A nail factory and a carding machine are erected on it. Conway river falls into Bear Camp river near the centre of Tamworth. It has its source in Burton and passes through Conway pond. This is also a valuable stream for mills. A few rods from the meeting house in this town, is a remarkable rock called ordination rock, it being memorable as the place where the Rev. S. Hidden was ordained September 12, 1792. Its summit was sufficiently large to accommodate the minister and the whole of the council. There is in Tamworth a large church and society under the pastoral charge of Mr. Hidden. There is also a free will Baptist society here under Elder Webster. There are in this town 9 school houses. J.G. TUFTONBOROUGH - a township in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1795, and now contains 709 inhabitants; bounded N.W. by Moultonborough, N.E. by Ossipee, S.E. by Wolfeborough, and S.W. by Winnipiseogee lake, comprising 24,390 acres. Beach pond is on the line of this town, about 250 rods long and 100 wide. Hale pond and Linious pond are also in this town: the latter is near Winter Harbor bay. Near the southwest extremity of this town, Melvin’s river, passing from Moultonborough, falls into the Winnipiseogee pond. There is here a Baptist, Methodist, and Congregational society. There are 2 sawmills and 2 grist mils in this place. WAKEFIELD - a township in Strafford county, lying on the eastern border of the state. It was incorporated in 1774, and now contains 1,166 inhabitants; bounded N.W. by Effingham and Ossipee, E. by the District of Maine, S.E. by Milton, and W. by Brookfield and Middleton. Lovell’s pond is the largest in this town, and lies on its northeast side. It is 700 rods long and 275 wide. Province pond is about 450 rods long and 400 wide. Pine River pond is about 100 rods long and 100 wide. There are several others of a smaller size. The principal branch of Piscataqua river has its source in this town, (see Salmon river.) The soil of this place is generally good, but it is more favorable for mowing and grazing than for tillage. There is here a Baptist and a Congregationalist society. Rev. Asa Piper, the first minister in the place, was ordained in 1785. There is here a meeting house, a cotton factory, a carding machine, 5 grain mills, 3 sawmills, 3 fulling mills, and a handsome village containing several stores. Lovell’s pond in this town derived its name from Capt. John Lovell of Dunstable, who in the year 1725, being on a scouting expedition in this quarter, with a company of 40 men, attacked by night a party of Indians, whom they found encamped by the side of a pond. Lovell and his companions surprised the enemy, who were eleven in number, and by his dexterous movements destroyed the whole party. Robert Macklin, a remarkable instance of longevity, died in Wakefield in 1787, at the age of 115. He was born in Scotland, and lived several years in Portsmouth in the occupation of a baker. He frequently walked from Portsmouth to Boston (66 miles) in one day and returned in another. This journey he performed at the age of 80. WOLFEBOROUGH - in Strafford county, was incorporated in 1770, and in 1810, contained 1,376 inhabitants; bounded N.W. by Moultonborough, N.E. by Ossipee, S.E. by Brookfield and New Durham, and S.W. by Alton and lake Winnipiseogee, containing 28,600 acres, 400 of which are water. Smith’s pond, 1,050 rods long and 556 wide, in the southeast part of the town, discharges its waters westerly through Crooked river into the lake. There are here several other large ponds, Viz. Crooked, Rust’s Baston’s, and Sargeant’s ponds. At a place called Smith’s bridge there is a small village containing several mills, stores, etc. Rev. E. Allen, a Congregationalist, and Elder Townsend, a Baptist, were the first ordained ministers in this town. They were both ordained on the 25th of October, 1792. Elder Townsend is still in office. There are in this town 2 meeting houses, 8 school houses 4 grain mills, 4 sawmills, 1 clothing mill, and 1 carding machine. A family of the name of Blake were the first who moved into this town. Mr. Blake and wife are still living. At the foot of a hill which stands on the bank of one of the ponds in this town, there is a spring strongly impregnated with a mineral substance which is said to give the water a quality similar to those of the Saratoga Springs. J.G.O.