Rockingham County Physical Features from Merrill's 1817 Gazetteer of New Hampshire

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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, Part Two of Gazetteer:

BREAKFAST HILL - in the township of Rye, is memorable on account of the 
following circumstances.  Early in the morning of June 26th, 1696, a large 
body of Indians made an attack on 5 houses on Portsmouth plains, by which 14 
persons were killed on the spot, 1 scalped and left for dead, and 4 taken 
prisoners.  The enemy, having plundered the houses of what they could carry 
off, set them on fire and made a precipitate retreat through the Great Swamp.
A company of militia under Capt. Shackford and Lieut. Libbey pursued and 
discovered them cooking their breakfast at a place ever since called 
Breakfast Hill.  the Indians were on the furthermost side of the hill and had
placed their captives between themselves and the summit, that, in case of an
attack, they might first receive the fire.  Lieut. Libbey urged to go round 
the hill and come upon them below and cut off their retreat, but the Capt. 
fearing in that case they would kill the prisoners, rushed upon them from the
top of the hill, by which means he retook the captives and plunder, but the
Indians escaped.

GREAT BAY - The western branch of Piscataqua river is formed by Swamscot river, 
which flows from Exeter, Winnicot river which comes from Greenland, and lamprey river 
which divides Newmarket from Durham; these streams empty into a bay 4 miles wide, 
called Great Bay.  The water in its further progress is contracted into a lesser bay, and 
there receives Oyster river from Durham, and Black river from Dover.  The whole branch 
at length meets the main stream at Hilton’s point.  The tide flows into all these streams as 
far as the lower falls in each, and forms a very rapid current, especially at the seasons of 
the freshets, when the ebb continues about two hours longer than the flood.  Piscataqua 
bridge is thrown over the lower extremity of Little bay.  Newington lies on the eastern 
shore of this bay, Stratham and Greenland on the southern, and Durham on the northern 
shore.

LAMPREY RIVER - has its source in the town of Northwood on the W. side of 
Saddleback mountain.  Taking a southerly course, it passes into Deerfield and receives the 
waters of Martin’s pond, and in Candia a stream called Second river falls into it.  Thence it 
passes into Raymond, where it receives a western branch.  Thence taking a southerly 
direction, it unites with the waters of Jones pond in Deerfield, and thence as it flows on 
through Epping, it receives Petuckaway river,  and after a bend to the N.E. it receives 
North river.  After a course thence through Lee to Durham, it unites with Piscasick river 
from Newmarket.  It meets the tide water about two miles above the Great Bay.

NORTH RIVER - has its source in North river pond on the line between Northwood and 
Nottingham.  After a southerly course through Nottingham, Epping and a part of Lee it 
falls into Lamprey River near the N.E. corner of Epping and the line of Newmarket.  This 
stream affords many valuable mill privileges, on most of which are erected mills of various 
kinds.

PIERCE’S ISLAND - is in Piscataqua harbor, between this and Seavey’s island the main 
channel passes.  On each of them batteries and entrenchments were prepared in 1775, and 
again in 1814.  the current is here narrow, rapid and deep, and the shore bold and rocky. 
(See Piscataqua harbor).

PISCASICK RIVER - rises in Brentwood and passes through Newmarket into
Durham where it falls into Lamprey river about one mile from the northern
boundary of Newmarket.  On this stream are numerous mill seats.

PISCATAQUA HARBOR - is one of the finest on the continent, having sufficient depth 
of water for vessels of any burden.  The adjacent lands protect it from storms so 
effectually that ships may ride here safely in any season of the year.  The current here is so 
narrow and rapid that the harbor never freezes.  It is so well fortified by nature that very 
little labor is requisite to make it impregnable.  The islands in this harbor are numberous; 
the largest of them is Great Island or New Castle, now incorporated into a township 
(which see.)  On this island stands a light house and the principal fort, called fort 
Constitution.  Near the site of this fort, one was erected as early as 1660, under the 
command of Richard Cutts, Esq.  In 1795, this was completely prepared, mounted with 16 
cannon and manned with a company of men now under the command of Capt. Walbach.  
In the summer of 1814, fort Constitution was put in a complete state of defense, and 
another was erected at Jeffrey’s point on the easterly part of the island, another on Kittery 
point called Fort M’Clary and another on Pierce’s island called Fort Washington, and 
several other fortifications were thrown up on the main islands.

PISCATAQUA RIVER - is the only large river, the whole course of which is 
within the state.  Its source is a pond near the S.W. corner of the town of 
Wakefield, and is on the line of the district of Maine.  Its general course 
thence to the sea is S.S.E. about 40 miles.  It divides this state from York 
county, (Maine) and is called Salmon falls river from its source to Berwick 
lower falls, where it takes the name of Newichawannock, which it bears until
it meets the river Cochecho flowing from Dover.  The confluent stream thence 
passes to Hilton’s point 7 miles from the sea.
	The western branch is formed from the Swamscot river flowing from 
Exeter, the Winnicot river flowing from Stratham through Greenland, and 
Lamprey river, which divides Newmarket from Durham.  These empty into a bay 4
miles wide, called the Great bay.  These waters in their further progress 
are contracted into a smaller bay, where they receive Oyster river from 
Durham and Black river from Dover.  They form a junction with the other 
branch at Hilton’s point.  The tide rises in all these bays and branches as 
far up as the falls in each.  It forms a rapid current, especially in the 
season of freshets, when the ebb continues about two hours longer than the 
flood; some of the ferries would be impassable were it not for the numerous 
eddies, formed by the indentures of the shore.  At the lower falls in each 
river are landing places where lumber and other country produce is 
discharged, so that each branch affords a convenient trading place not more 
than 15 or 20 miles from Portsmouth, with which a constant communication is 
kept up.  This river therefore from the situation of its branches is 
extremely favorable to navigation and commerce.

POWOW RIVER - has its source in Kingston in Great pond and County pond, 
thence it passes the S.W. part of East Kingston into Southampton, thence 
into Amesbury, where it takes an easterly course and passes again into 
Southampton, thence returning to Amesbury it empties into the Merrimack 
between Salisbury and Amesbury in Essex county, Mass.  The falls on this 
river in Amesbury are remarkable.  The water within the space of 50 rods 
falls 100 feet, carrying 1 bloomery, 5 sawmills, 1 fulling mill, and 1 snuff 
mill.  The rapidity of the falls, the continuity of the dams, the variety of 
the mills, and their mechanism, together with the irregularity of the houses, 
scenery, etc. give to this spot a singularly grotesque and romantic 
appearance and afford on the whole one of the most remarkable views in this 
county.

SALMON FALL RIVER - is the eastern and main branch of the Piscataqua.

SHOALS, ISLE OF - are seven in number and lie on the coast of New Hampshire.  the 
celebrated John Smith gave his own name to them, but the ingratitude of posterity has 
denied this small honor to his memory.  Staten Island belongs to New Hampshire, and on 
this is the town of Gosport.  The others are in the District of Maine.  They are inhabited by 
about 100 fishermen and have a meeting house, which serves as a land mark to seamen.  
There has also been erected here by charity a parsonage house.
	There is here good moorings and an artificial dock constructed by Mr. Haley.  
Vessels sometimes put in here in bad weather, but large ships cannot do this safely.
	From Star Island to Dry Salvage rock the course is S. 1/2° W. 8 leagues to 
Newburyport bar, S.W. 7 leagues, N. lat. 42° 59’, W. long. 70° 33’.  
	Rev. John Tuck was ordained here in 1732, and died in 1773, aged 77.

SPIGGOT RIVER - rises in Londonderry and Hampstead from Island pond.  After 
passing through Salem and receiving the waters of several ponds in that town, it falls into 
the Merrimack river between Methuen and Dracut in Massachusetts.

SWAMSCOT RIVER - is the Indian name of the Exeter river as far as the head of the 
tide, which is in the compact settlement of the town of Exeter (See Exeter).

WINNICONETT - (commonly called Winnicot) river, rises in a large swamp in Hampton, 
and after a northerly course through a part of Stratham into Greenland, it meets the tide 
waters about 200 feet from the Great Bay.