Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire by Mary P. Thompson, 
Durham, N.H. ©1892, Printed by the Republican Press Association, 
Concord, N.H. 


LANDMARKS:	Gallows Hill

NAMES: CHESLEY, Samuel; CHESLEY, Philip; THOMAS, Elisha; DROWNE, Capt. 
Peter; PEABODY, Col. Stephen; TASH, Col.; 
	
	Gallows Hill.  This hill is mentioned May 30, 1699, as a little below
the falls in Oyster river, where Samuel and Philip Chesley and others had 
liberty to build a sawmill.  (See Oyster river Falls.)  This mill became 
known as "Chesley's mill," and was so called as early as 1701.  At a later
period it became a grist mill.  Gallows hill is just below, on the so-
called "Mill road," that leads from Durham village to Packer's Falls.  This
sinister name is derived from some residents of former days, supposed to 
be morally qualified to undergo the highest penalty of the law.  Swazey's 
hill in Dover, just below Central square, between Central avenue and the 
Cochecho river, was often called Gallows hill after the execution of Elisha
Thomas, who was hung in 1788 for the murder of Capt. Peter Drowne of New 
Durham.  The spectators assembled on this hill, but the gallows stood at 
the foot where the print works now are.¹                                                                                                                                                     
¹ Capt. Peter Drowne was a revolutionary officer in Col. Stephen Peabody's 
regiment, that went to Rhode island in 1778.  He was murdered Feb. 4, 1788, 
by Elisha Thomas, who had served as a private in Col. Tash's regiment in 
1776.										
								

PG 81-82




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