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


LANDMARKS: Goat Island

NAMES: POMFRETT, William; DAM, William (DAMME); DAM, Pomfrett; HILL,
 Valentine; EMERSON, Timothy; FRINK, Cyrus;

	Goat Island.  This island is in the Pascataqua river, a little below 
the mouth of Oyster river, and, like rock island, belongs to Newington.  
Wm. Pomfrett, the 5th, 5 mo., 1652, had the grant of "one island, lying in 
the river that runneth toward Oyster river, commonly called by the name of 
Gooett Iland, having Seder (Cedar) point on the north, and Redding Point on
the east and Fox poynt on the southwestward."  William Pomfrett gave this
island to his grandson, Wm. Dam.  "William Damme of Dover," and wife 
Martha, Aug. 5, 1702, gave their son Pomfrett Dam the island "commonly 
called and known by ye name of Goat Island, lying between Fox point and ye
neck of land formerly granted unto Mr. Valentine Hill, deceased." In the 
appraisal of the estate of Samuel Dam, Ap. 18, 1751, mention is made of 
"one small island of about three acres, called Goat Island," valued 20 
pounds.  It is also mentioned in the inventory of Timothy Emerson's estate
in 1755, and valued 60 pounds.  It now belong to Mr. Cyrus Frink and 
others. 
	According to Dame's map of Newington, Goat island is 48 rods 
long.  at the west end it is 11 rods wide.  its greatest width is 12 rods, 
whence it tapers to the east end, where it is only 2 rods wide.  this 
island was one of the links in the old Pascataqua bridge.  On it was built
the "Pascataque-bridge tavern" before Oct. 24, 1794, on which day the 
agents of the Bridge Co. advertised it "to be let," describing it as "a new
commodious, double house, with a large, convenient stable, and a well that
afforded an ample supply of water in the dryest season."  this tavern was
burned down many years ago, and no buildings now remain on the island.  
There is another Goat Island in the Pascataqua river, off the Kittery 
shore.								

PG 84




- Submitted by C. Parziale
****************************************************************************
* * * * Notice:  Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals
and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter informa-
tion 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.