Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire by Mary P. Thompson, Durham, N.H. ©1892, Printed by the Republican Press Association, Concord, N.H. LANDMARKS: Great Falls NAMES: HUSSEY, Richard; HANSON, John; HUSSEY, Job; HUSSEY, Joseph; WALLINGORD, Thomas; HOBS (Hobbs), Henry; MASON, Benjamin; HANSON, Thomas; MASON, Peter; WAIMOUTH, Benjamin; WENTWORTH, Joseph; WALDRON, Thomas Wenworth; WENTWORTH, Joseph; HORNE, Andrew; WENDELL, Isaac ; HORN, Gershom; GREAT FALLS MANUFACTURING CO.; HARVEY's Mill; Great Falls. This name was given at an early day to the chief natural falls in the Salmon Falls river. Richard Hussey, March 19, 1693-4, had a grant of 50 acres above the Great Falls, laid out Dec. 9, 1729, beginning above said falls at a pitch pine tree on the west side of a brook, thence running N. 45° W. 100 rods, to a small white oak in sight of Peter's marsh, then 49° E. 80 rods, to land belonging to the heirs of John Hanson, deceased. Job and Joseph Hussey conveyed part of this land to Thomas Wallingford July 5, 1743, giving the same bounds. Forty acres, "near adjatiant to the Great falls on Salmon fall River," were granted to "Henry Hobs" Ap. 11, 1694. Benjamin Mason of Dover son of Peter, conveyed to Thomas Hanson, Oct. 8, 1727, a quarter part of "ye new mill upon Salmon falls river, on that part of ye river commonly called by ye name of the Great Falls, distinguished and known by that name, built in ye year 1727, joining to the old mill, or near to it, with a quarter part of all the privileges, and ye dam thereto, with ye falls and water and water courses thereto belonging," etc. Ten acres of land, acquired by Benjn Waimouth in 1734, were laid out to Joseph Wentworth Ap. 2, 1747, "beginning at a small white oak near Hogges fence above sd Wentworth's house at ye Great falls where he now lives." Thomas Westbrook Waldron, administrator of the estate of Joseph Wentworth of Somersworth, Ap. 10, 1766, conveyed to Andrew Horne of Dover, blacksmith, (the highest bidder at a public sale), 2/3 of the homestead estate of said Wentworth, situate, lying, and being at a place called the great falls in Somersworth, being 2/3 of 53 acres and 120 rods of land, with 2/3 of the house and barn, and 2/3 of a grist-mill, and 2/3 of 5/24 of the stream saw in the double saw-mill there, together with the pro- portionable part of all the machinery and privileges belonging to said mill as then situated on Salmon falls river. The water privilege here was acquired between 1820 and 1823, by Isaac Wendell of Dover, who also bought of Gershom Horn a tract of land adjacent. This purchase was made for the Great Falls Manufacturing Co., which was incorporated June 11, 1823. This Company now has control of the whole water power from the various sources of the Salmon Falls river to the third level at Great Falls, including Great East, Horn's, and Wilson's Ponds on the East branch; Cook's , Lovell's, and Cate's, on the West Branch, and the Three Ponds at Milton. Around the extensive cotton mills belonging to this Company has grown up the flourishing village of Great Falls, the only village in Somersworth since the incorporation of Rollinsford. The name of Great Falls was also formerly given to the falls in North River, at South Lee, where Harvey's mill now stands. (See North River.) ąThis Francis Mathes or Mathews was one of Capt. John Mason's colonists sent over between 1631 and 1634, and a signer of the Exeter Combination of 1639. His descendants are still numerous in Durham and the neighboring towns. PG 88-89 - 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.