There are two grist mills, and one saw mill. From some circumstance or other, however, most of the corn is ground at Compton.

The principal markets for the sale of produce are Portsmouth, Boston, and Portland.

The town is well watered. Beside numerous smaller streams, there are two rivers, Pemigewasset and Baker's, both of which are of considerable magnitude and importance. They take their rise in the height of land be tween the Connecticut and Merrimack, called the eastern ridge.

Pemigewasset is the principal branch of the Merri mack, which is formed by the confluence of this river and the Winipiseogee river (issuing from Winipiseogee lake) about twenty-six miles below Plymouth. "The general course of the Pemigewasset river, from its source, is south, about fifty miles. It receives, on its western side, Baker's river, a stream issuing from New Chester pond, and another called Smith's river, besides many smaller ones. On its eastern side, it receives a stream from Squam ponds, with several large and small brooks. In its long descent from the mountains, there are many falls, and its banks are very steep and rugged."* There is a ferry over this river to New Hol derness. The fare, for a single horse chaise, is ten cents. Baker's river is about forty miles in length. Salmon are sometimes caught in these rivers. and perch are found in great plenty.

Trout

A company has lately been formed here, for promoting the improvement of the breed of sheep. Several merino's have been introduced, and the number of halfblooded merino's is now very considerable.

It has been mentioned that Plymouth is a half shire town. The Supreme Judicial Court holds its sessions, by two or more judges, at this place and Haverhill alternately on the fourth tuesday of December. By one judge or more at Haverhill on the third tuesday of May, and at Plymouth on the first tuesday of November.

*See Belknap's Hist. of N. H. last ed. Vol. III. p. 45, and seq.

The Court of Common Pleas sits at Haverhill the last tuesday of February, and at Plymouth the second tuesday of September. The court house is a small building, one story, and unpainted.

There are four justices of the peace in this town, and three lawyers. Of the latter, two were educated at Dartmouth College, and the other at Rhode Island.

There are three physicians, neither of whom has received a liberal education. The memory of Dr. John Rogers, who has lately deceased, is fondly cherished. He was the son of a former minister of Leominster, was graduated at Harvard University in 1776, and was held in high estimation for his skill as a practitioner and his excellence as a man.

Four, who were natives of this town, have been educated at Dartmouth College, viz. Jonathan Ward, a son of the first minister; James Hobart, a son of one of the first settlers; Benjamin Darling, and Samuel Fletcher. Mr. Ward is the minister of Alna, in Lincoln county, Massachusetts. Mr. Hobart is the minister of Berlin, in Orange county, Vermont. Mr. Fletcher is studying

law.

A laudable attention is paid to the education of children. The town is divided into eight school districts. A male instructer, who is usually a student at Dartmouth College, is employed in the winter, and a female in the summer. The salary of a school master is from twelve to fifteen dollars a month and board; of a school mistress, one dollar and a half per week, and board. The price of board is about one dollar, fifty cents.

There is an incorporated academy here, but it has no funds, and at present there is no instructer.

There is nothing particularly remarkable in the history of this town. It was incorporated in the year 1763. It was first settled in August, 1764, by Zechariah Parker, Jotham Cummings, David Webster, Hobart,

Brown, and Marsh; all of them originally from Massachusetts, but last from Hollis and other towns in New Hampshire. David Webster is still living. Jotham Cummings died April 14th, 1809, æt. 69. Zech

1

eriah Parker died January, 1814, æt. 74. The others died long ago.

The ecclesiastical history is brief. The inhabitants are principally congregationalists. There are a few " particular baptists," and a few "free will baptists," but neither of them has been formed into a regular society. There is a small society of methodists, but they have no "meeting house."

The Rev. Nathan Ward, who had not received a liberal education, was the first congregational minister, and was ordained at Newburyport, for the church in this place, in the year 1767.* His first religious impressions were received from Mr. Whitefield. He died in June, 1805, having been dismissed several years before his death, (about nine years) on account of his age and infirmities. His successor is the present minister, the Rev. Drury Fairbank,† who originated in Holliston, Massachusetts, was graduated at Rhode Island College, and was ordained in this place, January 1st, 1800. The churches present on the occasion were, Holliston, Rev. Timothy Dickinson; Concord, Rev. Asa M'Farland; Thornton, Rev. Noah Worcester; Boscawen, Rev. Samuel Wood; Salisbury, Rev. Thomas Worcester; Sanbornton, Rev. Joseph Woodman; Hebron, Rev. Thomas Page; Andover, Rev. Josiah Babcock. The first prayer was made by Mr. Babcock; the sermon was preached by Mr. Dickinson; the ordaining prayer was made by Mr. Page; the charge was given by Mr. Woodman; the right hand of fellowship was presented by Mr. Worcester of Thornton; and the concluding prayer was made by Mr. M'Farlane. Mr. Fairbank's salary is three hundred and thirty-three dollars, thirtythree cents, and the use of a glebe of fifty acres.

The church covenant was drawn up by Mr. Powers, a former minister of [the then united societies of Piermont and] Haverhill. It is strictly calvinistick.

According to Dr. Belknap, who has given a table of the towns in New Hampshire, with the times of the settlement of their ministers, Mr. W. was settled in '65, but Mr. Fairbank, the present minister, thinks the above date the

true one.

From Mr. Fairbank I received a great part of the information contained in this article.

There have been two houses erected for publick worship. The first was a log house, one story, with benches instead of pews for the accommodation of the worshippers. This remained till it was extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable, but as there was a difference of opinion with respect to the location of a new church, they could not obtain a vote to erect one. The affair was settled by the conflagration of the old house, which was designedly set on fire. The present house was raised about twenty-six years ago, but was not finished till lately.

Since the settlement of Mr. Fairbank, about eighty have partaken of the Lord's supper for the first time, and about one hundred have received the ordinance of baptism. The marriages, by the minister, are from six to eighteen annually. The number of deaths in each year during the last thirteen years and an half, according to Mr. Fairbank's record, has been as follows: In 1800--12; 1801--7; 1802-14; 1803-12; 1804-9; 1805-8; 1806-6; 1807-7; 1808-14; 1809-20; 1810-10; 1811-4; 1812-10; 1813-19; 1814 to July-16. Those who have died this year were taken away nearlyat the same time by a prevailing fever.

The number of inhabitants in 1775 was 382; in 1790, 625; in 1800, 743; in 1810, 937.

The town sends a representative to the General Court. The present representative is William Webster, Esq. who is also County Treasurer, and the landlord of a very good inn. There is but one other tavern.

The town is not very compactly built. There is nothing striking in the appearance of the place; the houses are decent, but not elegant; the character of the surrounding scenery is wild and not uninteresting. The church is a neat building, with a steeple, but without a bell. It stands on a hill near the centre of the town, and commands an extensive prospect.

NOTE ON NEW HOLDERNESS, N. H. JUNE 30th, 1814. NEW HOLDERNESS is a township of Grafton county, in the State of New Hampshire.

VOL. 3.

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It is bounded on the east by Sandwich, Moultonborough, and Senter Harbour; on the west by the river Pemigewasset, which separates it from Plymouth; on the north by Compton and Sandwich; and on the south by New Hampton and part of Merideth.

Its distance from Portsmouth is about sixty-four miles, N. N. W. Its size is about six miles square. The soil is hard and not easily cultivated, but, when subdued, is tolerably productive. The quantity of wheat to an acre, is from eight to ten bushels, rye fifteen, oats from twenty to thirty, grass a ton. The price of wild land is about two dollars an acre, of cultivated land, from ten to twenty dollars.

The prevailing wood is oak, but there is a good deal of other wood, particularly of pine, beach, and maple, From the sap of the black, or sugar, maple, (acer saccharinum) a considerable quantity of sugar is made.* There is but little fruit except apples, and these are not very abundant. A sufficient quantity of cyder is made for the supply of the town. Plumbs, cherries, and pears are raised; peaches do not thrive here, nor in the towns adjacent.

The land is pretty well irrigated. The Pemigewasset imparts a portion of its benefits to it, and there are various other streams which serve to fertilize the soil, and to furnish mill-seats.

There are three ponds or lakes. The largest is about six miles in length, the next in size is about two miles in length and half of a mile in breadth, the smallest is about a mile long. The two first have the name of Squam; the last is called White oak pond.

The two. largest, from their romantick beauties, deserve a better name. One of them, which borders on the road to Senter Harbour, is indeed a most interesting object. Its union of wildness and beauty gives it a peculiar charm. If its good fortune had placed it in the old world, it would not so long have remained unsung. Many a tourist would have tasked his imagination for

For an account of the method of extracting the juice, and preparing the sugar, see Belknap's History of N. H. Vol. III. p. 84, and following.