and many visit it, in summer months,
for health or pleasure. Here may
be found all the enjoyments of sea
air and bathing; fishing and fowl-
ing ; ocean and island scenery; for
which JYahant, in Massachusetts
hay, is justly celebrated. Incorpo-
rated, 1764. Population, 1837,2,562.

lioscawcsi, 3JT. IX.

Merrimack co. Boscawen is sit-
uated between Concord and Salis-
bury, on the W. side of Merrimack
river. Boscawen is 8 miles N. W^T.
from Concord. Besides the Merri-
mack, the west part of this town i3
watered by Blackwater river, run-
ning nearly parallel with the for-
mer, through the whole extent of
the town, and about five miles dis-
tant from it. It is not a large stream,
hut very important, both on account
of the fertile fields of champaign
on its borders, and the numerous wa-
ter privileges it affords*., There are
two ponds of some note. Great pond,
near the centre of the town, Long
pond, in the west part, and mill seats
at the outlet of each. Boscawen is
of a deep, productive soil, affording
many excellent farms delightfully
situated. The surface, when view-
ed from its highest parts, appears
uncommonly level. From the nu-
merous streams of living water, and
from the peculiar direction of the
swells of the hills, this^- town prob-
ably derives that pure air and uni-
form temperature which are so con-
ducive to health. The principal
village is in the east section of the
town. It is situated on a spacious
street nearly two miles in length,
very straight and level. Here the
eye of the traveller is attracted and
delighted by the fertile intervales
and windings of the river Merri-
mack. There is another village on
a pleasant eminence near the west
meeting house. Boscawen was
granted by Massachusetts in 1733.
The proprietors gave to it the name
of Contoocook, after the Indian
name of the river. It received its
present name when it was incorpo-
rated, April 22, 1760, from Edward
Boscawen, a celebrated English ad
miral then on the American station.
The first settlement commenced
early in the season of 1734.. Abi-
gail Danforth was the first child ^%
born in the town. The Indians
made frequent predatory incursions
on the inhabitants. See Duston's
Island.

Among the deceased citizens of
this place entitled to respectful no-
tice, are, George Jackman, Esq.,
the first town clerk, who continued
in office 36 years. He was appoint-
ed a justice of the peace under
Geo. II. and continued in that office
during all successive changes down
to 1818.

Rev. Samuel Wood, D. D., for
more than half a century the min-
ister of Boscawen, was distinguish-
ed for his learning and piety.

Hon. Ezekiel Webster, a native
of Salisbury, resided here many
years. He was an eminent barris-
ter at law, of extraordinary talents,
and great private worth. He died
in the court house, at Concord,
April 10, 1829, aged 49, beloved
and lamented by all who knew his
character. Population, 1830,2,093,