Winnepisiogee three miles fiom its junction with the Pemigewasset.— Sondogardy pond flows into the Merrimack. Near Webster’s falls, the Winnepisiogee falls into the Pemigewasset, and the united -streams form the Merrimack river. The principal elevation, called Bean hill, separates the town from Can- terbury. Northfield formerly pos- sessed valuable water privileges on the Winnepisiogee river, hut this portion of its territory is embraced by the new town of Franklin.— The- first settlement was made here in T7,6G,by Benjamin Blanchard and others. A methodist church was Tormedhere in 1S06. Incorporated June -19, 1780. Population, 1830, 1,169.
Northfield, Mass.
Franklin co. This is an interest- ing town, on botlusides of Connec- ticut river. It was incorporated in 1673, and some, years after desolated by the Indians. The inhabitants returned again in 168.5, but it was soon after destroyed a second time. In 1713, it was again rebuilt. Fort Hummer was in the vicinity. This town was purchased of the Indians in 1687, for 200 fathoms of wampum and £57 value of goods. Its Indian name was Squawkeag. Most of the land in this town is excellent, and the village very pleasant: 28 miles below Walpole, N. H., 11 N. E. from Greenfield, and 83 N. W. by W. from Boston. Northfield produ- ces fine cattle, and considerable wool. The manufactures of the town consist of leather, boots, shoes, ploughs, chairs and cabinet ware. Population, 1837, 1,605.
North. Haven, Ct. |
New Haven co. North Haven was taken from New Haven in 1786. The town lies on both sides of the Wallingford,or Quinnipiac river, and comprises the valley and a part of the bordering hills. The valley is partly rich intervale land, and more extensively sand ; covered with a thin stratum of loam; light hut warm. Near the northern line of the town it is so light as, in two or three places of small extent, to be blown into drifts. The soil of the hills is good, being a reddish loam.
From the vicinity of this town to New Haven, and from its light and warm soil, which is favorable for early vegetation, there are various culinary vegetables, particularly peas, cultivated for the New Ha- ven market. But the most striking feature in the township, is the large and beautiful tract of salt meadows on both sides of the Quinnipiac.— These meadows produce large quantities of grass, which is mow- ed and stacked upon the land, from whence, when the ground is frozen sufficiently solid in the winter, it is removed. Upon the salt marsh the hay is salt; but on those meadows which are protected from the salt water by means of dikes, the grass is fresh and of a better quality.— These are called dike marshes or meadows. The . making of brick receives considerable attention in this town. Four and a half millions of them are manufactured annually, and principally sold in New Haven.
. The village is very pleasant, and was, for more than half a century, the residence of Dr. Trumbull, the celebrated historian of Connec- ticut.
Ezra Stiles, D. D., president of Yale college, was horn in this town, in 1727, and died in 1795. He delighted in preaching the gospel to the poor. Among the members of his church at Newport were seven negroes. These occasionally met in his study, when he instructed them, and falling on their knees to- gether he implored for them and for himself the blessing of that God with whom all distinction except- ing that of Christian excellence is as nothing. In the cause of civil and religious liberty, Dr. Stiles was an enthusiast. He contended, that |