below. The river here is compress- ed into a very narrow channel, the banks consisting of solid rocks, and being bold and elevated. For a distance of 15 or 20 rods, the chan- nel or bed of the river has a gradual descent, is crooked and covered with pointed rocks. The rock, forming the bed of the river at the bottom of the perpendicular falls, is curiously excavated, some of the cavities being five 01* six feert: deep, from the constant pouring of the sheet of water for a succession of ages.” At the bottom of the falls there is the broad basin of the cove, where the enraged and agitated element resumes its usual smooth- ness and placidity, and the whole scenery about these falls is uncom- monly beautiful and picturesque.
During the wars between Uncas and the Narragansets, Uncas was closely besieged in his fort near the Thames, until his provisions be- came nearly exhausted, and he with his men were on the point of per- ishing hy famine or sword. Fortu- •nately he found means of giving in- telligence to the scouts who had been sent out from Saybrook fort.— By his messengers, he represented the great danger the English would be in, were the Narragansets suf- fered to overpower the Mohegans.
“ Upon this intelligence, one Thomas Leffingwell, an ensign at Saybrook, an enterprising, bold man, loaded a canoe with beef, corn and peas, and under the cover of night paddled from Saybrook into the Thames; and had the address to get the whole into the fort* The enemy soon perceiving that Uncas was relieved, raised the siege.— For this service, Uncas gave Lef- fingwell a deed of a great part, if not the whole town of Norwich.— In June, 1659, Uncas with his two sons, Owaneko and Attawanhood, by a more formal and authentic deed, made over to said Leffingwell, John Mason, Esq., the Rev. James Fitch and others, consisting of thirty-five proprietors, the whole of Norwich, which is about nine miles square. The company at this time gave Un- cas and his sons about £70, as a further compensation for so large and fine a tract.” |
Nottingham, N. H.,
Rockingham co., is 25 miles E. S. E. from Concord, and 20 W. from Portsmouth. Population, in 1830, 1,157. There are several ponds in this town, mostly of small size. Lit- tle river and several other streams rise here; and North river passes through the town. The soil is in many parts good, though the sur- face is rough and broken. Sever- al mountains extend along the W. part of the town, forming parts of the range called Blue Hills.
Nottingham Square is a pleas- ant village on an elevated site. Bog iron ore is found here in great quan- tities ; and it is said- inexhaustible masses of mountain 01*6 exist in the mountains. Crystals and crystal- line spars are found here ; and also ochres in small quantities. Not- tingham was incorporated in 1722, and settled in 1727.
Gen. Joseph Cillet entered the army of the revolution at its commencement and commanded the 1st N. H. regiment. He was dis- tinguished for bravery and patriot- ism during the whole contest.
Hon. Thomas Bartlett was an active revolutionary patriot; one of the committee of safety j LL Col. under Stark at the capture of Bur- goyne, and commanded a regiment at West Point in 1780, when the treachery of Arnold betrayed that post.
Gen. Henry Butler was an officer in the army of the revolu- tion, and Major General of militia. Descendants of these revolutionary worthies now live in the town.
Nulhegan River, Vt.
This river rises by several branch- es in the highlands, at the north |