Bank. The first house of which we have any account, erected in what is now the compact part of the town, was built by Humphrey Chadbourne, and according to tra- dition, stood near the corner of Court and Pond streets. It was called the “ Great house,” and is frequently referred to in early his- tories. Within the memory of the present generation, a garrison house stood in Water street, another in Fore street, and a third atthe-Fer- ry-ways. These were probably the principal houses on “ the Bank.” The , first meeting house stood on Pleasant street. Except the garri- son houses above mentioned, the earliest settlements were probably on the south road. From the pe- culiar advantages of its situation, Portsmouth appears almost wholly to have escaped the ravages of the. Indians. Secured on three sides by the Piscataqua, the ocean, and an inlet, it was accessible to the savages only by the'isthmus which connects it with the main; and across that a stockade fence was ex- tended for defence. The settle- ments were also compact, and the number of inhabitants at an early date considerable. In 1822, the wealthy and enterprising citizens of this town connected Portsmouth with Kittery, in Maine, by two bridges, one 480 feet in length,, supported by 20 piers; the other 1750 feet, supported by 70 piers. Under the long bridge, for 900 feet, the water varies from 45 to 53 feet in depth at low water: The draw is 1336 feet from the island, and the water is 21 feet deep at low tide. This bridge greatly increases and facilitates the travel from Port- land and its vicinity to this town and Boston. The town is also con- nected withNew Castle by abridge built in 1821. The streets, though not laid out with much regularity, are neat and pleasant, and contain many beautiful buildings. Ports- mouth Aqueduct Company was in- corporated 1797, and commenced its operations in 1799. Water of excellent quality is brought from a fountain about 3 miles distant, and conducted into all the principal streets. . Portsmouth pier, 340 feet in length, and about 60 feet wide, was incorporated 1795. Portsmouth Ajhenteum was incorporated, 1S17, and has a library of about 5,000 volumes ; and cabinets of mineral- ogy, natural history, See. The institution is rapidl-y increasing in value. The people of thistown were at an early period friendly to litera- ture, and their institutions for learning are highly respectable. Portsmouth is the centre of a con- siderable trade directed by wealthy and enterprising citizens. The Piscataqua, as it passes this town, is from 1-2 to 3-4 of a mile wide ; and although the current is so swift as to prevent -the river from freez- ing, yet it forms one of the most se- cure and commodious harbors in the United States, into which ships of any size or burthen may enter with perfect safety. It is protected by nature from the ravages of the N. E. storms, and can very easily be rendered inaccessible to enemies. The main entrance to the harbor, which is well protected by forts, is on the N. E., between New Castle and Kittery; the other entrance, on the S. of New Castle, is. called Little Harbor, where the water is shoal, and the bottom sandy. At this place, in the spring-of 16J23, the first settlers of this state made their landing, and in the same year commenced settlements here and at Dover. |
About one mile below the town the navigation is rendered some- what difficult by the rapidity of the current; the main body of the river being forced through a chan- nel only about 45 rods wide.
There are in the’harbor a number of islands, the most considerable of which is Great island. The others are Continental island, on which is |