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ley, of Roxbury, who were among the first pro-
prietors. It is a pleasant town, with a good soil,
and a surface variegated by hills and vales,
smiling ponds, and constant streams. There are
3 villages here, Dudley Hill, Tufts, and Merino.
The Indian name of a large pond in the town is
Chabanakongkomain. 55 miles S. W. from
Boston.
Dukes County, Ms., c. h. at Edgartown. This
county is formed of the islands of Martha's Vine-
yard, Chappequiddick, Elizabeth Islands, and
No-Man's Land. The latter of which is the S.
extremity of Massachusetts. These islands were
discovered by Bartholomew Gosnold, in 1602.
He landed at No-Man's Land, which he called
Martha's Vineyard, passed round Gay Head,
anchored in the Vineyard Sound, and landed on
Cuttahunk, which he called Elizabeth Island, a
name since extended to the whole group to which
it belongs. A small rocky islet in the midst of a
pond of fresh water on this island, was selected
as the site of a settlement, and a stockhouse was
erected on it — the first house built by the English
on the shores of New England. Gosnold could
not induce any of his men to remain, yet the
commencement of efforts for colonizing New
England dates from his voyage.
Dumfries, Va., Prince William co. On the N.
side of Quantico Creek, a tributary of Potomac
River, and 86 miles N. by E. from Richmond.
The best winter harbor on the Potomac is about
2^ miles below this place.
Dimmer, N. H., Coos co., comprises 23,040
acres. It is watered by the Amonoosuck and
Androscoggin. This town is rough in its sur-
face, and cold in its soil. First settlers, Mark
II. Wentworth, Nathaniel Haven, and others, in
1773. Distances 140 miles N. by E. from Con-
cord, and CO N. by E. from Lancaster.
Dummerston, Vt., Windham co. This town-
ship is watered by West River and several small
streams, affording a considerable number of good
sites for mills. The surface is broken. The
rocks which constitute Black Mountain, near
the centre of the town, are an immense body of
granite. A range of argillaceous slate passes
through it. Primitive limestone occurs in beds.
This is one of the oldest towns in the state. 90
miles S. from Montpelier, and 8 S. E. from New-
fane. The Connecticut River Railroad passes
through this town.
Dunbar, Pa., Fayette co. This town is bound-
ed on the E. by the Youghiogeny River, and
drained by Dunbar Run, a mill stream. Sur-
face undulating; soil calcareous loam. 8 miles
N. E. from Union.
Dunbarton, N. H., Merrimae co. The situation
of this town is elevated, though there are but
few hills. The air is clear, the water good, and
the town very healthy. The soil is good, and
well suited for corn, wheat, and orcharding. Ar-
senic is found here. The inhabitants are mostly
descendants of Scotch-Irish, so called, from the
north of Ireland. It was first called Starkstown,
in honor of the principal proprietor. Its present
name is derived from Dunbarton, in Scotland,
from whence Stark emigrated. First settlers,
1749, Joseph Putney, James Rogers, William
Putney, and Obadiah Foster. 10 miles S. W.
from Concord, and 20 N. from Amherst. |
Dunkirk, N. Y., Chautauque co. An incorporat-
ed village in Pomfret, situated on Lake Erie, 44
miles S. W. from Buffalo. This is the western
terminus of the Erie Railroad, extending from
Piermont, on the Hudson River, 24 miles from
New York, to this place, a distance of 445 miles,
or 469 from New York. There is also a contin-
uous railroad route to Jersey City, opposite New
York, leaving the Erie Railroad 18 miles W. of
Piermont, and passing through Patterson, N. J.;
on which the distance between Dunkirk and New
York is only 460 miles.
From its position in reference to this great
channel of communication, Dunkirk is destined
to take a rank among the most important places on
Lake Erie. It has one of the best harbors on the
lake, for the improvement of which the United
States government has expended large sums of
money. It is extremely valuable as an anchor-
age and port of refuge, and is often resorted to
for that purpose. It is frequently open several
days, and even weeks, earlier in the spring than
the harbor of Buffalo. A railroad along the
lake shore, in continuation of the great western
route, from Boston, via Troy, Albany, and Buf-
falo, will make Dunkirk a new thoroughfare be-
tween the North-Western States and the two most
important ports on the Atlantic. Distance from
Dunkirk to Boston, by the railroads now in oper-
ation, 572 miles; and by the contemplated route
via Troy and the tunnel through the Hoosic
Mountain, 545 miles.
Duklin County, Mo., c. h. at Chillitecunx. In
the extreme S. E. Between St. Francis and
White Water Rivers, and largely subject to over-
flow.
Dunstable, Ms., Middlesex co. This town was
taken from Dunstable, now Nashua, N. H., in
1741. The Nashua River passes the W. border
of the town, but gives it no important water
power. The soil is sandy. 12 miles W. N. W.
from Lowell, and 33 N. W. from Boston.
Dunstable, Pa., Clinton co. The W. branch of
the Susquehanna River bounds this town on the
S. E. and S. The surface is mountainous, con-
taining coal; soil sterile.
Du Page County, Is., c. h. at Napierville. Bound-
ed N. and E. by Cook co., S. by Will, and W. by
Kendall and Kane counties. Des Planes River
and Du Page Creek water this county.
Duplin County, N. C., c. h. at Keenansville.
Bounded N. by Wayne county, E. by Lenoir,
Jones, and Onslow, S. by New Hanover, and W.
by Sampson co. Surface level, and drained by
Cape Fear River and branches; soil productive.
Durham, Ct., Middlesex co. This town was
first settled in 1698. Its Indian name was Co-
ginchaug. Agriculture is the principal employ-
ment of the people of Durham, for which they
have rather an uneven but fertile soil. “ This
town has been distinguished many years for a
very fine breed of cattle. Two oxen, presented
by some of the inhabitants to General Washing-
ton, furnished a dinner for all the officers of the
American army at Valley Forge, and all their
servants."
Durham, Me., Cumberland co. A good town-
ship of land on the S. side of Androscoggin River.
25 miles N. from Portland, and 31 S. W. from
Augusta.
Durham, N. H., Strafford co. The situation of
this town upon the Piscataqua and its branches
is very favorable, both as to water power and
transportation. Oyster and Lamprey are the
two branches; the latter flows over several falls.
Upon both sides of Oyster River a deep argilla- |
