The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

ITS SOURCE AID ITS TPIBUTAPIES.
while the intruder bore the Christian badge and banner, on which was
inscribed " Peace on earth, and good will to all men," and the golden
rule, he rudely thrust the simple child of Nature from the soil of his
nativity, and where he did not choose to " stand not on the order of
going, but go at once," but insisted with some show of reason on his
right to remain, the pious pilgrim was forced to kill him to get rid of
him, while at the same time he gave glory to God that hlie had received
the light, and was not a pagan savage.
Concord was first visited by white men as early as 1639, but for
half a century it remained too far beyond the frontier, and was consequently too warm with Indian atrocities, actual or threatened, for
the prosperity, comfort or health of civilized people. In 1725, it
was granted to Benjamin Stevens, Ebenezer Stevens, and others, by
Massachusetts, which had usurped jurisdiction over a very large
portion of the territory of New IIampshire, under the name of Pennacook Plantation. The next year something more than a hundred building-lots were laid out along the Merrimack, and some fifty or sixty
people commenced building and farming operations. A house for
public worship on the Sabbath, and defensive works for the protection and security of the settlers were also commenced, but were not
completed until the following year. At the same time a house for
the Rev. Mir. WTalker was erected, which is still standing, or was
quite recently, and is believed to be the oldest two-story house in the
State. Edward Abbott's house was built at the same time, and the
first two children, a girl and a boy, of the Caucasian race, were
born in this house. The former died in 1797, and thelatter in 1801.
This building is still standing on Montgomery Street, but is now
used for a barn.
The first town-meeting of Pennacook Plantation was held January
11, 1732, and Captain Ebenezer Eastman was elected moderator;
and this was probably the last one also; for the next year the General
Court of Massachusetts passed an act of incorporation, and changed
its name to Rumford. Thirty years later, by order of the king in
council, Rumford was declared to be within the jurisdiction of New
Hampshire, and, in 1765, it was incorporated by the latter power
under its present name.
During, all these years the Indians remained in unpleasant proximity, and maintained a menacing and hostile attitude, making
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