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.

THE 3[ERPRIIACI~ RIVER;
man name. defended their moors and marshes against the conquering
arms of Agricola."
MIa,ny of those who composed this colony were men of mark and
note in Ireland, and became eminent historic characters in this
country. Among those were John AIcNiel, who settled near the
falls, after reaching Londonderry. He served in ex)peditions against
the Indians, and, being a man of great frame, six feet and a half in
his moccasins, well proportioned, athletic, and powerful, he was
feared and avoided by the red man and by the white who had incurred his displeasure. Gen. John McNiel, a distinguishled officer
in the war of 1812, was his great-grandson, and his counterpart in
physique.
Gen. IMeNiel retired from the service in 1830, was appointed surveyor of the port of Boston, and held the office until his death, which
-occurred at Washington, D. C., in 1850.
Archibald Stark also settled near the falls, and his second son,
John, was the victorious brigadier at Bennington, meeting and defeating a superior force of Burgoyne's army. Archibald Stark was
an educated man, and a prominent actor in the stirring events of that
period. Ile built a fort for the protection of the colony, near what
is now known as Nutt's Pond, near the residence of Ilodnia Nutt,
Esq., father of "Commodore Nutt," a mile from the City iHall, which
was call-d Fort Stark. He died in 1758.
John Goffe settled near the falls which bear his name. He was
a colonel in the service of the province, and a man of considerable
note. The house in which he resided was repaired the present year,
when it was found that the roof had been originally shingl,ed with
birch bark.
The fisheries at Amoskeag were an important interest to the settlers. as they had previously been to the Indians, and for many years
hundreds of men came together at the falls and drew largely from
them for the subsistence of their families, and though so many, there
were fish enough for all comers. One man had equal rights with another; the rule which secured the rights of each being tacitly understood and generally respected, any infringement being settled on the
spot by what was termed "Scotch argument."
"The view of the fishermen while on duty at the falls was a
scene of no small interest, -a hundred men in their torn and ragged
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