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 MlERRIMACK RIVER;
the woods about its head-waters and branches supplied the Indians
with large quantities of venison; hence its name. Pos (great), attuck (deer), auke (a place), meaning great deer place. The sources
of this stream are high, consequently it is filled with falls and rapids. Mills were built upon if as early as 1775, at Piscataquog
Village.
Francestown, where one of the sources of this stream is located,
was named in honor of the wife of Gov. Wentworth. It was settled,
by John Carson, in 1760, and incorporated twelve years later. There
is a very valuable soapstone quarry here, the soapstone being used
for sizing-rollers, stoves, and other purposes.
Weare supplies a large branch of the Piscataquog, and was formerly called HIalestown. It has two societies of Friends or Quakers.
The town was incorporated in 1764 under its present name, in honor
of Meshech Weare, who was for some time "President" of New
Hlampshire.
Goffstown received its name in honor of the Goffe family. It was
granted by the Masonian proprietors to Rev. Thomas Parker and
others, of Dracut, Massachusetts, in 1748.
There are two mountains in this town very near together, bearing
a strong resemblance to each other, and were some years signal stations for the United States Coast Survey. These mountains are
called' Uncanoonucks," signifying the breasts of a woman. "This
is a corruption of the Indian word Wunnunnuoogunash, the plural
of Wunnunnoogun (a breast), ash being added to the singular to
form the plural of inanimate names."
Amoskeag Village, at the Falls of that name, formerly belonged
to Goffstown, but was annexed to Manchester in 1853. Rock Rimmon, near the village, is a prominent object, visible at a considerable
distance. It is an outcropping of gneiss formation, being easily
accessible on the west, while the south-east face is a perpendicular
bluff some eighty feet high, its summit affording a splendid view of
the river, the city of Manchester, and surrounding scenery.
Bedford is located on, the west side of the Merrimack River, next
below Manchester, and was formerly called Souhegan East. Piscataquog Village belonged to this town, but was annexed to Manchester in 1853. In this village is situated the residence of William
Stark, Esq., who is not a pensioner on his distinguished ancestors.
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