STRAFFORD COUNTY.

Strafford in the eastern part of Strafford county, thirty miles from Concord, was incorporated on the 10th of May, 1722, and the first efforts at settlement were made in 1732. The town of Strafford was formerly comprised within its limits. Barrington is a somewhat broken and rocky township, and the soil is principally a gravelly loam ; a portion of it being a sandy loam or hazel mould, and very good for tillage.
There are no less than thirteen ponds, of large size, which afford millseats of excellent capacity. On the Isinglass river is a perpendicular fall of thirty feet. Minerals, among which is bog-iron ore, are somewhat abundant. The Devil's Den, a cavern of some notoriety, is situated about two miles from the centre of the town, and is well worth the attention of those in search of curiosities.
There are three church edifices: Congregational, Free-will Baptist, and Methodist; fifteen school districts and fifteen schools, one of which is a high school; and two post-offices — Barrington and North Barrington : also, one woollen factory and three stores.

Dover, shire town.
Barrington, including Strafford, incorporated May 10, 1722.
Dover, originally included Durham, Lee, Madbury, part of Newington, Rollinsford, and Somersworth, once called Northam, and Cocheco,
was incorporated Oct. 22, 1641; adopted city charter, Sept. 1, 1855.

Durham, once called Oyster River, included Lee, and was incorporated a parish in May, 1765, and a town May 15, 1732.
Lee, part of Durham, and earlier of Dover, incorporated Jan. 16, 1766. Farmington, part of Rochester, incorporated Dec. 1, 1798.
Madbury, part of Dover, incorporated May 31, 1775.
Middleton included Brookfield, and was incorporated March 4, 1778.
Milton, part of Rochester, was incorporated June 11, 1802
New Durham was incorporated Dec. 7, 1762.
Rochester, including Farmington and Milton, was incorporated May 10, 1722.
Rollinsford, a part of Dover, and later of Somersworth, was incorporated July 3, 1849.
Somersworth, originally part of Dover, was incorporated April 22, 1754.
Strafford, part of Barrington, was incorporated June 17, 1820.

---

Sources:
Colony, Province, State 1623-1888 History of New Hampshire, John N. McClintock, Boston, 1889
History and Description of New England. New Hampshire, 1860
[contributed by: Candi H.]

---

©2008 Genealogy Trails
Copyright includes all contents of this site.
Submitters retain all copyright, along with the hosts