History of Goffstown, New Hampshire

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Goffstown, in the easterly part of Hillsborough county, is sixteen miles from Concord and twelve from Amherst. It was, in early times, a favorite resort of the Indians, who found ample support and amusement in the abundance of fish with which its waters abounded. The Masonian proprietors made a grant of it, in 1748, to Rev. Thomas Parker of Dracut and others. It is not positively known when it was first settled, but it is thought to have been about 1741 or 1742. It received its act of incorporation June 16, 1761, under the name of Goffstown, which was conferred on it in honor of Colonel John Goffe, for several years a resident of Bedford, and the first judge of probate in the county of Hillsborough. A large part of the town was originally covered with valuable timber; and this being a good locality for fish, lumbering and fishing were the main occupations of the early settlers. In these early days, the use of intoxicating drinks was very common; and society here has not yet wholly recovered from the evil influences which such a practice engenders.^[1]

A Congregational church was organized about October 30, 1771, and small appropriations for preaching were made annually. There were two religious classes in the place,— that in the south part was the Scotch-Irish stock and favored Presbyterianism, while the remainder were Congregationalists. A meeting-house was erected in 1768 ; but it was not thoroughly completed for some years afterwards. The first minister was Rev. Joseph Currier, against whose settlement a remonstrance was put in by thirty-seven men, who favored Presbyterianism, and were determined not to give any thing towards his support. Mr. Currier was settled in 1771, and dismissed August 29, 1774, according to the town records, for intemperance. Seven years intervened without the settlement of a minister; and in 1781, the Congregationalists and the Presbyterians were organized separately, the former extending a call to Rev. Cornelius Waters, who became their pastor, and continued till 1795. The next minister was Rev. David L. Morrill, who was settled March 3, 1802, and was jointly supported by the two societies under the name of the Congregational Presbyterian church. Mr. Morrill served the town and state civilly as well as ecclesiastically,— was representative of the town, senator in congress, and governor of the state. In 1816, the Religious Union society was organized. A new house was erected in the west village, and meetings were held two thirds of the time in the new house, and one third in the old house at the centre. In 1818-19 there was a deep religious interest in connection with the preaching of Rev. Abel Manning, and sixty-five persons were added to this then feeble church within a year. Rev. Benjamin H. Pitman was settled from 1820 to 1825; Rev. Henry Wood from 1826 to 1831; and Rev. Isaac Willey from 1837 to 1853. A Baptist church was formed in 1820. Changes in the pulpit have been very common in Goffstown, which is much owing to the meagre support extended to the ministers, not more than one half the people having, at any time, ever attended worship. In the early part of 1841, a female commenced preaching here, and shortly more than half the voters in town came into her support. She professed no connection with any church. The excitement created by her preaching, however, soon died out, the result of it being the organization of the existing Methodist church. Dr. Jonathan Gove, a resident of this town, served in the legislature for many years. All the islands on the Amoskeag falls, in Merrimack river, lying westerly of the centre of "the Pulpit," or east stream, were annexed to this town, June 28, 1825.^[1]

The surface is comparatively level, the only elevations of note being two in the southwest part, called by the natives Uncanoonuck. There are considerable tracts of valuable interval, as well as extensive plains, which are generally productive. Piscataquog river is the principal stream, which furnishes quite a number of valuable mill privileges. It passes through in a central direction. Large quantities of lumber were formerly floated down this stream to the Merrimack, and the forests at one time supplied a large number of masts for the English navy. The New Hampshire Central Railroad passes through Goffstown. Then; are three villages — Goffstown, Goffstown Centre, and Parker's Mills; three church edifices — Baptist, Congregational, and Methodist; sixteen school districts; and two post-offices — Goffstown and Goffstown Centre : also, four stores, four saw-mills, two grist-mills, and one sash and blind factory. Population, 2,270; valuation, $599,615.^[1]

This article incorporates text from the 1859 A History and Description of New England, General and Local by Austin Jacobs Coolidge and John Brainard Mansfield, a publication now in the public domain. Please feel free to update the text but please maintain the proper citations on the information from that source.