The First Settlement in New Hampshire

Originally called Hilton’s Point, Dover is the oldest continuous settlement in New Hampshire, and the seventh oldest in the United States. The colony's original township included the present cities of Dover, Durham, Madbury, Lee, Somersworth, Rollinsford, as well as parts of Newmarket, Newington, and Greenland.

In 1623, Captain John Mason sent a Scotsman, David Thomson, and two fish-mongers from The Company of Laconia in London, William and Edward Hilton, under the authority of an English land grant to settle what is now known as New Hampshire. They landed near the confluence of the Cochecho, Bellamy, and Piscataqua rivers to establish their fishing industry. The colony was called Pascataqua or Pascataway under Edward Hilton’s management. Native Indians called it Newichwannock, which means “place of wigwams”, and Cochecho, which means "the rapid foaming water".

The Hiltons’ name and point of landing still exists today at Hilton Park on Dover Point Road, near the Spaulding Turnpike exchange for Dover and Durham where Route 4 and Route 108 join.

History of Dover Name

In 1633, a group of English Puritans who promoted colonization in America purchased the Plantation of Cochecho, and pioneers infused Hilton’s point of settlement. Governor Thomas Wiggin named the settlement Bristol, after Bristol, England, where many of his colonists came from.

In 1637, the town was officially called Dover by Governor Reverend George Burdett.

In 1639, Dover was renamed to Northam by Thomas Larkham, after Northam, England where he was a preacher.

In 1641, the plantation became part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and it was renamed Dover to honor Robert Dover, an English soldier and attorney who founded the “Cotswold Games” to protest Puritanism.

First Family Farm In America

In 1632, John Tuttle settled on Dover Point and started Tuttle’s Farm. Tuttle’s is now the oldest continuously family owned and operated farm in America. The Tuttle’s still sell seasonal vegetables grown on their 44-acres of protected farmland at Tuttle's Red Barn open 7 days a week from 10AM - 6PM at 151 Dover Point Road.

First Parish Church In New Hampshire

In 1633, the First Parish Church of New Hampshire gathered in Dover. The first meeting house was built by settlers at Dover Point in 1634 near the Spaulding Turnpike exchange for Dover and Durham. For years it served as the only church, and a meeting place for town and public meetings as well as religious gatherings. A second meeting house was built on Dover Point Road in 1654, and finally in 1762, the church was incorporated as a Parish distinct from town and public meetings. The present building shown here is the fifth building, located at 218 Central Ave.

First Industry

In 1635, an Englishman named Richard Walderne (Waldron) emigrated to the area. In 1642, he owned a large tract of land located at the lower falls of the Cochecho River. In 1648, he built a sawmill and gristmill that took advantage of the water power from the 34-foot drop to build log-houses called garrisons. One of the garrison houses, the Damm Garrison, is now part of the Woodman Institute.

Indian Wars

On September 7th, 1676, Richard Waldron tricked four hundred Native Indians to believe they would participate in a battle against the militia. Instead, he took them as prisoners and sent half to Boston for being considered a threat. He was later appointed Chief Justice of New Hampshire in 1683. Revenge came on the night of June 27th, 1689, when two Native American Women appeared at each of the five garrison houses asking to sleep by the fire. The women unfastened the doors in the morning allowing braves to rush in. Twenty-five percent of the population, 52 colonists including Major Waldron, were captured or slain in the Cochecho Massacre on June 28th, 1689.

Establishment

Of the colonies original township, Newington was made a separate parish in 1713. The separations continued with Somersworth in 1729 and Madbury in 1755. Dover became the county seat in 1771, and later served as the State Capital in 1792.

Pine Hill Cemetary

Originally used as a burying ground for Indians, the Pine Hill Cemetery was established as the official cemetery during a town meeting on March 29th, 1731. It was originally 1.5 acres, and now covers 75 acres with 7.5 miles of roads.