From The Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire (in three parts), compiled from the best authorities, by Eliphalet Merrill and the Late Phinehas Merrill, Esq., Printed by C. Norris & Co., Exeter, NH, �1817, pg 104-107
Part Two of Gazetteer:
CONNECTICUT RIVER - has its source among the high lands, which separate the United States from Lower Canada. One of the principal parent streams of this river is called Indian stream, which runs nearly in a straight line from its source to its junction with the main branch. The most northerly branch is called Hall�s stream, which, with Perry�s stream and several others from the west, form in conjunction one grand river near the 50th degree of N. latitude on land granted to Dartmouth college. It has been surveyed about 30 miles beyond the 45th degree on N. latitude to the head of its northwester branch, and is settled nearly all the distance to its source. Its general course S. S.W. along the western border of New Hampshire, (between that state and Vermont) about 170 miles, it then passes into Massachusetts. Connecticut river in its course between New Hampshire and Vermont from the 45th degree of latitude passes between Stewartstown in New Hampshire and Canaan in Vermont, thence between Colebrook and Lexington. Here the river bends considerably to the E. as if to give place to Monadnock mountain, which lies on Lexington shore in Vermont. It receives Mohawk river opposite to this mountain, and Jacob�s brook a few miles below. Here the river again takes a westerly inclination and flows between Columbia and minehead to Stratford opposite Brunswick in Vermont. At this place Nohegan river falls into the Connecticut from the upper extremity of Brunswick, and Pauls stream from the lower corner of the same town. The river here bends to the east on the border of Northumberland, where it receives the upper Amonoosuck, at a great bend opposite the lower extremity of Maidstone. From this point its course is very crooked to the upper part of Lancaster, where there is a bridge leading to Guildhall in Vermont. Five or six miles below this, Israel river empties itself, passing from Lancaster village falls, 3 miles above the Catbow. At Catbow the river inclines to the west, and passes between Dalton to Lunenburgh, where the 15 mile falls commence. At this place John�s river empties itself from Dalton, and Neal�s brook from Lunenburgh. Here the river makes a westerly bend, receiving Mile�s river and passing between Littleton and concord, where there is a bridge built over the falls. It has thence a southerly course between Bath and Rigate, where the Great Amonoosuck empties itself at the lower extremity of Bath opposite the mouth of Wells river, which passes from Newbury, Vermont. Between Haverhill and Newbury, the river is crooked, passing under three bridges and receiving Oliverian river from the east and a small stream from the west at the Great Ox-bow. As it thence flows between Piermont and Bradford, it receives two large mill streams and Wait�s river from the latter place, and two small mill streams from the former. It thence passes on through Orford and Fairlee, Lyme and Thelford to Grant�s island near the line of Windsor county, Vermont. A bridge over the falls just below Dartmouth college unites the towns of Hanover and Norwich, and another bridge four or five miles below, near the mouth of Mascomy river from New Hampshire and White river from Vermont, connects the towns of Lebanon, NH and Hartford, VT. Between Plainsfield and Hartland is a small island called Hart�s island where Queechy river and Lull�s brook empty themselves from Vermont. From Hart�s island the river keeps nearly a straight course between Cornish and Windsor, till it reaches the mouth of Sugar river at Claremont. Two very good mill streams empty themselves from Windsor and several from Weathersfield opposite Claremont. The mouth of sugar river is several miles below Asculrey mountain. As the river flows on between Charleston and Springfield, it receives Black river from the latter town and Williams river from Rockingham. It thence passes between Walpole and the lower part of Rockingham where the great falls commence, now known by the appellation of Bellow�s falls. The width of the river above them is at some point 22 rods, at others not more than 16. The average depth of the channel is about 25 feet, and is generally well supplied with water. It is said however, that is September, 1792, after a sever drought, the waters of this river passed within a space of twelve feet wide and two and half feet deep. A large rock here divides the stream into two channels, each about ninety feet wide. When the water is low, the eastern channel is dry being crossed by a bar of solid rock. At such times the whole stream falls into the western channel, where it is contracted to the breadth of fifteen feet and flows with astonishing rapidity. There are several pitches within the distance of half a mile above each other, the largest of which is that, where the rock divides the stream. Notwithstanding the violence of the current here, the salmon pass up the falls and are taken many miles above, but the shad do not pass beyond the falls. In 1784, a bridge of timber, constructed by Col. Hale was projected over these falls 365 feet in length. This bridge was supported by the great central rock , and under it the highest floods pass without doing injury. The river from this place flows along the lower extremity of Walpole, from which town Cold river empties itself, and from Westminster, which lies opposite, sexton river falls in with several other small streams. It thence passes Westmoreland which lies opposite to Putnam and Dummerston, thence it flows by Chesterfiled situated opposite to Brattleborough, where it receives Wantoostilqueck or West river. Between Hinsdale in New Hampshire and Hinsdale in Vermont is a remarkable bend, where Ashuelot river empties itself. the Connecticut a few miles below this point passes over the S. line of New Hampshire into Massachusetts. Its passage through the county of Hampshire waters some of the most pleasant towns in the commonwealth, such as Springfield, Hadley, Northampton, etc. It thence enters the limits of Connecticut, passes over Enfield falls, thence to Windsor, where it receives Windsor ferry river, thence to Hartford, where it meets the tide and flows in a crooked channel into Long Island sound. At the distance of 130 miles from its mouth, its width is from 80 to 100 rods. The whole length of this beautiful river is bordered on each of its banks with some of the most flourishing towns in the United States. Throughout its whole course, it preserves a distance of between 80 and 100 miles from the sea. The whole distance of this magnificent stream from its mouth to its source is above 300 miles. The celebrated American poet, Barlow, thus compliments it; "no watery gleams through happier villas shine--Nor drinks the sea a lovelier wave than thine."
Submitted by T.C. Parziale 5/30/00
Connecticut River