no CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 



resided in the township before that year, the " Mink Hills " hav- 

 ing been known and named in 1737, and Kearsarge certainly as 

 early as 1657. A similar state of facts is generally true of all 

 the earlier townships. 



Nutfield gives a good example of historical uncertainty, the 

 probable occupation ranging from 1629 to 17 19, the latter date 

 alone standing for settlement. But it is known that not less 

 than four Indian deeds previously passed to the whole or a por- 

 tion of that territory, one of which from Indian John was dated 

 March, 1701. In one deed the description recites "a certain 

 tract of land about thirty miles square, to run from the Merri- 

 mack river eastward and so up the country." In another the 

 " northerly bound was the westerly part of Oyster river, which 

 is about four miles northerly beyond Lampereele river." As 

 Oyster river is in Durham and the Lamprey in Raymond it is 

 easy to see the Nutfield people had a good margin. 



Finally, the first presence of white men in Derryfield must be 

 put not later than 1636, the date of a probable survey by Bur- 

 det, under instructions from Governor Winthrop, carried out by 

 Captain Wiggin, and even at that time the route was familiar to 

 hunters and scouts, to which the record adds "artists," which 

 term was probably intended to mean surveyors. Waldron's 

 testimony is conclusive as to this point. Peter Weare says that 

 since 1637 he had "in the same way become familiar with the 

 same region," he having " oftentimes travelled the country," and 

 "some of the natives always with him." He adds that he had 

 been on "a great mountain north of Lake VVinnipicioket." All 

 these expeditions went up the Merrimack because that river was 

 the bone of contention, and without doubt followed and contrib- 

 uted to make the famous " Pennacook Path." We find also the 

 record of Woodward and Stratton's survey in 1638, of Wood- 

 ward, Howlet, Jacob Clarke and Manning, in 1639, and after 

 that a deluge of expeditions by opposing factions. Some of these 

 long-lost records may yet be brought to light. 



