History of Hampton, New Hampshire, USA

On the 15th of March, 1769, town-meeting day, occurred the most destructive fire with which the town had ever been visited. The following account of it is taken from the Boston Chronicle of March 20, where it appeared as a communication from Portsmouth, under date of March 17.

"Last Wednesday morning, about 4 o'clock, the large mansion of Col. Jonathan Moulton of Hampton, together with two stores contiguous, was wholly consumed by fire. This melancholy accident, it is supposed, was occasioned by a beam taking fire under the hearth in hi parlor. The flames had got to so great a height before the discovery, that it was with great difficulty the family escaped with their lives. Col. Moulton saved no other clothing than a cloak, & a gentleman who happened occasionally to lodge at the Colonel's was obliged to jump out of the chamber window. When he was first called upon he did not know the occasion and had put on most of his clothes before the smoke apprised him of his danger. There...

Hampton, New Hampshire
Rockingham county, lies on the sea-coast, bounded N.E. by North-Hampton, S.E. by the Atlantic, S.W. by Hampton Falls, N.W. by Hampton Falls and part of Exeter. Distant 13 miles S.W. from Portsmouth, 7 S.E. from Exeter, and 50 S.E. from Concord. The soil is well adapted to tillage and mowing, and about one fifth of the territory is a salt marsh. Hampton is pleasantly situated, many eminences in the town affording romantic views of the ocean, Isles of Shoals, and sea-coast from Cape Ann to Portsmouth. Its beaches have long been the resort of invalids and parties of pleasure, and are little inferior to the famous Nahant beach near Boston.

Boar's Head is an abrupt eminence extending into the sea, and dividing the beaches about half way between the river's mouth and the N.E. corner of the town. On the N. beach are numerous fish-houses, from which the winter and summer fisheries have been carried on with much success. Great quantities of the winter fish are...

Hampton, a post-township in Rockingham co. , N. H. on Eastern railroad 50 miles S. E. of Concord. This township is a favorite summer resort for its fine bathing and picturesque scenery. Population, 1197.

August 8, 1860, the old Marston house, the paternal homestead of Mrs. Uri Lamprey, who inherited it, was struck by lightning and injured beyond repair, "The lightning struck on the west end, near the roof, and ran down to the ground, ripping off the clapboards, passing out and in , and completely riddling the end of the building. A child, abed in one of the chambers whose wall were shattered, miraculously escaped uninjured." Mrs. John Brown, as Irish tenant, was killed, at prayer. Having just remarked that , if she must die by lightning she would die praying, she dropped upon her knees. While in that attitude, the bolt fell. The house was built in 1690.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., May 7. - A fire at Hampton Beach last night and this morning burned the Seaside House, the Atlantic House and the Ocean House, the cottage of Rufus Brown, the cottage of George D. Dodge, the Sea View Cottage, billiard hall and stable, the Gouch Cottage and a saloon, all owned by John G. Cutter; the house of Charles G. Perkin and stable. Total loss, $50,000.

Hampton, a post-village of Rockingham co., N.H., in Hampton township, and on the Eastern Railroad, 46 miles N.N.E. of Boston, and 10 miles S.S.W. of Portsmouth. It has 4 churches and a good hotel. The township is bounded on the S.E. by the Atlantic Ocean. Pop. of the township, 1330. HAMPTON BEACH, in this township, is a summer resort, with numerous large hotels.

Hampton, N. H., July 6. - A tornado struck a section of Hampton beach at 3:15 o'clock, causing immense damage to beach property and great loss of life. Cottages were blown flat, horses were picked up bodily and dashed against buildings, vehicles carried many feet, barns unroofed, large trees snapped off at their roots while others were torn up bodily. the tornado touched the beach at a place about half a mile north of Witler's hotel and cut a swath 100 yards wide in a westerly direction, moving in a rotary shape until it passed out to sea. Twenty cottages were torn down and several small hotels completely demolished.

The greatest loss of live and injury came with the demolition of the old skating rink near Levitts, a single story structure, 500x100. Here from 75 to 125 persons were seriously injured, an unknown number slightly wounded, and seven persons are already dead. A yacht owned by Captain FRANK MUDD of this place was sailing off the beach and was in the path of the storm. In ...