History of Dover, New Hampshire, USA

1623 - Dover, the first permanent settlement, is founded.
oldest settlement in New Hampshire
wikipedia.org

In 1676, many Indians fled Massachusetts due to bloody fighting between a confederation of Indian tribes and English settlers. By September, over 400 Indians were at the the Cochecho (Dover) settlement.
Half of them were strangers. Two companies of Massachusetts soldiers arrived to recapture the escaping Indians.

It was agreed that the Massachusetts Indians should be returned to Boston for punishment, but the local, loyal Indians should not be harmed in the process.

Over 200 of the Massachusetts Indians were taken back to Boston. Some of them were hanged or sold into slavery.
www.dover.lib.nh.us/ doverhistory/ cocheco.htm

In 1684, the Governor ordered that the meeting house at Dover be fortified against Indian attacks.
Every neighborhood developed at least one fortified blockhouse where people could flee to safety if Indians attacked. It is estimated that there were 50 garrisons within a 15 mile radius of present day downtown Dover.
www.dover.lib.nh.us/ doverhistory/ cocheco.htm

The Cochecho Massacre - On June 27, 1684, Penacook Indians attacked Major Walderne's house in Dover. Other attacks soon followed.
Twenty-three people were killed and twenty-nine were taken captive.
www.dover.lib.nh.us/ doverhistory/ cocheco.htm

The massacre of Cochecho, Dover New Hampshire June 1689:
The inhabitants of Dover had for many years been exposed to the attacks of the Indians, and had suffered much in loss of lives and property. Maj. W., who had carried on a considerable trade with them for some years, had more influence over them than any other man. On the 7th of September, 1676, he proposed to about 400 Indians to have a sham fight with several companies of the whites; in the course of which the white men made the whole of the Indians prisoners before the latter were aware of their design. About 200 of them were set at liberty; the remainder, who at times had been guilty of atrocities, or had shown signs of hostility, were sent to Boston, where 7 0r 8 were put to death, and the others sold into slavery in foreign parts. Some of them returned, and they with others, regarding this act of Maj. Waldron, who had always pretended to be their friend, as a breach of faith, swore against him implacable revenge. In 1689, after a lapse of 13 years, and when all supposed it had... Read MORE...

1828 - On December 30, 1828, about 400 mill girls walked out of the Dover Cotton Factory enacting the first women's strike in the United States.
The Dover mill girls were forced to give in when the mill owners immediately began advertising for replacement workers.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ new-hampshire.html

1839 - Dover
Dover, New Hampshire
This is one of the most interesting and important towns in New Hampshire. It is one of the county towns of Strafford county, and lies 40 miles E. from Concord, 12 N.W. by N. from Portsmouth, and 45 S.W. from Portland. Population, 1830, 5,549. The principal streams of Dover are the Cocheco, and Bellamy Bank, or Back river. They take a S.E. course though the town, and unite with other waters to form the Piscataqua.

Cocheco, or Quochecho river, has its rise from several small streams in New Durham, which unite in Farmington, whence the river meanders through Rochester, there receiving the Isinglass, a tributary, and thence passes through Dover into the Newichwannock, or Salmon Fall river, the principal branch of the Piscataqua. The Cocheco is a beautiful river, and very important to the inhabitants of Rochester and Dover. Passing over this town in any direction, the traveller finds no rugged mountains, nor extensive barren plains, but occasionally ascends gentle... Read MORE...

1854 - Dover
Dover, a beautiful post-town, capital of Strafford county, New Hampshire, is situated on both sides of Coeheco river, at the lower falls, where it is crossed by the Boston and Maine railroad, 68 miles N. from Boston, and 12 miles N. W. from Portsmouth. Lat. 48° 18' N., Ion. 70° 54 W. The site of this town presents an agreeable variety of surface, and some of the streets cross each other in an oblique direction. It contains a town hall, 3 banks, 6 newspaper offices, an academy, a high-school, and about 10 churches, viz. 3 Baptist, 2 Methodist, 1 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, 1 Unitarian, 1 Friends', and 1 Universalist. The principal hotels are the American House, the Dover House, and the New Hampshire hotel. Dover is favorably situated for trade, at the head of sloop navigation, and is connected by the Coeheco railroad with Alton, on Winnipiseogee lake. The river at this place has a direct fall of 32 feet, affording abundant water-power. The Coeheco Manufacturing Company have erected... Read MORE...

1859
DOVER, a town of Strafford co., New Hampshire, U.S., situated 10 m. S by E of Rochester, on the S side of Cochecto river, about 4 m. above its junction with Salmon-Fall river, which together form the Piscataqua. Pop. 6,458.
A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

Union Block Fire - 1862
DOVER, N. H., Jan. 6. The Union Block on Central square, in this city, was found on fire this morning. The following stores and offices were burned out or injured by water; Levi Brown's store; Dr. P. A. Stackpole, dentist; Daniel H. Wendall, harness and trunk store; A. Frazier, tailor; Earl & Plummer, shoe store; Moses Lord, oyster saloon; M. Byrne, millinery goods; D. Lothrop & Co., apothecaries; G. S. Woodman, grocer; Drs. Thompson and Lindsey; F. F. Roman, oyster saloon, and E. T. Brigham, daguerreotype rooms. It was the most extensive fire that has occurred in this city for several years.
The Farmers' Cabinet
Amherst, New Hampshire
January 9, 1862

1889 - THE CITY HALL AND PUBLIC OFFICES THEREIN DESTROYED.
DOVER, N. H., March 22. - At 2:30 o'clock this morning fire was discovered near the furnace under the court room in the City Hall building. The flames spread rapidly, enveloping the entire building, in which were the police station, all the city and county offices, the Police Court room, the Aldermanic and Council Chamber, the High School Cadets' Armory, and the City Opera House. The walls lie flat, and the building is totally destroyed.

The Belknap Church property, close by, had the roof burned off and the steeple destroyed, and considerable other damage was done to the interior by water. St. Thomas's Episcopal Church was on fire several times, but was saved with small damage. Glidden's block was badly damaged by water, as were also the stores of J. R. Higgins and John Griffin.

The City Hall was built in 1867, and with the improvements made cost $71,000. It was insured for $25,000.

There were a number of casualties to the firemen. Hugh Hanna was struck by falling bricks on... Read MORE...

1893 - A NEW HAMPSHIRE HORROR. FORTY-FOUR PERSONS BURNED IN THE DOVER INSANE ASYLUM.
Dover, N. H., Feb. 10. - The County Insane Asylum, four miles from here, was burned last night and forty-four lives were lost.

When Watchman WILLIAM CHEVEY made his 10 o'clock trip into the insane asylum, he found the fire coming out of a cell occupied by MARY FOUNTAIN and gave the alarm. WILLIAM DRISCOLL, the keeper, with his family, lived in the building, and he at once broke the locks off the fifty-four cells and tried to get the inmates out.

Then he got his wife and two children out, neither of whom was dressed. Of the forty-eight inmates only four escaped. They were WILLIAM TWOMBLY, ROSE SANDERSON, WILLIAM DAVEY, and FRANK DOUSHON.

Those who were burned were:
ROBERT DIONE of Salmon Falls, N. H.
MARY FOUNTAIN of Great Falls.
FRANK NUTTER of Rochester.
WILLIAM CHESLEY of Durham.
MRS. ROBERTS of Great Falls.
An Eight-Year-Old Child.
LESTER JONES of Farmington.
WILLIAM TWOMBLY of Barrington.
OWEN MALLEY of Great Falls.
MICHAEL CASEY of Dover.
FRANK ROWE of Great... Read MORE...

1895 - Dover
Dover, a beautiful city, capital of Strafford co., N.H., is situated on both sides of the Cocheco River, at the head of navigation, 68 miles N. by E. of Boston, and 11 miles N.N.W. of Portsmouth. Lat. 43° 13' N.; lon. 70°54' W. It is on the Boston & Maine Railroad, and is connected with Portsmouth by the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad. The Dover & Winnipiseogee Railroad extends from this place to Alton Bay. The site of Dover is hilly or uneven, and some of the streets cross each other obliquely. It contains a city hall, a court-house, the Dover Library, 11 churches, a high school, an academy, 3 national banks, 3 hotels, 3 savings banks, and newspaper offices which issue 3 daily, 3 weekly, and 2 semi-monthly papers. Dover is favorably situated for trade and manufactures. The river here has a direct fall of 32 feet, affording abundant, water-power. The Cocheco Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $1,500,000, have here 5 large cotton-mills from 5 to 7 stories high, and employ about 1200 ... Read MORE...

1906 ANOTHER FIRE. STARTS IN THE RUINS OF DOVER MASONIC TEMPLE.
A fire started in the ruins of Masonic Temple in Dover early Wednesday morning and gave the firemen a stubborn fight. Water was poured on the blaze from two lines of hose, but it was more than an hour before the flames were extinguished.

DR. R. G. BLANCHARD, past eminent commander of St. Paul's Commandery, Knights Templar, has recovered his sword from the ruins of the temple. The only damage was a slight discoloration of the blade.
Portsmouth Herald
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
April 5, 1906

1907 DOVER MILL DEATHS PROMPTS A FIRE ESCAPE LAW
Act Is Introduced in New Hampshire Legislature Providing for Safety Equipment on All Buildings of Three or More Stories.

Concord, N. H., Jan. 29. - His action prompted by the destruction of the Cocheco Manufacturing Compnay's No. 1 mill at Dover on Saturday with a loss of five lives. Senator Pinkham of Dover today presented to the New Hampshire Senate committee on revision of the statutes a bill in relation to fire escapes. The bill provides that all buildings in which people are employed above the first floor, all places of amusement and assembly, all hotels and lodging houses and all tenements of three or more stories in height must be equipped with fire escapes to the satisfaction of the local boards of fire wardens. Failure to equip such buildings with fire escapes will subject the owner to a fine of $100 with an additional penalty of $10 for each day such failure shall continue.
The Boston Journal
Boston, Massachusetts
January 30, 1907

1916
Dover, a city, capital of Strafford co., N.H., is situated on both sides of the Cocheco River, at the head of navigation, and on the Boston and Maine R., 10 miles NW. of Portsmouth. It contains a city-hall, court-house, public library, etc. The river here has a direct fall of 32 feet, affording abundant water-power, which hi extensively utilized by large cotton- and woollen-mills and print-works. The city has also large manufactories of boots and shoes, machinery, castings, belting, glue, lumber, etc. This is the oldest town in the state, having been settled in 1623. Pop. in 1870, 9294 ; in 1880, 11,684 ; in 1890, 12,790 ; in 1900, 13,207.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1932 SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION CAUSE OF MILLION DOLLAR FIRE IN DOVER, N.H. BUILDING.
Dover, N.H., Jan. 4, (AP) - Plans were under way today to rebuild the Morrell building, destroyed yesterday in the most disastrous fire in the city's history. Loss was estimated at $1,000,000 to $1,250,000.
The building occupied an entire city block between Second and Third streets and Central avenue and housed business establishments and apartments. Hundreds were thrown out of employment when 27 business places were wiped out and about 45 persons were made homeless.
One fireman was severely hurt when he fell from a roof and several others received minor injuries.

Eight cities and towns in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts responded to a call for aid and their help, coupled with a heavy snow fall that just preceded the fire, prevented the spread of the fire to the remainder of Dover's business center. Aid came from Haverhill, Mass., Exeter, Portsmouth, Rochester, Somersworth and Salmon Falls, N.H., and Berwick and South Berwick, Me.

Two clothing stores, two drug stores,... Read MORE...

1933 DOVER CITY HALL DESTROYED - $100,000 LOSS IN DISASTROUS FIRE THIS MORNING
Aid Summoned From Portsmouth, Somersworth, Rochester And Berwick

Concord, Aug. 3. - Dover city hall was destroyed by fire early today with a loss estimated at $100,000. The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. and at daybreak a few crumbling wall were all that remained of the building. Unofficially it was believed the fire was started by spontaneous combustion. Most of the valuable records and other contents of the hall were lost. A few papers from the offices nearest the exits were saved however. Aid was called from Portsmouth, Rochester. Farmington, Somersworth and Berwick, Me., but there was little danger of the flames spreading to nearby buildings. There was little wind and the fire was easily confined to the building which was of brick four stories tall and had been built 41 years ago. It housed all the city offices, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1200. An 80 foot tower topped by a large clock formed one of the corners of the building. A part of the building... Read MORE...

Whether you're a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing day out, Dover has something to offer. Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Dover:
The Children's Museum of New Hampshire:
Perfect for families with kids, this interactive museum offers hands-on exhibits focused on science, art, and culture. It's both fun and educational.

Henry Law Park:
This beautiful park along the Cocheco River features walking paths, picnic areas, and a scenic mill pond. It's an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll or a picnic with friends and family.

Woodman Institute Museum:
Explore Dover's history at this museum, which features an eclectic collection of artifacts, including natural history exhibits, Native American artifacts, and local historical items.

Downtown Dover:
Stroll through the charming downtown area and explore its unique boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. It's a great place for shopping and dining.

Dover Community Trail:
If you're a nature lover or enjoy hiking, the Dover Community Trail is a network of trails that winds through forests and along the river, providing beautiful views of the area.

Garrison... Read MORE...

PLEASE NOTE - Thanks to Bill Tarbell
A suggestion:

The authentic spelling of Dover's river is the Cochecho River. Cochecho is the ancient Indian place name for what is today downtown Dover. Here was the site of the Cochecho Massacre in 1689.

The spelling Cocheco was a typo made at the incorporation of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company, the riverfront textile mill which went out of business in 1937.

Unfortunately, the typo didn't disappear with the business. For the sake of a true history, would it be possible when mentioning the river to spell it as the Cochecho River? That way your website will help educate the public about which spelling is correct.