Queen Anne's war began in August of 1703, between
France and England. The Abnaki quickly sided with
France and used given arms to further aid the
merciless killings of English settlers. Within a
few weeks, at least two hundred English men lost
their lives. The majority of the most useful men
of Dunstable had been killed or taken prisoner. In
addition, all others, which were very few, were
compelled to dwell in the scattered garrisons
throughout what remained of the settlement. Men
feared going to mill, laborers feared harvesting
crops, boys feared tending livestock and women and
children feared remaining alone in their homes as
savage attack by hatchet or musket could and did
happen on any occasion by stealth like approach.
Soon after the attacks made by the Abnaki in 1703,
the General Assembly of Massachusetts set a bounty
of 40 pounds for each Indian scalp. Captain John
Tyng, eldest son of Jonathan Tyng set out in the
winter of 1703-1704 to their headquarters in
Pequawkett and brought back five scalps. Other
colonists were also compensated for later
scalpings.
A very famous battle occurred in 1726 on the
Dunstable shores of the Nashua River. One of the
English survivors found a carving of an Indian
Head on a tree. The scribe created much
controversy in the already fearful settlers.
See an artist's interpretation of the scribe
This particular battle and its icon created a name
and symbol known to many throughout the world. The
Indian Head became a symbol of quality as it was
primarily used to brand high-end textile products
from Nashua. There are many references to Indian
Head. You can find an Indian Head coin, an Indian
Head Plaza, an Indian Head bank, the Indian Head
Coffee House, Indian Head fabric (very rare), and
the Indian Head rock formation; a tourist
attractions found in New Hampshire. The northern
part of Dunstable, New Hampshire was even known as
Indian Head Village for many years!
The Indian Head Fabric Stamp
A historically brave man named John Lovewell ended
the fears of New Hampshire colonists. He made his
way with 50 other men to Fryeburg, Maine and
conquered the Pigwacket Indians. Fryeburg is named
after the Chaplin who accompanied the troop of men
with Lovewell.
The Lovewell Fight Map
In 1730, Dunstable Massachusetts Bay colony was
saturated enough to be able to break into the
current communities of Amherst, Brookline,
Dunstable (Nashua), Hollis, Hudson, Merrimack and
Milford. Ancient Dunstable was the new name given
to the original 200 square mile township. The
state line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire
went into effect in 1741. In 1746, Dunstable
gained its charter and became a New Hampshire
town.
In addition, in 1746, school began for the town
children. The first schoolhouse was located in the
back wing of the home of John Searles. Another
house in the north end also served as a
schoolhouse for some time.
In 1754, another classroom was located in the
second meetinghouse, in the new town center. Since
the state line was drawn, the new center developed
at what is now the south end of Main Street near
Rivier College. The roads at what is now the south
end of Main Street are names contributed by
pioneering men such as Lund and Robinson. That
area remained the town center until 1814.
There were no dedicated school buildings until
1774. Legislators funded five district
schoolhouses as schooling became a priority with
more and more families. At that time there were
about seven hundred families residing in the area.
In 1775, Nashua had its first census.
Historic Schools
Continue to nH 1775 - 1830
