New Hampshire Becomes 9th State 

U.S. #1068 pictures the Old Man of the Mountain, which was made New Hampshire’s official trademark in 1945.

On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire ratified the U.S. Constitution and was admitted to the Union.

What is now New Hampshire was home to about 5,000 American Indians before European settlement. Most of these people belonged to the Algonquian Indian family. These Native Americans built houses called wigwams out of bark and animal skins. Hunting and fishing were supplemented by small-scale farming of corn. The Algonquian Indians often fought with their neighbors, the Iroquois.

It is unknown which European explorer first reached today’s New Hampshire. But, by the early 1600s, many expeditions had set foot on this land. In 1603, Martin Pring, an Englishman, sailed a trading ship up the Piscataqua River. Pring may have landed at the site of present-day Portsmouth. In 1605, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain landed on the New Hampshire coast. The English captain John Smith reached the Isles of Shoals in 1614.

King James I of England was very interested in settling the New England area. In 1619, he founded the Council for New England to organize and encourage settlers. The council gave David Thomson control of a large chunk of land in the New Hampshire area. Thomson settled in Odiorne’s Point, which is now part of Rye, in 1623. Edward Hilton established another settlement in the 1620s. Hilton’s group settled Hilton’s Point, which is now called Dover. Other early settlements include Stawbery Banke at the site of present day Portsmouth in 1630, and Exeter and Hampton in 1638.

U.S. #1641 – At the center of the New Hampshire flag is the USS Raleigh, one of the first 13 warships built in the American Navy.

The Council for New England granted a large tract of land to John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges in today’s Maine and New Hampshire. The land was divided between the two men in 1629. Mason called his land New Hampshire – he was originally from Hampshire, England.

New Hampshire was made part of the colony of Massachusetts in 1641, then King Charles II made it a separate province in 1680. The king named John Cutt as New Hampshire’s first provincial governor.

Between 1689 and 1763, the British and the French fought a series of four wars in North America. Both sides fought with the assistance of Indian allies. These two great Colonial powers fought for control of inland territories and for domination of the fur trade. As a result of the wars, the British gained control of most of France’s land in North America.

U.S. #2344 – The Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in 2003.

During the French and Indian wars, two Colonial leaders from New Hampshire earned great fame. Robert Rogers, the leader of a group of soldiers known as Roger’s Rangers, and John Stark both contributed to the British victory in this series of conflicts.

Colonial New Hampshire was very rural and had little industry. Most of the people were farmers who kept busy clearing land and raising food. When the colony took its first census in 1767, it was determined that 52,700 people made their homes there.

Although the king appointed New Hampshire’s governor and governor’s council, the people of New Hampshire enjoyed a great deal of independence. The people elected assemblymen who attended to Colonial affairs, and there was little interference from the crown. However, the taxation and trade laws passed by Great Britain during the 1760s upset the colonists.

The famous patriot leader Paul Revere rode to New Hampshire in December of 1774 to warn of an increase in British troops in the area. This prompted New Hampshire patriots under the leadership of John Sullivan to seize arms from a British military fort in New Castle. This raid was one of the first Colonial military actions against the British.

U.S. #3589 pictures a pair of white-tailed deer as well as buildings in the city of Portsmouth.

When the War for Independence broke out in Massachusetts in 1775, New Hampshire responded by sending hundreds of “minutemen.” New Hampshire’s soldiers served with distinction. Interestingly, New Hampshire was the only colony of the original 13 in which no actual fighting took place.

New Hampshire was the first colony to form its own independent government. On January 5, 1776, it adopted a temporary constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution. New Hampshire’s approval of the document put the Constitution into effect and officially made it the United States of America’s ninth state.

After the American Revolution, life remained much the same in New Hampshire. The vast majority of people were engaged in agricultural pursuits. However, with the start of the American Civil War, a new industrial growth began. The state’s industrialization continues to this day.

U.S. #4307 pictures the New Hampshire flag with a loon swimming across a lake.

New Hampshire was well known as a leader in the anti-slavery movement. These beliefs were reflected in the fact that 34,000 of the state’s citizens served with Union forces. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard built many ships for the war effort. These ships were essential for the Union blockade of Southern ports.

After the war, industrial growth increased. Primary industries included textiles, woodworking, and leather. The new factories attracted thousands of immigrants from Canada and Europe. However, many of the state’s farmers left the state to claim free land in the West. Thus, the state’s agricultural output decreased while industries grew.

U.S. #1981 – New Hampshire’s state bird and flower, the purple finch and lilac.

New Hampshire’s industries continued to grow throughout the 1900s. During World War I and World War II, Portsmouth built ships and other vessels needed by the U.S. Navy. The state’s textile mills made military uniforms. Other industries flourished as well.   As a result, the state became increasingly urban.

Today, New Hampshire is one of the few states that does not collect a general individual income tax or a general sales tax. This low-taxation policy has attracted many new businesses and factories to the state. During the 1980s, the state enjoyed unprecedented growth. As New Hampshire entered the 21st century, the state focused a great deal of attention on preserving the environment, while maintaining its industrial base.

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21 Comments

  1. Nice little history lesson about our state. We pride ourselves on strong independence and individual rights. We are also famous for our beauty and as you mentioned low taxes!

  2. These daily postings always make a fascinating and informative contribution to my day. Thanks a million.

    1. I prefer the historical information and not engage in a political debate. If I want more information the Internet is available and yes…..I did google the motto. I

    2. For me, this would be an appropriate note on the current condition to the state motto:
      “Legalize Freedom”

  3. The Old Man of the Mountain was fallen down by nature on May 3, 2003 that my brother’s birthday who live in NH since 1995 from his native of Massachusetts. One thing one stamp is missing 1955 Stamp Scott #1068 New Hampshire-Great Stone Face.

  4. What I find surprising is that the Algonquian Indians often fought with their neighbors, the Iroquois. According to so many Americans the Native Americans did not fight among
    themselves, that it was the Europeans only that fought the Native Americans.

    1. Until foreigners showed up the locals always fought among themselves, it’s not until they had a common cause that they joined forces. Sadly, social media has skewed the facts with a bunch of false information in an attempt to portray Indians as some kind of helpless victim when in fact, they were just as guilty of aggression and the scalping, kidnapping and torture they practiced helped seal their fate. It was also played up in the press and the novels of the time and that too helped turn the sentiment against them. Joining forces with the Brits during the revolutionary war didn’t help either. Bottom line, we were just tougher than they were and during the era that’s the way the world worked, not just here in this country. Social media is not the place to get your factual info, try the Library of Congress or The National Archives instead. Even Wikipedia’s better than facebook.

  5. The Old Man of the Mountain was a natural disaster. It was held together after 1945 by a dedicated mountain men crew from Franconia ; using chains and every other imaginable way to keep the formation in place. Unfortunately, it fell. It’s hard to imagine the loss people feel for that rock pile. it’s a tender subject north of the “notch”/.They may even produce a concrete one !!!
    It was a true piece of history- now lost, but, not forgotten.Thanks Mystic

  6. I just want to echo the above posts. New Hampshire is one of the few pristine states left in our country. Loved going to camp at Ragged Lake near Andover during the 1960s and really enjoyed hiking the Presidential Range (White Mountains). Been to the top of Mt. Washington with its
    incredible winds and weather – saw snow in July! Love the free spirit of New Hampshire residents.
    Other states should be so lucky to have a wonderful environment to enjoy. You rock!

    1. Hi Richard,

      We will consider making the type bigger. Thank you for the suggestion.

      You can also make the type larger on your own screen. On most web browsers you will have a “view” menu option. And in most browsers there is a “zoom” function. This can easily be adjusted and reset.

      I hope that helps. Happy Collecting!

  7. Hi Suellen,

    We’re working to make larger type for the entire Mystic website. Changes should be coming soon.

    Happy Collecting!

  8. Being from New England this information for this 89 year old man was wonderful history of a state from New England. I have included the replies in my stamp history book for future info. Thanks for all the good work Mystic. Keep it up.

  9. I always enjoy reading all of the news you have to do with history. I pass them on to teachers
    who are told not to teach that way, no wonder some of our kids don’t really know much about
    our country and it’s History. Thanks Mysticstamp col. Sometimes I forget and it is nice to
    read about it again.

  10. A very welcome update detailing the development of New Hampshire, a beautiful and great State ! Thanks, Mystic … you do it every time, and I always look forward to reading your history lessons and about the affiliated stamps produced … because your history lessons are EXCELLENT !!

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