First Yankee
David Thomson 1592-1628
The Story of New Hampshire's First Settler
by Ralph E. and Matthew R. Thompson
In 1623, as an agent for Sir Ferdinando Gorges, young David Thomson established a trading and fishing station at Odiorne Point, now Rye. While this part of the coast had been visited many times in previous years, Thomson's was the first attempt to establish a year around station.
Descendants of pioneer Thomson, the Thompson brothers researched this book both in New Hampshire and England, combining in this large format-volume a wealth of information about the earliest settlements in what became New Hampshire.
The fort Thomson built at place called Pannaway (now Odiorne Point) was for the dual purpose of setting up a fur trading business
with Native Americans and also served as the headquarters for fisherman working the Isles of Shoals, one of the most productive
fishing regions in New England. Although many of the men who accompanied Thomson were indentured servants, most elected to remain
in New England when their indentures were completed. They built houses on Great Island (now New Castle) expanding the original fishing
station into a permanent settlement that spread to Strawbery Banke (now Portsmouth) and Hilton's Point (now Dover).
Meanwhile Thomson was sent to Boston harbor to establish another trading post on what is now known as Thomson's
Island. He moved his family to that island from Pannaway in 1626, but died two years later at age 35.
A reprint of the original 1979 edition published in cooperation with Piscataqua Pioneers
Nonfiction. History. 168 pages, Paperback, ISBN 0914339-61-3...$15.
Out of Print
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