University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Spring 1984 FROM STRAWBERY BANKE TO PUDDLE DOCK: THE EVOLUTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, 1630-1850 (URBAN COMMUNITY, MARITIME; NEW HAMPSHIRE) JOHN WALTER DUREL University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation DUREL, JOHN WALTER, "FROM STRAWBERY BANKE TO PUDDLE DOCK: THE EVOLUTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, 1630-1850 (URBAN COMMUNITY, MARITIME; NEW HAMPSHIRE)" (1984). Doctoral Dissertations. 1423. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1423 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Un* ms International 300 N. Zoeb Road Arm Arbor, Ml 48106 i 8419551 Durel, John Walter FROM STRAWBERY BANKE TO PUDDLE DOCK: THE EVOLUTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, 1630-1850 University of New Hampshire Ph.D. 1984 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Copyright 1984 by Durel, John Walter All Rights Reserved PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this docum ent have been identified here with a check mark -/ . 1. Glossy photographs or pages 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print ______ 3. Photographs with dark background 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy _______ 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sid es of page _______ 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages v/^ 8. Print exceeds margin requirements _____ 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine_______ 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print _______ 11. P age(s) _____________lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. P ag e(s) _____________seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages num bered _____________. Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled p a g es ______ 15. Other____________• ___________________ University M icrofilm s International FROM STRAWBERY BANKc TO PUDDLE DOCK: THE EVOLUTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, 1630 - 1850 BY John W. Durel B.S., University of Notre Dame, 1967 M. A., University of New Hampshire, 1975 DISSERTATION Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History May, 1984 ALL RICHTS RESERVED cl 984 John Walter Durel This dissertation has been examined and approved. j {j . ci 1 — IQpe&ertatlofiJ dir pclor, Darrett B. Rutman Professor ot History Charles E. Clark, Professor of History Robert M. Mennel, Professor of History Marc L. Schwarz, Associate Professor of History J V J C u u T U v L 3dmEsT. Garvin, Curator New Hampshire Historical Society ujj/sttZ /3, Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The origin of this dissertation Pies in London in the summer of 1971, when I enrolled in a course taught by a local historian on the history of that city. Gilbert Lawrence's interests were in both the place and the people; his presentation was organized geographically and rich in the details of daily life. He was especially interested in the remnants of historic London that had survived, and his course included plenty of walking tours through alleys and into courtyards to see bits of the past. I was somewhat surprised to find myself, over a decade later, doing similar things in a very different place. Lawry's enthusiasm and encouragement prompted me to seek a career as historian and since then I have been much influenced by his basic approach to studying the past. Throughout my years in graduate school I received fruitful advice and guidance from many professors. Through courses and individual conference- Darrett B. Rutman, mere than any other, helped me to understand the process of doing history. His comments and support have been especially important in bringing this dessertation to completion. I want to also acknowledge the other members of my dissertation committee, whose thoughtful questions and suggestions have made this a better work. There are many people at Strawbery Banke, Inc. to whom I am deeply indebted. I drew on the deed research of several people, including Cindy Brockway, Marcia Rollison, Dorothy Jones, Peg Irish and Steven Pendery. Jean Bott deserves special mention for her persistence in tracking the complicated titles for riverfront lots. Several of my colleagues provided assistance, both directly and indirectly, including Darlyne Franzen, Jim Coffey, Ellen Merry, Pat Riley, Rindy Hilton and Alison Fleming. Special thanks go to Elaine Leduc and Sharon Frew for their typing skills and patience with last minute changes. I could not have completed this work without the steadfast support of fellow historian James Vaughan. As director of Strawbery Banke he saw value in this study and encouraged me to undertake it and to persist with it. Through his own work he added insights to my understanding of the topic, and in many subtle ways I drew on his knowledge in developing my interpretation. Finally, I want the thank my family: my son Justin, who put up with many evenings when his daddy had to work; my son Brian, whose birth two weeks before my dissertation defense helped me to keep things in proper perspective; and my wife Anita, who was with me throughout. She gave me constant support, demanded that I continue when I thought about quitting, and put up with me when my mind was on the dissertation and my body was at home. Any congratulations I receive because of this work go equally to her. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .--------------------------------------------------------------------- iv LIST OF TABLES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- v i i LIST OF FIGURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------viii ABSTRACT ------------------------------------------- -------------------------- x CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 I. QUESTIONS OF PLACE AND TI M E --------------------------------------- 4 I I . THE TOWN---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 III. A WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD-------------------------------------------- 44 IV. HOUSELOTS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 5 V. BUILDINGS --------------------------------------------------------------- 93 V I. REPUTATION --------------------------------------------------------------- 125 VII. CONCLUSION --------------------------------------------------------------- 138 APPENDIX 143 BIBLIOGRAPHY 173 v i LIST OF TABLES 1. Lot Sizes at Study Site in 1700. -------------------------------------------------- 47 2. Price per Acre for Individual Lots at Study Site in 1700. ---------- 4 8 v i i LIST OF FIGURES 1. Granite Post, Corner of Jefferson and Atkinson Streets, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 2. Study Site Location, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. --------------------------------- 7 3. The Piscataqua Region, circa 1630. 14 4. Conjectural view of the Great House farmstead, circa 1650, (drawing by Molly McDonald, courtesy Strawbery Banke, Inc.) --------------------------- 17 5. Population Clusters in Portsmouth, circa 1660. 19 6. Strawbery Banke, circa 1675. -----------------------------------------------------------------------