The oldest town in NH is over 400 years old. But actually it’s 2 towns

As one of the original 13 colonies, New Hampshire’s oldest town is over 400 years old. But did you know the state actually started in two different settlements?

According to the Rye Historical Society, Samuel De Champlain first documented New Hampshire’s islands, which were inhabited by Indigenous peoples, in 1605. Yet, the English did not settle the land until years later. In 1623, Captain John Mason of England sent two divisions of men to establish a fishing colony at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, according to the New Hampshire Almanac. However, when the two groups hit land in what is now known as New Hampshire, they landed about 20 miles apart.

The division led by Scotsman David Thomson set up a stone house near Odiorne Point at the mouth of the river, a place they called Pannaway, which is now Rye. Meanwhile, brothers and fish merchants Edward and Thomas led their group to settle in Dover, which they originally called Northam.

Together with Portsmouth, Exeter and Hampton, these early settlements became a royal province in 1679, existing under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts from 1698-1741. New Hampshire, named after Captain Mason’s county in England, officially became a state in 1788, making the oldest towns 165 years older than the state.

Rye continued to thrive as a fishing and farming community in the 1800s, and Dover used nearby rivers to power mills for cotton-making, eventually expanding to the brick and shoe manufacturing industries.

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Visit Dover and Rye

While updated to fit a modern world, both of New Hampshire’s oldest towns are still in touch with their rural heritage. Though Dover is now one of the state’s most populated towns, several public parks, walking trails and water activities allow you to reconnect with the town’s natural beauty. Rye has maintained a much smaller population, yet the fishing town is home to three beautiful beaches, endless acres of freshwater marsh and scenic coastal parks.

Historical roots are also evident throughout each town, whether in old buildings and houses lining the streets or special attractions commemorating the past. In Dover, history lovers can explore the town’s roots at the Woodman Institute Museum, and in Rye, the Rye Historical Society and Rye Town Museum give a glimpse into the founding of the state.