Editing Dorchester, New Hampshire (section)

==History==
Originally granted by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]] in 1761, Dorchester was named for [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]] in [[Dorset]], England. When the recipients failed to take up the grant, it was regranted in 1766, but also without success. Finally, it was regranted by Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]] to 72 people on May 1, 1772, and settlement began soon thereafter. The first settlers were Benjamin Rice and Stephen Murch from [[Hanover, New Hampshire|Hanover]], but originally from [[Connecticut]].<ref>[http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/grafton/History_Dorchester_NH.txt History of Dorchester, Grafton County, New Hampshire]</ref>

When the first census of Dorchester was taken in 1790, there were 175 residents. By 1859, when the population reached 711, there were eleven [[sawmill]]s, in addition to several [[clapboard (architecture)|clapboard]] and [[roof shingle|shingle]] mills. [[Charcoal]] was also manufactured here.<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book  | last = Coolidge  | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield  | title = A History and Description of New England| year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = 467| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&q=coolidge%20mansfield%20history%20description%20new%20england%201859&pg=PA467}}</ref>