Naticook Suite
Choose format below to launch tour
The town of Merrimack was known by its Indian name "Naticook" until 1746 when the settlers petitioned King George to be incorporated into a town called Merrimack for the river on which it rested.
The first settlers came to Merrimack from Northern Ireland and were Scotch-Irish. These early settlers brought with them the art of weaving and finishing cotton, linen and woolen goods. In 1818 a mill was built near the stone bridge for the purpose of working fabrics.
In 1885, Merrimack included four small villages, Reeds Ferry in the north, Merrimack Village in the center, Thornton’s Ferry along the Merrimack River and South Merrimack situated on the Nashua railroad. The Reeds Ferry and Thornton’s Ferry districts acquired their names from ferries crossing the river between Merrimack and Litchfield. Most of the one thousand inhabitants were engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I and II, as well as other conflicts in which our country has become entangled, Merrimack loyally supported the cause. Rueben Cummings was a 15 year old Drummer boy who took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was Merrimack’s only casualty of the Revolutionary War. A marker was erected in his honor in the year 2000.
In 1775, Dr. Matthew Thornton, Merrimack’s most famous resident, came to town. Dr. Thornton was a native of Northern Ireland who was very well known for his healing of the sick and his warm personality. He was the last man to sign the Declaration of Independence; he was late due to travel conditions but insisted on having "the same privilege as others" which was "to be hanged for his patriotism."