Activity: Traveling to OrfordEra: Expansion and Reform (1801 – 1860)Type of Document: Map Theme: Transportation Move the "magic lens" around the map below to view details. Then look for the answers to the questions in the map. To see if you have answered correctly, click on the plus sign to reveal the answer. |
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 When was this map drawn?1813—only 45 years after New Hampshire became a state.
Find Orford on the Map.
In what two directions could you go by road?
The Grafton County Turnpike went south to Hanover and west toward Wentworth.
How far north could you travel by turnpike?Haverhill was the northernmost stop on the road. It was enormously difficult and costly to build roads. In 1793 it was reported that in Orford "they entered by marked trees, & for seven years there was no road for any carriage whatever."
Where do you think most of the roads went?If you look at the overall map, it appears as if many roads lead south to either Portsmouth or Boston.
Why would there need to be so many roads headed in this direction?The major markets or ports were in Portsmouth and Boston. These were major trading centers for the area. The roads played an important part in New Hampshire’s economy.
Find some towns in the northern part of the map. What can you conclude about where they are located?They are located on rivers.
What can you conclude about how people traveled in the north?They traveled by river.
What can you conclude about the settlement of New Hampshire by looking at this map?The fact that there are more roads and towns in the southeast and southwest suggests that these areas were settled first. The lack of roads and towns in the north suggests that this area was still relatively unsettled at the time the map was made.
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Historical Context: meanwhile…steamboats, canals, and railroads were just beginning to link different regions together and spread settlement away from the coast. Americans on the Move Map courtesy of The State of New Hampshire, 1813, Collection of David Rumsey
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