The Marshland
The marsh land in Hampton Falls was about 1000 acres and was in great demand by the farmers in town from the 1700s into the early 1900s. Every successful farmer in town owned a piece of marsh land.
The Oxen
It was said that over 100 teams of oxen pulling loads of hay could be seen in one day coming up from the marsh on Brimmer Lane, Depot Road, and Murray Row heading to Hampton Falls, Kensington and Exeter.
Salt Marsh Hay Needed
The first settlers here knew that the hay growing on the salt marsh was valuable feed for cattle. The salt marsh produced a crop every year without the need for fences or manure.
Saving the Marsh
When town farmers stopped selling milk, they stopped cutting the salt hay and maintaining their local hay fields. Today, we strive to preserve the salt marsh. Trees, brush and house lots can be seen growing where hay fields once filled our town.
Harvest Time
In August, farmers used a gundalow to reach their plot of marsh land, and to carry the cut hay back to their hay wagons. Early scythe mowing was later replaced with machine mowing with horses.
Wildlife in the Marsh
Seaside Sparrow
A fixture in salt marshes, rarely seen anywhere else, these large, dark sparrows, highlighted with yellow, are well suited for a life clinging to marsh grasses and foraging in mud.
The Farmers
Some of the Hampton Falls farmers that owned and worked the salt marsh were Ira Chase, Percy Weare, George Merrill, George Gove, Warren Lamprey, AW Nason and Ben Elkins.
Wildlife in the Marsh
Hudsonian Godwit
Graceful birds with long bills, long legs, and a glorious plumage of gold, brown, and red. They wade through tidal mudflats, using their long bills to reach deep into the mud for prey.