Once consisting of several large land grants by Colonial Governor John
Wentworth, the town was first named New Madbury, after the seacoast town of
Madbury. In 1772, a road was built through Pinkham Notch, and the area was
first settled in 1778 by Benjamin Copp and his family. In 1800, the community
was renamed in honor of President John Adams, who was then in office. The name
Adams stuck until the town was incorporated in 1829, when Andrew Jackson, the
hero of the Battle of New Orleans, was inaugurated president. Governor Benjamin
Pierce, a staunch backer of President Jackson, was influential in changing the
name to
