The name was first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America, and was named after the county of Hampshire in southern England by Captain John Mason, its first named proprietor.
The name was first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. The name was named after the county of Hampshire in southern England by Captain John Mason. Captain John Mason was its first named proprietor.