One of America's most famous poets, John Greenleaf Whittier, lived over the border in Massachusetts but spent many days in Hampton and wrote six poems about the town and beach. His mother Abigail Hussey was from the line of the Hussey family of Dover, but Whittier mistakenly believed he descended from the Hussey family of Hampton and thus looked upon Hampton as the town of his ancestors. In fact, none of his ancestors lived in Hampton. Below are links about Whittier, as well as links to some of his Hampton poems.

The Poet, John Greenleaf Whittier And Hampton

A three-part series by James W. Tucker for his "Our Town" series in the Hampton Union, September-October 1960.

In The Home Of His Ancestors With Whittier

An article by Caroline C. Lamprey Shea in the Granite Monthly magazine, July-Dec 1899.

John Greenleaf Whittier -- (The poet and His Love for Hampton)

An article by James W. Tucker published in the town's 325th anniversary booklet in 1963.

Whittier on SeacoastNH.com

Focusing on his abolitionist activities and his ties to New Hampshire.

The Second Death of John Greenleaf Whittier

The story of Whittier's death in Hampton Falls

Hampton Falls To Lose An Historic Landmark

Whittier's summer home to be moved to Connecticut.

Some illustrations and letters pertaining to John Greenleaf Whittier

Letter from Leila Seward to her mother in 1869 about a visit to Whittier's home in Amesbury that she made during a visit to Hampton Beach

Whittier's Hampton Poems

The Changeling

Hampton Beach

How the Women Went From Dover

The New Wife and the Old

The Tent on the Beach

The Wreck of Rivermouth

The Pastoral Letter (Only mentions Hampton in passing)

John Greenleaf Whittier: A Man Who Loved Hampton

Hampton Union, September 18, 2007

Hampton had Home in Greenleaf Whittier's Heart

Hampton Union, December 14, 2007