While New Hampshire , along with the rest of New England , does not frequently experience earthquakes , it has experienced several in history and has been affected by some of the larger events that were centered in the Saint Lawrence rift system in Canada . One of these was the 1663 Charlevoix earthquake that was centered near the Quebec – Maine border , the magnitude of which has since been estimated at 7.3 – 7.9 . In 1727 , Newbury , Massachusetts , experienced a damaging earthquake that shook New Hampshire also . The 1755 Cape Ann earthquake , estimated magnitude 5.5 – 6.0 , also shook most or all of New Hampshire . On November 9 , 1810 , Exeter experienced an estimated intensity VI ( '' Strong '' ) tremor . It was accompanied by an unusual noise like an explosion , and broke windows in Portsmouth . Concord , the capital , experienced a series of shocks between 1872 and 1891 . One earthquake was felt in late 1872 , lasting ten seconds in Concord , and was felt in Laconia and other towns to the north . Ten years later , another tremor was strongest in Concord , although Dover and Pittsfield reportedly had buildings shaken . On November 23 , 1884 , a light shock was followed fifteen minutes later by a severe earthquake in Concord . The second shock was felt in Massachusetts , Connecticut , and eastern New York . Concord 's last tremor in that period was mild and was reported in Cambridge and Melrose , Massachusetts
1755 Cape Ann earthquake
1755 Cape Ann earthquake
Geology of New Hampshire