thumb|left|The Ridge First called "Number Seven" in a line of Connecticut River fort towns, Orford was incorporated in 1761 by Governor Benning Wentworth and named for Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, who was the first prime minister of Great Britain. The town was settled in 1765 by Daniel Cross and wife from Lebanon, Connecticut.A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England; Boston, Massachusetts 1859 By 1859, it had 1,406 inhabitants, most involved in agriculture. There was a large tannery, a chair factory, ten sawmills, a starch factory, a gristmill, a sash, blind and door factory, and two boot and shoe factories.
thumb|left|The Ridge First called "Number Seven" in a line of Connecticut River fort towns Orford was incorporated in 1761 by Governor Benning Wentworth and named for Robert Walpole Earl of Orford who was the first prime minister of Great Britain The town was settled in 1765 by Daniel Cross and wife from Lebanon ConnecticutA J Coolidge & J B Mansfield A History and Description of New England; Boston Massachusetts 1859 By 1859 it had 1406 inhabitants most involved in agriculture There was a large tannery a chair factory ten sawmills a starch factory a gristmill a sash blind and door factory and two boot and shoe factories