The Grafton County seat has always been the Town of Haverhill—but through the years there have been six different courthouses, in four different villages or neighborhoods of the town.

In 1772, Haverhill won the designation as county seat, with the resulting honor and economic advantages, through he efforts of Colonel John Hurd, a Haverhill resident who had considerable political influence in the state government at Portsmouth. In return for this favor the town fathers had promised Colonel Hurd the gift of 1,000 acres of land in the town. Perhaps he made his success in this mission look too easy because they reneged on their promise—although they did reimburse him for his small out-of-pocket expenses on their behalf. They may have felt it was enough recompense that Colonel was appointed chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, also county treasurer and register of deeds.

Because the earliest settlement in the town was in the North Haverhill area, this was the logical location for the first courthouse, and was so voted by the Haverhill proprietors in April, 1773.