Shipbuilding was an important business in the early settlements of New Hampshire. The early settlers found that the trees in the area were of importance, not only to the King ( see King's Wood), but the lumber was an important source of revenue to the ecomomy. The gundalows had to be able to manuever in the swift currents and shallow waters of Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Bay area.

The gundalow was flat-bottomed, narrow beamed boat. It had a large mast with plenty of ropes to hold the white cloth knotted together. The gundalow traveled on rivers such as the Winnipesaukee and Piscataqua Rivers and Lake Winnipesaukee. The gundalow was used to bring salt and hay, bricks and granite to Portsmouth, NH from the surrounding farms and settlements. Oxen and yoke were also carried on gundalows.

Only two or three people are allowed on gundalows, as passengers, if they had room, because most of the time gundalows were packed with wood, trees, lumber, and other important cargo. In the winter farmers cut cordwood and they used gundalows for transportation.

Edward Hamlin Adams (1860-1950) was one of the last captains of the gundalows on the Piscataqua River. He built two gundalows: The Fanny M (1889) and The Driftwood (1950). He died soon after the launch of the Driftwood.