Tab
(Coos Co,j
HISTOEIOAL SKETCHES
OF THE
i>iscove:iiy, settlem:e]nt.
AND PROGRESS OF EVENTS
IN THE
COOS COUNTRY AND VICINITY,
PRINCIPALLY INCLUDED
between the Years 1784 and 1785.
By rev. grant POWERS, A. M., C. H. S.
HAVERHILL, N. H.
PUBLISHED BY HENRY MERRILL
1880.
District of Connecticut, ss.
Be it remembered, that on the ninth day of March, A. D.
1840, Grant Powers, of the said district, hath deposited in this
office the title of a book, the title of which is in the w^ords fol-
lowing, to wit : —
"Historical Sketches of the Discovery, Settlement, and Pro-
gress of Events in the Coos Country and Vicinity, principally
included between the years 1754 and 1785. By Rev. Grant
Powers, A. M., C. H. S."
The right -whereof he claims as author, in conformity with
an act of Congress, entitled " An act to amend the several acts
respecting copy rights."
CHARLES A. INGERSOLL,
Cle7^k of the District of Connecticut.
Distinct of Connecticut, ss.
The foregoing is a true copy of the original record of copy
right, recorded March 9th, A. D, 1840.
Attest, CHARLES A. INGERSOLL,
Clerk of the District,
A true copy of copy right.
GRANT POWERS.
Gazette Printing Co.
Fine Book and Job Printers,
Northampton, Mass.
1870
/
PREFACE.
The history of our nation is peculiar in a number of
things, but in none more than this, — that it records its own
origin. There is no other nation that does this, the Jews
excepted. Xo one of the present nations of Europe can tell
us a word of their earliest ancestors, or even specify the cen-
tury in which their territory was first taken possession of by
them, but all is involved in obscurity as are the years before
the flood. But it is far different with our early history as a
nation. We know the men who said they would be free, and
who laid the foundation of this mighty republic. We know
whence they came, the object for which they came, the spot
to which they came, and the year, the month, and the day
they took possession. Our nation owes a lasting debt of
gratitude to our ancestors for their fidelity in recording the
incipient steps taken by them in settling this new world.
But with regret must we say that their descendants soon
began to relax in their fidelity in this respect, and they con-
tinued to decline, until their delinquency was almost entire.
It may well be doubted, whether more than one-half of the
towns in New England have any well-authenticated history of
their early settlement, and had not the attention of the peo-
ple been called to this subject by recently organized Historical
Societies, and centennial addresses, a very few years had
buried all in oblivion with those towns whose history was not
already recorded. There seems, truly, an anomaly in the
human character, inasmuch as man delights to retrace the
line of his descent to his remotest ancestry, and has a strong
passion to live in the memory of his descendants, and yet
possesses very little inclination to do anything directly to fur-
IV PREFACE.
nisli the means to his posterity of knowing that he ever
existed.
One reason for the indifference manifested towards record-
ing present events, is the general impression that they can
have no important bearing upon what is to come, unless they
are such events as greatly interest the community in present
time — the result of a great battle, a revolution in a kingdom,
or a destructive earthquake. But nothing is more delusive
than such an impression. What would the inhabitants of the
city of London now give for the year, the month, and the
day, in which the first man pitched his tent on that ground ?
What would they give if they could know his name, his
origin, whence he came, the circumstances in which he came,
the object for his coming, and, withal, a minute description
of the place as it then was ? An octavo pamphlet of ten
pages, containing well-authenticated facts of this kind, would
be worth millions sterling to the author or proprietor. And
the history of our ancestors' landing at Plymouth is infinitely
more important in our history than the history of the surren-
der of Burgoyne's army, or that of Cornwallis. And even
those occurrences which do not seem to stand intimately con-
nected with any great results, time will often vest with pecul-
iar interest, in the view of posterity. How unhappy is the
reflection, then, that the early settlement of our towns should
be permitted to be forever lost through the apathy or indiffer-
ence of their inhabitants, since the time will certainly arrive
when the subject will be duly appreciated, and our descend-
ants will reproach us for our stupidity and sloth in this
respect !
It was in view of these and kindred considerations, that the
author of the following Sketches commenced, sixteen years
ago, visiting the survivors among the first settlers in the Coos
country, and in some towns in the vicinity. He was careful
to take down their statements in their presence, and they
were interrogated upon almost all subjects here introduced.
Some made further communications under their own hand-
PREFACE. V
writing, and he has obtained written and publislied docu-
ments, as far as he was able, to aid him in this work. But as
it has been liis main design to go back of written and pub-
lished documents, and to bring to light things which would
never have appeared, unless they were taken up in a work of
this kind, he could avail himself of those documents but in a
limited degree ; and in general, they are introduced as corrob-
orative testimony, or explanatory, merely. But he fears he
has already raised, by his remarks, expectations which he will
by no means be able to satisfy ; and yet he has done what he
could with his means. He could not create means, and yet
had procured so many, that he could hardly feel justified in
permitting them to perish with himself. It will be perceived
that he writes things grave, things trivial, and things import-
ant, and this with a view to present as nearly as possible, to
the present and future generations, the circumstances, views,
feelings, habits and customs of our ancestors.
Before he concludes these remarks, he begs leave to suggest
what he views to be important for every family, and for every
town in this nation. 1. Let every family obtain as full and
as correct a record of their ancestry as is now possible, and
every child take a copy, and make additions as time furnishes
the means. 2. Let every town have its stated historian, who
shall delight in his duty, whose object will be to collect facts
of the aged, and by all other means which Providence may
afford him ; and to record passing events of an interesting
nature. Let this record be examined annually by the town
authorities and certified by the town clerk, and then preserved
in the archives of the town. Extracts from these documents
might furnish annually interesting materials in every state
for a volume of Historical Collections, And these volumes
would in a few years furnish matter for the richest history
that ever was possessed by a nation on earth. He suggests it
to his brethren in the ministry, of all denominations, to aid
in this cause. No class of men in the community enjoy so
many facilities for making such a record — none would derive
yi PREFACE.
more benefit from it, and it is by no means foreign to their
appropriate duties. Brethren, think of it ; think seriously,
and then act.
GRANT POWERS.
Goshen, Ct, Jan. 1st, 1840.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
AMONG THE FIRST SETTLERS USED IN THESE SKETCHES.
Col. Joshua Howard.
Hon. James AVoodward.
Hon. Ezekiel Ladd.
Mrs. Ruth Ladd.
Mr. Charles Wheeler.
Mrs. Annis Wheeler.
Mr. John Page.
Mrs. Ruth Johnston.
Col. Joshua Bailey.
Mrs. Mary Kent.
Mr. Jonathan Tyler.
Andrew B. Peters, Esq.
John Mann, Esq.
Col. Otis Freeman, Esq.
Rev. Asa Burton, D. D.
Mr. Richard Wallace.
Mr. Joel Strong.
CoL Jonathan Elkins.
OTHER AIDS.
Belknap's History of New Hampshire.
Gazetteer of New Hampshire.
Gazetteer of Vermont.
Eastman's History of Vermont.
Marshall s Life of Washington.
Capt. Powers' Journal.
Rev. Jared Sparks' certified Copies.
David Johnson's Letters and Extracts.
Rev. Clark Perry's Sketches.
John Farmer's Extracts.
Mrs. Abigail Cross.
Mrs. Hannah Pearson.
Mrs. Sally Johnston.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
COOS COUNTRY AND VICINITY.
So late as 1700, there Avas no settlement by the
English, in the Connecticut Valley, above the town
of Charlestown, in New Hampshire, which was
then called *'No. 4." Nor were there more than
three towns settled south of Charlestown, in the
valley within the present limits of New Hampshire.
Hinsdale, or ^'Fort Dummer," was settled in 1683.
Westmoreland, or *' No. 2," was settled in 1741 ;
Walpole in 1752.
These towns, with the exception of Walpole, were
all settled by Massachusetts men ; for, until 1741, it
was supposed the north line of Massachusetts would
include these towns.
At Hinsdale and Charlestown, forts were built at
an early period of their settlement, and soldiers were
stationed there for the double purpose of affording
protection to the settlers, and arresting the progress
1*
10 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of the Indians from Canada, while meditating incur-
sions upon the frontier towns in Massachusetts.
And so little interest did New Hampshire feel in
the settlement of the Connecticut Valley, which has
been very justly denominated the "Garden of New
England," that in 1745, when the Governor recom-
mended to the Assembly of New Hampshire the
taking and sustaining their newly-acquired " Fort
Dummer," which fell to them upon the establish-
ment of the line between the two colonies, the lower
House declined the acceptance of this place and that
of " No. 4 ; " alleging that the fort was fifty miles
distant from any towns settled by New Hampshire ;
that they did not own the territory ; and that they
were unequal to the expense of maintaining those
places.
Nor was it until 1752, that the Governor of New
Hampshire was permitted to adopt any measures to
secure to that colony this invaluable tract of country.
He then made several grants of townships on both
sides of the Connecticut Kiver, and a plan was laid
for taking possession of the '^Eich Meadows of
Oohos," * of which they had heard by hunters and
captives returned.
The original design was to cut a road from " No.
* Coos was spelt Cohos and Cowass by our ancestors.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 11
4 " to the Cohos ; to lay out two townships, one on
each side of the river, and opposite to each other,
where Haverhill and Newbury now are. They were
to erect stockades, with lodgements for two hundred
men, in each township, enclosing a space of fifteen
acres ; in the centre of which was to be a citadel,
containing the public buildings and granaries, which
were to be large enough to receive all the inhabitants
and their movable effects, in case of necessity. As
an inducement for people to remove to this new plan-
tation, they were to have courts of judicature, and
other civil privileges, among themselves, and were to
be under strict military discipline.
*^In pursuance of this plan," says Dr. Belknap,
vol. ii. p. 215, **a party was sent up, in the spring
of 1752, to view the meadows of Cohos, and lay out
the proposed townships." It seems that this project
embraced the two objects of possessing the Cohos
country, and establishing a military post there. It
was to be partly civil and partly military, and a
number of adventurers were about to enlist in the
enterprise. But the whole plan was defeated by the
timely remonstrance of the Indians of the St. Fran-
cis tribe. And notwithstanding, Mr. Belknap says,
''A party was sent up, in the spring of 1752, to view
the meadows of Cohos, and lay out the proposed
12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
townships," it is extremely doubtful whether that
party ever reached their destination, if they ever left
"No. 4." There were no returns made of this tour.
They certainly did not lay out the townships. And
we find in the Life of General Stark, that in 1754,
the General Court of New Hampshire determined to
send a party to explore this " hitherto unknown
region,'' referring to the Cohos country.
Now, if this country had been explored by the
party of 1752, it could not have been called the
^^ hitherto unexplored region " in 1754, seeing that,
in each instance, the General Court is represented as
the principal mover in these exploring parties. And
by the kindness of the late Mr. Farmer, of Concord,
N. H., I have been furnished with the extract from
Col. Israel Williams' letter, to which Dr. Belknap
refers for his authority in saying what he does of the
exploring party of 1752. And with the additional
evidence which has been obtained upon these trans-
actions since Dr. Belknap's time, I should feel that
Col. Williams' letter was insufficient to authorize the
assertion, that a party was actually sent into the
Cohos country in 1752. It is but a mere allusion to
such a thing, or to such an intention.
The letter of Col. Williams was written to the
Governor of Massachusetts, dated at Hatfield, 19
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 13
March, 1753, and speaks of "our people going to
take a view of the Cowass meadows last spring."
This by no means says they did go to view them,
but were *^ going," or were preparing to go, and view
them. And doubtless this was fact. A party might
have been sent on by the Governor as far as '*No.
4," and even farther ; but the Indians remonstrating
and threatening, they relinquished their object. Dr.
Belknap states that the Indians came to "No. 4,"
and made this threat ; that it was communicated to
the Governor of Massachusetts, and he sent the in-
formation to the Governor of New Hampshire, and
the project was laid aside. The only discrepancy in
all this testimony is found in Dr. Belknap's under-
standing Col. Williams to say that the party of 1752
did go into the Oohos country, when he did not say
it ; and as the evidence is now exhibited, we must
think he did not mean to say it.
But notwithstanding this project of exploring the
Cohos from "No. 4" was suspended, yet the Gov-
ernor and House of Assembly did by no means
abandon the idea of a future possession of those
meadows, and events hastened their attempt to ex-
plore and possess tlie Cohos country.
In the spring of 1752, John Stark, afterward
Ge7ieral Starh, Amos Eastman, afterward of Hollis,
14 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
N. H., David Stinson, of Londonderry, and William
Stark, were hunting upon Baker's River, in the town
of Rumney. They were surprised by a party of ten
Indians. John Stark and Amos Eastman were taken
prisoners, Stinson was killed, and William Stark es-
caped by flight. John Stark and Eastman were car-
ried into captivity to the head-quarters of the St.
Francis tribe in Canada, and were led directly
through the ** Meadows," so much talked of in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
These men returned from their captivity in the
summer of 1752, and gave an interesting account of
Colios ; and as the country was expecting that the
war with the French and Indians would soon be
renewed, and that the French would be desirous of
taking the Cohos country for a military post, the
General Court of New Hampshire determined to
send a company to explore the region ; not to at-
tempt to ascend the Connecticut from ^*No. 4," but
to pursue the track of the Indians as they came from
the great valley to Baker's River and the Pemige-
wasset, and returned again with their prisoners.
Accordingly, in the spring of 1754, Col. Lovewell,
Maj. Tolford, and Capt. Page, were sent out at the
head of a company, with John Stark for their guide.
They left Concord, March 10, 1754, and in seven
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 15
days made Connecticut River at Piermont. They
spent but one night in the valley, and made a pre-
cipitate retreat to Concord, at which place they ar-
rived on the thirteenth day from their departure. *
The cause of this failure to explore the region to
which they were sent, I have not learned ; but that
it was a failure, we must know — for one night spent
in the woods at Piermont could have returned to
the government no information concerning the Coos
meadows. The probability was, they feared an
Indian foe superior to their own force.
But the government was not discouraged by this
failure, and the same season, 1754, Capt. Peter
Powers, of Hollis, N. H., Lieut. James Stevens, and
Ensign Ephraim Hale, both of Townsend, Mass.,
were appointed to march at the head of a company to
effect, if possible, what had hitherto been attempted
in vain. The company rendezvoused at Concord,
which was then called Ramford, and commenced
their tour on Saturday, June 15, 1754.
It may not be improper to state in this place, that
there is no record of this tour in the state papers of
that day, and no reference to it in any papers of sub-
sequent date, as I can learn. The evidence of its
having been performed consists, at this day, in the
* Stark's Life.
16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
tradition among the descendants of Capt. Powers,
that he was the first to explore the Coos country,
and in his manuscript journal, kept by himself du-
ring his tour, recently found amon^ papers on file,
preserved by the late Samson Powers, of Hollis,
youngest son of the said Peter Powers. I have also
the same tin safe, of ample dimensions, which con-
tained his journal, and a piece of his tent cloth
which was spread over him at night, on this very
expedition.
The only rational explanation that can be given
for the silence of all public records in relation to
this exploring tour, may be found in the loose man-
ner in which such things were transacted at that
day, and in the commotion which immediately fol-
lowed Capt. Powers' retui-n ; for already war was
renewed in Europe between France and England,
and the intelligence of it having reached Quebec,
the Indians renewed their incursions upon our fron-
tier towns, and made a descent upon Boscawen a few
days after the return of the exploring company.
This suspended all further thought of settling the
Coos country during the war that was then raging,
and Capt. Powers' report was not called for, or it
was lost during that war, or the war of the Eevolu-
tion, which followed hard upon the restoration of
peace between France and England.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 17
Capt. Powers' journal is not entire — some pages of
the returning expedition are lost, and, probably, some
prefatory remarks. I should think, also, that it is
not as full in description as he would have returned
to government, but general facts noted to enable him
to make out a correct statement in things essential ;
and, finally,, it is an interesting document of antiqui-
ty, and must be so, especially, to the people of Coos,
who have for a long time felt an earnest desire to
know who first explored that part of the Great Val-
ley. I shall give the journal as it is found, only cor-
recting some of the orthography, and offering some
explanation in notes.
Journal.
^^ Saturday, June Ibth, 11 b4:. This day left Rum-
ford," (now Concord,) ^*and marched to Contoocook,
which is about eight miles, and here tarried all night. '^
[The original Indian name of Concord was Pena-
cook. From 1733 it bore the name of Rumford, un-
til 1762, and then took the name Concord.]
" Sunday, June 16th. This day tarried at Con-
toocook, and went to meeting, and tarried here all
this night."
[Contoocook was present Boscawen. The Rev.
18 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Phinehas Stevens was minister in this place at that
time.]
Monday, June 17th. This morning fair weather,
and we fixed our packs, and went and put them on
board our canoes, about nine of the clock, and some
of the men went in the canoes, and the rest on the
shore. And so we marched up the River Merrimack
to the crotch, or parting thereof ; and then up the
Pemigewasset about one mile and a half, and camped
above the carrying-place, which carrying-place is
about one hundred rods long ; and the whole of this
day's march is thirteen miles.
Tuesday, June 18th. This day marched up the
Pemigewasset River, about eight miles, to Smith's
River, and then east one hundred rods, and then
north, two hundred and twenty rods, to the long car-
rying-place on Pemigewasset River, and there
camped."
[This encampment, I think, must have been on or
near the present line which divides Bristol from New
Chester upon tlie Pemigewasset. It might be inter-
esting to the present inhabitants of those towns to
mark out the spot which was thus occupied by swords
and bristling bayonets in 1754, whilst the whole
country around remained an unbroken wilderness.
And what may be true in this case, may be true of
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 19
others in respect to all places hereafter to be named
by the exploring party.]
'^ Wednesday J June 19th. We marched on our
journey, and carried across the long carrying-place on
Pemigewasset River two miles northeast, which land
hath a good soil, beech and maple, with a good quan-
tity of large masts. From the place where we put in
the canoes, we steered east, north-east, up the river
about one mile, and then we steered north-east one
mile, and north six miles up to Sawheganet Falls,
where we carried by about four rods ; and from the
falls we steered about north-east, to Pemigewasset in-
terval, two miles, and from the beginning of the in-
terval we made good our course north four miles, and
there camped on a narrow point of land. The last
four miles the river was extremely crooked. "
** TJiursday, June 20th. We steered our course,
one turn with another, which were great turns, west,
north-west, about two miles and a half, to the crotch,
or parting of the Pemigewasset River, at Baker's
River mouth ; thence from the mouth of Baker's
River, up said river, north-west by west, six miles.
This river is extraordinary crooked, and good inter-
val. Thence up the river about two miles north-
west, and there we shot a moose, the sun about a half
an hour high, and there camped.''
[This must have been in the town of Rumney.]
20 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
" Friday, June 21st. We steered up tlie said
Baker's River with our canoes about five miles as the
river ran, which was extraordinary crooked. In tbe
after part of this day, there was a great shower of
^liaile and raine,' which prevented our proceeding
any further, and here we camped ; and here left our
canoes, for the water in the river was so shoal that
we could not go with them any further."
" Saturday, June 22d. This morning was dark
and cloudy weather ; but after ten of the clock, it
cleared off hot, and we marched up the river near the
Indian carrying-place, from Baker's River to Connec-
ticut River, and there camped, and could not go any
further by reason of a great shower of rain, which
held almost all this afternoon."
" Sunday, June 23d. This morning dark and
cloudy weather, and we marched up this river about
one mile, and came to the Indian carrying-place, and,
by reason of the dark weather, we were obliged to
follow the marked way, that way marked by Major
Lovewell and Capt. Tolford, and others, from Baker's
River to Connecticut River. And this day's march
was but about six miles ; and we camped between
the two first Baker Ponds. And it came on a great
storm of rain, which prevented our marching any
further. And on this day's march we saw a consid-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 21
erable quantity of white pine timber, and found it
was something large, fit for thirty-inch masts, as we
judged. But before this day's marcli, we saw no
white pine timber, tliat was very large, on this Baker's
River, but a great quantity of small white pine, fit
for boards and small masts. And on this river there
is a great quantity of excellent interval, from the be-
ginning of it to the place where we left this river.
And it layeth of a pretty ecjual proportion from one
end to the other ; and back of the interval, there is
a considerable quantity of large mountains."
[Those more familiarly acquainted with the serpen-
tine course of Baker's River than the writer, may fix
on several encampments in Rumney and Wentworth
with tolerable accuracy ; but we shall all agree that,
at this last date, they were encamped between the
Baker Ponds, lying in the north-east part of the pres-
ent town of Orford. It is a little singular that it
should not have been discovered until recently, that
the south-western branch of Baker's River afforded
greater facilities for communication between the Con-
necticut Valley and Pemigewasset than those routes
which have been hitherto improved, seeing the In-
dians had given their preference to this south branch,
and it was improved by the first English parties
which explored the country.]
22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
*' Monday^ June 24th. This morning it rained
hard, and all the night past, and it held raining all
this day, and we kept our camp, and here we stayed
the night ensuing, and it rained almost all night."
^* Tuesday, June 25th. This morning fair weather,
and we swung our packs, the sun about a half an hour
high, and we marched along the carrying-place, or
road marked, about two miles, and then steered our
■course north, twelve degrees west, about twelve miles,
and came to that part of the Coos interval that is
called Moose Meadow. And then steered our course
up the river by the side of the interval, about north-
east, and came to a large stream that came into the
interval, which is here about a mile wide. This
stream came out of the east, and we camped here this
night. There are on this river the best falls and con-
veniences for all sorts of mills. These falls are nearly
twenty feet perpendicular."
['^ Moose Meadoiv" must have been the Indian
name for that part of Coos which they made first,
and I am quite confident that some of the old people
whom I consulted relative to the first settlements,
called the meadow owned by Major Merrill, in Pier-
mont, " Moose Meadow ; " but I have no minute of it,
and as at that time I had no knowledge of this doc-
ument, I was not particular to retain the locality of
Moose Meadotv.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 23
But we at length find the company encamped upon
the banks of the Oliverian in Haverhill, wliich river
was then without a name, as well as Haverhill itself.
They passed along, he says, '' by tlie side of the in-
terval," — that is, at the foot of the hill where the
meadows commence. He says the interval was '' here
about a mile tvide." He meant on both sides of the
river. He calls the Oliverian a " large stream."
The heavy rains, he has already described, rendered
it such. The falls, I should think, were accurately
described. He does not tell us on which side of the
Oliverian he made his encampment; probably south,
upon the elevated platform formerly owned by Richard
Gookin ; or, if he crossed the river that night, he
would select the dry spot where stands the dwelling-
house of the late Capt. Joseph Pearson. Permit me,
kind reader, to add a reflection. How dark is the
future with all to whom God has not revealed what
his future Providences shall be ! Capt. Powers, when
he camped upon the banks of the Oliverian, must
have marched in his meandering course at least sev-
enty miles, without seeing a human habitation !
And what had been his astonishment, if it had been
revealed to him that night, that his first-born son
should be the minister of a church and people in that
place, in a less time than eleven years ; that he should
34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
sustain that relation nearly twenty years ; and that
his grandson, by his own youngest son, should hold
the same station about fifteen years, from the fifty-
seventh to the seventy-second year after his decease !
This would have been an astounding vision, but no
more than what time has fulfilled.]
*' Wednesday, June 26th. This morning fair
weather, and we marched up the interval to the great
turn of clear interval, which is the uppermost part of
the clear interval, on the westerly side of Connecticut
Eiver, and there came a great shower of rain, which
held almost all this afternoon ; and we camped by
the river on the easterly side, above all the clear in-
terval ; and this day's march was about six miles, and
very crooked."
[It will appear, as we advance in these sketches,
that the Little Ox Bow on Haverhill side, and the
Oreat Ox Bow on Newbury side, were cleared inter-
val when the first settlers came in. They had been
cleared and cultivated to some extent by the Indians,
and this is the fact to which the journal alludes.
Their encampment was on the well-known Porter
place. ]
'^ Thursday, June 27th. This morning it was
cloudy weather, and it began to rain, the sun about
an hour high, and we marched, nothwithstanding,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 25
up the river to Amonoosnck River, and our course
was about north, distance about five miles ; and we
camped here, for the River Amonoosuck was so high
we could not go over it without a canoe ; for it was
swift water, and near twenty rods wide. This after-
noon it cleared off fair, and we went about our canoe,
and partly built it. Some of our men went up the
River Amonoosuck, to see what discoveries they
could make ; and they discovered excellent land, and
a considerable quantity of large white pines. "
^'Friday, June 28th. This morning fair weather,
and we went about the canoe, and completed the
same by about twelve of the clock this day, and went
over the river ; and we concluded to let the men go
down the river in the canoe, who were not likely to
perform the remaining part of the journey, by reason
of sprains in the ankles, and weakness of body.
They were four in number ; and we steered our course
for the great interval about east, north-east ; and we
this day marched, after we left the river, about ten
miles. And the land was exceedingly good upland,
and some quantity of white pine, but not thick, but
some of them fit for masts."
[These four men, it would seem, were about to
take their chance upon the river, and to return by
the way of Oharlestown.]
26 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
*' Saturday, June 29th. This morning was cloudy
but we swung our packs, and steered our course
about north-east, ten miles, and came to Connecti-
cut River. There it came on rainy, and we camped
by the side of the river, and it rained all this after-
noon, and we kejot our camp all this night. The land
was, this day's march, very good, and it may be said
as good as ever was seen by any of us. The common
growth of wood was beech and maple, and not thick
at all. It hath a great quantity of small brooks.
This day and the day past, there were about three
brooks fit for corn-mills ; and these were the largest
of the brooks that we saw."
[It seems that the march of the two last days was
made between the valley of the Connecticut, and that
of the Amonoosuck, upon the high lands of Bath,
Lyman, and Littleton, and we now find them en-
camped in the southern part of Dal ton.]
*' Sunday, June 30th. This morning exceeding
rainy weather, and it rained all the night past, and
continued raining until twelve of the clock this day ;
aud after that, it was fair weather, and we marched
along up Connecticut River ; and our course we
made good this day, was about five miles, east by
north, and there came to a large stream, which came
from the south-east. This river is about three rods
OP THE COOS COUNTRY. 27
wide, and we called it Stark's River, by reason of
Ensign John Stark's being found by the Indians at
the mouth of this river. This river comes into the
Connecticut at the foot of the upper interval, and
thence we travelled up the interval about seven miles,
and came to a large river which came from the south-
east ; and it is about five rods wide. Here we con-
cluded to go no further with the full scout, by reason
of our provisions being almost all spent ; and almost
all onr men had worn out their shoes. This river we
called P oncers' River, it being the camping place at
the end of our journey ; and there we camped by the
river."
[It seems that John Stark had been taken twice
by the Indians while on his hunting expeditions —
once on Stark's River, and once on Baker's River.
The river which they named Stark's River runs
through Dalton, and is now called John's River, be-
cause Stark's name was John, perhaps ; but I think
they had better preserved the original name, and this
would have perpetuated a historical fact, and borne
up a name that the whole town would delight to
cherish among them ; but who is to know whether
this is John Stark's River, or John Smith's River, or
any other John's River ? The river they called
Poivers^ River is in Lancaster, and is now called
28 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
IsraeVs Eiver. This, too, I think, ought to bear the
name they gave it, instead of a wandering, and per-
haps a worthless hunter. Capt. Powers was the first
man of English descent who ever visited that town
for discovery. He did it in imminent peril, and for
the good of his country. How much more gratify-
ing it would be to the present inhabitants of that
town, and to all future generations of theirs, did they
bear upon their river the name of the first man who
ever by authority discovered their town ! There has
been much wrong in these things in many of our
towns. Our worthy ancestors, who bore the toils and
went through the perils of exploring and settling our
forests, and of subduing them, richly merited this
cheap method of perpetuating a memorial of them-
selves. I do not attach blame to the people of Lan-
caster for this — for they may not know, to this day,
that such a company ever visited their town, or that
their river was ever formally named by persons under
authority ; but these are the facts. There is no rec-
ord in the journal of any transaction on the first day
of July. It was probably spent in inactivity and
rest. J
" Tuesday y July 2d. This morning fair weather,
and we thought proper to mend our shoes, and to re-
turn homeward ; and accordingly we went about the
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 29
same ; and whilst the men were this way engaged,
the captain, with two of his men, marched up the
river to see what further discoveries they could make,
and they travelled about five miles, and there they
discovered where the Indians had a large camping
place, and had been making canoes, and had not
been gone above one or two days at most ; and so they
returned to the rest of the men again about twelve
of the clock ; and then we returned, and marched
down the river to Stark's River, and there camped.
This afternoon it rained hard, but we were forced to
travel for want of provisions. This interval is ex-
ceedingly large, and the farther up the larger. The
general course of this river is from north-east by east,
as far as the interval extends."
[The captain and his two men penetrated, proba-
bly, as far as present Northumberland, and must
have travelled nearly one hundred and forty miles
after they left the habitations of civilized men. At
Northumberland they first fell upon the trail of In-
dians, where they had, probably, been preparing
themselves canoes to enable them to descend upon
our frontier settlements.]
'' Wednesday, July 3d. This morning cloudy,
Aveather, and thundered ; and after the sun an hour
high, it rained hard, and continued about an hour.
30 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and then we svvuns; packs, and steered our course
west-south-west, aiming for Amonoosuck River ; and
tliis day we marched about fourteen miles, and
camped."
[We shall perceive that, for the last twelve days of
their march, the rain had fallen in unusual abun-
dance for that season of the year ; and it would not
be strange* if they spoke of some small streams as lar-
ger than they are ordinarily found, especially since
the clearing of the country ; but as far as my knowl-
edge extends, they were not far from present truth
concerning them ; and as it regards distances, they
were remarkably accurate, seeing they were in a wil-
derness, followed the course of streams, and did not
carry a chain.]
" Thursday, July 4th. We marched on our course
west-south-west, and this day we marched about
twenty miles, and camped."
[This was the day on which the Delegates from six
of the Colonies signed, at Albany, articles of union
for mutual government and defence, anticipating the
renewal of war between France and England, *' ex-
actly twenty-two years before the declaration of
American independence." — Belknap. \
^^ Friday, July 5th. We marched about three
miles to our packs at Amonoosuck, the same course
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 31
we had steered heretofore ; and we afterwards went
over Connecticut River, and looked up Wells' River,
and camped a little below Wells' River this night."
[At the west end of the bridge, perhaps, leading
from Haverhill to Wells' River.]
" Saturday, July 6th. Marched down the great
river to Great Coos, and crossed the river below the
great turn of clear interval, and there left the great
river, and steered south by east about three miles,
and there camped. Here was the best of upland,
and some quantity of large white pines."
[I think they crossed into Haverhill at the " Dow
Farm," so called, and the three miles brought them
to Haverhill Corner, and their description of it an-
swers to the description given by the first settlers.
I would say to the people of Haverhill Corner, that
eighty-five years ago, on the sixth of July last, (1839,)
your Common was the encampment of an exploring
company, sent out by the government of England ;
that this company felt themselves surrounded by a
vast wilderness ; and, while the towering trees of the
forest formed their canopy, they confided in their
own vigilance and prowess, under God, to protect
them from beasts of prey and savage men. Well may
you exclaim, while in your ceiled houses, and while
surveying from your windows your ample fields and
meadows. What hath God wrought f ]
32 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
I must inform the reader that, at this point of
time, the journal ceases to speak of their homeward
march, and no trace of the remainder can be found.
We are left to suppose that they retraced their steps
the way they came, with hostile Indians pressing hard
in their rear ; for we learn from Belknap that by the
fifteenth of August, of that year, they were at Bak-
erstown and vicinity, (now Salisbury,) killing and
taking captive the inhabitants.
From this time until the fall of Quebec into the
possession of the British in 1759, no more efforts
were made to discover and settle new territories, but
every man had as much as he could ^o to retain what
he had already in possession. Nor does it appear that
any steps were taken towards the settlement of the
Connecticut Valley in 1760 ; for our men were still
employed in Canada in gathering up the fragments
of the French armies which were stationed in differ-
ent places, and had not as yet surrendered to the
English. But in 1761, when the Colonies no longer
feared the incursions of the French and Indians upon
their frontier towns, the spirit of emigration from
the older settlements, and of extending their pos-
sessions, revived, and surpassed all that had been be-
fore witnessed. Men from Connecticut, Massachu-
setts, and New Hampshire were now preparing to
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. . 33
transplant themselves into the then great western
valley of the Connecticut, and the Governor of New-
Hampshire did not let slip the golden opportunity of
filling his coffers. In every township granted to pe-
titioners, five hundred acres of land were reserved
for the Governor, without fees or charges, and he was
well rewarded by petitioners for his services. No
less than sixty townships were granted on the west
side of Connecticut River, and eighteen on the east
side, in the year 1761. At this time, N"ew Hamp-
shire claimed all the land west to New York line.
The reason which Mr. Belknap gives for the great
rush into the Coftnecticut Valley at this time is, that
the continual passing of troops through these lands
during the war, caused the value of them to be more
generally known. This was undoubtedly true, es-
pecially after the successes of the English at Ticon-
deroga. Crown Point, and in Canada in 1759. There
was then no danger to be apprehended from the ene-
my, and it is not reasonable to suppose that Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire men, returning from
those successful campaigns, would make the tour of
Lake Champlain and North River to Albany, rather
than cross the highlands of Vermont, and descend
the Connecticut River, a tour which some of them
must have previously made while captives to the
French and Indians. *2
34 . HISTORICAL SKETCHES
This fact, in connection with Capt. Powers' jour-
nal of an earlier date by some years, convinces me
that the traditionary tales which have been so long
rife in the Coos country, that their fathers were in-
debted for the discovery of their country to Major
Kogers' famished men, as they fled from the infuria-
ted Indians of the St. Francis tribe in 1759, are all
apocryphal. The truth is, when Major Rogers dis-
banded his men for their greater safety, he appointed
them to rendezvous at the TT/j'joer Coos, says Belknap ;
which could not have been done, if the place had not
been known. Some of Rogers' men, no doubt, made
the Coos, and some passed through it, whilst others
there perished, whose remains were found by the first
settlers ; but those who survived that disastrous re-
treat were the last men in the world to give a descrip-
tion of the country through which they passed, whilst
hunger, like an armed man, was threatening them
with dissolution at every step.
The tradition, that speaks of a company of men
sent up the river as far as Coos, for the relief of Rog-
ers' men, and of their returning just when Rogers'
men came up to witness the yet living embers of the
fires they had left behind them, must also be fabu-
lous. Rogers left Crown Point with two hundred
rangers on the thirteenth of September, 1759, to de-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 35
stroy the Indians at St. Francis, who had committed
so many depredations and cruelties upon our border
inhabitants. They were sent out with tlie utmost
secrecy. On the 5th of October he struck the fatal
blow, and commenced his retreat, which terminated
disastrously to many. How could the people of New
Hampshire know of this expedition ? How in time
to make this provision ? And how could they know
that their aid would be needed, or where it would be
needed ?
The probability is, that the Indians discovered the
exploring party of Captain Powers in 1754, and re-
lated the fact to the early settlers, and imagination
soon connected the two events of Powers' exploration
and Rogers' retreat, giving the latter as the cause of
the former. My view of this subject is, that the first
information which our people received of the *^Coos
Meadows" was derived from Indians, hunters, and
captives. The second source of intelligence was from
Captain Powers and his company. And the third
was from the soldiers of the old French war. But it
is time that I proceed to the settlement of the
" Cuhoa Meadoivs."
There were two men who were the principal agents
in the first settlement of Haverhill and Newbury in
the Coos country, Col. Jacob Bailey, of Newbury,
36 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Mass., and Capt. John Hazen, of Haverhill, Mass.
They were both officers in the old French war, and
stood high in the estimation of government. It is
supposed that they were taught to expect each a char-
ter of a township in the Coos, if they went on and
commenced settlements therein. They agreed to act
in conjunction, and to proceed harmoniously in the
undertaking. Hazen was to go on first, and take
possession of the east side of the river, and Bailey
was to take possession of the west side as soon as he
could find persons to do it, and come on himself as
soon as his affairs at home would permit.
Accordingly, Capt. Hazen sent on two men with
his cattle in the summer of 1761, viz., Michael
Johnston and John Pettie. They came from Haver-
hill, Mass., by No. 4, or Charlestown, and then up
the Connecticut River. They took possession of the
Little Ox Bow, on the east side of the river, in the
north parish of Haverhill, N. H. They found this
Ox Bow, and the Great Ox Bow on the west side of
the river, "cleared interval,^' according to what Capt.
Powers states in his journal ; and they had in former
years been cultivated by the Indians for the growth
of Indian corn. The hills were swarded over, and a
tall wild grass grew spontaneously and luxuriantly,
so that an abundance of fodder for the cattle was
easily procured.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 37
The Indians dwelt at this time on these meadows,
east and west of the river, and were amicable. The
loss of their strong ally, the French, and the chas-
tisement which Eogers inflicted upon their brethren
at St. Francis, had cooled their ardor, and rendered
the idea of our men taking possession of those mea-
dows far more acceptable to them than it was in
1752, when they threatened war in case the country
was explored for the purpose of settlement. It was
not wonderful that the Indians should feel deep re-
pugnance at the idea of losing this country. It was
a fine country for them. It was easy of cultivation,
and suited to their imperfect means. The soil was
rich. The river abounded in salmon, and the
streams in trout, and the whole country was plenti-
fully supplied with game, bear, deer, moose, and
fowls. It was the half-way resting place between the
Canadas and the shores of the Atlantic ; and while
this was retained, it was the key that opened the
door to, or shut it against, the most direct communi-
cation between the Colonies and the Canadas. And,
what was more than all to the Indians, it was their
fathers' sepulchre.
I cannot but marvel somewhat at the conclusion of
the Rev. Clark Perry, in his "Annals and Historical
Sketches of Newbury, Vt., 1831." He says, p. 24,
38 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
''It does not api^ear that this section of country was
ever the permanent abode of Indians." But why it
should not have been, I cannot conjecture. Certainly
there was no spot in New England which could have
presented to the Indian greater inducements for a
permanent abode ; and we know of no one place in
New England which has exhibited stronger indica-
tions of Indian settlements.
I have a communication from David Johnson,
Esq., of Newbury, touching this point, and I think
the evidence he gives of an old Indian settlement in
that place is conclusive. No man is better qualified
to judge impartially and correctly in this matter than
Mr. Johnson. He has always lived on the place of
which he speaks, and he is a gentleman who feels the
liveliest interest in antiquities ; has been accumu-
lating facts of this kind for many years; and I would
embrace this opportunity to express my obligations to
him for his prompt and persevering aid in the work
before me. I shall put down his communication as I
have received it.
*' On the high ground, east of the mouth of Cow
Meadow Brook, and south of the three large project-
ing rocks, were found many indications of an old
and extensive Indian settlement. There were many
domestic implements. Among the rest were a stone
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 39
mortar and pestle. The pestle I have seen. Heads
of arrows, large quantities of ashes, and the ground
burnt over to a great extent, are some of the marks
of a long residence there. The burnt ground and
ashes were still visible tlie last time it was ploughed.
On the meadow, forty or fifty rods below, near the
rocks in the river, was evidently a burying ground.
The remains of many of the sons of the forest are
there deposited. Bones have frequently been turned
up by the plough. That they were buried in the
sitting posture, peculiar to the Indians, has been
ascertained. "
" When the first settlers came here, the remains of
a fort were still visible on the Ox Bow, a dozen or
twenty rods from the east end of Moses Johnson's
lower garden, on the south side of the lane. The
size of the fort was plain to be seen. Trees about
as large as a man's thigh were growing in the cir-
cumference of the old fort. A profusion of white
flint-stones and heads of arrows may yet be seen scat-
tered over the ground. It is a tradition which I
have frequently heard repeated, that after the fight
with Lovewell, the Indians said they should now be
obliged to leave Coossuck." *
It will appear in the sequel of these sketches, that
* Our Coos.
40 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
at a remote period, there was an intimate connection
between the Indians of Coos, of Maine, and of the
St. Francis. The connection between the Coos and
St. Francis tribe continued until the last.
We now return to Johnston and Pettie, whom we
have left on the Little Ox Bow. They made them-
selves a booth, and built a shed for their cattle, and
spent the subsequent winter in feeding out the hay
they had gathered during the summer. One would
suppose that these individuals must have felt them-
selves sufficiently solitary from November, 1761, to
June, 1762, not having, for a great part of this time,
a white man within sixty miles of them, yet sur-
rounded with Indians, and their cattle a temptation
for the latter to massacre them, that they might seize
upon the booty. But they survived the winter un-
harmed, and in the spring of 1762, Capt. Hazen
came to their relief, with hands and materials for
building a grist-mill and saw-mill, where the Swazey
mills now stand.
But before Capt. Hazen arrived, a family had
come into Newbury, by the name of Sleeper. In
March, 1762, Glazier Wheeler, from Shutesbury,
Mass., came up with a brother of his, to hunt near
the head of the Connecticut River, and while on the
way, they fell in with Samuel Sleeper and his family.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 41
at Charlestown. They were from Hampton, N. H.
Sleeper was a Quaker preacher, but was now em-
ployed by General Jacob Bailey to proceed to New-
bury, and take possession until the general could
come on in person. Sleeper contracted with Wheeler
to take him and his family on to his semi-sleigh and
semi-sled, and carry them to Newbury.
Sleeper pitched his tent a little south of where the
Kents now live, and have long lived. Thomas
Chamberlain next came from Dunstable, N. H., and
settled on **Musliquash Meadow," south of the
*' Great Ox Bow," and a little at the north-west of
the ferry at the Dow farm. Richard Chamberlain
came on next from Hinsdale, N. H., and settled
on Mushquash Meadow. Chamberlain landed at the
ferry about noon with his family. Before night, a
hut was erected of posts and bark, which served them
three months for a habitation. In the centre stood a
large stump, which was their table. The house he
afterward erected stood near Josiah Little's barn, not
far from the river. The old cellar may yet be seen.
These two Chamberlains were not in the interest of
Hazen or Bailey, but were employed to come on and
take possession for one Oliver Willard, of Northfield,
Mass., who was endeavoring to supplant Bailey and
Hazen. But the latter being united in their peti-
42 HTSTORICAL SKETCHES
tions for grants ; being also in favor with the Gov-
ernor, and having taken possession by their agents
prior to Willard, succeeded, and Willard failed.
Willard's disappointment was great, and his anger
violent. He gave out vaunting threats that if he
could catch Hazen out of the settlement, he would
flog him to his heart's content. Hazen, however,
had seen too many tomahawks and bristling bayonets
around the walls of Quebec to be greatly disquieted
by a threat of this kind. But these two men after-
ward met in Charlestown, and upon Willard's at-
tempting to execute his promise, he caught the
severest flogging that any man need receive, and this
terminated the matter.
This same year, 1762, John Hazleton, from Harap-
stead, N. H., moved into Newbury, and first lived at
the foot of the hill, south of the Johnson village,
but afterward settled in the south part of the town,
where Col. Moody Chamberlain now lives, near the
south bridge. In this family, in 1763, before they
moved from the Ox Bow, the first English child was
born in this town — Betsey Hazleton, now the Widow
Lovewell, of the north parish in Haverhill, in her
77th year.
The same year, the first male child of English
descent was born in the family of Thomas Chamber-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 43
lain, and was called Jacob Bailey Chamberlain. The
parents of this son received a hundred acres of land,
as a bounty, according to a promise of the original
proprietor, that the first mother of a son born in
that settlement should receive one hundred acres of
land.
I now return to Hazen and his party. I have said
he came on in the spring of 1762, with men and ma-
terials for building a saw-mill and grist-mill where
the Swazey mills now stand. With Hazen came Col.
Joshua Howard, of Haverhill, Mass., born April 24,
1740. He was then 22 years of age, and lived in
Haverhill until January 7th, 1839, almost 99 years of
age. He was a man of strict veracity, and at the
time when he gave his narration of events in the
early settlement of these towns (July 27, 1824), he
was of sound mind and good memory. 1 am much
indebted to him for materials in these sketches.
Howard labored that first season in preparing the
timbers for the mills, and was present at the raising
of them. He relates one providential escape from
death at the raising of those mills, which deserves
notice. One of their company, John Hughs, an
Irishman, fell from the frame, sixteen feet, and
struck perpendicularly upon the mud-sill, head down-
wards, without any thing to abate the force of the
44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
fall. He was taken up without signs of life ; but
Glazier Wheeler, from Newbury, found a j^enknife
with the company, and opened a vein, and after the
loss of blood, he revived, and soon recovered from
the tremendous blow. Physicians and surgeons,
those comfortable adjuncts to an improved state of
society, were then out of the question, and every
mind, in such an emergency, was put upon its own
resources. But I have a tale more melancholy to
relate.
Johnson and Pettie, who had spent the winter in
solitariness, now thought of visiting their friends at
the east ; and preparing themselves a canoe, they
took their departure in June, intending to descend
the river to Charlestown. They made their way
pleasantly until they came near the mouth of White
Kiver, in Lebanon. Here they were drawn into a
whirlpool ; their canoe was upset, and they were
plunged into the river. Johnston made every effort
to reach the shore, but sunk into the arms of death.
Pettie, being the better swimmer, gained the shore,
and was enabled to bear the melancholy tidings of
Johnston's death to his friends.
Some time after this event, a stranger, passing up
the river in a boat, discovered the body of a man
lying upon the shore of a small island in the river
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 45
between Lebanon, N. H., and Hartford, Vt. !Not
knowing anything of Johnston or of his fate, and
being far from any settlement, he performed the
kindest office to a stranger corpse which remained in
his power. He digged a grave in the best manner
he could, interred the body, and left it the sole
proprietor of the island. It now bears his name,
''Johnston's Island." He is still the only occupant,
and will probably remain such, until the Great Pro-
prietor of the world shall assert his claim, recall the
dead, and extinguish all earthly titles. Col. Charles
Johnston, brother of Michael Johnston, after he
came to Haverhill, and learned the resting place of
his brother, went down to the island, found the
lonely grave, bedewed it with his tears, erected a
monument to his brother's memory, and resigned all
into the keeping of him who had given and taken.
Capt. Michael Johnston, now of Haverhill, was so
called to bear up and perpetuate the name of that
uncle who found this early grave.
Col. Howard relates that he and two others were
the first among the settlers who came from Salisbury
in a straight course to Haverhill. They came on in
April, 1762. Howard, Jesse Harriman, and Simeon
Stevens employed an old hunter at Concord to guide
them through. They came west of Newfound Pond,
46 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ill Hebron, followed up the north-west branch of
Baker's River into Coventry, and down the Oliverian
to the Connecticut. They performed the journey in
four days from Concord.
In June, of this year, the first family moved into
Haverhill. Uriah Morse, and Hannah, his wife,
came from Northfield, Mass., and settled upon the
bank of Poole Brook, west of the bridge on the main
road, and a little south-west of the house where
David Merrill lived for many years. They boarded
Capt. Hazen's men, while they were building the
mills, and other adventurers as they came into the
settlement. The first child of English descent had
its birth in this family, in the spring of 1763 ; bnt
we hear of no bounty bestowed upon tlie parents, as
in Newbury, the same year, nor do we learn whether
it was male or female. Indeed, it survived its birth
but a few days. The first death of an adult occurred
in this family, also — Polly Harriman died of con-
sumption, aged 18 years. She was buried a little
south-Avest of the present meeting-house in the north
parish of Haverhill, between the meeting-house and
the Southards. Her death was much lamented.
Poole Brook derived its name from a man whose
name was Poole, who lived fifty or sixty rods north
of Uriah Morse's house. Poole was drowned one
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 47
mile above the Narrow.^, in Connecticut River, above
Wells' River. Glazier Wheeler and his son Charles
found the body of Poole, seven days after drowning,
and it was brought down to the great Ox Bow and
interred. Polly, the only child of Mr. Poole, mar-
ried John Johnson, of Newbury, and was drowned
in the Connecticut, near where her father was buried.
Thomas Johnson, Timothy Bedel, Capt. Hazen,
and Jesse Harriman boarded in the family of Uriah
Morse in the autumn of 1762. Johnson was now in
his 21st year. He was born March 22, 1742, and
came into the settlement in the service of General
Bailey ; but the first season he boarded on the east
side of the river. He originated in Haverhill, Mass.
Thomas Johnson's first purchase in Newbury bears
date October 6, 1763. It is the united testimony of
the first settlers, that at that early period, moose,
bear, dee)', beaver, otter, mink and sables were nu-
merous, and that salmon enriched and adorned the
river. Trout was not so abundant in the streams as
salmon in the river, and shad never appeared above
Bellows' Falls, in Walpole.
We now come to speak of the events of 1763, in
those settlements. This was the year of charters
with them. Newbury's charter bears date March 18,
1763, signed by Benning Wentworth, and I think
Haverhill charter bears the same date.
48 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The first town meeting under the charter was held
by the freemen of Newbury, June 13, 1763, and not
less than 100 miles from the location of their grant,
viz., at Plaistow, N. H. And before this meeting
was adjourned, they voted to unite with Haverhill in
paying a preacher for the term of two or three
months, ^'this fall or winter," — a very worthy ex-
ample, while they were yet so few and feeble.
This was a year of enlargement with Haverhill
and Newbury. Benjamin Hall, froQi Massachusetts,
came in and settled near the Porter place, where the
Southards now live. Jonathan Saunders and Sarah
Rowell, both from Hampton, N. H., came and
settled near the present house of Dr. Carleton, late
deceased. Jacob Hall, from Northfield, Mass., came
and settled on the Dow farm, so called. Hon. James
Woodward, of Hampstead, N. H., came and settled
on his place at the age of twenty-two years. He
purchased his farm at twenty cents per acre. Mr.
John Page, father of the present governor of New
Hampshire, came into Haverhill this year from
Lunenburg, Mass. He was employed by his uncle,
David Page, to assist in driving up his cattle to Lan-
caster, and this was the beginning of the settlement
of that town — David Page's son having been up in
the preceding June of that year, and marked out a
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 49
way for them from Haverhill. John Page returned
from Lancaster, and bought his farm in Haverhill,
but spent the subsequent winter in taking care of
Gen. Bailey's stock in Newbury, which arrived that
season, and not in 1762, as many have supposed.
This was Mr. Page's account. Captain Howard's, and
Col. Joshua Bailey's, who came with his father to
Newbury in 1764, at eleven years of age. Page con-
tinued to labor for Gen. Bailey until he was able to
pay for his farm. He then came to Haverhill, mar-
ried Abigail Saunders, daughter of the first settler
south of him, and lived to the age of eighty-two,
and departed this life in 1823.
This year Noah White came into Newbury, with
his family, and settled. Thomas Johnson established
himself in the Ox Bow, and Col. Jacob Kent came
into Newbury, November 4, 1763, the twelfth family
in both towns. There were a number of young men
boarding in those families. Col. Kent was born at
Chebacco, Mass., June 11, 1726, and Mary White,
his wife, was born at Plaistow, N. H., August 14,
1736. Mrs. Kent survived her husband many years,
and lived to a great age. She was nearly ninety
years of age when I visited her to obtain information
relative to the first settlers, and I found her memory
good upon subjects of ancient date. In answer to
3
50 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
the question, '^ Were there many wild animals in the
town when you first came here, such as bears and
wolves?" she replied, "0, yes, there were enough
of them creatures ! I was once frightened almost
out of my wits by them. It was on a Sabbath
day. The colonel was gone to meeting, and I
was left alone, and there came three great bears
to the door, and looked right in upon me ! I
expected nothing but they would come in and de-
vour me; but after looking at me awhile, they turned
away, and trotted off, and glad was I." Ladies of
Newbury and Haverhill, how would you like, at this
time, to have your devotions interrupted, or your do-
mestic concerns thus unceremoniously inspected, by
stranger gentlemen, such as these ? Mum !
In this year, says Col. Joshua Bailey, John Fore-
man and several others of Pennsylvania, having en-
listed into the British army near the commencement
of the old French war, and having been retained in
Canada after peace was restored, deserted and made
through the woods until they came upon the head
waters of the Connecticut, and following down the
stream, they came into the north part of Haverhill.
But here they found themselves famishing through
lack of sustenance, and as they knew not that there
was an English settlement within a hundred miles of
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 51
them, they were prepared to seize upon any thing
which could satisfy the demands of hunger. They
unexpectedly came in sight of a horse upon the plain
north of the north parish meeting-house, and suppos-
ing it to be wild, or one that had gone far astray,
they shot it, and fed themselves upon its flesh. Re-
plenishing their packs with the residue of the meat,
they proceeded south, but soon discovered smokes as-
cending from chimneys on the Ox Bow and vicinity.
They were alarmed at the idea of falling into the
hands of hostile Indians, especially since they had
killed one of their horses. But after some consulta-
tion, they concluded that one of theii* number should
cross the river, make what discoveries he could, and
then return and report. He accordingly swam the
river, and, to his great joy, found these were English
settlements. The news and a boat were soon carried
back to his companions. They were brought on to
the Ox Bow, where they found food, a shelter, and
sympathizing friends. Col. Bailey says, this fact of
their killing the horse on that plain gave the name
" Horse Meadow" to that section of the town, and
not the traditionary story of horses finding a rush
grass there sooner in the spring than elsewhere.
At this time, 1763, w^e are told, there were no roads
in any direction, and that their bread-stuffs were
52 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
brought from Charlestown in boats. It is a little ex-
traordinary that none of the first settlers make men-
tion of the great drought which prevailed in the Col-
onies for the years 1761 and 1762.* It must have
affected them whatever were their seasons at Coos ;
for as yet they were depending on foreign supplies.
We now come to speak of the progress of these set-
tlements in 1764. This was a year of increase, and
they realized an accession which seemed to give char-
acter to the settlements for many years. Deacon
Jonathan Elkins with his family, from Hampton, N.
H., came into Haverhill, and settled near Doctor
Carleton's. Deacon Elkins was a valuable acquisi-
tion to the town : but he remained here but little
more than ten years, before he removed to Peacham,
Vt., and was one of the first settlers, and most effi-
cient, in that town. Col. Timothy Beedel, from
New-Salem, moved his family to this place, and set-
tled on Poole Brook, where David Merrill long lived.
Hon. Ezekiel Ladd came in and settled on the place
where he lived fifty-four years, and died at the ad-
vanced age of eighty years, (1818.) He married Ruth
Hutchins. They both belonged to Haverhill, Mass.
Mrs. Ladd died 1817, aged seventy-six.
Newbury was enlarged and blessed, also, this year,
* See Belknap, vol. ii. p. 238.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 53
by the arrival of Gen. Jacob Bailey witli his family.
He had been from the first the principal mover in the
settlement. His influence was felt in every proceed-
ing, and now he had come to bless himself, and to
save much people alive, in the approaching contest
between Great Britain and her Colonies. He arrived
in Newbury, October, 1764. He lived, at that time,
south of the Johnson Village, and north of the hill,
on the east side of the road. He was thirty-eight
years of age when he came to Newbury, and lived
until March, 1815, when he resigned a long life, that
had been devoted to his country, to his town, and,
for a considerable length of time, to his God. He
died at eighty-nine years of age.
This same year came the Rev. Peter Powers, of
Hollis, N. H., to labor with this jjeople in holy
things. Mr. Powers was born in Dunstable, N. H.,
November 29, 1728, moved to Hollis with his father,
January, 1731, which was the first settlement in that
town. He graduated at Harvard College in 1754,
the year his father explored the Coos country. He
was first settled in the ministry at Newent, then a
parish in Norwich, Conn., now the town of Lisbon,
where he labored some years ; but taking a dismission
from that charge, he came to Newbury at thirty-six
years of age. Through his instrumentality a church
54 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
was gathered and organized in Newbury, in the fall
of 1764, composed of members from both sides of
the river. The two settlements united, also, in form-
ing an ecclesiastical society, which union continued
nearly twenty years.
We now enter upon the transactions and events of
1765. During this year, the settlements at Coos be-
gan to have some neighbors. One or two settlements
were made at Bradford, Orford, Lyme, Thetford,
Hanover, Lebanon, and Plymouth ; but more of
these hereafter.
On the 24th of January, 1765, the Rev. Mr. Pow-
ers received a call to take the spiritual charge of this
newly constituted church and society in the wilder-
ness. He gave his answer in the affirmative, Feb-
ruary 1, 1765. They then voted that " the install-
ment be on the last Wednesday of this instant, and
voted, that the Reverend Messrs. Abner Bailey, Dan-
iel Emerson, Joseph Emerson, Henry True, and
Joseph Goodhue, with their churches, be a council
for said installment. Voted, that Jacob Bailey,
Esq., shall represent the town of Newbury at the
council, which was voted to meet for said installment
down country where it is thought best, Jacob Kent,
Town Clerk.
There is, to us, some novelty in this vote for in-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 55
stallment someiuhere ; but the necessity of the case
explains the whole affair. There were no ministers
or churches in all the region, and they must go by
their delegation until they found them. The minis-
ters selected for the council belonged in Hollis and
vicinity, and the Rev. Mr. Powers was installed at
Hollis, February 27, 1765, as the title page to the
sermon that was preached on the occasion showeth,
which is as follows : —
" A Sermon preached at Hollis, February 27, 1765,
at the Installation of the Rev. Peter Powers, A. M.,
for the towns of Newbury and Haverhill, at a Place
called Coos, in the Province of New-hampshire. By
Myself. Published at the desire of many who heard
it, to whom it is humbly dedicated by the unworthy
author. Then saith he to his servants, the wedding
is ready, — Go ye therefore into the high ways, and
as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt,
xxii : 8, 9. Portsmouth, in New-hampshire. Printed
and sold by Daniel and Robert Fowle, 1765."
There is novelty in the circumstance of Mr. Pow-
ers' preaching his own installation sermon, but it was
nothing uncommon at that day ; and there is room
for doubt whether the moderns have made an im-
provement in this particular.
Mr. Powers' goods were brought from Charlestown
66 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
to Newbury upon the ice on the river, the last of
February, by the people of Newbury and Haverhill ;
but the family did not arrive until April of that year.
A circumstance occurred on the journey with the
goods, which gave rise to an anecdote which was rife
among the old people, down to a late period. It has
been related to me by persons belonging to several
different towns. There was a man living in New-
bury, and a member of the church, by the name of
fFay. He was an eccentric character, and would on
some occasions speak unadvisedly, yet was a very
friendly man and was neld in general esteem. He
was one who volunteered his services to bring up the
goods upon the ice. It was so late in February, that
in some places, especially where tributaries came in,
the ice was thin and brittle. They, however, made
their way without serious difficulty, until they came
to the mouth of Ompompanoosuc, at the north-east
part of Norwich, where Way's sled broke through,
and had like to have gone down, sled, team, Way and
all. But by timely effort on the part of his travelling
companions, they were all extricated. As soon as
Way and his team reached firm footing, he turned
around and surveyed the danger he had been in ; and
as he saw the waters boiling and eddying with a
frightful aspect, he said to his companions, ''That is
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 57
a cursed hole." When the party had arrived at
Newbury, and they were relating the trials and dan-
gers of the way, some one mentioned what Mr. Way
said of Ompompanoosuc. It was not long before
this came to the ears of Mr. Powers, and he resolved
to go, as his custom was in like cases, and have a
conversation with Mr. Way, and admonish him, if he
should be found to have been delinquent. He ac-
cordingly went and told Mr. Way that he had been
told he had been speaking unadvisedly and wickedly.
"What, what is it?" said Mr. Way. "Why, they
say you said of Ompompanoosuc, that it was a
ciu'sed hole.^' " Well, it is a cursed hole," said Way ;
" I say, it is a cursed hole, and I can prove it." *'
no, you cannot," said Mr. Powers, "and you have
done very wrong — you must repent." " Why," said
Way, " did not the Lord curse the earth for man's
sin?" "Yes," said Mr. Powers. "Well," replied
Way, " do you think that little dlvilish Ompompa-
noosuc was an exception ?" Mr. Powers turned
away, and exclaimed, "0, Mr. Way, Mr. Way, I
stand in fear of you," and recording his nolle pTOseqtii,
departed.
Mr. Powers lived in a house a little north of the
house of Gen. Bailev, and south of Thomas John-
son's. He preached for a time at Gen. Bailey's
3*
58 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
house, and in the mean time, they built a log meet-
ing-house, south of Gen. Bailey's, and north of the
hill, where they worshipped some years. This was
the house voted to be built, 28 feet by 25 feet, in
October, 1764, as stated by the Rev. Mr. Perry in his
manuscript of 1831, but which he concludes never
was builded (pp. 14 and 16, in manuscript). The
truth is, Mr. Perry was laboring under a mistake in
regard to meeting-houses. The first meeting-house
stood where I have located it. A framed meeting-
house was some years afterward erected near where
the present Congregational meeting-house stands ;
but as there was dissatisfaction in regard to its loca-
tion, it was pulled down, and re-erected on the spot
where Mr. Perry speaks of the. first meeting-house
standing, viz., "west of the burying ground;" but
it was not for a meeting- house that it was erected
there, but for a court-house and jail; still, divine
service might have been maintained there after the
first house had become too small to accommodate the
congregation, and before the present meeting-house
was erected in 1790.
I wish here to be indulged with a single remark in
respect to Brother Perry's manuscript. It was a very
laudable undertaking. I am not altogether unaided
by it ; but he was in too much haste in preparing it ;
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 59
depended too much on common report, and did not
compare notes sufficiently. It will not guide us
safely through the labyrinth of the twenty-five first
years in these settlements. But as I have said, they
worshipped at the Ox Bow some years, and Haverhill
people assembled with them, with great punctuality.
There was a foot-path leading from Judge James
Woodward's late residence, north-westerly, to the
river, where was a log canoe to set them across, and
from the point of landing a serpentine path through
tall grass, bushes, and sometimes towering trees, led
them to the place of worship. They had another ca-
noe at the Dow farm, and another at the Porter
place.
At that day it was a sin and disreputable in the
view of all, for persons to absent themselves from the
place of worship without valid cause ; and parents
were seen uniformly carrying their children in their
arms from Dr. Carleton's place to the Johnson Vil-
lage and back again, the same day, and sometimes
when the grass and bushes were wet, and the trees
from above dropped upon them their dewy blessings ;
and ail this, that they might hear the word of life
dispensed. Going and returning in their meandering
course could not have been a less distance than twelve
miles, and sometimes each parent had one to carry.
60 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Nor was the attendance at worship less uniform and
punctual with thote on the west side of the river.
Some females walked from Moretown, now Bradford,
and others from Kyegate, a distance of ten miles.
Those from the latter place, when they came to Well's
Eiver, (there being no canoe,) Avould bare their feet,
and ^*trip it along as nimbly as the deer." The men
generally went bare-footed ; the ladies, certainly,
wore shoes.
The wife of Judge Ladd related to me her extreme
mortification on the first Sabbath she attended meet-
ing at the Ox Bow. She and her husband had been
recently married. They came from Haverhill, Mass.,
and had seen and tasted some of the refinements of
life. She thought she must appear as well as any of
them, and put on her wedding silks, with muffled
cuffs, extending from the shoulder to the elbow, and
there made fast by brilliant sleeve-buttons. (Ladies
of the toilet of eighty years' experience will under-
stand all this.) She wore silk hose and florid shoes.
Her husband, appeared, also, in his best, and they
took their seats on benches early in the sanctuary.
But she remarked that " they Avent alone, sat alone,
and returned alone ; for it was not possible for her to
get near enough to any one of the females to hold
conversation with them ; and she was so home-sick,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 61
she thought she should die, and would have given
any thing could she have formed some acquaintance
with those who were to be her female neighbors," but
they were actually afraid of her, and each sat, or
stood, at a proper distance, lest they should soil her
dress. On their return home, she told her husband
she had learned one lesson, and that was. When
among Romans, coniform, to Roma7is. The next Sab-
bath she appeared in a clean check-linen gown, and
other articles in accordance, and she found very so-
ciable and warm-hearted friends.
But their worship was destined to interruptions in
the summer of 1765. I have already spoken of Sam'l
Sleeper, the first settler in Newbury, in 1762 ; that he
was a Quaker preacher, and that he came on to take
possession for Gen. Bailey. We do not hear of any
irregularities practised by Sleeper until after the set-
tlement of Mr. Powers. Then he claimed the right
to hold forth at any time, and on all occasions, when
the Spirit moved him ; and while Mr. Powers was
speaking, he would sometimes say — " Thee lies, friend
Peter." And at other times he would vociferate —
*' False doctrines ! false doctrines ! " Then again —
" Glorious truths ! glorious truths !" The principal
men used all means to dissuade him from such a
course of conduct ; but he grew more insolent and
62 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
boisterous, and tliey at length incarcerated him in a
cellar on Musquash Meadow ; but as soon as Sleeper
was disposed of, one Benoni Wright, a convert and
pupil of Sleeper, volunteered to fill the vacated seat
of his master, and if Sleeper had chastised the sin-
ners with whipSy Wright would do it with scorpions.
He permitted his beard to grow at full length, and
by this, he became a professed prophet of the Lord,
and delivered his messages in the most boisterous and
frantic manner. But he gained no converts, and as
he resisted every remonstrance of the people, they
adopted a summary course with him. The elders of
the people in both settlements took him on to the
meadow, near where Sleeper was in duress, held a
court upon him, convicted him, and doomed him to
receive ^*ten lashes, well laid on." Wright was
stripped and received the judgment of the court upon
the spot, and the same self -constituted court passed
a decree, and sent it to Sleeper, that if he appeared
again after confinement, to make the least disturb-
ance, he should receive thirty lashes in full tale.
This was decisive, and these prophets concluded to
sacrifice their consciences at the shrine of their
bodies. Peace and order were restored.
But the next season, 1766, Sleeper and Wright left
the settlement in Newbury, and removed into Brad-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 63
ford, and settled on the meadow, north of Mr. Hun-
kins, and east of what was Johnson's tavern, in the
north of Bradford. Here Wright undertook to sus-
tain a fast of forty days, and withdrew to a cave in a
mountain, at the north-west part of Bradford. And
that he might gird himself for his conflict with hun-
ger and the Prince of the power of the air, he pro-
cured him a strap with forty holes in it, and was to
buckle himself up one hole each day ; but long be-
fore he had attained to a '*good degree," he was so
pressed upon by hunger, that he concluded to return
home to his wife, and get her to prepare him a good
supper. She did so, and just as Wright was sitting
down to his repast, in bolted Sleeper, who exclaimed,
** Friend Wright, dost thou break thy fast?"
Wright was moon-struck for a time ; but his appetite
prevailed, and he returned not to the mountain,
which has from that time borne his name, Wrighfs
Mountain. From this time these two men wholly
disappear from our history.
Col. Joshua Howard related to me in 1824, and
confirmed the same in 1832, that the origin of Sleep-
er's opposition was this : — Gen. Bailey found it some-
what difficult to procure a man to come on and take
possession of that land amidst the Indians, who
would not like as well to take possession for himself,
64 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
as for another ; and such a man he did not want.
He at length came across Sleeper, who promised he
would go on, provided he might become their Quaker
preacher, when they had obtained their grant, and
had formed a Christian society. Bailey, willing to
indulge his whim, said to him pleasantly, '* 0, yes.
Sleeper, you shall be our minister." Sleeper took it
all for specie, and in process of time, Bailey found
there was more of Quakerism than poetry in Sleeper.
In the fall of this year, 1765, Judge Woodward
was married to Hannah Clark, and it was the first
marriage ceremony ever performed in the county of
Grafton ; and as there were some things attending it
out of the ordinary course, and as I had the particu-
lars from the judge himself, I will relate them, as
they will serve to show that some things could be
done then, as well as at this time. I have stated that
Judge Woodward came into Haverhill in 1763, and
bought his meadow farm. He built his first tent
upon the meadow, as nearly all the first settlers did
in Newbury, and some in Haverhill, not knowing
that they would be in danger from floods ; but being
driven off by a flood in 1771, they afterwards built
upon more elevated ground. But Woodward was
now enjoying single blessedness in his tent. He
felled trees by day, went to the Dow farm for his
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 65
meals, and slept on the meadow at night. And al-
though he sometimes dreamed of fairy forms, of
sparkling eyes, and ruby lips, yet he knew not that
Providence had any thing of this kind in reserve for
him, and if he had, he knew not where it might be
found ; for young females, in those days, were duly
appreciated. But the next year, when Judge Ladd
came on, he brought with him a blooming little
maid, Hannah Clark, of fifteen, to live in his family
a year or two, and then, in the mind of Judge Ladd
and wife, she would become the wife of John Ladd,
a brother of Judge Ladd. Woodward went to see his
neighbor Ladd, and there he saw the object, which
took, at once, full possession of his soul ; and he
could not see why he might not enjoy it, as well as
John Ladd ; and from that moment, he resolved to
secure Hannah Clark for his wife, if it was in his
power. He called at Judge Ladd's occasionally, and
had some brief opportunities for conversation with
Hannah, enough to satisfy him that his views and
feelings were reciprocated, before Judge Ladd or his
wife suspected the choice or intention of either ; but
as soon as their suspicions were awakened, Woodward
was prohibited the privilege of visiting at the house,
and a strict watch was maintained over this little
blushing girl. But after all, they had their friends.
66 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and billets, and flowers, and compliments passed be-
tween them ; and occasionally an interview was ob-
tained through the intervention of friends. This
kind of innocent conspiracy was carried on against
Judge Ladd and wife one full year, and then the
parties thought seriously of deciding the controversy
by a clandestine marriage. The plan was laid and
executed in the following manner : —
Woodward went to Newbury, and told all his heart
to Ephraim Bailey, son of Gen. Bailey, and brought
him to espouse his cause, and to co-operate with him.
Woodward told Bailey they must have one female en-
listed in their interests. Bailey said he believed he
could find one that would sustain that part. He was
then paying his addresses to a young girl by the name
of Hannah Fellows, and he could initiate her into the
secret, and secure her aid. It was accordingly con-
fided to her, and it was so arranged that Hannah
Fellows was to pass over to Haverhill, and spend the
afternoon in visiting Hannah Clark, tell her what was
expected of her, and the sun about an hour high, she
was to solicit the favor of Mrs. Ladd to have Hannah
Clark walk with her as far as the river on her return
to Newbury. In the mean time, the Rev. Mr. Pow-
ers was to be requested to be upon the west bank of
the river precisely at such an hour, and Ephraim
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 67
Bailej was to set him across in the canoe, and then
all were to step into Woodward's tent, and the mar-
riage ceremony be performed. Woodward had al-
ready taken out license from under the king to au-
thorize his being married without publishment, and
every thing succeeded according to previous arrange-
ment. The moment the two Hannahs came on to
the meadow, Mr. Powers and Ephraim Bailey were
seen coming up from the river. They all entered in-
to Woodward's tent, and in a short time Woodward
and Hannah Clark were joined in lawful marriage.
Those who belonged to Newbury returned forthwith
and Hannah Clark, now Hannah Woodward, ran for
Judge Ladd's. She had not been absent long enough
to excite suspicion in the mind of any one. Hannah
continued to do for Judge Ladd as heretofore, and
Woodward labored on the meadow.
At length, it was reported by Mr. Powers, that he
had married Woodward to Hannah Clark, not know-
ing that there was any secret to be kept. After some
little time, a woman came over to pay a visit to Mrs.
Ladd, and told her what kind of a story was going
the rounds in Newbury, that James Woodward was
married to Hannah Clark. Mrs. Ladd told her,
** There was not a word of truth in the story ; that
Woodward had been endeavoring to court Hannah,
68 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
but they would not hear to it." The woman replied,
" It was a little extraordinary that such a story should
be made from nothing, and she had understood that
it came from Mr. Powers. And do you knoiv,'^ said
she, 'Hhatit is not true ?" " Why, yes," said she,
** it cannot be true." At that moment she paused
and reflected, as though Hannah's walk with Hannah
Fellows had just streaked across her mental horizon.
" But," said she, ''if I don't know, I will," rising
up at the same time, and making for the kitchen,
where Hannah was carding wool or tow : '' Hannah,"
said she, " they say you are married to James Wood-
ward ; is it true?" ''Yes, ma'am," said Hannah.
" Then I have nothing more for you to do," replied
Mrs. Ladd ; " I shall not part man and wife." Han-
nah put her cards together, laid them into her basket
rose up, and ran for the meadow, and lived happily
with her husband forty years, and departed this life
Oct. 21, 1805. Hon. James Woodward lived to the
advanced age of eighty, and departed this life 1821.
I perceive that Thompson, in his Gazetteer of
Vermont, states that the crank for the first saw-mill
in Newbury was drawn upon a hand-sled from Con-
cord, N. H., to Newbury, Vt. Distance seventy
miles. T suppose it could not have been much less
than seventy miles from Concord to Newbury, since
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 69
it is seventy-two miles from Haverhill Corner direct
to Concord. They would have been much nearer the
true distance at that time, had they stated it at
eighty miles. But the whole of this tour I have in
minutes from the lips of two of the adventurers
themselves, Judge Woodward and John Page. I do
not know the precise number of men who went for
the Irons, but I think as many as six. They prepared
a rude hand sleigh, I do not recollect the technical
name for it. They split a hard wood sajjling, and
shaved the two iflat sides, as the cooper would do a
hoop for a hogshead. The flat and wide side was the
bottom of the runner, and it was bent up forward,
and the end being shaved down small, it entered a
hole in a thick ribbon ; and the runner and ribbon
were supported apart by studs entering the runner
and ribbon, or nave, at short distances from each
other, from end to end. The cross-bars rested upon
the ribbons. This vehicle secured several advantages.
It was light ; the runners were wide, and would not
readily cut through the snow ; the beams were high
from the ground, so that rocks and stubs were not
likely to strike the cross-beams. Being thus equipped,
they took in their provisions and set sail with light
hearts. There was more sport, however, in going to
70 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Concord with an empty sled, than in returning with
a ponderous freight.
f acilis descensus Averni :
Sed revocare gradum,
Hoc opus, hie labor est.
The snow was deep, and it proved to be a very cold
week, and before one half the distance was gained on
their return voyage, they felt themselves exhausted
by fatigue, and benumbed with the cold. They came
through Hebron, and came on to Newfound Pond,
because the way was more level, yet the cold more
severe, for they had not the forest to break the force
of the wind. Having gained somewhat more than
mid way of the pond, which is six miles in length,
they made a halt, and took their seats upon their
sled for rest. Page arose and went some little dis-
tance to a glade, or opening in the ice, to drink, and
when he returned, he found all his companions sink-
ing down into a sleep, from which, if it had been in-
dulged, no power short of Omnipotence could have
aroused them. Page was not lost to a sense of his or
their danger ; the thought of which proved the nec-
essary stimulus to excite him to effort in redeeming
them from death. He cried out to them that they
were all dead men, if they did not instantly awake,
and bestir themselves. He seized them by their
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 71
shoulders, shook them, and made them stand up ;
and he so preached terror to their auditory nerves,
that they revived, and resolved to make every possi-
ble effort to reach a camp in the woods ; and they
were successful, and thus saved themselves alive.
I speak of their reaching a camp. It may be
proper for me to state in this place, that our fathers
had taken the precaution to build camps on the route
from Haverhill to Salisbury, one camp in every
twelve or fifteen miles, and each was supplied with
fireworks and fuel, so that a traveller could soon kin-
dle him a fire ; and he had the boughs of the hem-
lock for his bed.
But this same party came near perishing when they
had arrived in sight of Haverhill, in the north-east
part of Piermont ; and had it not been for Woodward
to perform for Page, in that instance, what Page had
done for them upon the pond, they would have given
up the ghost. But they were told it required but
one effort more, and all danger was past ; but if they
gave way to sleep for a few minutes, as one of them
proposed, they never would awake in the body.
They were induced to persevere, and they came into
Haverhill, where they found the blessings of a fire-
side, of food, comfortable lodgings, and anxious
friends to sympathize with them. -jer-
72 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
This saw-mill crank was the one which was so lon^
in use at Atwood's mills in Newbury, but I know not
its location or its use at this time. But what hard-
ships were these above related ! How unlike the con-
dition of their children and grand-children ! How
unequal are their descendants to such services !
Many of our young men would now groan under the
task of travelling on foot from Haverhill to Plymouth,
a distance of thirty-two miles, on a road which may
be passed over in safety, by horse and carriage, at the
rate of ten miles per hour. But the memory of one
man will carry him back to a different generation.
There he will see a hardy race, minds trained to
deeds of daring, and muscular powers, seldom, if
ever, surpassed. And these qualities did not apper-
tain to the first settlers of Coos exclusively, but they
characterized those several generations which felled
our forests, subdued our soil, conquered savage men,
destroyed the beasts of prey, made roads, built habi-
tations, mills, school-houses, churches, supported the
gospel, founded colleges and academies, sustained a
war of eleven years with the combined forces of
French and Indians, and finally gained our national
independence. They had a great work assigned
them, and Providence fitted them, in an eminent de-
and Ov for the discharge of their duties.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 73
I will here mention, that roads direct from Haver-
hill to Boston were not opened until after the Avar of
the revolution — I mean such as Avould admit the
passing of heavy teams, and until then, the freight
of goods from our seaports was very expensive.
Heavy articles which- were not brought up from
Charlestown upon the ice, in winter, were brought on
pack-horses from Concord through the woods, and
ten bushels of wheat have been exchanged for one of
salt. The glass for Col. Thomas Johnson's house
was brought across the woods in this manner ; and
Col. Eobert Johnson, who opened the first tavern in
Newbury, in a house a little south of where his son
Eobert now lives, supi^lied his bar with spirits im-
ported in the same way. This being the state of
things in respect to roads, we shall readily conceive
that the means of communicating between this isola-
ted settlement and the eastern part of the state were
very limited, and were not an every day occurrence.
A passenger arriving in the settlement with packages
direct from friends in the east created a more lively
interest in the settlers, than the arrival of the British
Queen steamer now does in the great emporium of
this nation. I will give an anecdote from Mr. Perry's
sketches, illustrative of the state of things in these
respects. The story comes from Richard Chamber-
lain, one of the first settlers. 4
74 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Early in the settlement of the Coos, it so happened
that the annual Thanksgiving was passed, before in-
telligence of it arrived here. But soon after, a Dr.
White came up to visit his friends at Newbury, and
brought with him a proclamation. This proclama-
tion was read publicly on the Sabbath by Mr. Powers,
and by him it was proposed they should keep a
thanksgiving, notwithstanding the time specified by
the governor was passed. And he proposed the next
Thursday. Upon this a member arose, and gravely
proposed that it might be deferred longer; "for,"
said he, " there is not a drop of molasses in the
town ; and we know how important it is to have mo-
lasses to keep Thanksgiving. My boys have gone to
No. 4, and will be back, probably, by the beginning
of next week, and they will bring molasses ; and it
had better be put off till next week Thursday." It
was unanimously agreed to. But the molasses not
coming, it was deferred another week ; and finally.
Thanksgiving was kept without molasses. This,
which is enough to provoke a smile, will nevertheless
show us the simplicity and destitution of those days.
But from 1766 to 1769, we have no special occur-
rences to relate. The settlements continued to in-
crease, society to improve, and the means of subsis-
tence rewarded the hand of industry most bounti-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 75
fully. Indeed, the Coos meadows became to other
infant settlements, north and south of them, what
the granaries of Egypt were to Canaan and surround-
ing nations, in the days of the seven years' famine.
An aged gentleman in Lyme, N. H., says, "he can
very well recollect when they used to carry up their
silver shoe-buckles to the Coos, and exchange them
for wheat."
As to the state of religion in those years, we do not
learn of any powerful revivals among the people,
such as had been experienced in Whitfield's time, in
many parts of New England ; or such as have since
been experienced in those settlements. There are no
church records to guide our bark in these polar seas ;
but if there were revivals, in the modern sense of the
term, the ancients would have told us of them.
There were additions to the church from time to
time, from both sides of the river, until it consisted
of a goodly number of members. The Rev. Mr.
Powers was a serious, godly man, and more distin-
guished, I should think,, for his plain, faithful, and
pungent preaching, than for grace in style or diction.
He preached mostly without notes, and yet he gener-
ally studied his sermons. Those I have seen in print
exhibit thought, arrangement, a deep knowledge of
the Scriptures, and a soul full of the love of Christ
76 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and of the souls of men. His labors were abundant.
As there were no ministers north of Oharlestown,
for some years after Mr. Powers settled at Coos, he
was frequently called to attend funerals, weddings,
and to preach lectures at infant settlements upon the
river. Until there was a foot-path marked out upon
the bank of the river for passengers, Mr. Powers
used to perform his journeys up and down the river
in his canoe. When he saw young men felling trees
near the river, he would call to them, and say, if
Providence favored him, he would preach to them in
that place, on such a day, and at such an hour.
These were welcome propositions, generally ; and if
there were other settlements near, they were informed
of the appointment ; and Mr. Powers, at the hour
specified, would find his hearers seated on stumps and
logs, all ready to receive the word. Mr. Powers was
characterized by his punctuality in meeting his ap-
pointments, and seldom, if ever disappointed his as-
sembly.
John Mann, Esq., of Oi;ford, told me that Mr.
Powers passed down the river at a certain time, and
gave out an appointment to preach at a particular
hour, on a subsequent day. But during his absence,
there fell a great rain, which swelled the river, and
increased the rapidity of the current very much.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 77
The people generally felt that he could not meet his
appointment ; but they assembled notwithstanding,
and waited to know the result. One man was very
confident Mr. Powers would not, and could not re-
turn, and was disposed to charge their assembling to
a stupid credulity in the people. But another man
seemed to be confident he would return to his ap-
pointment ; and, finally, a bet was made between
them. Neither one was pious. This altercation had
awakened some interest in the audience generally,
and all eyes were directed down the river. The ap-
pointed hour now drew on, and not more than twen-
ty-five or thirty minutes remained in which Mr. Pow-
ers could make good his appointment, and he who
bet against his return felt sure of his prize, for, if he
was already in sight, he could not gain the ground
within the time allotted ; but more than this, no man
or boat appeared in the river. But while all were
anxious, and looking, the boat, on a sudden, rode in-
to full view, as by magic, and not half the distance
from them as was the spot on which their eyes were
fixed. He had kept so near the shore next to them,
to avoid the force of tlie current, that they could not
see him until he threw his boat into the stream to pass
an obstruction ; and when he did appear so suddenly
and so near, the assembly could not suppress their
78 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
surprise and gladness, but welcomed him with a
shout which rebounded from hill to valley. Mr.
Powers stood before them at the appointed moment.
Col. Otis Freeman, of Hanover, related to me the
particulars of the first marriage ceremony that was
ever performed in that town. It was in 1767, and
Mr. Powers officiated. Col. Otis Freeman attended
the wedding. A transient man came into the town
of Hanover, by the name of Walbridge, and made
suit to Hannah Smith, daughter of a Mr. Smith,
who lived on the place which Timothy Smith im-
proved some years ago, and, for aught I know, does
at this time. The parents of Hannah were very
much averse to their daughter's connection with that
man ; but she resolved, and so was resolved. Wal-
bridge happened to see Mr. Powers one day descend-
ing the river in his canoe, and he hailed him, and de-
sired to know if he could return by such a day, and
marry him at. the house of Mr. Smith. Mr. Powers
said he would do so, if Providence prospered him.
He accordingly appeared at the house a little after
sunset ; the guests were assembled ; the house being
lighted up, the couple presented themselves, handed
in their certificate, and wished Mr. Powers to pro-
ceed.
It was Mr. Powers' practice to call on the parents
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 79
of the candidates for marriage to know if they had
aught to object to the marriage ; and when, in this
case, he called for the parents of the bride, behold,
they were not there ! Mr. Powers wished to know if
they were not living. "Yes, they were living they
supposed." He asked, if they were not in town.
" They supposed they were ; but they did not know."
" How long since they were seen here ? " ** Just at
night ? " " Are the parents averse to this marriage ?'*
"They supposed they were, some." "Could they
not be brought to attend there that night ? '* If they
could not, he should not proceed to the marriage cer-
emony that night. This was an unpleasant predica-
ment for all parties. But a lantern or a torch was
found, and a scout was sent forth in search of the old
folks. They were found at the nearest neighbors,
which was not very near, and after much persuasion,
they were prevailed on to return home.
All parties were by this time cool and collected.
The parents took their seats in the middle of the
room, between the minister and the anxious couple.
Mr. Powers arose, and addressing himself to the par-
ents, said, "Is this young lady your daughter?"
They bowed assent. " Are you willing I should pro-
ceed to join this couple in marriage ? " The father
fixed his eyes full on Mr. Powers some time, and a
80 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
dead silence reigned, until Freeman saw the tears
swelling in the old man's eyes, and his chin shook like
an aspen leaf, and then came a sudden and convul-
sive response — *' Yea I " which electrified the whole
of them, the a in yea was sounded as broad as d in
hall, and the e not sounded at all. All sympathized
with the old people, and Mr. Powers could scarcely
proceed with the ceremony ; but it was performed,
and the connection proved an unhappy one. Wal-
bridge was a worthless character. But this was the
first marriage in Hanover, as Judge Woodward's was
the first in Haverhill — the results widely different.
Mr. Powers being thus known, and being generally
loved and respected, did much to increase the settle-
ment at Coos. Persons often attended worship there
from Thetford, Orford, Bradford, and Piermont.
There was one Deacon Howard, who lived near the
river in Thetford, who used to ride to Newbury often
with his wife to hear Mr. Powers, and he loved him
as his own soul.
At this time there were no taverns between Char-
lestown and Coos, and adventurers were necessitated
to stop at such houses as they could find for refresh-
ment and lodgings. They had called on this Deacon
Howard, some making him compensation, and some
not, until his means for subsistence were running
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 81
low ; and he had resolved that it was not his duty to
entertain any more strangers ; and this he could do
more conscientiously, as there was a sort of an inn
opened for their accommodation three miles north of
him.
Mr. Powers, at a certain time, passed down the
river on horseback, undiscovered by the deacon, and
as he was on his return home, he found he should be
overtaken by the darkness of night before he could
reach the inn, and as it began to rain just before he
came to Deacon Howard's, he thought he would
there stop and spend the night. He accordingly rode
up to the door, in the dusk of the evening, and
tapped with his whip upon the door. The deacon
came to the door, and asked what he wished for.
Mr. Powers replied, that he was journeying up the
river ; that he was overtaken by the night and by
rain ; and he should like to put up with him for the
night. The deacon answered in an abrupt and gruff
tone of voice, " I cannot keep you. Folks have come
here until they have eaten me out of house and home,
and we cannot consent to take you in." Mr. Powers
replied that he was much fatigued, and he knew not
how to proceed farther ; he would pay him whatever
he was disposed to charge him. ** No," said the dea-
con, *' I cannot keep you. There is a house for en-
4.*
83 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
tertainment three miles ahead, and you must go
there."
By this time, tlie old lady had come forward, and
was looking over her husband's shoulder, listening to
the conversation as it proceeded ; and as Mr. Powers
began to turn his horse away from the door, she said
to her husband, '* It seems to me, that man speaks
like Mr. Powers of Newbury." "Mr. Powers! no,
he don't," said he. " But why don't you ask him
who he is ? " said she. "I don't care who he is,"
said he ; "I can't keep him ; " but, at the same time,
stepping from his door, and advancing along after
Mr. Powers, he said, " Where are you from, sir ? "
'* Newbury," replied Mr. Powers. *^From, Neiu-
luryV "Yes, sir. " **Well, you know the Rev.
Mr. Powers, then, don't you ? " '^Yes, very well."
"And he is a very good man, aint he?" "Some
have a good opinion of him," said Mr. Powers,
" much better than I have." "Well, you may go
along."
By this time, the old lady had come up to her hus-
band in the rain, and as the deacon was turning to go
into the house, she said, " Husband, I verily believe
that is Mr. Powers." On hearing this, he turned
suddenly on his heel, and making rapid strides after
the stranger, he cried out, " Sir, what is ^owxnameV^
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 83
*'My name is Powers," was the reply. ''You
rascal!" exclaimed the deacon; and seizing him by
one leg, drew him from his horse, held him fast until
he got him into the house, and there he made all
concessions to the man whom he loved above all oth-
ers. A very happy interview they had of it, and the
deacon continued to relate the particulars of this ad-
venture with peculiar emotions until the close of life.
He related them to Dr. Burton, and the doctor to
myself.
Mr. Powers spent nearly twenty years at Newbury
and Haverhill, and with the exception of the troubles
which grew out of the revolutionary war, I believe
their union was a happy and prosperous one.
Mr. Powers was a high whig, and by his preaching
and efforts for the common cause of the colonies, he
drew upon him the fierce resentment of the tories,
and they threatened his life, which induced him to
remove over into Haverhill, in the spring of 1781.
This displeased many of his friends in Newbury, and
although he continued to preach in Newbury one half
the time, for a year or two, yet it resulted in his dis-
mission from the church in Newbury, some time in
1782. But he preached still a year or two in Haver-
hill, and sometimes in Newbury, to particular
friends ; but he finally left, and went and settled on
84 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Deer Isle, Me., where he closed his labors by his de-
cease in May, 1800, aji^ed 72. He died of a cancer.
When told by his son Jonathan, who was tlien a set-
tled minister at Penobscot, Me., that he was dying,
he looked around on his family, and replied, "The
will of the Lord be done," and yielded up the ghost.
Mrs. Powers was Martha Hale, of Sutton, Mass.
She was an intelligent, pious, and superior woman.
She survived her husband until January, 1802, and
died suddenly while on a visit to her children in
Newbury.
To those who sat under the ministry of Mr. Pow-
ers, of whom there are some still living, and those
who have looked upon him as their spiritual father,
it will be pleasing to learn by what means their min-
ister was prepared to preach to them the unsearcha-
ble riches of Christ. The facts which I shall here
record I received from an eye and ear witness of what
she related. It was the sister of the Rev. Peter Pow-
ers.
I have already related that Mr. Powers was the
oldest child of Capt. Peter Powers and Anna, his
wife ; that they were the first settlers in the town of
Hollis. I now relate that for about two years their
nearest neighbor was at the travelling distance of ten
miles, and this solitary family sustained all the pri-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 85
vations and hardships which were incident to pio-
neers in these New England settlements. For about
twelve years they had neither schools, or a preached
gospel ; but they carried with them the Holy Scrip-
tures and the love of God in their liearts. ■ Their
children were instructed in the principles of the gos-
pel, and they witnessed the blessedness of godliness
in the daily walk of their parents. At an early age
Peter became a devoted child of the Lord Jesus, and
was endeared to his parents by a thousand ties ; for
they looked to him as their first helper, under God,
and fondly hoped he would be their support and sol-
ace in old age. But as Peter grew in years, a flame
was kindled in his breast which could neither be ex-
tinguished nor suppressed ; and his parents often
heard him say, **Hehad an ardent desire to enjoy
the advantages of an academic and a collegiate edu-
cation." But as these seemed altogether incompati-
ble with their circumstances, and militated against
all their previous arrangements, those desires of the
son were treated by the parents as visionary ; and in-
admissible, and for a time no human ear was offend-
ed by the importunities of the son ; and the parents
hoped that the subject was relinquished and forgotton
by him, until it was revived to them in the following
manner : —
86 Historical sketches
These parents were of Puritan strictness in the
government of their family, and neither their sons
nor their daughters were allowed in ordinary cases to
be absent from the family at nine o'clock in the eve-
ning, which was the hour of prayer. But it appeared
on a calm summer's evening that Peter was absent at
the hour of prayer ; nor did he appear when it was
necessary to close and secure the house against the
intrusion of the Indians. The parents passed the
night in agitation of spirits. At one moment, they
trembled in view of his having fallen a victim to In-
dian treachery and violence, and their imaginations
presented him pierced and lacerated upon the ground,
or hurried away into a captivity more appalling than
death. At another time they were vexed with the
apprehension that their son had for the first time ab-
sented himself in wanton disregard of their views and
feelings. The night was at length spent, and the
father rose at the dawn of day ; and as he unbarred
the door, he saw his young son emerging from the
forest, and approaching the dwelling with a solemn
and down-cast look. The father beheld his son with
the mixed emotion of joy and resentment \—joy, be-
cause he had received him safe and sound — resentment
because he supposed there could be no adequate cause
to justify the elopement ; yet he restrained himself
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 87
and called for no explanation until the hour of prayer
when he was accustomed to administer reproof, if it
was necessary. The family being seated, and a por-
tion of Scripture having been read, the father paused,
and fixing a reproving look upon Peter, said, ** Where
did you spend the niglit, Peter ?" The son was ex-
ceedingly embarrassed, and did not return a prompt
and explicit answer. The father more sternly re-
peats, '^ Peter, where did you spend the night ? "
The son faintly and meekly replied, while the tears
coursed down his cheeks, '^ I spent it in the woods,
sir." *^ In the woods?'' said the father; lioiv did
you spend it?" '^In prayer, sir." A pause of a
moment succeeded, and the subdued soul of the
father rushed to the eye, to seek the relief which ut-
terance now denied. But soon the father resumed
the inquiry, and, in an altered and suhdued tone,
said, '^ My son, what were you praying for, during
the night?" ^' That I might go to college."
'* What would you go to college for, Peter ?" " That
I might be prepared to preach the gospel to sinners."
The father turned and looked upon Anna, his wife
in the deepest emotion, but conld not speak. As
soon as he possessed the power of utterance, he led
in devotion, and as soon as Peter had gone out, the
father said to Anna, in a soft and tremulous voice.
88 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
** I do not see but we must give up the matter, and
let Peter go to college." The result was a collegiate
course, a life of eminent usefulness, a triumphant
death, and that eternal reward which is promised to
those who turn many to righteousness.
Mr. Powers' dismission from Newbury church was
the first step towards a dissolution of the union be-
tween Haverhill and Newbury in all ecclesiastical
concerns ; and it does not appear that they ever as-
sisted each other in supporting the gospel afterwards.
And the probability is each town was beginning to
feel itself able to support preaching independent of
the other. We find a proposition coming from Mr.
Powers to Newbury church and society, so early as
December, 1781, "for an agreement between the
town of Haverhill and the town of Newbury to be
separate parishes." This proposition was undoubted-
ly from the people of Haverhill, and therefore we
find a vote of Newbury, December 31, 1781, "That
the above committee treat with the town of Haverhill,
relative to the Eev. Peter Powers." They also vote
to make a settlement with Mr. Powers for all arrear-
ages. Mr. Samuel Powers, of Newbury, son of the
Rev. Peter Powers, and a very worthy citizen, says,
"he can well remember the time of his father's dis-
mission from Newbury ; that Newbury church did
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 89
not unite in the council for his dismission, and the
council sat in Haverhill." But the church in Haver-
hill was not constituted a separate church until some
years after the sitting of this council, an event to be
noticed hereafter.
I will in this place relate an extraordinary case of
instinct in a cow, as related to me by Capt. Howard,
and I relate it here, before 1 proceed to the events of
1769, because it occurred in the first years of these
settlements. Col. John Hurd came into Haverhill at
an early period of the settlement, from Portsmouth,
and lived a little north of Moses Southard's, or the
old Porter place, at Horse Meadow. He came first
to Charlestown, and then up the river, as most others
did. With him he brought a valuable cow, which he
turned upon the meadow, where, for aught that ap-
peared, she was well content to abide ; but, after a
lapse of a few weeks, the cow was on a sudden among
the missing, and nothing could be found of her.
They went through both settlements, and searched
in vain ; no one had seen her. The colonel then
employed Indian runners to go in pursuit of her ;
they were out one full week, and returned without
her, but reported that they had been on her trail in
Coventry ; but east of that, they could discover no
trace of her. Hurd gave her up as lost. But the
90 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
next autumn, there came a man from Portsmouth,
bearing letters from friends, and in one of them it
was stated that on such a morning, the old cow was
found in the barn-yard from which she took her de-
parture some months before. She was in good keep-
ing. Now, we must consider, that from Portsmouth
to Oharlestovvn is at this day, in the most direct
route, ninety-six miles ; from Charlestown to Horse
Meadow nearly seventy miles ; and from Horse Mead-
ow to Portsmouth cannot be less than one hundred
miles, for it is the hypotenuse of the triangle, which
has Portsmouth, Charlestown, and Haverhill for its
angles. The cow unquestionably travelled all three
sides of the triangle ; and what seems most surpris-
ing is, that after travelling more than one hundred
miles, as the roads then were, north of west, and
much of that distance was woods, then more than
seventy miles east of north, all woods, the cow should
have kept in her mind the direct bearing of Ports-
mouth, and that she should have made the journey
from Haverhill to Portsmouth, an entire wilderness,
and have reached her old home in safety, without
guide or protector. She might have fallen in with
Barrington or Stratford, twenty miles north-west of
Portsmouth, but she did not do it, probably, or she
would have been taken up ; yet she performed her
tour, and gained her destination.
OF THE* COOS COUNTRY. 91
I now come to speak of events of 1769, and on-
ward. It was in April, of this year, that Col. Chas.
Johnston came into Haverhill, and settled at the
Corner. Col. Johnston was born at Hampstead, N.
H., 1737. He married Ruth Marsh, of Londonderry,
N. H., and came to HaverliiJl at thirty-two years of
age.
Col. Johnston had departed this life prior to my
coming to Haverhill, and I am wholly dependent up-
on others for the information I have respecting him.
But no man's character could be better established in
the public mind, and seldom can we find greater
unanimity with the public in bestowing on one man
the meed of commendation. There is still a blessed
savor of him remaining in Haverhill and vicinity.
I am in possession of an interesting occurrence
which took place on the journey of Col. Charles and
his family from Hampstead to Haverhill. I have it
in the hand-writing of Mr. Richard Wallace, of Thet-
ford, Vt., who was born in Nova Scotia, in 1753, and
at the age of sixteen years accompanied Mr. Johnston
to Haverhill, I shall give it in his own words, with
the correction of some errors in orthography and
grammatical construction of sentences. Mr. Wal-
lace's early opportunities for an education were lim-
ited, as nearly all were at that day ; but he sustained
92 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
a character above suspicion for veracity, and had
been a professed disciple of Christ many years when
he wrote me this statement. He says : —
" On the second day's journey from Hampstead,
N. H., (this was in April, 1769, in the afternoon of
this day) my feet became tender and swollen, and
much parboiled, as was the common phrase at that
day. This caused me to fall in the rear of the family
many rods. I then concluded I would take off my
shoes and stockings, and travel bare-footed, expecting
by this means to be able to overtake the family.
But my feet being swollen, and stockings wet, I was
hindered in drawing them a good while, and I fell far
in the rear. I then hastened my steps forward as
fast as I could, the sun being about a half an hour
high at night, as near as I can recollect. After wad-
ing a large brook, I entered the eleven-mile-woods, for
the first time, in the upper part of Boscawen. I had
not travelled far before I came to ice in the sled road,
both in the middle and at the side, although the
snow was for the most part gone in the woods. But
I made all the speed I could, till it was almost dark,
when I came to a brook or stream, that I dared not
attempt to ford without daylight, nor could I find
any tree fallen across the stream, on which I might
pass over. But concluding T must stay there for the
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 93
iiiglit, I went in immediate search of a convenient
place to rest. I soon found a large tree fallen on the
side of a knoll, the butt end lying uj) from the
ground, leaving just room enough for me to crawl
under. I took my long stockings, and drew the dry
part of them on to my feet, and crawled under the
tree, and being very tired, I soon fell asleep ; and I
think it likely I slept two or three hours, or more — I
cannot tell exactly. But my anxiety did not leave
me when asleep ; and when I awoke, I was very cold,
as there was a hard frost that night. Besides this, I
found myself saluted from all parts of the solitary
and dreary wilderness, by all the animal inhabitants
of the forest, like a band of instrumental music, the
wolves taking the chief lead, and carrying the high-
est notes ; or son)ething like a bass-viol and bassoon
in their diiferent strains. They did not appear to be
far off, but did not come near me to offer any vio-
lence ; yet their noise was some alarming, and very dis-
agreeable, since the whole region of the forest seemed
to be alive with these different kinds of animals. By
and by, somebody cried out over my head, and
barked like a little dog, then again screamed in the
voice of women, and laughed out like parrots. I
had not learned their grammar, nor to raise and fall
their notes, for I was but a boy from the sea coast.
94 HrSTORICAL SKETCHES
and had never heard the like before. But I thought
I would not make any disturbance with them, if they
would let me alone until morning. But as soon as
morning appeared, I crawled out from under the
tree, and suddenly screamed with all my might,
"Stop your noise!" I was immediately obeyed.
And behold, the noisy creatures over my head were
no other than great owls, roosting upon a branch of a
tree ! But I soon made ready to decamp, though my
shoes and stockings were so frozen, that I could only
get on my shoes slipshod. After some search, I found
a log which enabled me to get over the brook, and I
found the road, and I walked and ran as I could,
some miles, and I reached Favor's tavern in New-
Chester, that now is, just as the sun arose. Some of
the company were up, and some getting up, and
friends never came together in greater joy. I never
shall forget how Col. Charles looked when he told me
what concern he had had for me through the night.
"RICHARD WALLACE."
I would, in conclusion of this narration, raise the
inquiry of those youth of sixteen, into whose hands
the above statement may come, whether they would
covet such a night's rest ; and whether such a sere-
nade from the beasts of the wilderness would be to
them "some alarming, and very disagreeable ! "
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 95
When Col. Johnston arrived at Haverhill, he pur-
chased the ground where Haverhill Corner now is,
and located himself on the ground where Capt. Pow-
ers pitched his camp for the night, in July, 1754,
and wrote in his journal — " Here was the best of up-
land, and some quantity of large white pines." '
I had it from the widow of Col. Johnston, who
survived the death of her husband several years, and
died, in 1816, at the age of seventy-five, that when
they came to Haverhill, and found themselves hem-
med in on every side by those towering trees and a
dense underwood, she became very much discontented,
and endured for some time all the melancholy and
depression which arise from home-sickness. When
suffering from the strongest paroxysms of this mala-
dy, she would sometimes go out to her husband,
while he was felling trees upon what is now the com-
mon, and relate her distresses to him, in hopes that
he might be induced to relinquish his hold on Coos,
and return to their friends at the east. But the col-
onel, to amuse her, and to dissipate her melancholy
would seat her upon a large stump, and then begin to
describe to her the future village which they should
ere long witness in that place. ** On such a line
would be the main street ; on such a spot the court-
house would stan ^ ; the academy would occupy such
\
^6 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
a site, and the meeting-house stand there ! " For the
moment, she would seem to fancy it a reality ; but
the next sober thought would dissipate her relief, and
she would exclaim, " Mr. Johnston, there can't be
any such thing ! I know there can't. It never will
be in this world ! "
It is probable that the colonel thought as little of
this ever being realized by them as she did ; and yet
both lived to witness, almost to a jot and tittle, those
very predictions fulfilled. And no man in that town
-ever contributed more towards converting that wil-
derness into a delightful village than Col. Johnston.
He was laborious and prudent, yet generous and
brave. He accumulated a handsome estate ; and by
his beneficence, he often caused the poor, the widow,
and the fatherless to sing for joy, and tlieir blessings
came upon him.
He was a man of great muscular powers, and he
often put them forth, not to foment quarrels and
broils, as is often the case in a rude state of society,
but to suppress outbreakings and fightings ; and
those who were acquainted with him, refrained from
those hostile attacks in his presence, for they knew
the colonel would immediately stand between the
parties, the advocate of peace and good order.
It is related of him that he was passing^the inn at
^
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 97
the Corner, at a certain time, just wlien two stran-
gers, who had met there, fell into a violent conten-
tion, and came to blows. The encounter was sharp
and bloody ; but, as the colonel's custom was, he
walked up to the combatants, and placing his hands
gently upon their shoulders, began to expostulate
with them in the kindest manner, when they mutual-
ly left beating each other, and commenced dealing
blows at him, who would have set them as one again.
Upon this, the colonel held one in each hand firmly
by the shoulder, and suddenly extending his arms to
the right and left, he threw the assailants apart, but
brought them again in contact, face to face, in front
of him, with such power, that before this was re-
peated the third time, they called out for quarter,
nor did he let go of them until they promised to be
at peace with each other.
It was said in his day, and is said to this day, that
Col. Johnston was a peace-maker, both in church
and state. I have one instance of this, given by Mr.
Wallace, who lived with the colonel after they came
to Haverhill. He says, in a letter bearing date De-
cember 25, 1828, '* Esquire Charles was the only jus-
tice of the peace in Haverhill prior to 1773. I will
relate one anecdote of him in honor to his memory,
and for a pious example for his descendants and
9S HISTORICAL SKETCHES
others. Soon after his appointment for justice of the
peace, there came a man to him with an earnest re-
quest for a writ against one of his neighbors. Es-
quire Johnston put him off by relating to liim the
unhappy consequences of neighbors going to law with
each other ; and recommended that he should go
home and see his neighbor in a subdued temper of
mind, and see if he would not pay him. The man
went away, but soon returned with a bitter complaint
and demanded a tvj'it. The colonel left his business,
called for his horse to be saddled, and said to the
man, ^ I am going with you to see if this matter can-
not be settled without expense and strife.' When
they came to the man so much complained of, the
colonel told him his business, and that he came for
the sake of peace. The man told him he was ready
to settle the account, and always had been ; and be-
fore they separated, all matters were adjusted, and
the men parted in friendship." How much expense
and strife might be avoided annually, if all our mag-
istrates were of the same stamp ! We say, *^ Blessed
are the peace-makers."
I have another anecdote of the colonel, related to
me by Esquire Jonathan Hale, of Coventry, N. H.,
who was knowing to the story. A poor man of Coy-
entry bought a cow of Col. Johnston upon credit.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 99
The cow was the principal support of the family ; but
after she had been kept through the winter, she sick-
ened and died at the opening of spring. The man
was distressed in view of the wants of his family, for
he saw no way of relief. He knew it would be next
to impossible for him to purchase a cow at that sea-
son, as it was generally known that he was still owing
for the cow that he had lost ; and he had nothing to
pay for that, or another. He felt that he could not
go to Col. Johnston for another, while he was still
owing him for the first ; but as it is said, *' Hunger
will break tlirough a stone wall," so the distresses of
his family impelled him to return to Col. Charles, as
he was the only man living who inspired him with a
gleam of hope. He went, and found the colonel at
labor in his field. He related to him his disaster, and
his distresses. The colonel sympathized with him
deeply, and knew not what he could do. The poor
man then told him his object in visiting him, which
was to see if he could not obtain another cow of him.
The colonel told him, ** He did not see how he could
supply him, for they had but two cows that season,
and they were going to building, must have an unus-
ual number of laborers, and they should need all that
could be afforded by two cows." The poor man
replied, " I did not come to you, colonel, with this
100 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
request, supposing that you could relieve me without
great inconvenience to yourself, and a sacrifice of
interest, yet I was emboldened to make known my
necessity.'*'
The colonel paused in silence for a time, and man-
ifested that there was a deep conflict between his
sympatliies and his circumstances. At length he
said, " I will go to the house and see what Mrs. John-
ston says." They went to the house, and the colonel
related to his wife what had befallen the man, and
what was his present object. Mrs. Johnston very
naturally exclaimed, "You are not agoing to let one
of our cows go, are you ? " And here she related
what a demand they would have that season for both
cows. The colonel heard her through patiently, and
then said, " Do you not think that we can do better
with one cow than this poor man can do, with his
young children, without any ? " Mrs. Johnston was
silent. The colonel turned to the man, and said,
'* You will take my cow."
The poor man took his cow, and returned joyously
with her to his family. How blessed is fellow-feeling !
and still more blessed, when it is cherished by true
piety and benevolence ! If I know my own heart, I
would rather have this writtenof my son than leave
him in possession of the most splendid crown in
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 101
Europe. I have wondered a thousand times, and still
wonder, why men of wealth do not secure to them-
selves, more frequently than they do, the happiness
which Col. Johnston experienced in sending that man
home with a light and grateful heart. We have no
means of knowing whether that poor man was ever
able to remunerate the colonel or not. No matter.
If he did not, tiie Lord has done it, a thousand fold,
and verily, there is a reward for the righteous.
I have spoken of the extraordinary muscular pow-
ers of Col. Johnston. I must relate one more event
of his life, illustrative both of his physical power and
of his courage. At the time when the New Hamp-
shire troops signalized themselves at the battle of
Bennington, under Gen. Stark, Col. Johnston was
there, and sustained a part in the brilliant achieve-
ments of that ever-memorable day. After Col. Baum
had surrendered to the American troops, and the
battle was renewed by the arrival of Col. Breyman,
Col. Johnston, in obedience to orders from Gen.
Stark, was necessitated to pass through a narrow strip
of woods on foot and alone, to bear some orders to
another division of the American army. He had no
weapon of defence but a stout staff, which he had cut
in the woods that day, as he was passing on to Ben-
nington from New Hampshire. Thus equipped, lie
102 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
came suddenly upon a British scoufc, in ambush,
placed there to intercept communications between the
dijfferent divisions of the Americans. The party in
ambush was commanded by a Hessian lieutenant.
As Johnston came up, this officer stepped forth, sword
in hand, and claimed him as his prisoner. The word
was no more than uttered, before the sword was
struck from the hand of the officer by Johnston's
staff, and as soon did Johnston have possession of that
sword, and pointing it at the breast of the Hessian,
declared to him, that he was that moment a dead
man, if he and his party did not throw down their
arms. The officer turned to his men and said, ^' We
are prisoners of war." The soldiers threw down their
arms, and Johnston marched them before him to the
American lines, where they were received by our
troops.
The colonel returned with the sword to his family,
and presenting it to his only son, Capt. Michael John-
ston, now of Haverhill, said, *^This sword was won
by valor — let it never be retaken through cowardice."
The sword I have seen. It was a splendid article of
the kind. There was a good deal of writing upon it,
formed by etching, and the officer's name, which I do
not now recollect. This sword, I have been told, was
brought forth and exhibited for the mournful gratifi-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 103
"I
cation of spectators on the day of the colonel's funeral
solemnities. I am told that it was the colonel's
expressed wish, before his death, that that sword
might descend from him in the line of the oldest
male heir, and that it has already gone into the pos-
session of the Rev. Charles Johnston, of the town of
Locke, Cayuga County, N, Y.
Col. Johnston was the first captain in the town of
Haverhill ; was for many years a justice of the peace ;
a colonel, a representative of the town many years ; a
judge of probate, and a deacon in the church. Col.
Johnston's house was surrounded by a fort at Haver-
hill Corner, during the revolutionary war, as was
Judge Ladd's, a little north of the old meeting-house,
on Ladd street ; also, Capt. Timothy Barns', who
lived near the tavern, opposite the meeting-house, in
the north parish in Haverhill. Col. Johnston depart-
ed this life, March 5, 1813, aged seventy-six.
In the summer of 1770, this whole section of coun-
try was visited by an extraordinary calamity, such a
one as this country never experienced before or since,
beyond what I shall here specify. It was an army of
worms, which extended from Lancaster, N. H., to
Northfield, in Massachusetts. They began to appear
the latter part of July, 1770, and continued their
ravages until September. The inhabitants denomi-
104 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
nated them the *' Northern Army," as they seemed
to advance from the north-west, and to pass east and
south, although I do not learn that they ever passed
the high lands between the Connecticut and Merri-
mack Rivers. They were altogether innumerable for
multitude. Dr. Burton, of Thetford, Vt., told me
that he had seen whole pastures so covered that he
could not put down his finger in a single spot, with-
out placing it upon a worm. He said, he had seen
more than ten bushels in a heap. They were unlike
any thing which the present generation have ever
seen. There was a stripe upon the back like black
velvet : on either side a yellow stripe from end to end;
and the rest of the body was brown. They were
sometimes seen not larger than a pin ; but in their
maturity, they were as long as a man's finger, and
proportionably large in circumference. They appear-
ed to be in great haste except when they halted to
devour their food. They filled the houses of the in-
habitants, and entered their kneading-troughs, as did
the frogs in Egypt. They would go up the side of a
house, and over it, in such a compact column, that
nothing of boards or shingles could be seen ! They
did not take hold of the pumpkin-vine, peas, pota-
toes, or flax ; but wheat and corn disappeared before
them as by magic. They would climb up the stalks of
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 105
wheat, eat off the stalk just below the head, and
almost as soon as the head had fallen upon the ground,
it was devoured. To prevent this, the men would
*' draw the rope," as they termed it ; that is, two men
would take a rope, one at each end, and pulling from
each other until it was nearly straightened, they would
then pass through their wheat fields, and brush off
the worms from the stalks, and by perpetual action
they retarded the destruction of their wheat ; but it
was doomed, finally, to extinction.
There were fields of corn on the meadows in Haver-
hill and Newbury standing so thick, large and tall,
that in some instances it was difficult to see a man
standing more than one rod in the field f«om the out-
ermost row ; but in ten days from the first appearing
of the Northern Army, nothing remained of this corn
but the bare stalks ! Every expedient was resorted
to by the inhabitants to protect their fields of corn,
but all in vain. In the first place, they dug Frenches
around their fields, a foot and a half deop, hoping
this might prove a defence ; but they soon filled the
ditch, and the millions that were in the rear went
over on the backs of their fellows in the trench, and
took possession of the interdicted food.
The inhabitants then adopted another expedient to
save those fields yet standing. They cut a trench as
106 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
before ; then took round and smooth sapling sticks,
of six or eight inches in diameter, and six or eight
feet in length, sharpened them to a point, and with
these made holes in the bottom of the ditch, once in
two or tliree feet ; and, as their meadows were bot-
tom lands, they experienced no difficulty in extending
these holes to two and three feet in depth, below the
bottom of the trench. The sides of these holes were
made smooth by the bar or lever which made the
holes, and as soon as the worm stepped from the prec-
ipice, he landed at the bottom, and could not ascend
again ; indeed, he was soon buried alive by his unfor-
tunate fellows, who succeeded him in his downfall.
Now, those who made these holes to entrap their in-
vaders, went around their fields, and plunged these
pointed levers into the holes filled with worms, and
destroyed every one of them at a single thrust, wheth-
er it was a peck or half a bushel. By unremitting
effort in this way, some reserved to themselves corn
enough for seed the next year.
About the first of September, the worms suddenly
disappeared ; and where they terminated their earthly
career is unknown, for not the carcass of a worm was
seen. In just eleven years afterward, in 1781, the
same kind of worm appeared again, and the fears of
the people were much excited ; but they were com-
07 THE COOS COUNTRY. 107
paratively few in number, and no one of the kind has
ever been seen since.
This visitation, which destroyed the principal grains
of that year, was felt severely by all the new settle-
ments ; for it not only cut off their bread-stuffs, but
it deprived them of the means of making their pork
to a great degree, and reduced the quantity of fodder
for their cattle. The settlements at Haverhill and
Newbury did not feel this calamity quite so much as
those infant settlements in the towns north and south
of them. They had been longer in their settlements,
had some old stock of provisions on hand, and had
more means to procure supplies from Oharlestown, or
by the way of Oharlestown. Jonathan Tyler, of
Piermont, related to me, that the settlements in that
town were left without the means of subsistence from
their own farms. His father drew hay on a hand
sled upon the ice, from the great Ox Bow in Newbury,
to support his cow the following winter. And had it
not been for two sources opened for their support,
they must have deserted the town. One was the ex-
traordinary crop of pumpkins in Haverhill and New-
bury. The corn being cut off, and the pumpkins re-
maining untouched by the Northern Army, they grew
astonishingly, and seemed to cover the whole ground
where the corn had stood, and the yield was great.
108 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The people of Haverhill and Newbury gave the set-
tlers in Piermont the privilege of carrying away,
gratis, as many pumpkins as they would. They went
up, made a kind of raft and transported them by
water to Piermont. Their raft was a novelty in its
kind, and will show us how truly *' necessity is the
mother of invention." They cut them two straight
trees from forty to fifty feet in. length, and from fif-
teen to eighteen inches in diameter ; and enough of
these were generally found, already felled and dry, to
answer their purpose. They bored holes near the
ends of these trees, and introduced slats to hold them
together at each end, in the manner that the long
body of a hay-cart is made, only at twice or thrice
the distance from each other that the sides of a hay-
cart are placed. These two sides were first placed in
the water, and then joined together. The pumpkins
were then brought from the fields, which were con-
tiguous to the river, and placed in the water, in this
oblong square, until it was filled ; the pumpkins, be-
ing buoyant, would not sink, and could not escape
from their pen. Two men in a skiff would then
weigh anchor, and tow the raft of tons' weight to
Piermont shores, where the freight was landed, and
conveyed to the habitations of men !
Another source of support was opened to them in
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 109
the immense number of pigeons which Providence
sent them immediately upon the disappearance of the
Northern Army. Nothing could equal their num-
ber, unless it was the worms which had preceded
them. The Tylers of Picrmont, Daniel, David, and
Jonathan, commenced taking pigeons on the meadow,
west of Haverhill Corner, and in the space of ten
days, they had taken more than four hundred dozen !
They carried them to Piermont, and made what is
defined, in the Yankee vocabulary, *'a bee," for
picking pigeons ; and two or three times a week the
people of Haverhill were invited down to Mr. Tyler's
to pick pigeons. Those who went had the meat of
all they picked, and the Tylers had the feathers ;
and they made, says Jonathan Tyler, ''four very de-
cent beds of those feathers." The bodies of those
pigeons, when dressed, dried, and preserved for the
winter, were very palatable and nutritrious, and
proved a good substitute for other meats, of which
the inhabitants had been despoiled by the Huns and
Goths of the north. And we are bound to recognize
the Divine Goodness in this providential supply, when
the ordinary means of subsistence were cut off. - It
generally characterizes the Divine Government, when
He has tried his people.
I have already stated that the first settlers at Coos,
110 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
a number of them, at least, pitched their tents upon
the meadows, with a view of making their permanent
residence there, but were driven off by a flood in 1771.
Mr. Wallace, of Thetford, has furnished me with
some particulars relative to that freshet. He says,
this was a destructive flood to many of the settlers.
Some of their fields were buried in sand to the depth
of two and three feet, and they not only lost more or
less of their crops for that year, but their soil for a
number of years. Some of their habitations were in-
vaded and taken possession of by the water. Wallace
went to the relief of a family in Bradford, who lived
on the place now owned by Mr. Hunkins. It was the
family of Hugh Miller. His wife was the sister of
the far-famed Robert Rogers, the hero of St. Fran-
cois. When Wallace reached this habitation, he
rowed his canoe into the house as far as the width of
the house would receive it, took the family from the
bed whereon they stood, and bore them to a place of
safety. But Mrs. Miller, the next day seeing their
few sheep standing on a small eminence on the mead-
ow, surrounded by water, her husband being absent,
resolved on rescuing them from their perilous situa-
tion. She pressed into her service a young man by
the name of George Binfield, and they took a canoe,
and set sail for the sheep. They reached the place.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. Ill
caught the sheep, tied their legs, placed them on
board, and set out on their return voyage to the high
lands ; but when they came into a strong current,
they were carried down stream, until the canoe
struck a pine stub, and was capsized. All were pre-
cipitated into the water of the depth of ten feet.
When our heroine arose, and her companion in ad-
ventures, they caught hold of a stub standing about
five feet out of the water, and maintained their grasp
until another boat was obtained, and they were liber-
ated from their perilous situation ; but the wrecked
canoe and sheep were never heard from more. From
this time, the people sought a more elevated situation
for their habitations.
Jonathan Tyler, of Piermont, related an extraor-
dinary fact which occurred in this great freshet. He
said, a horse was tied to a log in a stack-yard, upon
the great Ox Bow, in Newbury, and when the water
arose, it took away the horse and the log to which he
was made fast, and the horse was taken out of the
river in Hanover alive, but soon died upon reaching
the shore. He would, doubtless, have perished soon
after breaking from his moorings in Newbury ; but
the log to which he was tied kept his head above
water, and prolonged his life many hours. Col.
Howard told me, that in this same freshet some swine
112 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
were taken away by the water in the north part of
Haverhill, and* were carried down to the Ox Bow,
where they made good their standing upon the top of
a hay-stack, where they remained capering about
until the waters subsided, and the owners procured
their property again. This calamity was not of equal
extent with that of the Northern Army ; but it was
so intimately connected with it, it was severely felt,
and it seemed as though Grod had a controversy with
these people.
We may learn something of the facilities for travel-
ling south and east from Haverhill Corner, so late as
1771, by the following facts. Jonathan Tyler came
into Piermont in the autumn of 1768, and he says,
''They seldom attempted to ride on horseback to
Haverhill for several years after they came to Coos,
owing to the badness of the road ;" and I have heard
it said by Judge Ladd and others, that a man from
Charlestown came to Haverhill, and mired his horse
so deeply on Haverhill Common, near Towle's tavern,
that was, that he had to procure assistance to extri-
cate the animal ; and the horse was rendered so lame
as to be unable to proceed on the. journey for some
days.
About this time, Col. Charles Johnston and several
others had been to Plymouth, and thought they
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 113
would return by Tarleton's Pond. They were re-
tarded by the roughness of the travelling, beyond
their expectations, and they were overtaken by night-
fall. They made their way for a time by feeling of
the trees to see if they were spotted; but they at
length could feel no spots, and despaired of finding a
settlement, or camp, that night ; and making a vir-
tue of necessity, they resolved to stand upon their
posts like good soldiers, and wait for the return of
day. It was a long night ; but day at length dawned
upon them, and, to their surprise and joy, they
found themselves posted near the little brook, east of
the establishment of Andrew Martin, one hundred
and fifty rods, perhaps, east of the ccTlonel's own
habitation ! For this reason, and because, I think,
the brook is yet nameless, I would call it Happy
Brook, we and our children, forever I
In the autumn of 1772, John McConnell and
family left Pembroke, N. H., for the Coos, and when
they came upon Baker's River, the intelligence
reached Haverhill that they were advancing. Upon
this, Jonathan McConnel, brother of John, went
forth on horseback to meet them, and to render them
assistance. The next morning early, Richard Wallace
left Col. Johnston's on horseback, to go out and ren-
der them still further aid, taking in a freight of pro-
114 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
yisions. Jonathan McConnell met the family sixteen
miles from Haverhill, took one of the children and
some baggage, and set out for Haverhill. Wallace
met Jonathan returning near the height of land, and
he promised to stop at the camp near Eastman's
Brook, and wait until Wallace and the family should
come up, and all spend the night together. Wallace
proceeded on, and met the family near night. They
were in a miserable plight. They were all on foot,
without shoes or stockings, and an old beast, a mere
apology for a horse, staggering under the weight of a
few necessary articles for the family ; some scolding,
some crying, and some laughing. It was soon agreed
that Wallace should take two of the children, one a
huge girl of twelve years, and another of two years,
(which would have been the infant, had there not
been another younger,) and return to Eastman's
Brook, and the rest of the family was to reach there,
if possible.
But in carrying this resolve into effect, Wallace
met with an unexpected embarrassment. It would
be impossible for the. girl of twelve to hold on, in
passing the sloughs and over logs, to ride in the
usual manner of females. But as Wallace was at his
wit's end to know how to arrange matters to his
mind, the mother stepped forward, and, by a single
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 115
flash of lier genius, cut the Gordian knot. ** In
fa'th," said she, ** there must be a leg on each side o'
the horse." And so the girl came into Haverhill.
But as Wallace ascended the height of land, he
became pretty well convinced that the family could
not make Eastman's Brook that night, and as there
was a camp on the height of land, which they must
pass, he dismounted, took a loaf of bread, run a pole
through it, and raised it above the top of the camp
outside, for the double purpose of keeping it from
the wolves, and of exhibiting to the family ; but, by
some fatality, they did not see it, and passed on ; but
as they did not reach the camp at Eastman's Brook,
they laid out all night, without food or covering.
Wallace had a hard task of it, likewise ; for when
he came to the camp at Eastman's Brook, where
Jonathan McOonnel proposed to stop, and to have a
fire for their comfort, he found no McConnel, no fire,
and not anything to make one of. McConnel had
concluded to make Haverhill that night, and leave
the rest to shift for themselves. Wallace now found
himself under the necessity of pursuing his journey
under circumstances *' somewhat alarming, and very
disagreeable," as he said in a prior adventure. Be-
side this great lump of animated nature holding on
to him in the rear, he carried tlie child of two years
116 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
before him ; and as the night drew on, it became
drowsy, and sunk down into his arms very heavily.
For a time, he kept it awake by calling its attention
to the howling of the wolves in the vicinity ; but at
length nature was overpowered, and the child sunk
down into a profound slumber, and he bore it into
the Corner in this condition. They arrived at Col.
Charles' house at twelve at night, a full moon favor-
ing them. The colonel was up, and had a good fire,
some expecting them, from what Jonathan McConnel
had told him. But Wallace was so much exhausted
by fatigue, and benumbed by the cold, that he
fainted on coming to the fire. The family arrived
the next day, and in just six months from that time
the girl whom Wallace brought in, was married to
Jonathan Tyler, of Piermont, at the age of ttvelve
years and six months. The Rev. Peter Powers mar-
ried them. This was the first marriage in Piermont,
At the time when these events, already stated,
occurred, and for some years afterwards, it was not
the expectation of the people at Coos that they
should ever have a road through to Plymouth for
loaded teams, but their hopes rested on Charleston
for heavy articles ; and the first time an ox-team
went through, it was effected by a company, who
went out expressly for the purpose, with Jonathan
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 117
McOonnel at their head. It was an expedition that
excited much interest with the inhabitants at home,
and the progress of the adventurers was inquired for
from day to day ; and when they were making
Haverhill Corner upon their return, the men went
out to meet and congratulate them ; and, as they
came in, the cattle were taken possession of in due
form, and conducted to sweet-flowing fountains and
well-stuffed cribs for the night. Their masters were
served in the style of lords, and their narrations of
the feats of " Old Broad " at the sloughs, the patient
endurance of " Old Berry " at the heights, and the
stiff hold-back of "Old Duke" at the narrows, were
listened to by their owners, with the liveliest demon-
strations of joy.
What feeble impressions do the children and grand-
children of those early adventurers have of the diffi-
culties which their ancestors surmounted to put their
descendants into their present inheritance ! Nor is
the change greater in the face of the country, and in
the condition of the roads, than it is in many other
things. Contemplate the then state of schools. Mr.
Wallace, to whom I am indebted for so many facts
in respect to the first settlers, writes, that when he
came to Haverhill, in 1769, at the age of sixteen, he
did not know his alphabet, could not write his name,
118 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and his first attempt at writing was upon birch bark,
with a tiirhey's quill. He further thinks that in
1772, not more than one school could be found in
every ten miles, on either side of the river, from
Orford to the Upper Coos. These were generally
constituted by a few neighbors combining and hiring
an instructor for a few weeks in the winter ; their
teachers being very inadequate, and their only books
the Psalter and Primer. Compare these means with
those now enjoyed by the rising generation ; and let
those who have made themselves merry by reciting
the grammatical errors and orthographical blunders
of their ancestors, perform a more splendid part in
the great drama of human life ; or let them ingenu-
ously confess that they are debtors to those who re-
ceived little, but did much, and left an example
worthy of imitation by all their descendants ; for it
is to be had in lasting remembrance, that by these
men, thus educated, our freedom was obtained, and
those institutions founded, which are our blessing
and our boast, and are the admiration of the world.
Speaking of the first settlers, Mr. Wallace further
says, ^' Those who first settled Haverhill and New-
bury were, for the most part, men of some property,
and were able to furnish themselves with land, some
stock, and tools, to hire laborers, and, in a short time,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 119
their houses were well furnished, for that day. They
were laborious, prudent, and economical, but were
very kind to the poor and sick. They were strict in
their religious principles, and all attended religious
worship on the Sabbath, neither men nor women
esteeming it a hard service to travel on foot, four or
six miles, with children in their arms, to hear the
gospel. "
Another class of persons, he mentions, that were
in more indigent circumstances. They labored hard
in the house and in the field, and whose earthly fare
was coarse, and sometimes scanty. Their beds con-
sisted principally of straw, and it was no uncommon
thing for families to lie on the floor, and some on the
ground, before the fire. Their bowls, dishes and
plates were all of wood, although in a few families, a
little pewter was seen. This class of persons, he
relates, more generally settled in Piermont and Brad-
ford, although there were families there in more eligi-
ble circumstances. The style of living in all the
settlements was similar where they possessed the
means. Boiled meat, peas or beans, and potatoes,
formed their repast at noon ; at night and morning,
pea or bean broth, and sometimes milk porridge ;
"but," says Mr. Wallace, " we never thought of hav-
ing meat more than once a day, and I never drank a
120 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
cup of tea during the three years and a half that I
lived at Coos." Many wore Indian stockings and
moccasins of raiv hide, when tanned leather could
not be obtained ; and some of the wealthier had In-
dian blankets cut into box coats, and wore luff caps.
Their clothing, in general, consisted of linen.
I will now leave the settlements at Coos for a time,
in their peaceful and thriving situation, and proceed
to give a concise history of some of the settlements
in towns south of them, which brought neighbors to
Haverhill and Newbury, and opened the wilderness
between them and Charlestown. For seven years
subsequent to the settlement of Coos, there was no
inhabitant in the town of Piermont. But in the
spring of 1768, Ebenezer White, Levi Root, and Dan-
iel Tyler, came into the town, and settled on the
meadows. In the autumn of that year, David Tyler,
wife, and son Jonathan came on from Lebanon, in
Connecticut. This is that Jonathan Tyler, who mar-
ried Sarah McConnel, as already related. Tyler
relates that wild game was exceedingly abundant in
Piermont in the winter of 1769. Moose yarded upon
the meadows that winter. Bears, wolves, and deer
were ever present, and some of them quite officious.
Several years after David and Jonathan Tyler came
into the town, a bear came into their barn -yard at
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 121
different times, "while men slept," and destroyed
their sheep. This was sport for Bruin, but death to
the Tylers. At length, Jonathan Tyler was aroused
to a just sense of the injury and indignity inflicted
upon them, and he resolved on revenge. He procured
three guns, and charged them heavily with powder
and ball, and retained them as "minute men," for
any emergency. A few nights after this array of de-
fence, Tyler heard the cry of distress in his yard. He
sprang from his bed, threw on some light article of
dress, seized his guns, and sallied forth, breathing
slaughter and death. As soon as he came near the
yard, he saw his bearship devouring his prey beneath
his feet. Without preamble or apology, the three
guns were "let off" in rapid succession, and every
ball took effect. One penetrated the heart, and the
assassin fell dead upon his prey, a huge enemy to the
fleecy fold.
At this time, Tyler says, they went to Gen. Morey's
mill at Orford, for grinding, which mill stood near
where Capt. Daton's mill now stands. He had been
to Charlestown for seed corn ; and to Northfield,
Mass., in a canoe, for bread-stuffs. But this must
have been when the crops were cut off at Coos.
At one period of this settlement, the greater joor-
tion of the inhabitants bore some one of the following
. 6
122 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
catalogue of names : — Root, Crook, Cox, Stone, Da-
ley, Bailey. They employed Dr. Samuel Hale, of
Orford, for their physician. He was a high free-liver,
and a facetious character, and used to amuse himself
by speaking of his patrons in Piermont in the follow-
ing couplet : —
"The Roots, and Crooks, and Elijah Daley,
Coxes and Stones, and Solomon Bailey."
But the merry doctor had to bear the expense of his
own amusement ; for when these families came to
learn the use he made of their names, they took it in
high dudgeon, and would never afterward employ
him as their physician.
Jonathan Tyler, of whom I have spoken repeatedly,
served his country in the time of the revolutionary
war, and when our troops retreated from Ticonderoga,
at the approach of Burgoyne's army, he was taken
captive, but did not remain long in captivity. The
manner of his escape was on this wise : — He was held
as a prisoner of war for a time on the west side of
Lake George, now called Lake Horican. For a time,
he and two or three others of his fellow-prisoners were
kept in "durance vile," and were watched with the
utmost vigilance ; but as they manifested no uneasi-
ness themselves in their novel circumstances, their
masters began to relax their vigilance, and they were
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 123
permitted to go among the British troops, and to
labor with them. At length, the British determined
on building a block-house on the east side of the lake,
and Jonathan Tyler, Daniel Bean, and another by
the name of Cowdry, volunteered to go and help build
it. After laboring a day or two, their axes needed
grinding, and they were permitted to go to a spring
of water just over a rise of ground, to bring water
for grinding, and for other uses of the company. A
bark had been laid down into the fountain, which
conducted the water off, and rendered it very conven-
ient in taking water at the lower end of the spout.
Tyler hung his pail on the end of the spout, and while
it was filling, he. Bean, and Cowdry, concluded to
take Frencli leave, and did so ; and Tyler says, " He
don't know but his pail hangs there yet." But the
poor fellows had like to have perished with hunger.
They left without a particle of food, and without
arms and ammunition, and the first four days after
their elopement, while they were hid in the woods
west of the Hudson River, they had nothing to satisfy
the cravings of hunger but leaves, buds and twigs of
trees, and the roots which they dug out of the ground.
And between the Hudson and the Connecticut, they
sustained a like fast ; but when they came to settle-
ments in the Connecticut Valley, they were the hap-
124 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
piest of mortals, and concluded they had done their
part towards the achievement of our independence.
David Tyler and wife, the parents of Jonathan Tyler,
both lived to a great age. They attained to nearly
ninety-five years.
The Congregational church was constituted in this
town in 1771. The Rev. John Eichards was settled
as their pastor in 1776, and labored with them twenty-
six years, and took a dismissal in 1802. The Rev.
Jonathan Hovey was settled over them in 1810, and
continued his labors five years. Rev. Robert Blake
commenced his labors among them in 1819, and con-
tinued them, with some interruptions, until 1836;
The statement in the Gazetteer of New Hampshire,
that the first settlement in Piermont was in 1770, is
an error.
ORFORD.
The town of Orford, which is ten miles south of
Haverhill, and seventeen north of Hanover, was first
settled in 1765. Daniel Cross and wife were the first
who came into the place, from Lebanon, Ct. They
came in June of this year, and pitched their tent
near where the Sawyers afterward settled, upon the
river road, south of Orford village. John Mann,
Esq., and wife, whose maiden name Lydia Porter,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 125
both of Hebron, Conn., came into Orford in the au-
tumn of 17t)5. Mann was twenty-one years of age,
his wife seventeen years and six months. They left
Hebron on the 16th of October, and arrived in Orford
on the 24th of the same month. They both mounted
the same horse, according to Puritan custom, and
rode to Charlestown, N. H., nearly one hundred and
fifty miles. Here Mann purchased a bushel of oats
for his horse, and some bread and cheese for himself
and wife, and set forward — Mann on foot ; wife, oats,
bread and cheese, and some clothing, on horseback.
From Charlestown to Orford there was no road but
a horse-track, and this was frequently hedged across
by fallen trees ; and when they came to such an ob-
struction, which could not be passed round, Mann,
who was of a gigantic stature, would step up, take
the young bride, and set her upon the ground ; then
the oats, bread and cheese ; and, lastly, the old mare
was made to leap the windfall ; when all was reship-
ped, and the voyage was resumed. This was acted
over, time and again, until the old beast became
impatient of delay, and coming to a similar obstruc-
tion, while Mann was some rods in the rear, she
pressed forward, and leaped the trunk of a large tree,
resisting all the force her young rider could exert ;
and when Mann came up, which he did in a trice.
126 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
there lay the bride upon the ground, with all the bag-
gage resting upon her. The old creature, however,
had the civility not to desert thera in this predica-
ment, and as no bones were broken, and no joints
dislocated, they soon resumed their journey ; Mann,
for the rest of the way, constituted the van instead of
the rear guard.
When they arrived in Orford, they very naturally
made Daniel Cross' tent their first resting place.
They were received with all that cordiality and hospi-
tality which characterize those who are separated from
all friends, aiid are enclosed by the solitudes of a vast
wilderness. Cross had reared a shelter, for his cow
adjoining his own tent, and for that night the cow
was ejected, and Cross and his wife occupied her
apartment, while Mann and his wife improved the
parlor. But they were doomed to a sad adventure
that night. Cross had felled a large tree, the butt
end of which constituted no inconsiderable portion of
one side of his house. Into this log he had bored two
holes, about four feet apart, and sharpening two sap-
ling poles, he had driven them horizontally into the
log, to form the two side pieces of a bedstead. The
other end of the poles were supported by two perpen-
dicular posts, in the manner of ordinary bedsteads.
Elm bark served for cord and sacking. This rigging
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 127
was adequate to sustain Cross and his companion, a
light couple ; but when Mann and his partner came
into possession, it was another affair. Mann was of
gigantic stature. Soon after all had retired to rest,
this frail fabric of a bedstead suddenly gave way with
a loud crash, which frightened the tenants of both
apartments prodigiously.- Mrs. Mann screamed, and
this was suddenly responded to from Cross' apartment,
*^What is the matter ?" But after mutual explana-
tions and apologies, Mann and his wife resumed a
recumbent position upon the Jloo?^ and enjoyed a
refreshing sleep, with the exception of an occasional
interruption from a sudden burst of laughter in the
cow apartment, where Cross and his wife lay, reflect-
ing upon the startling scene through which they had
passed unscathed. Esquire Mann related this adven-
ture after he was more than eighty years of age, and
he did it with that impassioned emotion, which tend-
ed to impress the mind of the hearer as though it was
an event that had recently transpired.
Soon after Mann came to Orford, he took a log-
canoe near where Cross lived, and ascended the river
to the place where the Orford bridge now is. He
went ashore to reconnoitre and to spy out the land.
The soil supported a huge growth of wood and a
dense underbrush. The surface was covered with a
128 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
tall, thick, and white moss, and had every appearance
of being boggy. Mann thought he would penetrate
a little way into the forest, and take some care and
not needlessly wet his feet. He accordingly stepped
with caution, jumped from one little mound to an-
other, and when he got upon a windfall, he would
improve the whole length "of it. But while thus
making his way, he lost the centre of gravity, when
on an old log, and fell to the ground. But instead of
plunging into a bog, as he expected, he came " plump
on to hard and dry soil," that beautiful bottom land
which he and others have so long cultivated to great
advantage.
Mrs. Mann, after they were settled in their own
tent, went to the river, and brought all the water
they used in a three-pint basin, with the exception of
washing days.
John Mann, Jun., Esq., was the first English child
born in the town. May 21, 1766, and if now living,
must be in his seventy-fourth year. The same au-
tumn in which Mann came into Orford, Jonathan
and Edward Sawyer, Gen. Israel Morey, and a Mr.
Caswell, all from Connecticut, came in and settled.
The first church in Orford was constituted in 1770.
The Rev. Oliver Noble, their first minister, was or-
dained, November 5, 1771, and was dismissed, De-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 129
cember 31, 1777. Then there was an interregnum
of about ten years, and the Rev. John Sawyer was
ordained over them, October 22, 1787. He continued
with them but about eight years, and was dismissed
1795. Rev. Sylvester Dana was ordained over them,
May 20, 1801. He continued their pastor twenty-one
years — dismissed, April 30, 1822. Rev. James D.
Farns worth was ordained, January 1, 1823. Mr.
Farnsworth has been dismissed, and he has a success-
or, Mr. Campbell ; but the dates of those events I
must leave to my successor in gathering statistics.
Mr. Mann relates that when he came into the town,
and for some years after, deer and bear were very nu-
merous, and some moose in the east part of the town.
He has been up on the elevated ground, east of the
river road, after a new-fallen snow, and seen deer
tracks almost as plentifully imprinted as we see sheep
tracks where the latter are yarded.
As Mann came on from Charlestown, he found in
the town of Claremont, two openings by young men
of the name of Dorchester. In Cornish there was
but one family, that of Moses Chase. In Plainfield
there was one family, Francis Smith. The wife was
'* terribly " home-sick, and she declared she " would
not stay there in the woods." In Lebanon, there
were three families, Charles Hill, son, and son-in-
G*
130 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
law, a Mr. Pinnick. In Hanover, there was one fam-
ily, Col. Edmund Freeman, and several young men,
who were making settlements. In Lyme, there were
three families, all by the name of Sloan — John, Wil-
liam, and David. This statement differs materially
from what we find in the Gazetteer of New Hampshire
in respect to the first settlers in those towns. But I
have long since lost all confidence in gazetteers, when
they attempt to give facts anterior to recorded facts,
and they never can be depended upon, so long as no
better means are employed than those which have
been used to gain information. The method has or-
dinarily been to write to some post-master, justice of
the peace, or some other man, and request him to
furnish them with the early settlement of the town,
both recorded facts and traditionary tales. But
where is there a man, who, upon such an application,
will devote one week to the examination of records,
or to visit the aged to gain information ? Not one,
we believe, in fifty, if there is one in a hundred.
And in most cases, it would require all of one month
to make a correct report. In general, there is not
one line on record in regard to first settlers. Their
records begin with the charter, which might have
come into existence years before the settlement, or
years afterward ; but most persons are ready to take
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 131
it for granted, that their town was settled the year it
was chartered, and that some of the first names spec-
ified in the charter were the first settlers. But noth-
ing can be more uncertain than this. Besides, every
town has its favorite stories derived from tradition,
which they wish to establish ; and almost every man
wishes to bring forward his ancestors to figure as
principal characters, which never were such, and it
may be, never were distinguished for anything, unless
it were stupidity or knavery. But this application
furnishes him with an opportunity to palm upon the
public a bloated account of his pedigree, and, instead
of going to the ancient records, if there are any, or
to the aged, he sits down and writes what is most sat-
isfactory to himself, and it soon appears as matter of
history. I need not specify particular instances of
this fraud. They are many. Almost every town, if
they should make a thorough investigation, will find
that they have been misrepresented, and in some in-
stances grossly insulted. I invite the attention of
the people of Haverhill, especially, to these remarks.
I would not diminish the interest which the public
may feel in Farmer and Moore's Gazetteer of New
Hampshire. They have done well. Every family
ought to possess it. It is worth a million of Thomp-
son's Gazetteer of Vermont ; but they ought to have
132 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
sent a competent agent into every town in the state to
collect statistics, before they had published. Leba-
non is made the first town settled north of Charles-
town, before Haverhill or Newbury, contrary to the
united testimony of the first settlers in all the towns
above them. Esquire Mann and Esquire Otis Free-
man agree in their statement in respect to Lebanon.
•Has Lebanon authentic documents to show that their
town was settled as early as 1760, or the spring of
1761 ? They can show that their town was chartered
then; but can they show that it was settled? If they
can, let the truth stand. Plainfield, Mann and Free-
man tell us, had one family in it in 1765 ; our
Gazetteer shows us two men there, L. Nash and J.
Eussell, in 1764, and the next year, when Mann and
Freeman came through, 1765, it tells us of a church
organized, and a settled minister, Kev. Abraham
Carpenter. Has the town these documents ? If
they have, it is the first instance in which I have
found the first settlers deviating from the truth ; but
they harmonize with wonderful exactness when we
compare all their statements.
I have nothing further to speak of Lyme, that is
prior to what is recorded and published. The
church, according to the Gazetteer, was constituted
in 1772. Rev. William Conant was settled as their
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 133
pastor in 1773. Rev. Nathaniel Lambert, previously
settled at Newbury, Vt., was settled in Lyme in 1811.
Rev. Baxter Perry was settled, 1821. The Rev.
Erdix Tenney is their present pastor.
The first family which came into Hanover was that
of Col. Edmund Freeman, who lived in the east part
of the town. He came in May, 1765, from Mans-
field, Conn. He brought with him a wife and two
children, and his brother, Otis Freeman, then of the
age of seventeen. Several other young men came in
the same season. Deacon Jonathan Curtis and son
came ; but he did not move his family until 1766.
Col. Edmund Freeman gave the name of Hanover to
the town.
I have already related the circumstances of the
first marriage in the town. The first death which
occurred was that of a child in the family of Deacon
Benton ; it died of consumption at the age of four-
teen months. The first meeting-house was built of
logs, and stood near the river, between Timothy
Smith's and Mr. Tisdale's. The proprietors of the
town first employed the Rev. Knight Saxton, of Col-
chester, Conn., to preach to these settlers in the
summers of 1766 and 1767. Subsequently, Dr. Mc-
Clure, of Boston, was employed to preach to the
people ; and Eden Burroughs, D. D., of Stratford,
134 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Conn., who had been previously settled at Killingly,
Windham Co., Conn., was installed over this church
and people in 1772. Dr. Burroughs was dismissed
in 1809, and Rev. Josiah Towne was ordained, June,
1814. Mr. Towne has been dismissed, and another
clergyman has been settled ; but I know not his
name.
A full and satisfactory account of the origin of
Dartmouth College, in the town of Hanover, of its
progress and prosperity, has been given to the public
through different channels, and is so far above my
feeble praise, it needs not to be further noticed in
these sketches.
I now pass on to the west side of the river, and
speak of the settlement of Norwich, Vt. I shall re-
late a plain story, which I took from the lips of Rev.
Asa Burton, D. D., of Thetford, Vt., when he was
at the age of 72, and sound, both in mind and body.
He relates that his father, Jacob Burton, of Stoning-
ton. Conn., came to Norwich first in the summer of
1764, and viewed the country for the purpose of lo-
cating himself, provided he was suited with appear-
ances. **At that time," he says, "there was no in-
habitant in the town." The next year, 1765, his
father returned to Norwich, and laid out a part of
the town into lots ; and in June, 1776, he came with
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 135
Asa, his son, then in his fourteenth year, and some
other hands, and built a saw-mill, a little west of
Norwich Plain. Dr. Burton says, ^' There were then
but two families in the town ; one by the name of
Messenger, who lived at the west end of the present
bridge leading from Hanover to Norwich ; and a Mr.
Hutchinson, who lived near where the Military Acad-
emy now stands. Hanover Plain was at this time a
thick pine forest." Messenger and Hutchinson came
into Norwich either in 1765, or the spring of 1766.
He further says, ** There was no minister, at that
time, nearer than Newbury and Haverhill, at Coos ;
but in a few years Mr. Conant settled at Lyme, Dr.
Burroughs at Hanover, Mr. Isaiah Potter at Leba-
non, and Mr. Lyman Potter at Norwich." Where,
now, is Rev. Mr. Carpenter of Plainfield, in 1765,
at the distance of twelve or fourteen miles from
Norwich ?
But now for Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont,
published at Montpelier, in 1824. He has it, that
in 1763, Jacob Fenton, Ebenezer Smith, and John
Slafter, came into Norwich from Mansfield, Conn. ;
that at this time there were two men settled in Han-
over ; that in July, Smith and Slafter left Fenton on
Wednesday, for the purpose of hoeing corn in Leba-
non, and that on their return on Saturday, at even-
136 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ing, they found Fenton dead in their camp. It
appeared afterwards, that a Mr. Freeman, of Han-
over, happened over at Norwich, and found Fenton
sick, tarried with him until he died, and then went
to Lebanon to procure help to bury him, and he was
buried, July 15, 1765 ; that there were four families
moved into Norwich in 1764, and from that time the
settlement advanced rapidly. Now, for the correct-
ness of this statement. He says, that in 1763, there
were two men in Hanover, and one of them, at least,
was a Mr. Freeman. But the very Mr. Freeman here
alluded to, which was Col. Otis Freeman, gave me
the particulars of his finding Fenton sick in his
tent — he had had a fit ; and that it was the same
year he and his brother came into Hanover, viz.,
1785. Thompson further states, that Fenton was
taken sick, and died in July, 1763, and was buried
July 15, 1765. According to this, there were but
three years which intervened between his death and
burial ! But this might be owing to his sudden
death, and tlie extreme warmth of the season.
Again, four families moved into Norwich in 1764,
and from this period the settlement advanced with
considerable rapidity. But in 1765, when they con-
cluded to bury Fenton, they had to depend on Free-
man, of Hanover, to go after Smith and Slafter to
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 137
Lebanon, to procure help for the burial, and Fen ton
is left ** alone" in the town ! Now, let us take this
which way we will, it is nothing but jargon ; and it
shows conclusively that there was not one moment
given to the examination of dates by the compiler of
this work, but whatever was sent to him in the form
of a statistic, was received as authentic.
I notice these egregious blunders to confirm what I
have already said, that gazetteers cannot be relied
upon for statements which are not supported by
written documents. And I have another object in
view, which is, to show those who would be compilers
of gazetteers, that they have something to do besides
calling for crude papers, and publishing them. No
man ought to think of publishing another gazetteer,
either of New Hampshire or Vermont, in a less com-
pass than nine hundred pages of large octavo, first
expending three thousand dollars in collecting and
arranging materials, and then giving it to the public
at three dollars per copy.
There is but one apparent discrepancy between
Dr. Burton's statement, and Col. Otis Freeman's.
I say apparent, because it can be easily reconciled.
Dr. Burton says there were but two families in the
town when he came in 1766 ; whilst Freeman says.
Smith and Slafter were there in 1765, and the fami-
138 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
lies mentioned by Burton bore the name, Messenger
and Hutchinson. But suppose Smith and Slafter
were there in 1766, Burton was not speaking of
single men, but of men with families. I find the
first settlers made this distinction in all their state-
ments. Again, nothing was more common than for
young men to come in, and labor one season, and
then retire, and we never hear of them again : they
have sold out to another ; or they were in the service
of another man. Smith and Slafter might have
been in Norwich in 1765, and not in 1776, but there
again in 1767. But we must keep in mind that Mr.
Jacob Burton, father of Asa, said there was no one
in the town in 1764.
I again take up the thread of history. Asa Bur-
ton continued to labor for his father until he was
twenty-one years of age, at which time he entered
upon his studies preparatory for college, under the
tuition of Mr. John Smith, subsequently the pro-
fessor of the learned languages in Dartmouth College,
and he entered college in a little more than one year
from the commencement of his studies.
There was one adventure of young Burton, at the
age of eighteen years, which deserves a place in these
sketches, and which cannot fail to call the attention
of the people of Norwich to times gone by. A large
OF THE COOS COUNTKY. 139
female bear liad followed a cow belonging to Jacob
Burton, until they both came near the house ; when
the bear was discovered by one of the sons of Jacob
Burton, and was driven off from the cow on to a
ledge of rocks, north of Norwich Plain, and east of
the road which runs north and south. But the
young man was not content with releasing the cow
from danger, but he determined to worry the bear ;
and as he saw she was clambering up the rocks to
pass over the ledge, he ran round, and gained the top
of the ledge first ; and here he hallooed Asa, who
was chopping on the plain south of them. As soon
as Asa heard the call, he ran at the top of his speed
with his axe to the scene of action. By this time,
the bear had ascended to the verge of the rocks,
where Asa's brother stood, and she seemed inclined
to contest for a prior claim she had to a passage that
way. Asa saw the predicament of his brother, and
fearing he should lose his game, if the bear made
good her standing on the top of the precipice, he
pressed up the rocks in the rear of the bear with all
the haste he could possibly make. This inspired his
brother aloft with fresh resolution to keep the bear
from gaining the top, and with kicks and thrusts he
succeeded in keeping her below the precipice.. And
so sharp was this contest, that the bear did not ap-
140 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
pear to notice the approach of her assailant in the
rear, until Asa drew upon her with the head of his
axe, and laid the blow upon her rump, which
knocked her down ; and as he was unacquainted
with the hardiness and strength of the bear, he sup-
posed the victory was already achieved ; but she soon
found her legs again, and plied them with greater
diligence than ever in making her escape. The bear
now relinquished her hope of ascending the precipice,
and commenced descending the hill in an oblique
direction, with Asa pressing hard upon her rear.
But in his endeavors to surmount some windfalls
over which the bear had passed, he fell backwards
upon the ground ; at which moment the bear turned
back, sprang upon the log, showed her terrific teeth,
and appeared in the very attitude of leaping upon
him. This was the first moment that taught young
Burton his danger, and it brought him upon his feet
with new inspiration, and he resolved that henceforth
he would neither give or take quarter. He made at
the bear with redoubled fury, and compelled her to
retreat down the hill, and as she came near the base
she became entangled among the logs, and here our
young hero made a second onset, and fetched her to
the ground ; then turning the edge of the axe, he
sunk it into her throat to the very bone, and the vie-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 141
tory was his. This bear was one of the largest class,
and gave tokens that she was then employed in rear-
ing her young. My only remark in the conclusion
is, that others may kill bears, and I will record their
deeds.
The Rev. Lyman Potter was ordained over the
church and congregation in Norwich, in 1775, and
was dismissed, 1800. Rev. James Woodward was in-
stalled over this church and society, 1804. Previous
to 1820, a new church and society was formed upon
Norwich Plain, and the Rev. Rufus W. Bailey was
settled over them in 1 820, and was dismissed in 1 824.
Rev. James Woodward was dismissed from the north
church, and the Rev. Samuel Goddard was installed
their pastor, 1822. The Rev. Thomas Hall has been
settled over the church and society upon the Plain,
but is now dismissed from that charge.
Thetford was first settled, in 1764, by John Cham-
berlain, from Hebron, Conn. And in 1765, at the
time when Esquire Mann came into Orford, there
were two other families, one by the name of Baldwin,
and the other by the name of Hosford. Chamberlain
was very industrious, and somewhat parsimonious
withal, and soon rose to a kind of independence of
his neighbors, which he, as well as they, seemed to be
fully conscious of. Chamberlain did not rise, how-
142 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ever, above the reach of envy, and the wags of that
day selected him for their butt, at which they aimed
their pointed arrows of wit and sarcasm. It was not
long before Chamberlain was furnished with a penult-
ima to his gift name, as he seemed to feel that his
parents had wronged him in infancy by deciding that
he should bear the undignified appellation — John, it
being only a monosyllable. He was, therefore, dub-
bed Quail John, for what reason I have never learned ;
but it adhered to him through life. And in proof of
the fact that the Muses either preceded in their flight
to this section of country the first settlers, or very
soon followed their trail, I will put down some lines
which were composed, and often repeated in the hear-
ing of him whose praises they would celebrate :
" Old Quail John was the first that came on,
As poor as a calf in the spring ;
But now he is rich as Governor Fitch,
And lives like a lord or a king."
Fitch, to whom reference is here made, was one of
the governors of Connecticut about these days. But
Chamberlain was destined to higher and less perisha-
ble honors than the simple elongation of his name.
To him was born the first English child that was ever
born in the town ; his name was Samuel.
Thetford did not settle a minister until the summer
of 1773, when a man bv the name of Clement Sum-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 143
ner was installed their pastor. We know not the
placo of his nativity. He graduated at Yale College
in 1758, settled in Keene, N. H., June 11, 1761, and
was dismissed, April 30, 1772. He remained in Thet-
ford but little more than two years. He became a
tory, left them without asking for a dismission, and
went to Swanzey, N. H., where he became a Univer-
salist preacher, and continued in that persuasion until
his death. He was the source of much trouble to the
town of Thetford. He took from them a fine right of
land which fell to him by settlement, and divided the
church and town. Wallace says, " He was no more
fit to preach than a fox is to make a gold watch,"
We do not learn that there was ever any lack of fel-
lowship between him and his Universalist brethren at
Swanzey.
Wallace settled in the west part of Thetford, six
miles from the river, where he lived to an advanced
period of life. He relates a distressing scene which
was occasioned by an alarm that was spread through
the country in the summer of 1777. Wallace was at
Oharlestown, N. H., when an American scouting
party came in with a British scouting party, as pris-
oners of war, from Burgoyne's army. Upon these
prisoners were found papers, purporting that three
detachments of British soldiers and tories were to be
144 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
sent out to the Connecticut valley — one to Newbury,
one to Royalton, and one to Charlestown, N. H.
This was nothing but a strategem of Burgoyne's to
divert the Americans from his army, and the scout
was sent out for the purpose of being taken with these
papers on their hands, and it succeeded wonderfully.
The news spread through the country like electricity.
Wallace made all speed for Thetford, and found on
his arrival that the people had gained the intelligence
that they were to be invaded by the enemy, and they
were pressing in for the river from Strafford and other
settlements, in the utmost consternation. This was
done by order of the Committee of Safety. Strafford
was literally emptied. There were a number of tories
in that town. There were eight brothers in one fam-
ily went over to the British at once, and they carried
some others with th'em ; and their property was all
taken and sold for public use. Those who remained
true to their country's cause expected to feel the ven-
geance of these enemies ; and when Wallace came
home, he met, between the place where Thetford
meeting-house now stands and his habitation, men,
women and children, who had forsaken houses and
lands, and everything which they could not conven-
iently carry ; some in carts, some on sleds, some in
sleighs, in mid-summer, and some on foot. They had
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 145
their hands full of light articles of clothing, and
packs stuffed upon their backs, and were driving
before them cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. The
mixed noise of these different kinds of animals, and
the cries of women and children, who expected to be
overtaken every minute, murdered and scalped by the
infuriated Indians, tories, and British, were enough
to affect the stoutest heart. Wallace was looking out
for his wife, whom he supposed to be in the caravan ;
but they all passed him, and he saw nothing of his
beloved Creusa. Several times he was confident that
bright image appeared to his view in the motley
throng ; but, as they advanced, behold ! it was an-
other, and not she —
" tenuesque recessit in auras."
Wallace now put spurs to his steed, that he might
the sooner dissolve the doubts which had arisen in his
own breast, allay the anxiety he felt for his better self.
When he arrived at his hut, he found his wife stick-
ing by the stuff. Having no horse or oxen to aid her
in transporting the goods to the river, she had re-
solved to wait and see if there was cause for all this
trepidation and flight. She had, however, com-
menced carrying their household stuff into the woods,
and covering it with bushes, that it might not fall in-
to the hands of the invaders, should they suddenly
146 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
appear. They both completed the work which his
wife had so heroically commenced, and then both
mounted their horse, and rode for the settlements at
the river. The next day, Wallace and another took
a team, and went and brought in the goods ; and as
soon as they were disposed of, Wallace enlisted to go
in pursuit of Burgoyne and his army, wisely conclud-
ing it best so to press the lion in his den, that his
whelps should not feel at liberty to go abroad and de-
vastate the surrounding country. And this was the
effect of Burgoyne's stratagem generally. It returned
upon his own head. After the surrender of Burgoyne
and his army, October 17, 1777, Wallace returned to
his hut in December, where he and his wife lived
through the succeeding winter, without any chimney,
hearth, or floor, except three or four loose boards to
set their pole bedstead upon, that was corded with
elm bark.
Mrs. Wallace deserves distinct notice in this place.
At the time of the alarm, Wallace had corn, oats,
and potatoes growing on his newly-cleared land.
After he had gone in pursuit of Burgoyne, and the
alarm had somewhat subsided, Mrs. Wallace travelled
out six miles to see to their crops. She found the
oats ripe for harvesting, and many of them lodged.
She was all alone, and no man could be procured to
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 147
assist her in gathering them, for all that could be
spared had gone to tlie field of battle. Nothing
daunted at this, she took a scythe and mowed them,
dried them, raked them into bunches, bound them,
and stacked them in good style. She then took an
axe, cut poles, fenced them about, and then went
back to the river. When her corn-stalks were ripe
for cutting, she went out, cut them, bound them, and
put them on the top of her stack of oats. In like
manner she went out and gathered the corn, and dug
her potatoes, and secured both. She then went to
work at clearing some ground which had been felled,
and was burnt over the year before ; and when her
husband returned from the army, she had cleared and
sown one acre of wheat ; and during the absence of
her husband she had travelled, in going to and from
the river, seventy-two miles !
The following year they procured some sheep,
which they had to yard in a pen near the house every
night, to preserve them from the wolves, which were
numerous. Wallace being at work at the river on a
certain time, Mrs. Wallace could not find her sheep
to yard them at evening, and as soon as it came on
dark, the wolves set up a frightful howling, as it
seemed, within twenty rods of the house. What to
do for the safety of her sheep, she did not know ; but
148 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
on examination she found the gun was loaded ; she at
once sallied forth and discharged the sfun, to inform
the wolves that something was there besides mutton.
At twelve at night, she reloaded, and went forth and
discharged her piece a second time. And before day-
light, they heard from her the third time ; and at
sunrise, she went out and found all her sheep near the
pen, safe and sound, and the wolfish gentry swift on
the retreat.
This woman became the mother of eleven children,
nine of whom lived to enter into the married state,
and to have families. In 1828, these parents had fif-
ty grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
But the best part remains to be told. This woman
served as an accoucheuse forty-five years, rode in sev-
en towns, was present at the birth of twenty-one pair
of twins, and one thousand, six hundred and twenty-
four single births ; making, in all, one thousand, six
hundred and sixty-six, and never lost a mother of
whom she had the care.
Gentlemen and ladies of 1840, sitting in your
broadcloth, silks and satins, what say you to these
things ? Could not some things be done without
steam, railroad, or piano forte ? I would leave you
to pleasant reflections. Fidelity in a historian is a
jewel.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 149
There is one adventure of Wallace which must be
recorded before we take leave of him. It took place
in the fall of 1777, a little time before he returned to
Thetford from the pursuit of Burgoyne, as I have al-
ready stated. I receive the facts in this case from
two sources, viz, from David Johnson, Esq., of New-
bury, Vt., to whom Wallace and Webster both related
the story, and from the Hon. Simeon Short, Esq., of
Thetford, who was Wallace's agent in procuring a
pension, and who had, in behalf of Wallace, trans-
mitted the following particulars to the Pension Office
at Washington.
It will be recollected by those who are acquainted
with the history of the war of the revolution, that as
soon as the battle was fought at Bennington, and the
Americans began to hope that Burgoyne's army would
fall into their hands, they set about retaking the forts
of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, on the
shores of Lake Champlain, which forts Burgoyne had
left in his rear, supplied with troops for their defence.
Ticonderoga was taken, and Mount Independence
was straitly besieged for some time. There was a
good deal of hard fighting, and it was confidently
looked for, that Mount Independence would surren-
der ; but they did not. The British shipping had
full possession of the lake. Ticonderoga was upon
150 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
the west side of the lake, and Mount Independence
on the east side. Our troops on the west side could
hold no communication with those who had invested
Mount Independence, and of course they could have
no concert in action. It was at this time, when the
•greatest solicitude was felt by the two American com-
manders to know each others' minds, that the follow-
ing expedient was adopted by the commander at Ti-
conderoga. He called on his men to know if there
were any two of them who would volunteer to swim
the lake in the evening, and carry dispatches to Gen.
Lincoln, near Mount Independence. For a time,
none offered to undertake the hazardous enterprise ;
but when informed how much was probably depend-
ing upon it, Wallace of Thetford stepped forward,
and said he would attempt it ; and then followed him
Ephraim Webster, of Newbury, who originated in
New-Chester, N. H. The documents were made out
and about sun-down, an officer took these two men on
to an eminence which overlooked the lake, and he
pointed out to them the course they must take to
avoid discovery by the British shipping, and then
about where they would probably find the American
camp. At dusk of evening, the same officer attend-
ed them to the margin of the lake, assisted them to
prepare for the voyage, and saw them set sail, little
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 151
expecting, probably, ever to hear from them again ;
for as they had to swim up and down the lake, in a
zigzag course, to avoid the enemy, they must swim
more than two miles before they could make terra
firma, and it was so late in the season the water was
quite cold. They rolled their dispatches in their
clothes, and bound their clothes upon the back part
of their neck, by cords passing round their foreheads
and their clothes. As soon as they entered the water
Wallace said to Webster, ." We shall never reach
shore, it is so cold ; " but this he said without any
thought of relinquishing the enterprise. When about
mid-way of the lake, the cords which fastened Wal-
lace's clothes to his neck slipped down from his fore-
head to his throat, and it cut him so hard as almost
to strangle him. He made several attempts to re-
place the string upon his forehead, but failed, and he
was on the point of giving up all for lost. The
thought, however, of the importance of his under-
taking seemed to inspire him with new life and vigor,
and he succeeded in replacing the string, and passed
on without saying a word to dishearten Webster.
They passed so near the British shipping as to hear
the oft- repeated cry, *' All's well ! " They took no
care to contradict that report, but buffeted the
waves with stout hearts and sinewy limbs. They
162 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
kept in company until they came near the eas-
tern shore of the lake, when Webster seemed to fall
into the rear, a few rods at the north of Wallace ;
and just as Wallace struck the twigs of a tree which
lay extended into the lake, he heard Webster say,
" Help, Wallace, I am drowning ! " Wallace sprung
to the shore, caught a stick, and rushed into the
water, and extended it to Webster in the act of sink-
ing, and drew him ashore. Webster could not stand ;
but Wallace rubbed him briskly, and got on his
clothes, and he soon recovered so as to walk. How
aptly the poet's description of Ulysses, when cast up-
on the coast of Phaeacia, will apply to Webster, as
drawn ashore by Wallace, the reader will judge:
" From mouth and nose the briny torrent ran,
And lost in lassitude, lay all the man ;
Deprived of voice, of motion, and of breath,
The soul scarce waking in the arms of death."
Webster was so full of expressions of gratitude to
Wallace for the preservation of his life, that Wallace
had to caution him not to speak so loud, for the ene-
my would hear them.
But new difficulties now presented themselves. It
was now dark, and they were in a strange place. The
enemy was near, and had their sentinels on shore as
well as the Americans. And, what was worst of all,
they knew not the countersign of the Americans on
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 153
that side of the lake. They started, however, in
quest of the American camp, and after travelling
about, nearly one hour, they Avere hailed by a British
sentinel, and did but just make their escape. They
then took a different direction, and Wallace gave both
despatches into Webster's hands, and told him to
keep in the rear, and he would go forward, and if he
should happen to fall into the hands of the enemy,
Webster might have opportunity to escape Avith the
despatches. But they had not proceeded a great
ways before Wallace was hailed by a sentinel — '^ Who
comes there?" "A friend," says Wallace. '* A
friend to whom?" says the sentinel. '* Advance
and give the countersign." This was a fearful mo-
ment. Wallace hesitated for an instant, and then re-
plied by way of question — ** Whose friend are you ? "
The sentinel responded — '* A friend to America!"
" So am I," said Wallace, "and have important de-
spatches for your general." They were immediately
conducted to the general's quarters, the despatches
were delivered, and Wallace and Webster were re-
ceived with every mark of surprise and gratitude, and
every thing was done to render them comfortable and
happy. But Wallace never enjoyed the degree of
health afterwards that he did prior to that chill and
almost incredible effort. Wallace departed this life,
154 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
February 7, 1833, aged eighty. Mrs. Wallace died,
May, 1831, aged eighty-one.
Webster's subsequent history is worthy of a passing
notice. The last time he visited Newbury, he was
residing among the Oneida Indians, New York.
They had adopted him as their brother, promoted him
to be chief in their tribe, and, to render the tie indis-
soluble, they had given him one of the black-haired
maidens of the forest. AVebster's health was not per-
manently injured by his dangerous adventure.
The church and people in Thetford remained in a
divided state more than three years after Sumner left
them, until Dr. Burton came among them, in 1778,
at the age of twenty-seven years. He graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1777, read divinity with Dr.
Eleazer Wheelock, president of the college, until he
was licensed to preach the gospel, and he then went
and read with Dr. Hart, of Preston, New London
Co., Conn. As soon as Dr. Burton came into Thet-
ford, the unhappy divisions which had existed among
them were all dissipated as by enchantment. They
were all united in him, and all reconciled to each
other. They gave him a unanimous call to settle
with them in the gospel ministry, and he was ordain-
ed their pastor, January 19, 1779.
There were fifty-seven families in the town when
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 155
Dr. Burton settled among them. There were but
two families then living west of the present meeting-
house, viz, Richard Wallace, and a Mr. Osborn, liv-
ing near Mr. Wallace. They had no meeting-house ;
and in the summer they held their meetings in a barn,
and in a private dwelling in the winter. The first
meeting-house was built of logs, and stood near the
place where Dr. Solomon Heaton used to live, from
lialf to three-fourths of a mile north-east of the
present meeting-house, on the road leading from
Thetford to East Fairlee and Orford. The seats in
this meeting-house were movable forms, or benches,
like those often found in school-houses for children
to sit upon, and they were ranged on each side of the
house, the ends pointing towards one broad aisle in
the centre.
Dr. Burton related, in much good humor, one in-
cident which occurred in that house, that was of a
stirring quality. The doctor had a parishioner by
the name of John Osman, and he was an abominable
sleeper in the house of God. His habit in this was
so inveterate as to resist all remonstrance. It so hap-
pened, on a very warm Sabbath in mid-summer, that
Osman was seated on the end of one of those benches
next to the aisle. He was facing the aisle, and, in
order to find secure repose, he placed his elbows upoa
156 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
his knees, folded his arms, and leaned forward ; and
in this position he fell into a profound slumber. The
doctor saw him paying his devotions to Somnus, by
now and then a significant nod and a reel of the
body, but said nothing to disturb his repose. At
length, Osman lost his balance, and pitched his
whole length on to the floor, where he lay in the mid-
dle of the aisle, sprawled out like a spider ! The
shock with the audience was electrical. Many sprang
upon their feet, and some females shrieked out ; but
when they saw Osman gathering up his limbs in the
most deliberate manner, rubbing his eyes, and
scratching his head, the transition from surprise to
risibility was so sudden and powerful, that the im-
pulse was irrepressible, and for a few moments the
speaker himself labored to maintain the dignity and
gravity of his station. But it proved a specific in
Osman's case, for he was never known to sleep in
meeting after that event. It might be well, perhaps,
for some of our modern sleepers at the house of God,
if they were to descend as low in the Valley of Hu-
miliation as Osman did, provided their resurrection
should be as triumphant.
At the settlement of the town of Thetford, and
for a number of years subsequently to that period,
bears, deer, and sables were numerous ; but we hear
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 157
of no moose. Joel Strong, of Hebron, Conn., came
into the town on the 7th of May, 1768, and found
twelve families in the town. He first settled on the
bottom lands of the Ompompanoosuc, and as soon as
he began to raise corn, he was exceedingly annoyed
by bears in his field, devouring his unripe corn. For
a time he bore these injuries with all the meekness
which necessity laid upon him ; but seeing increasing
waste and destruction, he arose and shook himself,
and resolved he would seek reprisal. And now the
waxing moon smiled on his enterprise. He loaded
his gun with two balls, took his powder-horn and
bullet-pouch, and sallied forth to reconnoitre the po-
sition of his enemies. He had not proceeded far be-
fore he heard the ears of corn snap from their parent
stalks, as though there were a husking with the Bruin
gentry. Strong advanced slowly and cautiously until
he secured a good shot, and then he "let off," and
brought one huge fellow to the ground. This was
a signal for others to retreat, and without looking to
him whom he had disposed of, he pursued the flying
foe as fast as his legs would carry him ; and two
others ascended a large tree which stood near the bor-
der of the field. It was not sufficiently light for him
to distinguish his game in the boughs, and he struck
him up a fire at the foot of the tree, and there waited
158 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
for the return of day. The returning sun showed
him two sleek and lusty fellows, sitting in appropriate
angles of the tree, formed by the union of large
branches with the truuk. Strong now took deliber-
ate aim at the heart, and down came his bearship
from a goodly height, which made the ground trem-
ble again. With all expedition he charged his gun
the third time, and in a few moments the remaining
bear joined his comrade ujion the ground, and as they
had been lovely in the eyes of each other in life, so
they were not divided in their death. Strong was
now at liberty to visit the one that was slain the night
before, and he found them all bears of the first-class,
which remunerated him for all previous losses, and
their death secured his field from further depreda-
tions.
I have said Dr. Burton was ordained, January 19,
1779. The ministers called to ordain him were the
following : — Rev. Messrs. Powers of Newbury, Conant
of Lime, Burroughs of Hanover, Potter of Lebanon,
and Potter of Norwich. The last-named gentlemen
preached the sermon. But those who imposed hands,
and he who received hands, have alike gone down to
the dust. A new order of things has arisen ; and
how forcibly are we impressed with the words of the
apostle. For what is your life ? It is even a vapor,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 159
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
aiuay.
But very few clergymen labored longer in their pro-
fession than Dr. Burton did ; very few have been
more successful in bringing sinners to salvation ; and
there are very few whose influence has been more ex-
tensively realized than his. He prepared more than
a hundred young men for the ministry ; and his
Book of Essays, published in 1824, is rich in ideas,
and although we may differ from him in our meta-
physics, yet when men come to pay more regard to
ideas than to their dress, and when they shall prefer
thinhing to light reading. Dr. Burton will be read
with profit by every student in theology.
Dr. Burton departed this life, May 1, 1836, in the
eighty-fourth year of his age, and in the fifty-seventh
of his pastoral relation to the church and people of
Thetford. *^ The memory of the just is blessed."
FAIRLEE.
Of Fairlee, East or West, I have little to say. In
1766, Mr. Baldwin, who is mentioned as one of the
families settled in Thetford in 1765, moved from
Thetford to East Fairlee, and commenced a settle-
ment about half a mile south of the present meeting-
house, near where they turn off from the river road
160 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
to go to Fairlee or Morey's Pond. Mr. Thompson
in his Gazetteer dates the settlement of this town in
1768, and then he finds six men on the ground to
begin the settlement. Esquire Mann, of Orford,
says, Baldwin was his first neighbor west of him, and
he is sure he came into Fairlee the year after Mann
came to Orford. They both came from Hebron,
Conn. Mann knew that Baldwin spent a year or so
in Thetford, and then came up to Fairlee, and he
tells us the very spot where he commenced. Mann
could not mistake in this. I find that a new neigh-
bor, in those days, was not looked upon as a trivial
affair, and the time of its occurrence was retained
with great accuracy. It may be there were six men
in Fairlee in 1768 ; but Baldwin had been there two
years previous.
BRADFORD.
Bradford was first settled in 1765, by a man by the
name of John Osmer. He settled near the mouth of
Wait's River, on the north bank, and I have been
told there were traces of this settlement so late as
1824. This town was originally called Moretown ;
but afterward it was changed to Bradford. This
Osmer, or Hosmer, was a facetious character, and
would make himself sport at the expense of others.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 161
In 1765, soon after Hosmer moved into Bradford,
there came to his hut a transient Irishman, and spent
several days, laboring what he would for his board.
It turned out, however, that the Irishman was deeply
infected with a cutaneous eruption, which in some
modern languages has been denominated 'Hhe itch."
Osmer, resenting the exposure of himself and family
to this vile disease, by the intrusion of this Hiber-
nian, resolved on being revenged, and, at the same
time, have something to relate which would secure
him mirth at another time. Osmer, accordingly, re-
strained all appearance of resentment, and gravely
told the fellow that he knew a sure remedy for his
loathsome disease ; but it was a secret, and he did
not wish to divulge it. The poor fellow became very
importunate for Osmer to prescribe for him, promis-
ing to follow the prescription to the letter, and swear-
ing by the blessed Virgin that he would never reveal
the secret. Osmer at length took the man out on to
the meadow, where grew a forest of nettles, and told
him if he would strip himself, and run through those
weeds, it would insure him healing. No sooner said
than done. Paddy went through them with a lion's
heart ; but his misery for a time was excruciating.
This, together with the mortification of seeing how
well Osmer enjoyed his suffering, opened his eyes to
163 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
the fact that he had been imposed upon, and he im-
mediately took up his line of march, calling on the
Virgin to redress his wrongs. But this was not the
last of it with Osmer. As soon as Osmer's neighbors
were made acquainted with the fact, they dubbed
Doctor, and he bore this adjunct title with him to
the grave.
The next year, viz., in 1766, Samuel Sleeper and
Benoni Wright came into Bradford, .and pitched
their tent a little north-east of Mr. Hunkins' dwel-
ling, in the north part of Bradford, as I have already
stated in my history of Newbury. In 1771, Andrew
B. Peters, Esq., born in Hebron, Conn., January 29,
1764, came into this town. He came with his father
to Thetford in 1766 ; in 1769, he moved into Pier-
mont ; and in 1771, he came into Bradford, at which
time there were but ten families in the town.
Esquire Peters relates that the first grist-mill in
the town was built by John Peters, in 1772, and that
it stood on the south side of Wait's River, just above
the bridge on the great river road. The first saw-
mill was built by Benjamin Baldwin, Esq., in 1774,
and stood on Wait's River, where Baldwin's mills
now stand, or did stand, a few years since. Esquire
Peters relates a long-standing tradition, which went
to account for the name Wait being given to the
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 163
principal river of Bradford. It states that a man by
the name of Wait belonged to Col. Rogers' party,
which marched to the St. Francois in 1759; that this
man and some others, in their hasty retreat, came
upon the northern branch of Wait's River, and in a
famishing state, they followed down this river in
quest of game. Just as they entered what is now
Bradford, Wait and one or two others proposed to go
in advance of the rest, and see if they could not find
something to satisfy their hunger. They had not
gone but two or three miles before they shot a deer,
and when they had satisfied their appetites, they
hung up the rest of the savory meat upon a tree for
the relief of their suffering companions in the rear;
and that they might know who killed the deer, and
for what purpose the meat was there suspended, Wait
cut his name in the bark of the tree on which the
meat hung. When the rear came up, and found the
rich supply of food in readiness for them, they ex-
pressed their gratitude to Wait by giving his name to
the stream they were then upon, and designed it as a
remembrancer in all after-time, of the deliverance
which was there wrought for them. There is noth-
ing extravagant or unnatural in this narration ; and
if the town cannot give a more satisfactory account
of the origin of this name to their river, it may
stand for the true one.
164 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
About sixty years ago, a little son of Absalom
Fifield, who lived in the easterly part of Corinth,
strayed from home, and was lost. As is usual in
such cases, there was a very great excitement in the
public mind, as well as in the minds of the parents,
and multitudes went in search of the child. They
sought for him unremittingly three days, and began
to despair of the child, for they thought he must
perish with hunger, if he was not already drowned,
or devoured by wild beasts. But just at the close of
the third day, he was discovered on an island in
Wait's River, about five miles from the Connecticut,
and three miles from his father's. When he was dis-
covered, he was in company with a little lamb, and
was picking tall blackberries, without any apparent
anxiety. The boy was four or five years of age. He
and the lamb were the only tenants of the island.
They had contracted a friendship for each other, and
the lamb followed in the footsteps of the boy
wherever he went. But how either of them ever
got on to the island remains a mystery.
The Rev. Gardner Kellogg was the first settled
minister in the town — ordained, 1795 ; dismissed,
1809. The Rev. Silas McKeen was his successor ;
but I have not the date of his settlement or dismis-
sion. I might here notice some of the errors of
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 165
Thompson's Gazetteer in respect to the first settlers ;
but it is useless. There is no end to them.
PLYMOUTH, N. H.
I shall now pass into New Hampshire again, and
state a few particulars in regard to the settlement of
Plymouth, seeing it was one of the first towns settled
in the county of Grafton, after Haverhill. This was
the first town settled between Haverhill and Salis-
bury Lower Village. I received the following par-
ticulars from Samuel Dearborn, one of the first set-
tlers, and from the Rev. Drury Fairbanks, who
consulted the proprietors' records, and the church
records, for my assistance. Samuel Dearborn origi-
nated in Old Chester, April 15th, 1745, and came
into Plymouth, September, 1764. The two first
families which came into the place, were Capt. James
Hobart and Lieut. Zachariah Parker. They came
from Hollis, N. H., in June, 1764. Hobart married
Hannah Cummings, of Hollis, sister of the Rev. Dr.
Cummings, of Billerica, Mass. Parker married Bet-
sey Brown, of Hollis, niece of Benjamin Farley,
Esq., late of Hollis. Hobart settled on Col. Ed-
munds' place, and Parker settled where Capt. Moses
George did live, and perhaps does at this time. In
September of this same year (1764), came Capt.
166 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Jotham Cunimings, Col. David Webster, Lieut.
Josiab Brown, Ephraim Weston, James Blodgett,
Deacon Stephen Webster, and Samuel Dearborn, all
from Hollis, with the exception of Weston and De^ir-
born. At this time there was no bridge across any
stream between Plymouth and Salisbury Lower Vil-
lage, and no road but spotted trees. The first set-
tlers from Hollis passed over the Merrimack into the
town of Litchfield, and kept on the north side of the
Merrimack until they came into the town,of Holder-
ness, and then crossed the Pemigewasset into Ply-
mouth, a little south of Baker's River. Some of the
early settlers of Haverhill and Newbury took the
same route from Pembroke, kept on the north side
of Baker's River, into Coventry, and then down the
Oliverian.
The proprietors of the town of Plymouth voted at
Hollis, April 16, 1764, " to hire Mr. Nathan Ward,
of Newtown, Mass., to preach to the settlers at
Plymouth, four days this spring ; " this meant four
Sabbaths. It appears that the proprietors expected
that the settlement would be made sooner than it
was ; but Mr. Ward went on with the settlers, and
preached the time specified, and dwelt with them in
their tents. Mr. Ward received a call from them,
which he accepted, and was ordained at Newbury-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 167
port, in the meeting-house of the Rev. Jonathan
Pearsons, July 10, 1765. At this time there were
but eight families in the town of Plymouth. The
proprietors voted to give the Rev. Mr. Ward one hun-
dred and fifty ounces of silver for his salary, until
there were one hundred families in the town, and
then his salary was to be increased five ounces annually,
until it amounted to two hundred ounces^ and at that it
was to remain as his permanent salary, with thirty
'cords of wood. He drew, also, one right of land, as
the first settled* minister, and they voted him one
hundred and twenty dollars, as an additional settle-
ment. But what was the amount of Mr. Ward's
salary ? I find in Belknap's History of New Hamp-
shire, vol. i. p. 151, in note, that an ounce of silver
was estimated at six shillings and eight pence, lawful
money ; and accordingly, Mr. Ward's salary at the
first was equal to one hundred and sixty-six dollars
and fifty cents ; and that at the last it amounted to
two hundred and twenty- two dollars, exclusive of the
wood. This, at first thought, was a limited salary
for a minister. But upon a more thorough inspec-
tion of the matter, I think, we shall find it was better
than most ministers receive at the present day. That
money would purchase more bread-stuffs, taking one
year with another, at that day, than twice, and per-
168 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
haps thrice that amount, would purchase at this day.
They had little, and next to 7io company. Their
style of living was all different, and less expensive.
Then he had a settlement, and a full right of land,
which was enough to make two good farms. And I
think we shall all agree that there is not a minister
in the whole county of Grafton at this day, whose
means of living from the people are as ample as were
Mr. Ward's on the day of his settlement.
Mr. Ward labored in the ministry in Plymouth
twenty-nine years ; was dismissed April 22d, 1794 ;
died in June, 1804, aged eighty-three. A man of
God, and a great blessing to the town. Their first
meeting-house was built of logs, and stood a little
west of the Rev. Jonathan Ward's late dwelling-
house, at the foot of the hill, east of the old meet-
ing-house.
In April, 1765, Lydia Webster was born, daughter
of Stephen and Lydia Webster. She was the first
English child born in the town. At this birth, every
woman was present in the town, and every husband
attended his wife as far as the premises, and there
remained until the vote was declared ! This was a
great day in Plymouth. That child is dead; but the
mother was living with her third husband in Rum-
ney, the last I heard from her. She was the wife of
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 169
Joseph Dearborn. Josiah Hobart was the first male
child born in the town ; but he is dead, also. These
first settlers went to Concord, N. H., for their meal,
for one or two years after they commenced their
settlement, and drew it up on a hand-sled ; but they
soon raised an abundance, for their meadows were
very fertile.
Ephraim Lund built the first saw and grist-mill
near where Cochran's mills now are. Mr. Dearborn
says that in 1765, James Heath, from Canterbury,
Daniel Brainard, Esq., and Alexander Craig, made
settlements in Rumney. Soon after, a Mr. Davis
moved into Went worth, and Joseph Patch into War-
ren. Mr. Dearborn says he knows that these were
the first settlers in these towns, but will not be posi-
tive as to the year they made their entrance. Joseph
Hobart was the first who settled in Hebron, and a
Mr. Bennet first settled in Groton. Both of these
towns were settled by people from Hollis. About
the same time William Piper came into Holderness.
It was certainly as late as 1765. The same year,
Isaac Fox and a Mr. Taylor settled in Campton; and
Benjamin Hoit from Old Chester settled Thornton
in 1770.
Mr. Dearborn says that when Plymouth was first
settled, and for some years, moose, bears, deer, and
8
170 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
wolves were numerous. We may recollect that here
Capt. Powers and his company "shot a moose," in
1754. Mr. Dearborn relates one anecdote of one
Josiali Brown, who was famous for hunting at that
early period of the settlement. He was well ac-
quainted with Brown. He went out with snow-
shoes. Hunter started some deer, and in the pro-
gress of the chase the deer crossed the river into
New Hampton, and Brown attempted to follow ; but
in doing so where there was swift water, he broke
through, and fell in up to his arms. He labored to
throw himself on the ice ; but the water had so
much power upon his snow-shoes that his feet were
carried down stream in an instant, and he would
have to catch hold of the edge of the ice to keep
himself from being drawn immediately under. Find-
ing all his efforts ineffectual, and feeling himself
nearly exhausted, he began to despair of life for more
than a few minutes longer ; but at this critical mo-
ment, who should appear but his true and faithful
Hunter, who came directly up to him ! Brown with
one hand seized Hunter by the tail, and with the
other he helped himself. Hunter drew for his life,
and as the ice was rough, so that he had good foot-
hold, he drew powerfully, and they both were enabled
to overcome the force of the water, and Brown re-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 171
gained his standing upon the ice, happy in the reflec-
tion that both he and his anticipated game were still
at liberty to make the best use of their feet.
Mr. Dearborn tells us an affecting story of a lost
child in this town, in the time of the revolutionary
war. A Mr. James Barnes sent his little son of seven
or eight years of age, on an errand to a neighbor's ;
but he lost his way, and did not return at the time he
was expected. The father went in pursuit of him,
but not finding him, the neighbors were called on to
go in search of him ; and as the news spread that a
child was lost, the whole town came together, and
very many from other towns in the vicinity, and al-
though the search was continued eight days, no trace
of the child was ever discovered. It is very extraor-
dinary, that if this child perished by hunger, his re-
mains were never discovered ; and if he was drowned,
it seems that his body would have been ultimately
found afloat. But the great day will disclose the
facts in the case.
Much has been said in Plymouth and vicinity in
respect to the naming of Baker's River. It was called
Baker's River when the first settlers came on, and it
was called so in the journal of Capt. Powers, in 1754.
They have a tradition in the town, and they have al-
ways had from its first settlement, which explains the
172 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
liow and the luherefore, in this case. It is said that
while Massachusetts was claiming the province of
New Hampshire, prior to the old French war, Massa-
chusetts sent a Capt. Baker, from Old Newhury, at
the head of a company to ferret out the Indians, who
had their encampment somewhere upon the waters of
the Pemigewasset. Baker procured a friendly Indian
who led them on to Plymouth. When Baker and his
party had arrived on these meadows, the friendly In-
dian signified it was now time for every man to gird
up his loins, and they did so, moving forward with
all possible circumspection. When they had reached
the south bank of Baker's River, near its junction
with the Pemigewasset, they discovered the Indians
on the north bank of Baker's River, sporting in
great numbers, secure, as they supposed, from the
muskets of all "pale faces." Baker and his men
chose their position, and opened a tremendous fire
upon the Indians, which was as sudden to them as a
clap of thunder. Many of the sons of the forest fell
in death in the midst of their sports. But the living
disappeared in an instant, and ran to call in their
hunters. Baker and his men lost no time in crossing
the river in search of booty. They found a rich
store of furs deposited in holes, dug into the bank of
the river horizontally, in the manner bank-swallows
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 173
make their holes. Having destroyed their wigwams,
and captured their furs, Baker ordered a retreat,
fearing that they would soon return in too great
force to be resisted by his single company ; and the
Indians were fully up to his apprehensions — for not-
withstanding Baker retreated with all expedition, the
Indians collected, and were up with them, when they
had reached a poplar plain in Bridgewater, a little
south of Walter Webster's tavern. A smart skirmish
ensued ; but the Indians were repulsed with loss.
Mr. Dearbon has visited that plain, and seen and ex-
amined a number of skulls, which he sujoposed fell
in that engagement. One or two of them were per-
forated by a bullet. But notwithstanding the Indians
were repulsed, the friendly Indian advised Baker and
his men to use all diligence in their retreat, for he
said their number would increase every hour, and
that they would return to the attack. Accordingly,
Baker pressed on the retreat, with all possible de-
spatch, and did not allow his men to take refreshment
after the battle. But when they came into New
Chester, having crossed a stream, his men were ex-
hausted through abstinence, forced marches, and
hard fighting, and they resolved they would go no
further without food, saying to their commander,
" They might as well fall by the tomahawk as by
174 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
famine." The captain acquiesced, and they prepared
to refresh themselves ; but here was a call for Indian
stratagem. The friendly Indian told every man to
build as many fires as he could in a given time ; for
the Indians, if they pursued them, would judge of
their number by the number of their fires. He told
them, also, that each man should make him four or
five forks of crotched sticks, and use them all in
roasting a single piece of pork ; then leave an equal
number of forks around each fire, and the Indians
would infer, if they came up, that there were as many
of the English as there were forks, and this might
turn them back. The Indian's counsel was followed
to the letter, and the company moved on with fresh
speed. The Indians, however, came up while their
fires were yet burning, and counting the fires and
forks, the warriors whooped a retreat, for they were
alarmed at the number of the English. Baker and
his men were no longer annoyed by those troublesome
attendants, and he attributed their preservation to
the counsel of the friendly Indian. Now, it is said
that Baker's River was so called, to perpetuate the
brilliant affair, by Baker, at its mouth.
There was formerly another token of the presence
or influence of a Mr. Baker, not very remotely con-
nected with Baker's River. Salisbury was originally
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 175
chartered by Massachusetts, prior to the old French
war, and it was called Baherstown. As this was the
last chartered town in the direction from Massachu-
setts towards Plymouth, where Baker is said to have
had his adventure, it would not be very unnatural for
Massachusetls to honor his memory by calling this
township after him.
The Rev. Drury Fairbanks was settled in Plymouth
January 8, 1800, and was dismissed, March 18, 1818.
Rev. Jonathan Ward was installed, August, 1818,
and was dismissed about the year 1829.
I am now prepared to return to Haverhill and New-
bury, and to relate some events which occurred there
at a later period of their history. And as I have a
sad tale to relate 'of the Indians, who lived at Coos
for many years after the settlement by the English, I
will here commence it.
I have already stated the evidence we have, that
Newbury was an old Indian encampment, and that it
was with great reluctance the Indians yielded up
their interest in the Coos. That was a fatal step with
the Indians, when they connected their destiny with
that of the French ; for they became identified with
the enemy. They were greatly reduced in number,
and when the French were subdued, the Indians fell
176 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
with them, and they lost their remaining possessions,
principally in New England. Bnt after the old
French war, there were some of the St. Francois
tribe retnrned to the Coos, and lived until a more re-
cent date, when they became entirely extinct.
Among those who returned, there were two fami-
lies of special distinction — Joh7i and Joe. or Captain
John, and Caiotain Joe, as they preferred to be called.
John belonged to the St. Francois tribe, and had
been a chief of some note with them. He was at the
battle of Braddock's defeat, and used to relate how
he shot a British officer, after he had been knocked
down by the officer ; and how he tried to shoot young
Washington, but could not. He had repeatedly used
the tomahawk and scalping knife upon the defence-
less inhabitants of Massachusetts and New Hamp-
shire ; and when he was excited by spirit, he would
relate his deeds of barbarity with fiendish satisfac-
tion. He related how he mutilated a woman by cut-
ting off her breasts, at the time of an assault upon
the inhabitants near Fort Dummer, and he would
imitate her shrieks and cries of distress. He was
present at Boscawen, N. H., at the time the Indians
surprised the inhabitants of that place. It must
have been in 1746, or 1754. He related how they
took an old woman, and as they found she could not
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 177
travel as fast as they wished to retreat, he struck her
on the head with a tomahawk, and he said she made
a noise like a calf that is wounded on the head. He
was a fierce and cruel Indian, and was the terror of
the boys at Coos as long as he lived. He was, how-
ever, a staunch friend to the Colonies during the war
of the revolution. He received a captain's commis-
sion, raised a part of a company of Indians, and
marched with the Yankees against Burgoyne.
John had two sons — Pi-al, and Pi-al-Soosup,* both
very different from their father in their disposition,
being mild and inoffensive in their deportment.
Pi-al-Soosup was in the company commanded by
Capt. Thomas Johnson, near Fort Independence, in
1777, and as it was his first essay in arms, he was a
good deal terrified when the battle commenced, on
account of the tremendous roar of cannon from the
fort and a British ship in the lake ; but as the firing
from the ship and fort went over them, and did not
much execution, except among the tops of the trees,
Pi-al became reassured, and turning to Capt. John-
son, said, " Is this the way to fight ?" '' Yes," said
Johnson ; " fire ! fire !" "I say," said he, " this is
good fun ; and, raising his gun, fired.
Captain Joe was a young man when he came to
* French sound of t, like e.
8*
178 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Coos. He belonged to a tribe in Nova Scotia ; but
when Louisburg was taken, his tribe was scattered
when he was very young, and a remnant, he among
the rest, made their way to the St. Francois tribe,
and he grew up with them. This will show that
there was some connection between the eastern In-
dians and those of the north ; and it confirms the
tradition with the Indians at Coos, that when their
fathers heard of Love well's tight, they said, **They
must soon leave Coossuck." Undoubtedly, Coossuck
was the connecting link between Canada and all
south and east in New England.
Joe was a very different character from John. He
was aimiable, and never sought a quarrel. It used to
be his boast, that he never ' ^ pointed the gun ; "
meaning, at his fellow man. Joe's wife went by the
name- of Molly, and she had two sons by a former
husband when they came to Coos. The history of
this aflBair is, that Joe was a great favorite among the
fair daughters of St. Francois, and that Molly proved
unfaithful to her first husband, and eloped with her
two children, in order to enjoy the society of Joe in
the States. Her sons' names were Toomalek and
Muxa-Wuxal. Muxa-Wuxal died without causing
Joe and Molly any more grief than they experienced
in his loss ; but it was far different with Toomalek.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 179
He was literally a child for the fire. He was low in
stature, wanting two inches of five feet, but had
broad shoulders and haunches, and possessed extra-
ordinary muscular powers. His thick, stiff hair grew
down upon his forehead within one inch of his eyes,
and his countenance was truly fiendlike. He had a
murderous disposition, as the sequel will show. As .
he grew up, he became enamored of a young squaw,
named Lewa ; but another Indian, named Mitchel,
was his successful rival, and married Lewa. But
Toomalek determined on murdering Mitchel, and
taking his wife. He accordingly prepared his gun,
and watched for an opportunity to execute the horrid
deed. It was not long before Toomalek discoverd
Mitchel and his wife seated by a fire in the evening,
at the upper end of the Ox Bow in Newbury, at the
foot of the hill, just where the river turns north.
They were seated side by side, happy for the present,
and happy in anticipations, to all human view. Too-
malek took aim, and discharged his gun at Mitchel ;
but Lewa received the ball in her breast, and expired
that evening. Mitchel was wounded, also, by the
same ball which killed Lewd, or there were two balls
discharged ; but he soon recovered from his wound.
Toomalek was tried for his crime by his Indian peers,
Old John presiding, and he was acquitted upon the
180 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ground that he did not mean to kill Lewa, but
Mitchel ; and as he did not kill Mitchel, he was no
murderer ! This was making nice distinctions, and
it shows that these untutored beings were adepts in
the science of casuistry. But Old John was the sole
means of his acquittal.
But Toomalek still cherished a rancorous enmity
towards Mitchel, and his escape from justice, in the
first instance, encouraged him to make a second at-
tempt upon the life of Mitchel, who had taken an-
other wife as attractive as Lewa. Toomalek took a
bottle of rum and a white man, Ebenezer Olmsted
by name, and went to the wigwam of Mitchel, and
commenced treating the compamy. Olmsted ob-
served that Toomalek drank but little, whilst Mitchel
indulged freely in his potations. When Mitchel be-
gan to be excited by the spirit he drank, he com-
menced upbraiding Toomalek for the murder of his
wife, and for the wound inflicted on him. After
much crimination and recrimination, promoted and
aggravated by Toomalek for a specific purpose,
Mitchel drew his knife upon his foe, and made a fee-
ble pass at him. Toomalek then drew his knife on
Mitchel, and gave him his death-wound at once !
For this offence, Toomalek had his trial, and was ac-
quitted, because Mitchel made the first assault, and
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 181
Toomalek argued that he killed Mitchel in self-de-
fence ; yet all were satisfied that Toomalek was the
sole means of promoting the quarrel, and that he did
it that he might have an excuse for killing Mitchel.
But Old John, who delighted in blood, was still
using his influence to preserve the life of Toomalek ;
and he did it, as Providence overruled it, to bring
upon himself and family a terribJe calamity — nothing
less than the murder of his elder son, Pi-al ; and he
did it on this wise. Toomalek, Pi-al, and several
others were over on Haverhill side, and called at
Charles Wheeler's house, son of Glazier Wheeler, on
the little Ox Bow, about eleven o'clock in the fore-
noon. They were disposed to be somewhat noisy and
turbulent at that time, and manifested that they
had been drinking spirit. They asked for some
there, but obtained none. They left Wheeler's before
noon, and proceeded eastward. Some time in the
afternoon, they came along near whore the old court-
house stood in the north parish in Haverhill, west of
Major Merrill's house, now Mr. Hibbard's, where
they met a young squaw from Newbury, who began
to rally Pi-al on some past acts of gallantry. Pi-al
returned upon her measure for measure, which the
young lady took in dudgeon . She could give, but
not receive a joke. Perhaps Pi-al jested too near the
183 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
truth. She turned aside, and held a brief conversa-
tion with Toomalek, in a low voice, and then passed
on. Toomalek then stepped back to his companions,
and walked south by the side of Pi-al ; and in a few
moments he drew his long knife, and by a back-hand
stroke, plunged it into Pi-aFs throat. It entered at
the top of the sternum, and descended to the lungs.
Pi-al ran with the blood spouting from the wound a
few rods, and fell lifeless upon the ground. It was
supposed that in this instance Toomalek killed Pi-al
in obedience to the expressed wish of the young
squaw ; but he never criminated her. His compan-
ions ran and carried the news of the murder to their
English neighbors, and Toomalek was taken into
custody, without resistance, or an attempt to escape,
and was carried across the river into Newbury, for his
trial the next day. When the news came to Old
John that Toomalek had killed his son Pi-al, he was
overwhelmed with it, and his conscience awoke to its
duty. He was almost frantic through agony. He
confessed his sin in sparing the life of a murderer in
the two previous instances already stated. He said,
God had brought this calamity upon him for his sin ;
and both he and his wife spent the whole night in
loud lamentations and self-reproaches.
The next day, in the forenoon, a court was called
OF THE COOS. COUNTRY. 183
to try Toomalek, and after all the evidence was ob-
tained, they unanimously gave verdict against him,
and said he must be shot. They appointed, however,
a deputation to wait on the Rev. Mr. Powers, to
know whether that decision was agreeable to the
word of God. After hearing the evidence, he told
them he believed it was, and they immediately set
about carrying it into effect. By Indian law, Old
John must be the executioner, as he was the nearest
by blood to the slain, and he must avenge the blood
of his son. The ground floor of the old court-house,
standing opposite the burying ground at the west,
was the place designated for the execution. Tooma-
lek came to the place himself, without guard or at-
tendance, where John stood in readiness with his
loaded musket. He seated himself upon the floor,
said his Catholic prayers, covered his eyes, and said,
*'Mack bence;" that is, '^Kill me quick!" John
stepped forward, put the muzzle of the gun near his
head, and he was dead in an instant ! Joe and
Molly were both present at the execution of her son ;
and as soon as it was over, Joe took one arm, and
Molly the other, and they dragged the body from the
house and buried it. Molly had mourned and wept
bitterly for the death of Muxa-Wuxal, which hap-
pened the same season ; but she never shed a tear
184 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
over the grave of Tomalek, nor was she ever heard
to speak his name afterward. Old John was after-
ward found dead by the side of a log, at the foot of
the hill, near the present garden of William Johnson.
Old Joe was a staunch whig, although he had no
predilection for war himself. The '*red coats" had
broken up and dispersed his tribe in Nova Scotia,
and he never would forgive them. He rejoiced in
every success of the Colonies. He and Molly paid a
visit to General Washington, at his head-quarters on
North River, and he was received with marked atten-
tion. It was his boast to the last, that he had shook
hands with Gen. Washington, and he and Molly were
invited to sit at the general's table, after he and the
other officers had eaten . And so great was his anti-
pathy to the king of England, that he never would
enter his dominions after the war. Some of his
friends of the St. Francois tribe came down to New-
bury on purpose to persuade him and Molly to re-
turn ; but Captain Joe would hear nothing to it.
He would take his hunting excursions at the extreme
north of Vermont, but not pass into Canada. He
and Molly went to Derby one season for a hunt, and
built them a wigwam. The Indians of St. Francois
heard of it, and came out and stole Molly when Joe
was hunting, and carried her off to their quarters, in
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 185
hopes that Joe would follow ; but he would not.
And having followed a moose two days in full expec-
tation of taking him, when he came to find that the
moose had crossed into Canada, he stopped short,
and said — '^Good bye, Mr. Moose !" turned upon his
heel, and sought his repose in the states.
Joe and Molly have each a pond called after them
in the town of Cabot. Joe's Pond empties itself into
the Passumpsic by Joe's Brook. Molly's Pond dis-
charges its waters into Lake Champlain by Onion
River. Joe survived Molly many years. When he
became old, and was unable to support himself, the
legislature of Vermont voted him a pension of
seventy dollars annually. He spent his last years
with Mr. Frye Bailey, of Newbury. He departed
this life, February 19, 1819, aged 79 years. Report
made him much older than that ; but it could not be
true, if he was so young at the taking of Louisburg
that he could not recollect the name of his tribe.
At his funeral, the principal men of the town at-
tended. He was buried in the south-eastern corner
of the burying ground. His gun, which was found
loaded after his death, was discharged over his grave.
His snow-shoes are with Mr. Frye Bailey. With
Capt. Joe fell the last of the Indians at Coossuck,
that once fairy land of long-slumbering generations !
186 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
We have already spoken of the war of the revolu-
tion when upon individual character, fortified houses,
and commanders of companies, &c. But these times
require more distinct consideration in these annals,
because they form an epoch in our history ; and be-
cause they embrace many things which serve to de-
velop causes which for a long period have lain con-
cealed from general observation; which causes cannot
fail to interest the descendants of those who bore the
burden and heat of the day in which our independ-
ence was achieved. The first settlers at Coos sus-
tained, in common with their brethren, all the hard-
ships which were brought on the Colonies by the war
of the revolution; and, owing to their peculiar circum-
stances, they were called to additional burdens, almost
too grievous to be borne. They were yet struggling
with the privations and inconveniences necessarily
attendant upon new settlements, remote from old
towns and a ready market. They were frontier set-
tlements. They were contiguous to the strongholds
of the enemy, and were continually exposed to their
savage incursions. And what was worst of all, Ver-
mont was not an acknowledged state, although she
had often requested to be received into the Union.
This was owing to conflicting claims to these Grants,
set up by the states of New York, New Hampshire,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 187
and Massachusetts. No two of them could agree
who should have them, yet all could agree to oppose
in Congress the admission of Vermont into the Union
as an independent state ; and so influential were those
three states at that time, that Congress did not dare
to decide contrary to their wishes, although they
might see manifest injustice in their opposition.
The British were fully aware of the excited state of
feeling in Vermont in regard to this subject, and as
Vermont was rejected by her sister Colonies, they en-
tertained strong hopes that they should detach her
from the common interest of the Colonies, and bring
her to espouse the cause of the mother country. To
this end the British made every possible effort by
promises and threats. Their scouts traversed the
whole territory, promising the most liberal rewards to
all who would befriend them, and threatening ven-
geance upon the lives and property of those who
should adhere to the interest of the Colonies.
Vermont had a difficult part to sustain in the grand
drama then being acted. She stood between two or
more fires, and it required all her physical powers,
and all her finesse, not to founder in Scylla or Chary-
bdis. The alluring promises of the British had ac-
tually brought many to feel favorably inclined to
their cause, and it is thought that there were some
188 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of this description in high places. Others would lis-
ten to these proposals of the British for self-preserva-
tion ; for now these Grants were left to repel all in-
vasions single handed. It was also true that tories
from other states sought a retreat in the Grants,
where they were less liable to arrest, and where they
could with greater facility maintain correspondence
with the British. And so it was, that the British
came in possession of all the movements of the Amer-
icans, as soon as any plan was matured against the
enemy. But we ought here to state that there were
many true-hearted Americans in the Grants ; men
who were ready to sacrifice their property and to lay
down their lives in defense of their country ; and
those who took the field did nobly, and by their he-
roic deeds, they gained the distinctive appellation,
the Green Mountam Boys, a title which their de-
scendants are proud to bear to this day.
The policy which the leading men of that day
adopted was, not to declare, either that they would
or would not be independent of the mother country ;
intending thereby to save themselves from an invasion
by the British, and, at the same time, to present mo-
tives to Congress for receiving them into the Union.
This was a difficult part to perform, owing to the ar-
dor with which the British pressed the subject for an
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 189
immediate decision ; but it was maintained, and
Vermont finally secured her utmost wishes.
But while these things were transacting, there were
men, in almost every town, who had rendered them-
selves very obnoxious to the displeasure of the British
and tories, and they were unwearied in their endeav-
ors to get them into their hands. The tories were
relied upon by the British for those captures, and
they were by far the most dangerous foe that our
men had to contend with. They would intrude
themselves into the families of the whigs under the
mask of friendship, draw forth the secrets of their
breasts, convey them to the British, and then lead on
a scouting party to the threshold of their neighbor,
or, in his absence, kill his cattle or set fire to his
dwelling in the dead hour of night. We can hardly
conceive how distressing such a state of suspense and
watchful anxiety must have been during the long
period of eight years. But Newbury was annoyed
by these means far more than Haverhill, for those
scouts of the enemy had not the temerity to cross the
river, well knowing that a retreat would be next to
impossible.
There were several men in Newbury who had, by
their devotion to their country, excited the enmity of
the British and tories to a high degree, and they
190 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
were resolved on taking them. One was the Rev.
Peter Powers, who had preached and done everything
in his power to sustain the cause of the Colonies, and
he had already buried his oldest son, Peter, in the
army. But, as I have previously stated, Mr. Powers
moved on to Haverhill side for his security. Gen.
Jacob Bailey was another of these men. He was a
very prominent man at that day. He possessed
great influence with his countrymen, and the Indians
looked up to him as a father. He acted as quarter-
master-general to the troops stationed at Newbury
and in the vicinity, and the Indians were not over-
looked in the distribution of the daily rations. He
retained their friendship during the war. The Brit-
ish felt it so important to secure Gen. Bailey, that
they offered a heavy reward for his person, and many
plans were concerted for his capture ; but they never
succeeded. Col. Thomas Johnson was another man
whom they considered as a notorious rebel, as he had
distinguished himself at the taking of Ticonderoga
and the seige of Mount Independence, in the autumn
of 1777. At that time, Johnson went out as captain
of a volunteer company from Newbury ; but he acted,
a part of the time, as aid to Gen. Lincoln. When
the British surrendered at Ticonderoga, one hundred
of the prisoners were given in charge to Col. John-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 191
son, and he marched them back into the country,
where they would not be exposed to a recapture, and
where they would not diminish the rations of our men
at the fort. The British, of course, were desirous of
taking Col. Johnson ; but he eluded all their vigi-
lance utitil the spring of 1781, when they succeeded
in capturing him. It was on this wise. Col. John-
son had contracted to build a grist-mill in Peacham,
and when he went up with the mill-stones in March,
he put up at the house of Deacon Jonathan Elkins,
in Peacham, which house was surrounded in the night
by some British and tories, was broken open, and
Johnson, Jacob Page, Jonathan and Moses Elkins,
sons of Deacon Elkins, were taken prisoners. But as
I have Col. Johnson's journal of this date, it may be
more interesting to give the journal itself.
" March 5, 1781. This morning early, went over
to Haverhill with my teams for my mill- stones. Re-
turned before dinner, shod my oxen, took dinner,
and set out for Peacham at 2 P. M. This night put
up at Orr's, in Ryegate.
Tuesday, Gth. This day, being thawy and bad go-
ing, I was obliged to leave one of my mill-stones
within one mile of the place where we lodged. This
night arrived at Peacham with the other mill-stone.
Lodged at Mr. Elkins'.
192 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
" Wednesday, 7th. This morning, finding my oxen
lame, I sent Mr. Josiah Page, with the oxen, home.
Hired Jonathan Elkins, with his oxen, and went back
and took the other mill-stone, and returned to Peach-
am. Should have returned home myself this even-
ing, but was a little unwell.
^ '* Thursday, 8th. This morning, about twelve or
one o'clock, I awaked out of my sleep, and found the
house beset with enemies. Thought I would slip on
my stockings, jump out of the window, and run.
But before that, came in two men with their guns
pointed at me, and challenged me for their prisoner,
but did not find myself the least terrified. Soon
found two of the men old acquaintances of mine.
I saw some motions for tying me, but I told them
that I submitted myself a prisoner, and would offer
no abuse. Soon packed up, and marched, but never
saw people so surprised as the family was. When we
came to Mr. Davis', I found the party to consist of
eleven men, Oapt. Prichard commanding. Then
marched seven or eight miles, when daylight began to
appear. I found Moses Elkins looked very pale. I
told the captain he had better let him go back, for he
was drowned when he was small, and that he would
not live through the woods. He said he would try
him further ; but on my pleading the pity it would
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 193
be to lose such a youngster, he sent him back. We
soon halted for refreshment. To my great surprise,
I found John Gibson and Barlow of the party. Then
marched about four miles, and obtained leave to
write a letter and leave on a tree, then marched. I
was most terribly tired and faint. Camped down on
the River Lamoille this night.
" Friday, 9th. This day marched down the River
Lamoille, about twelve miles below the forks. One
of the finest countries of land that ever I saw.
Camped about eleven o'clock at night.
*^ Saturday y 10th. This day marched to the lake.
Underwent a great deal by being faint and tired.
The captain and men were very kind to us. A
stormy and uncomfortable night.
*' Sunday, 11th. This morning went on to the
lake ten miles, north of the mouth of the River La-
moille ; marched fifteen miles on the lake, then
crossed the Grand Isle ; marched ten miles to Point
Au Fer. Dinner being on the table, I dined with the
commandant of that fort, and supped with him.
Was well treated.
" Monday, 12th. This day marched to the Isle
Au Noix, went into the fort, into a barrack, got a
cooking ; but the commandant ordered the prisoners
out of the fort to a block-house ; but soon had sent
9
194 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
me a good dinner and a bottle of wine. Then Capt.
Sherwood called on me to examine me. In the even-
ing, Capt. Sherwood and Capt. Prichard waited on
me to Mr. Jones, where we drinked a bottle of wine.
Capt. Prichard and I slept there.
" Tuesday, 13th. This day marched to St. John's.
Col. St. Leger took me to his house, and gave me a
shirt, gave me some refreshment, which I much need-
ed. Told me I was to dine with him. Major Rogers
and Esq. Marsh and others dined there. Then gave
me my parole, which I am told is the first instance of
a prisoner having his parole in this fort without some
confinement. Lodged with Esq. Marsh.
'' Wednesday, 14th. This morning. Esquire Marsh
and I were invited to Capt. Sherwood's to breakfast.
Then Capt. Sherwood took charge of me, and I lived
with him. To my great satisfaction, this evening
came Mr. Spardain to see me, who was a prisoner to
me at Ti. He said, on hearing that I was a prisoner,
be went to the commandant to inform him of the
good treatment he and others had from me while they
were prisoners to me. The commandant sent him to
my quarters to inform me that my good treatment of
them was much to my advantage."
In this same journal, under date of June 14th, we
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 195
have the colonel's impressions from witnessing a Ro-
man Catholic procession, and his views of the Cana-
dians. He was at this time at Three Rivers.
^^ June 14th. This day there was a Roman Catho-
lic procession. Their walks, their shows, very extra-
ordinary. Their carrying God Almighty about the
streets is something new to me. I think it is a curse
to the land, and a curse to their king, to have such a
miserable set of inhabitants as these Canadians.
They are the most ignorant, superstitious, idle, and
careless set of people that can be thought of, spend-
ing half of their time in holidays and going to mass.
The women wear riding-hoods the hottest weather."
This journal of Col. Johnson will show clearly the
policy of the British towards different individuals of
the Grants, treating those of some distinction with
great urbanity and kindness, in hopes of wanning
them over to their cause, and treating others with
needless severity. Col. Johnson was treated with mark-
ed attention during his whole stay in Canada ; but
it fared differently with Page and Elkins. Johnson
was for some time kept at St. John's, and was allowed
his parole — not a parole to go where he pleased, but a
parole known in the military profession, which dis-
196 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
tinguishes between friends and enemies in camp ;
and it is a privilege granted to certain individuals
every day, and proclamation of it is made every day
by a certain officer.
Page was sent directly down to Montreal, and we
never hear of him afterwards. Jonathan Elkins was
carried directly down to Quebec, and was there im-
prisoned, and suffered immensely from want until
late in the fall of 1781, when he and one hundred and
fifty others were put on board a ship and sent to
England, where they were confined in Mill Prison
from February 9, 1782, till the 24th of June follow-
ing. They had but two-thirds the allowance of a
common soldier, and they were miserably clad, most
of them. Dr. Franklin, who was then our minister
at France, hearing of their poor condition, sent each
prisoner one shilling sterling per week, in addition to
their allowance from the British government, and this
was a great relief to them. Col. Elkins says to me
under his own hand — *' There were among us forty
captains of vessels, and many others who had some
learning ; and when we got our shilling a week from
Dr. Franklin, it was proposed that we, who had no
learning, should pay four coppers a week for school-
ing, and soon many schools were opened. Among
the rest, I procured paper, pen and ink, and a slate,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 197
and paid my four coppers per week for tuition. By
this means, many who could neither read nor write,
got so much learning, that they were capable of trans-
acting business for themselves, and a number of us
learned the mariner's art, so as to be capable of navi-
gating a ship. On the 24th of June, 1782, there were
one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three prison-
ers put on board a cartel, and sent to America in ex-
change for Lord Cornwallis' grenadiers and light in-
fantry. And I returned with them to my native
country.
"JONATHAN ELKINS.
"Peacham, Vt., Dec. 8, 1832."
We return again to see how it resulted with John-
son. Notwithstanding Johnson was treated with so
much apparent respect, he could not but observe that
he had his quarters often shifted from St. John's to
Montreal, then to Chambly, then to Three Rivers,
and at each place he would be interrogated by differ-
ent officers relative to the views and feelings of the
inhabitants of the Grants, and what he thought of
the prospects of the Colonies. To all these and sim-
ilar inquiries he replied with as much apparent indif-
ference to the cause of America as he could show,
never relating to them an untruth, and still reserving.
T98 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
to himself whatever he thought might be advanta-
geous to them, and detrimental to America. And he
had cause to congratulate himself for having adhered
to this uniform course ; for he found out, after a
while, that all his conversation with these different
officers, at different places, was penned down and sent
to the supreme commandant, to be inspected by him,
to see if his statements agreed. He caught the read-
ing of a note, also, which was sent from one in high
command to the young officer who had the charge of
him. The purport of it was this — '' I take you to be
a person of too much sense and intelligence to be im-
posed upon by the prisoner." The young man's
sense and intelligence were not enough to restrain
him from occasional hard drinking, and at one of
those seasons, he left this note exposed to Johnson's
inspection. These things taught Johnson that after
all their show of confidence in him, they were still
suspicious of him ; and he thought, if they were dis-
posed to play Yankee with him, he would take a game
with them at that. He accordingly affected more and
more indifference to the cause of the Colonies^ until
they began to feel that if he was in other circum-
stances, he would render them essential service. Ac-
cordingly, after retaining him between seven and
eight months, they told Johnson if he would give
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 199
them information of the movements of the Ameri-
cans, supply their scouts with provision if called up-
on, and return to them when they demanded, he
might return home upon his parole. Johnson assent-
ed to these stipulations, and signed the following in-
strument : —
'*I, Lieut. Col. Johnson, now at . John's, do
hereby pledge my faith and word of honor to his ex-
cellency, Gen. Holdimand, whose permission I have
obtained to go home, that I shall not do or say any
thing contrary to his majesty's interest or govern-
ment ; and that whenever required so to do, I shall
repair to whatever place his excellency or any other
his majesty's commander-in-chief in America shall
judge expedient to order me, until I shall be legally
exchanged, and such other person as shall be agreed
upon, sent in my place.
*' Given under my hand at St. John's, this fifth
day of October, one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-one.
"Col. THOMAS JOHNSON."
Upon Col. Johnson's signing this instrument, he
returned home to his family at Newbury, and neither
received any intelligence from the British, nor gave
200 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
any, until January following, as we learn from a
communication of Col. Johnson to Gen. Washington,
bearing date. May 30, 1782. In January, Col. John-
son received a letter from Capt. Prichard, by the
hand of Levi Sylvester, of Newbury, and one from
George Smith, in Canada. In February, 1782, Col.
Johnson wrote a letter to Gen. Holdimand and one
to Prichard, and sent them by Sylvester. He sent,
also, two newspapers containing the account of the
surrender of Lord Cornwallis. A copy of those letters
was sent to Gen. Washington the May following, and
a copy of Smith's letter to Johnson was also enclosed.
Sylvester informed Col. Johnson that Major Rogers
had come into the Grants at the head of a strong
scout, and was then at Moore town, now Bradford,
and wished to see him that night ; but Johnson was
detained, and did not go until some days after, and
then he did not find Rogers, and did not see him at
all.
At this time Col. Johnson feeling oppressed with
his peculiar situation, being liable, on the one hand,
to be viewed and treated as a traitor by the British,
and on the other, to be numbered with the enemies
of his country, determined to communicate to Gen.
Washington all he had learned in his captivity, all he
had done to obtain his liberty, and all he had done
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 201
from the time of his leaving Canada, and his motives
for doing so, and solicit the general's advice in respect
to the course he had better pursue. He accordingly
wrote a detailed account, covering about nine pages
of common-sized paper, too long to be inserted in
these sketches, agreeing, to wonderful exactness, with
the statement the colonel made to me, near the close
of life, although he did not know at that time that a
single line of it was in existence, and expressed the
deepest regret that he had not kept copies of his let-
ters to Washington, and of Washington's letter to
him. They have, however, since come to light, hav-
ing been found among Washington's private papers,
and are now in the possession of the Rev. Jared
Sparks, of Cambridge, Mass., and have been by him
transcribed and certified, at the request of Mr. David
Johnson, of Newbury. This first paper to which I
allude is an interesting document, and, would my
limits permit, I should be pleased to give it entire to
my readers ; but the letter accompanying, and those
which followed this communication, will explain this
whole affair, and revive many interesting facts which
have lain dormant, perhaps, in the minds of the aged
for many years. The letter accompanying the docu-
ment bears the same date of the document itself, and
is as follows :
9*
302 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
*'TH0S. JOHNSON TO GEN. WASHINGTON.
" Newbury, 30 May, 1783.
**May it please your excellency to indulge me
while I say, that in the month of March, 1781, I
was taken a prisoner, as set forth in my narrative,
continued in Canada until September, when I ob-
tained liberty to return home on parole, which I
could effect only by engaging to carry on a corres-
pondence with them. This was my view, to get
what intelligence I was able respecting their plans
and movements, and in hopes to be exchanged, that
I might be able, in a regular way, to have given some
important intelligence. I have taken such measures
as appeared most likely to effect the same ; but as
these have hitherto failed, I find the season so far
advanced as not to admit of further delay without
acquainting your excellency.
" The proposed plans of the enemy for the last
campaign were frustrated for want of provisions ;
but they determined to pursue them this spring as
early as possible. To this end, they have used their
most unwearied endeavors with Vermont to prepare
the way, which they have, in a great and incredible
degree, brought to pass, and is daily increasing ; and
unless some speedy stop is put to it, I dread the con-
sequences. I entreat your excellency, that if possi-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 203
ble, by a regular exchange, I may be enabled to give
all the intelligence in my power without hazarding
my character, which, otherwise, I am determined to
do, at the risk of my honor, my all — and, perhaps, to
the great injury of hundreds of poor prisoners now
in their hands. Having had experience, I am grieved
to think of their situation. This infernal plan of
treachery with Vermont (as I have often heard in
Canada) was contrived before Ethan Allen left the
British, and he was engaged on their side. It ran
through the country like a torrent, from New York
to Canada, and the present temper of Vermont is a
piece of the same. Were the people in general upon
the Grants, on this side the mountains, to declare for
New Hampshire or New York, it would be contrary
to the agreement of their leading men ; and, unless
protected by your excellency, the innocent with the
guilty would share a miserable fate. This part of
the country being sold by a few designing men, of
whom a large number are very jealous, a small num-
ber have by me their informer, or otherwise, got the
certainty of it, and it puts them in a most disagreea-
ble situation. They are desirous of declaring for
New Hampshire ; but many of their leaders earnestly
dissuading them from it, it keeps us in a tumult, and
I fear the enemy will get so great an advantage as to
204 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
raise their standard to the destruction of this part of
the country. They keep their spies constantly in this
quarter without molestation, and know every move-
ment, and transmit the same directly to Canada ; and
when matters take a turn contrary to their minds,
we are miserably exposed to their severest resentment.
I am entirely devoted to your excellency's pleasure.
Should my past conduct meet your excellency's ap-
probation, my highest ambition will be satisfied ; if
not, deal with me as your wisdom shall dictate. I
most earnestly entreat your excellency to meditate a
moment on my critical and perplexing situation, as
well as that of this part of the country, and that I
may receive by Capt. Bailey, the bearer, who will be
able to give you further information, your excellency's
pleasure in this affair. I beg leave to subscribe my-
self your excellency's most sincere and most devoted
servant.
"THOS. JOHNSON."
Col. Johnson stated in this letter what he verily
believed to be true of the men in the Grants, who
were carrying on a correspondence with the British.
He viewed it just as it was viewed by the British, and
he had no means of knowing any thing to the con-
trary ; but it ultimately appeared that some of these
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 205
men, who were considered friends to the Britisli, were
playing a deep game, in which the British, the Con-
tinental Congress, and themselves, were distinct par-
ties. These men were determined that \'ermont
should be a distinct and independent community, like
the other states ; but as Congress would not receive
them, and had withdrawn their troops that had been
sent for their defence, they managed as they could
with the British to preserve the Grants from invasion.
There is no doubt but the British were completely
deceived by them, and Ethan Allen procured an en-
gagement, on the part of the British, that no hostili-
ties should be carried on against Vermont. The
principal men in this understanding were Thomas
Chittenden, Moses Robinson, Samuel Safford, Ethan
Allen, Ira Allen, Timothy Brownson, John Fasset,
and Joseph Fay. But at the same time, the British
correspondence, with them was transmitted to Con-
gress, by these men, to operate as an inducement for
Congress to receive them into the Union, and Ethan
Allen wrote to Congress in the following bold and
impassioned language : — *'I am resolutely determined
to defend the independence of Vermont, as Congress
are that of the United States, and rather than fail,
will retire with the hardy Green Mountain Boys into
the caverns of the mountains, and wage war with hu-
206 HISTORICAL sketches"
mail nature at large." But surely there was enough
seen and heard in Canada, at the time Col. Johnson
was prisoner there, to make any friend of his country
tremble for the consequences. But we have Gen.
Washington's answer to Col. Johnson's letter of the
30th May, 1782.
** To Capt, Thomas Johnson, Exeter y N. H.
Head-Quarters, 14 June, 1782.
'' Sir,
" I have received your favor per Capt. Bailey, and
thank you for the information contained, and would
beg you to continue your communication whenever
you shall collect any intelligence you shall think of
importance. It would give me real pleasure to have
it in my power to effect your exchange ; but some un-
happy circumstances have lately taken place, which,
for the present, cut off all exchange. If you can fall
upon any mode to accomplish your wishes, in which I
can with propriety give you my assistance, I shall be
very glad to afford it.
I am, sir, &c.
*'C. WASHINGTON."
It
^THOS JOHSOi^ TO GEK. WASHINGTON.
Exeter, July 20, 1782.
I am obliged by your excellency's favor of the
14th June, to acknowledge your excellency's goodness
in offering your assistance in my exchange. I think
I
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 207
it proper to give a more particular account of my sit-
uation, and have enclosed a copy of my parole for
your perusal. I think, agreeable to the parole, they
cannot refuse a man in my room, although there is
no exchange agreed upon. Your excellency will de-
termine on my rank. I was held at Canada a lieuten-
ant-colonel in the militia. I was a captain, and after-
wards chosen a lieutenant-colonel in the militia,
agreeable to the order of the Assembly of New York ;
but being at a great distance, before my commission
could reach me, Vermont claimed jurisdiction, and I
never had the commission, and I told them the same ;
but I was obliged to acknowledge myself as such in
my parole, or I could not have accomplished my de-
sign. My situation grows more distressing. I have
been exposed by the infirmity or imprudence of a
gentleman, one that we could not have expected it
from. I have received nothing of much importance
since my last. I have since received a confirmation
of their intentions to execute rigorous measures
againt the opposers of Vermont. I have fears of an
invasion on that part of New Hampshire by the im-
prudence above mentioned. I have fears of the cor-
respondence being stopped ; have wrote to Canada ;
since which, by agreement, Capt. Prichard was to
meet on Onion River, the lOtli of this instant. Pri-
208 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
vate concerns brought me here at this time. If sus-
picion don't prevent, I expect something of impor-
tance waiting for me ; should it prevent, shall stand
in the greatest need of a man to send in exchange for
me.
''I am, sir, your most humble servant,
^'THOS. JOHNSON."
We have another letter from Col. Johnson to Gen.
Washington, dated at Atkinson, N. H., September
20, 1782. This is a letter of four pages, and as it
differs not materially from the two former, I omit it
in these sketches.
I give place to a letter of Meshech Weare to Gen.
Washington on the subject of Col. Johnson's peculiar
circumstances. This Mr. Weare was governor of
New Hampshire in 1784.
'* MESHECH WEARE TO GET^. WASHIKaTGN".
" Hampton Falls, Nov. 25, 1782.
"Sir,
" The bearer, Col. Thomas Johnson, of whose
conduct with respect to procuring intelligence from
the enemy, your excellency has been informed, now
waits on you to communicate some things which ap-
pear to be important. From every information I
have been able to obtain, I have no reason to suspect
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 209
his honesty or fidelity. His situation at this time is
very difficult, as he will fully inform you, and re-
quests your assistance in such way as you may think
proper. I cannot help expressing my fears of what
may be the consequence of the negotiations carrying
on between Vermont and Canada, of which there
seems now to be scarce a doubt.
'* I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect,
yours, &c.
" MESHECH WEARE."
We have one other interesting letter on this sub-
ject. It is from Nathaniel Peabody, of Atkinson,
N. H. Mr. Peabody was a member of the council in
New Hampshire, in 1785, and subsequently a mem-
ber of Congress.
** NATH. PEABODY TO GEN. WASHINGTON.
** Atkinson, State of New Hampshire,
Nov. 27, 1782.
**Sir — I take the liberty to address your excellency
respecting the unhappy situation of Lieut. Col. John-
son, of Newbury, Coos, who will take charge of this
letter, and do himself the honor to wait on your ex-
cellency in person. Col. Johnson is desirous of giv-
ing to your excellency every information in his power,
relative to the situation, strength, and designs of the
210 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
enemy at the northward, the embarrassed state of af-
fairs in the country where he lives, and more particu-
larly the ineligible circumstances in which his own
person, family, and domestic concerns are unhappily
involved.
" I have no doubt he hath been ungenerously de-
ceived, injured, and betrayed by some persons with
whom he found it necessary to intrust certain secrets,
to him of great importance, and from whom he had
a claim to better treatment.
*'The latter end of last month I received a letter
from Col. Johnson, the contents of which he will
make known to you ; and I should have then done
myself the honor of transmitting the same, with
some other information, to your excellency ; but on a
conference I had with the president of this state, it
was concluded that intrusting affairs of that nature
by common post-riders would be unsafe for the pub-
lic, and dangerous for Col. Johnson, and that it was
expedient to despatch an express on purpose, as it was
adjudged probable your excellency had such a variety
of other channels for information, that there was lit-
tle prospect of giving new and important intelligence.
From the best information I have been able to obtain,
my own observation, and the personal knowledge I
have had for some years past, of Col. Johnson, I am
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 211
led without hesitating to conclude that lie is a faith-
ful and sincere friend to the independence of these
United States ; that he would contribute every thing
in his power to promote the political salvation of this,
his native country ; and tliat he is a gentleman on
whose declaration your excellency may place full de-
pendence.
** I have the honor to be yours, &c.
"NATH. PEABODY."
The above has been copied from the originals now
in my possession.
JARED SPARKS.
Cambridge, Sept. 17, 1835.
There is nothing on paper to show the result of
Col. Johnson's interview with Gen. Washington ; but
it is well known with what feeling and interest the
colonel related the particulars of that interview until
the close of life. It is not probable that Gen. Wash-
ington was at that time in circumstances to effect an
exchange of prisoners, so as to set Johnson at liberty,
nor does this seem to be the main object of his visit ;
but he obtained the full approbation of Washington,
and enjoyed his sympathies, as he had previously ex-
pressed in his letter. But the treaty of peace, which
212 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
was signed on the 20th of January, 1783, in less than
two months after Col. Johnson's visit to Washington,
set Johnson at liberty, dissipated all anxieties, and
conveyed peace and independence to the states.
I have given place to the preceding documents for
two reasons : one is, they give the present generation
a more lively and distinct idea of the trials and dan-
gers which the inhabitants of Coos sustained in the
revolutionary struggle, than any general history of
those times gives, or can give ; the other is, to do Jus-
tice to the injured. All know what aspersions were
heaped upon Col. Johnson for the part he was said to
perform at that eventful period, and what pain it in-
flicted on him through life, although conscious of in-
nocence in respect to those charges. He supposed
time and Providence had forever deprived him of the
means to demonstrate his innocence ; and under this
apprehension, he resigned this life, January 4th, 1819,
aged seventy-seven years. But it seems that Provi-
dence designed ultimately to refute all those charges ;
and what God undertakes is thoroughly done. If
ever mortal man was vindicated in any supposed case,
and his character set above all suspicion, that man is
Col. Thomas Johnson, touching his patriotism in the
day that tried men's souls.
I have already stated how desirable an object it was
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 213
with the British to get in i)ossession of Gen. Jacob
Bailey. A bold and determined effort to effect this
was made on the 17th of June, 1782, while Col.
Johnson was at home on parole. Gen. Bailey lived
at the Johnson village, in a house where now stands
the brick house of Josiah Little. Capt. Prichard
and his scout, to the number of eighteen men, lay
upon the heights west of the Ox Bow, and they made
a signal for Col. Johnson to visit them. Johnson
went, as he was bound to do by the terms of his pa-
role, and he learned that they had come to capture
Gen. Bailey that evening. Johnson was now in a
great strait. Bailey was his neighbor, and a host
against the enemy, and Johnson could not have him
go into captivity ; and yet he must seem to conform
to the wishes of Prichard, or he would be recalled to
Canada himself, and in all probability have his build-
ings laid in ashes. Johnson returned to his house,
and resolved to inform Bailey of his danger, at the
hazard of every thing to himself. But how was this
to be done ? Bailey, with two of his sons, was
ploughing on the Ox Bow. Prichard's elevated situ-
ation on the hill enabled him to look down upon the
Ox Bow as upon a majo. The secret was intrusted
to Dudley Carleton, Esq., the brother of Col. John-
son's wife. Johnson wrote on a slip of paper this
214 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
laconic sentence — '* The Philistines be upon thee,
Sampson ! " He gave it to Carleton, and instrncted
him to go on to the meadow, pass directly by Bailey
without stopping or speaking, but drop the paper in
his view, and return home by a circuitous rout. Car-
leton performed the duty assigned him well. Gen.
Bailey, when he came to the paper, carelessly took
the paper and read it, and as soon as he could, with-
out exciting suspicion in the minds of lookers on,
proposed to turn out the team, and said to his sons,
*' Boys, take care of yourselves ! " and went himself
down to the bank of the river, and the sons went up
to the house, to carry the tidings to the guard that
was stationed there. The guard consisted of Capt.
Frye Bailey, commandant, Ezra Gates, Jacob Bailey,
Jun., Joshua Bailey, Sergeant Samuel Torrey, a hired
man of Gen. Bailey, three boys — John Bailey, Isaac
Bailey, and Thomas Metcalf — and a hired maid,
Sarah Fowler.
Although the guard was apprised of the general's
apprehensions, yet it would seem they thought his
fears were groundless, for they were taken by surprise
at early twilight, while they were taking their eve-
ning grog ; or, we might more significantly say, per-
haps, that they were taking in a freight of prowess to
be tested at a late hour of the night. The enemy
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 215
were not discovered until they were within a few rods
of the frontdoor. Sergeant Torrey met them at the
door, and levelled his piece at them ; but Prichard
knocked aside the gun, made Torrey his prisoner,
and the enemy ruslied in. The guard dispersed in
all directions. Ezra Gates was wounded in the arm
by a ball, as he ran from the south front door, and a
gun was discharged at John Bailey, as he was jump-
ing the fence to run for the Ox Bow, and two balls
lodged in the fence close to him. Thomas Metcalf
reached the meadow, where he tarried all night.
Gates was brought in and laid on the bed, where he
lay bleeding and groaning, whilst the enemy were
searching the house for prisoners and papers.
But there was one belonging to the house, who dis-
played great presence of mind and intrepidity. It
was woman ! woman, who in ten thousand instances,
has risen superior to danger, and performed astonish-
ing deeds of heroism, when man, her lord by consti-
tution, has forfeited his claim to superiority by timid-
ity and flight ! Sarah Fowler, the servant-maid
spoken of, remained upon the ground with a babe of
Mrs. Bailey in her arms, undismayed at the sight of
loaded muskets and bristling bayonets, and repeated-
ly extinguished a candle, which had been lighted for
the purpose of searching the house. Not succeeding
216 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
with a candle, one of the party took a firebrand, and
attempted to renew the search ; this the dauntless
maid struck from his hand, and strewed the coals
around the room. This was too much for British
blood ; and one of the soldiers swore, by a tremen-
dous oath, that if she annoyed them any more, he
would blow out her brains, showing at the same time
how he would do it. She then desisted, as she had
good reason to believe he would execute his threat,
Mrs. Bailey had, at the moment of the onset, es-
caped through an eastern window, and lay concealed
in currant bushes in the garden. The enemy, having
destroyed one gun, and taken what papers they could
find, commenced their retreat, greatly disappointed
in respect to the main object of their pursuit, for the
general was resting securely on Haverhill side. They
took with them prisoners, Gates and Pike, the hired
man of Gen. Bailey, and proceeded south. An
alarm was given, but not in time to arrest the enemy.
About a half a mile south, they m-et James Bailey,
son of Gen. Bailey, whom they took prisoner, and
kept until the close of the war. They took also
Pelatiah Bliss, who lived near where Harry C. Bailey
now lives. Bliss whined and cried, and made so
much ado about his wife and babes, and exhibited
so many symptoms of a weak mind, that, after con-
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 217
sultatioii, they permitted him to escape. They called
at one other house, Andrew Carter's, drank all the
pans of milk the old lady had, and then prosecuted
their march into Canada, to report the failure of
their expedition. *' But," says Col. Elkins, of
Peacham, in his letter of December 7, 1832, "this
failure of the British, in the main object of their ex-
pedition, brought fresh trouble upon Col. Thomas
Johnson. The tories in the vicinity, who had laid
the plan for taking Gen. Bailey, learning that he was
not at home that night, and knowing that he was not
in the habit of being absent from his family over
night, unless on business out of town, said at once,
Johnson was a traitor to their cause, for he must
have given Bailey information of his danger. This
rumor went with the party back to Canada, and
produced strong sensations of jealousy and resent-
ment there. Johnson was now the man to be ob-
tained, and his buildings were to be destroyed by fire
the next spring, if not before. But the disposition to
peace in the mother country, and the actual treaty
before the year came about, saved Johnson from the
calamities threatened upon him.
From this time the people of Coos moved on in the
even tenor of their way to ease and independence in
their circumstances. But even at the late period of
10
218 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
which we have been speaking, a one-horse pleasure
carriage had never been seen at Coos. The first that
was ever seen in Newbury, was brought into the place
by a Rev. Mr. Goddard, who was preaching as a can-
didate to the people there, after the dismission of the
Rev. Mr. Powers. He rode up to Gen. Bailey's, as
he came into town, in a chaise or sulkey. There was
living at the general's a young miss, who happened
to be in at a neighboring house to visit an aunt, at
the time Mr. Goddard passed. So strange a vehicle
greatly excited her curiosity, and she called out to
her aunt, "0, come here, aunt ! come here, and see
a man riding in a cart with two tongues!" On
horseback in summer, and in sleighs in winter, were
the only methods of riding at that day.
I have previously said that Haverhill and Newbury
were never one ecclesiastical society after the dismis-
sion of the Rev. Mr. Powers. The Rev. Jacob Wood
was the successor of Mr. Powers in Newbury. He
was ordained on the second Wednesday in January,
1788 ; departed this life, February 10, 1790, aged 33.
Rev. Nathaniel Lambert was ordained, November 17,
1790 ; dismissed April 4, 1809. Rev. Luther Jewett
was ordained, February 28, 1821 ; ceased to oflSciate,
February 3, 1825 ; dismissed, February 19, 1828.
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 219
Rev. Clark Perry was ordained, June 4, 1828 ; dis-
missed, June 15, 1835. Rev. George Campbell was
installed, January 27, 1836, and remains their pastor.
Let us hope for a long, successful, and happy union.
From the time Mr. Powers closed his labors at
Haverhill, the people enjoyed but little preaching
until the year 1790. There was no organized church
in Haverhill, as they had belonged to Newbury
church, and there were but two males, members of
Newbury church, who belonged on Haverhill side,
viz.. Col. Charles Johnston and the Hon. James
Woodward. The prospects of Haverhill were at that
time very gloomy in respect to religion, and for nine
months preceding the spring of 1790, there had not
been a sermon preached in the place. But in the
spring of that year, a melancholy death of a woman
occurred in the house now occupied by Capt. Uriah
Ward, which seemed to impress all minds with so-
lemnity. She had lived far from righteousness, and
died in great agony of soul in view of her endless
ruin. And now the precious grain, sown by the Rev.
Mr. Powers, which had lain buried long, being
watered by the dews and rains of divine grace, and
warmed by the vivifying rays of the Sun of righteous-
ness, began to germinate and to appear, to the great
joy of those few who had waited and prayed for con-
220 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
solation in Israel. The holy and blessed spirit seemed
to come down upon them as a rushing, mighty wind ;
and it was but a short time before there was but one
house, from the Dow farm to Piermont line, in which
there was no special awakening with the occupants.
That house was at the Ayers' place. In all other
habitations there were wai lings for sin. People
pressed together for prayer and instruction, and
clergymen, hearing of the wonders of God at Haver-
hill, came to obtain and to impart a blessing. The
Key. Dr. Burton, of Thetford, and Rev. Dr. Bur-
roughs, of Hanover, were peculiarly helpful, and
their labors are remembered with gratitude to this
day by those who obtained the pearl of great price,
and still survive. During that season, more than
seventy persons became hopeful subjects of renewing
grace. And although that church and people have
witnessed repeated revivals of religion with them
since that period, yet the elders among the people
have never witnessed, as they think, the power of di-
vine grace in equal degree. I have myself, while re-
joicing with the newly converted in that place, and
feeling that we witnessed great things, been reminded
of the different feelings that were experienced by the
Jews at Jerusalem, at the laying of the foundation
of the second temple, on their return from captivity,
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 221
when I heard the old saints speak of what they had
witnessed. It will be recollected that the younger
Jews, who had never seen the first temple, rejoiced
greatly in the prospect of having a temple for wor-
ship. The older Jews rejoiced also ; but when they
contrasted their then present circumstances with
what they had been in the glory of the first temple,
for a time grief preponderated in their breasts, and
there was a mixed shout of joy and grief. So it has
repeatedly been at Haverhill. The converts of 1790
have ever been disposed to meditate on the power of
divine grace of that year ; and although they could
rejoice in the day of small things, yet they have
longed to see one more day of the right hand of the
Most High.
On the 13th of October, 1790, the church was first
organized. Rev. Dr. Burton, Rev. Dr. Burroughs,
and Rev. Mr. Ward, of Plymouth, officiated. Twen-
ty-two members constituted the church at its organ-
ization. Rev. Ethan Smith was their first pastor.
He was ordained, January 25, 1792, and continued
their pastor a little more than seven years ; dismissed
June 23, 1799. The Rev. John Smith succeeded Mr.
Ethan Smith, and was ordained, December 23, 1802,
and continued their pastor a little more than four
years ; dismissed, January 14, 1807. From this time
222 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
to January 4, 1815, the church and ecclesiastical so-
ciety had no pastor, nor had they uninterrupted
preaching, but had many candidates and occasional
preaching. And here we have a melancholy exhibi-
tion of the mutable state of every church on earth.
The church that was so flourishing in 1792, was re-
duced in July, 1814, at the time when I commenced
my labors among them, to twelve members in the
south parish — three males, and nine females, — and a
covering of sackcloth was spread upon the tent of
Zion. But eight persons within the limits of the
parish had made a public profession of religion for
the last twenty-two years. Two were received under
the Rev. Ethan Smith, from 1792 to 1799 ; two un-
der the Rev. John Smith, from 1802 to 1807 ; and
four under the Rev. David Sutherland, of Bath, their
moderator, from 1807 to 1814. In the same time
there were one hundred and eight baptisms, four of
whom were adults.
In the autumn early of 1814, the people began
again to flow together to hear the word of life, and a
still, small voice was heard by many, saying. This
is the tuay — lualk ye m it. Many obeyed that voice.
It was impressively true, that the Lord did not ad-
vance, in this instance, in a *' great and strong wind,"
nor in the " earthquake," nor in the "fire ; " but his
OF THE COOS COUNTRY. 223
■coming was as the ushering in of day. The first ev-
idence of the King's presence was seen in the pro-
found stilhiess which reigned in the worshipping as-
sembly, and the fixed attention of the hearer.
Christians began to feel that they were newly anointed
from on high, and they prayed with tenderness and
fervor, and sinners would drop a tear, when pointed-
ly addressed upon the concerns of their souls. Soon
we were told that this one, and that one, were deeply
anxious for their spiritual interest. And these in-
stances were multiplied until very many were pricked
in heart, and would inquire to know what they must
do to be saved. In a short time, some began to re-
joice in hope ; and this solemn and joyful state of
things continued through the remaining part of 1814,
and more or less through 1815. On the 4th of Jan-
uary, 1815, I received ordination, and before the close
•of that year, I think, more than sixty were added to
the church ; some became pillars, and remain so to
the present day, although some have fallen asleep.
In 1822, we were blessed with another revival, but
not so extensive as the former. Some were called and
added to the church in 1826 ; and at the close of my
ministry in this place,— which occurred, April 28,
1829, nearly fifteen years after I came among them,
— there had been added to the church one hundred
224 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and nineteen members. There had been one hun-
dred and ninety-one baptisms, thirty-fiye of whom
were adults.
The Rev. Henry Wood was installed their pastor,.
December 14, 1831, and was dismissed, March 3,.
1835. The Rev. Joseph Gibbs was ordained their
pastor, June 16, 1835, and departed this life, April
11, 1837. Rev. Archibald Fleming was installed,
June 27, 1838, and still remains their pastor.
With my best wishes and my prayers for their mu-
tual prosperity and final salvation, I close these
Sketches.
Your much obliged and ever grateful friend,
GRANT POWERS.
APPENDIX.
The two following anecdotes were originally written for
newspaper publication ; but the publishers of the Historical
Collections of New Hampshire, learning through the late Jesse
Worcester, Esq., of Hollis, the historical accuracy of the two
pieces, in point of fact, adopted them both, as I have under-
stood, into their Collections. But as comparatively few will
ever read them in those Collections, and as the writer of the
present Sketches was the author of those two communications,
he feels that he has an undoubted right to append them to this
work ; and w^hen we consider the peculiar agency and interest
the two individuals, who are the hero and heroine in the anec-
dotes, had in the discovery and the settlement of the Coos, we
cannot but feel that our readers will be gratified in the perusal
of those adventures. The writer often heard the aged widow
of Capt. Powers relate the facts as here stated ; the language is,
of course, his own.
THE BOAR AND THE BEAR.
The town of Hollis, in the county of Hillsborough, N. H., is
one of the oldest towns in the county, and was first settled by
Capt. Peter Powers, and Anna, his wife, from Hampshire, Dun-
stable, 1831. Those eai-ly settlers were accustomed to the rear-
ing of many swine, by permitting theui to run at large in the
woods, and to subsist upon roots, acorns, and nuts, which were
produced in great abundance in the place. In the fall of the
year, or at the time of the first deep snow, the older members
of the herd, that w^ere originally tame, would lead their numer-
ous progeny into winter quarters, at a shed erected for that
purpose some distance from the house, where the owner dis-
posed of them as he pleased, although many of them were as
10*
226 APPENDIX.
untame and as ferocious as the beasts of the mountains. At
that time, bears were plenty, and very hostile to swine. It be-
came necessary, therefore, to provide for the defence of the
herd by permitting one of the males to live several years be-
yond the period of life ordinarily assigned to that species by
man ; at which time he became literally the master of the flock.
His tusks protruded on either side, in nearly semi-circles, to the
distance of six or seven inches. He seemed conscious of his su-
periority and responsibility. He was fierce in the extreme, and
courted danger ; and when the heard was assailed, he instantly
presented himself to the foe, with eyes darting fire, with tusks
heated to blueness, and foaming at the mouth in a terrific man-
ner. He roamed the forest, unconscious of danger ; he led the
herd ; and but few of the untamed tribes had the temerity to
dispute his title to supremacy.
It happened, however, on a certain day in autumn, when
Anna stood in the door of her cabin, listening to the oft-repeat-
ed sound of the descending axe, or the crash of falling trees,
while her husband was at his daily task, that she heard from a
great distance the faint, yet distinct, cry of one of their herd.
She thought it was the cry of expiring nature. She remained
in this state of suspense but a short time, before the heard came
rushing from the forest in the greatest apparent trepidation.
The oldest dams of the herd, much exhausted, and without
their common leader and protector, seemed inclined to take
refuge in the apartment which had been their retreat in former
winters ; but the younger branches of the family would not fol-
low them. The dams, seeing this, dashed on through the
cleared space, and disappeared in the forest on the north side.
The cries of the wounded were still heard, but grew fainter and
fainter, until wholly lost in death. But the anxious Anna had
not removed from her position, before the old boar came rush-
ing through the bushes in eager pursuit of his charge, which
had eloped and left him in the rear by many a rood. He was
fresh from the field of combat. He was bathed in blood, foam-
ing at the mouth, gnashing his tusks, and exhibited a terrific
aspect. Regardless of home, he approached a field of corn
which grew near the cabin, and leaped the fence, not touching
the topnaost knot, although it was proof against horses w^hich
strayed through the woods from neighboring towns in Massa-
1
APPENDIX. 227
chusetts. He passed directly through the field without touching
a kernel of corn, and leaping the fence on the opposite side, dis-
appeared in the woods. Not long after, the wished-f or husband,
■whose presence the gathering shades of evening, the deep soli-
tude of the place, and the stirring events of the afternoon, had
rendered peculiarly inviting to the young partner of his toils
and hopes, returned with his axe upon his shoulder, enlivening
the forest with his evening whistle, and driving his old bell-
cow before him, which summoned Anna with her milk-pail to
her evening task.
Scarcely had he secured the topmost rail to his yard enclosure,
when Anna from the window of her cabin saw her husband
held in anxious suspense. For some moments he paused and
listened ; but turned and called, "Anna, Anna, bring me my
gun and ammunition in a minute, for the Old Master himself is
worsted." They were at his hand in a trice. "Look to your-
self," said the husband,* and bounded into the forest. Pursuing
w^ith great speed the course whence the sound proceeded, which
alone broke the silence of the evening, our adventurer soon
found himself at a distance of about a mile and a half from his
cabin, surrounded with black alders, so thickly set as to be al-
most impenetrable to man and beast. Before him lay Long
Pond, so called, about one mile in length, and from a quarter to
a half a mile, perhaps, in width. He was near mid-way of the
pond, and the sound from the laboring boar and his antagonist
(a mixed, frightful yell) proceeded directly from the opposite
shore. Nothing now remained but for him to plunge into the
pond, and make the opposite shore by beating the waves, or to
divide him a passage amidst the alders around one of the ex-
tremities of the pond, which could not be done short of travel-
ling the distance of another mile. But no time was to be lost.
The cries of the boar bespoke the greatest need, and the latter
course was adopted ; and in a space of time, and with the cour-
age and energy which are scarcely conceived by the present
generation, he arrived at the scene of action. Whose heart
does not now misgive him, while nearing the battle ground,
alone, in darkness, and all uncertain as to the nature of the foe ?
But young Powers advanced with undaunted firmness. He was
* Indians were then numerous in the town.
228 APPENDIX.
under the necessity of approaching near to the belligerents be-
fore he could make any discovery, by reason of the darkness of
the night, rendered more dark by the towering trees, which
mingled their branches at some sixty or seventy feet from the
ground, and a dense underwood, which stood like a hedge con-
tinually before him. But as soon as he entered the area which
had been beaten down during the action, he discovered the boar
seated upon the ground, and still defending himself against the
furious assaults of the hugest bear his eyes ever beheld ! She
was like his old bell-cow for magnitude ! He drew his gun to an
aim, when he perceived, obscurely, that the bear was on a line
with him and his hog, and he could not discharge his piece
without putting the life of the latter in jeopardy ; and, as he
was moving in a circular direction, to procure a safe discharge,
he was discovered by the bear, and she bounded into the bushes.
Powers now came up to the boar, and witnessed such tokens of
gladness as surprised him. It was, however, too solemn an
hour with the swine to lavish upon his deliverer unmeaning
ceremonies. As soon as he found himself released from his too
powerful antagonist, he prostrated himself upon the ground,
and lay some time, panting and groaning in a manner truly af-
fecting to his owner. Powers now discharged his gun, with a
view to terrify the beasts of prey, and keep them ofif during
the night. He struck and kindled a fire, and upon a slight ex-
amination, he found that his hog was lacerated in his rear in a
shocking manner. He was utterly disabled from rising except
upon his fore feet. But to show the indomitable nature of the
animal, I will relate that the boar, after some little time, re-
covered in a degree from his extreme exhaustion, and gaining
the same position he had when his owner found him, began to
beat a challenge for a renewal of the combat. Again his eyes
flashed with rage, he stamped with his fore feet, he chafed,
gnashed with his tusks, and foaming at the mouth, he looked
around with the greatest apparent firmness for his antagonist.
Our adventurer now drew together fallen wood suflficient to
support a fire through the night, burnt powder around his
swine, and returned to his cabin, where he was never more joy-
fully received by the young wife, who, during all this while,
had remained listening at the window in painful solicitude.
APPENDIX. 229
The next day, some help was obtained, as one family* had,
prior to this, moved in and settled in the south-west part of the
town, and the battle ground was revisited. The boar had not
moved out of his place, but was still weltering in his blood.
With much labor he was conveyed home in a cart, and, as
he never could become the defence of the herd again, he was
yarded, fattened, and killed, and helped by his death to pro-
mote that existence to the family which he could no longer do
by his Kfe.
With a view to account for the melancholy fate of the boar,
Powers and his associates went in search of the swine that was
destroyed in the afternoon of the preceding day. They found
one of their largest hogs slain by a bear, and, near to, a large
bear was as evidently slain by the boar. From this they in-
ferred that the first hog was mortally wounded by a bear in
the absence of the boar ; but the cries of the wounded soon
brought the Master, when a battle ensued, in which the bear
was slain, not, however, without loss of blood with the boar ;
that during this first action, the rest of the herd fled, and that
the boar was in pursuit of them when he passed the cabin
through the field ; that after running some miles, at the point
of exhaustion, he fell in with a still more powerful antagonist,
when his fight was comparatively feeble, and he fell overpow-
ered, but not subdued, as it has fallen out with many a Greek
and Roman hero.
AN ADVENTUROUS VISIT.
When Capt. Peter Powers and Anna, his wife, first pitched
their tent in Hollis, 1731, which was a little north-west of the
present meeting-house, the traces of which are still visible,
their nearest neighbor lived in the south-eastern part of Dun-
stable, N. H., a distance, probablj", at this time, of ten miles,
and could not be made at that period at a less travelling dis-
tance than twelve miles, as they had no road but a single track,
and spotted trees for their guide.
*Eleazer Flapg.
230 APPENDIX.
This journey could not be made in the summer season with-
out fording the Nashua, which was done a Httle southeast of a
small island, visible at your left, as you now pass the bridge,
going from Hollis, N. H., to Dunstable, Mass. ; and here the
river was fordable only when the streams were low. Of course,
these lonely adventurers made their visits but seldom, and never
with a view to be absent from their habitation during the
night, as they were then the parents of tw^o children, w^hom
they were necessitated to leave at home, in a cabin surrounded
by Indians. Indeed, never did both parents leave their children
and perform this route in company.
Now, it happened on a summer's morning, in the month of
August, that the wife, Anna, found it convenient to visit her
neighbor, and mounting at an early hour a fine Narraganset, a
faithful and tried companion in adventures, the river was soon
forded, and the whole distance was made, long ere it was high
noon. The interview was such as characterized the first set-
tlers in this new country, where warmth of affection more than
supplied the place of a thousand ceremonies, and a sense of de-
pendence promoted to the discharge of kinder oflSces than mere
refinement would recognize as obligatory on her.
The hours passed swiftly away — they lived fast — they ate,
they drank, they talked much, and blessed God and their king.
Nor did a single occurrence tend to interrupt their festivity un-
til about three past meridian, when all were suddenly aroused
by a distant, though heavy, discharge of heaven's artillery.
All rushed to the door to witness the aspect of the elements,
when, lo ! it was most threatening and appalling ! Nature all
around slept, or seemed to be awed into a deathlike silence.
Not a leaf moved but when the foundations of the earth re-
sponded to the voice of heaven. Already, from north to south,
the whole western horizon was mantled in black, and the gath-
ering tempest moved forward as slowly and sublimely as though
conscious of its power to deride all resistance ! Not until this
moment did anxious concern possess the breast of Anna for the
objects of her affections, whom she had left in that lone, dear
cell. In a kind of momentary distraction, she demanded that
Narraganset should be pannelled, for she must return to her
family that afternoon, whatever might be the consequence to
herself. She had rather brave the tempest returning, than en-
APPENDIX. 231
dure her forebodings with her sheltered friends. But a sudden
change in the elements, did more to dissuade her from so rash
an attempt than the entreaties and expostulation of her friends.
From an apparent calm, nature now awoke and seemed to be
rushing into ruin. As though the north called unto the south,
and the west unto the east, the four w^inds came on to the con-
flict. Clouds were driven hither and thither in angry velocity
and all seemed to be propelled in directions counter to each
other. The tempest soon burst upon them, and on the whole
adjacent country, in an unparalleled torrent. Nothing was heard
but the crack or roll of thunder, and the roar of winds and
waters — nothing seen but the successive blaze of lightning !
" Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibiis anther."
The said Anna lived until rising somewhat of ninety years,
and could remember distinctly more than eighty years ; but, in
all this time, she never witnessed such a scene, nor could she
relate any thing which seemed to raise such sublimity of feel-
ing in her mind as this.
The tempest lay upon them with unabated force several
hours, nor did it appear to spend itself until the sun was just
sinking below the horizon, when it broke in upon drowned na-
ture in all its smiles, and reflected its golden beams upon the
black cloud at the east, in the most enchanting manner. This
was the moment for Anna to renew her resolve of returning to
her family that night ; and, contrary to all reasoning and per-
suasions, she instantly put it in execution. She mounted her
horse, and bidding adieu to her friends, she entered the twelve-
mile forest just as the sun took his leave of her. She calculated
upon a serene and starlight evening, and the extraordinary in-
stinct of her beast, as well as her experience in the way and at
the fords. But in regard to the former, she was wholly disap-
pointed. The wind soon shifted, and rolled the same cloud
back again ; the rain recommenced as the night set in, and the
wind ceased.
At that season of the year, the time of twilight was short ;
the earth being warmed and moistened, evaporation was rapid,
and a dense fog arose, which soon obstructed vision, and, long
ere she arrived at the fords, she was enveloped in total dark-
ness. Her only guide now^ was her faithful Narraganset, and
232 APPENDIX.
the beasts of the forest her companions. She, however, made
the best of her circumstances. She entered into conversation
with her mare, as was her custom when riding alone ; and
when her beast stopped suddenly and tossed up her head, and
snorted at some wild animal crossing her track, as was sup-
posed, Anna would exhort her to possess courage, assuring her
" that nothing could harm her, for the beasts were mere cow-
ards in the presence of a brave horse," &c.
After this manner, the long way to the fords was passed over
in Egyptian darkness ; nor had the thought once occurred to
Anna that so considerable a river as now rolled before her
would be materially affected by a thunder storm of a few-
hours ; whereas, so great was the fall of water in this time that
the river, although wide at this place, was bank full, and swept
on with great rapidity. Nor could the rushing of the waters
be heard by reason of the rain still pouring upon the forest
around her. She therefore determined to give the rein to her
experienced beast, believing that she would keep the ford, and
land her on the opposite shore at the proper place. The horse
entered the stream as soon as at the bank, and in a moment
lost her foot-hold on terra firma, and was plunging in the
w^aves at a full swim. Such, however, was Anna's presence of
mind, that she made no exertion to rein her beast, but endeav-
ored simply to retain her seat, which was now under w^ater,
whilst the waves beat against her waist. The faithful animal
made for the opposite shore ; but so strong was the current,
that she was either carried below the ford, or, in her exertions
to resist it, she overacted and went above it, where, at one
sweep of her fore feet, she struck upon a rock in the bed of the
river, which suddenly raised her somewhat from the water
forward ; but she as soon plunged again, for the rock was
cleared the second sweep. This plunge was so deep that Anna
was borne from her pannel by the gravity of the water, but
pitching forward, she seized Narragauset's mane as she rose,
nor did she quit her grasp, until they were both safely landed
on the happy shore ! adjusting her clothes, she remounted, and
soon found that her beast was in her accustomed track, and, in
little more than one hour, she alighted at the door of her peace-
APPENDIX. 233
ful cabin, where, by her well-known signal,* she broke the
slumber of her husband and babes, and on entering related, in
no purer gratitude or greater joy than they experienced in
hearing, the result of that adventurous night.
* Capt. Powers and wife agreed on a peculiar rap, which served as a kind of
countersign to inform th« one within that the other had arrived and desired
admission. This was necessary to prevent the intrusion of Indians, who
would often rap at different hours of the night.
DEED OF THE COOS COUNTRY.
To.all persons to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting :
Know ye, that I Philip, an Indian, a native of America now
resident in upper Coos & Chief thereof,
For & in consideration of the sum hereafter named for which
I have received security to my full satisfaction of Thomas
Eames of Northumberland in the County of Grafton & State
of New Hampshire & his associates namely, John Bradley &
Jonathan Eastman of Concord, county of Rockingham &
Nathan Hoit of Moultonborough in the County of Strafford all
in the state of New Hampshire Esqrs, all my peculiar friends.
I this day have given, bargained sold, released, conveyed & con-
firmed & by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, convey
& confirm to them the said Thomas, John, Jonathan & Nathan
their heirs & assigns forever all that tract or parcel of land &
waters situate w^ithin the following boundaries, Viz, Beginning
on the East side of Conneetteecook now called Connecticut
River at the mouth of Ammanoosuck River, then up said
Ammanoosuck river to Head Pond to the carrying place,
then across the carrying place to a small pond on the head of
Peumpelussuck or dead river, then down said river to Andrew^-
scoggin river, then up Andrewscoggin River to the Lake Ham-
bagog, including all the waters of said Lake & Islands from
said lake up Andrewscoggin Kiver to Allogunanabagogg Lake,
including all the waters & Islands in said Lake, then up said
Andrewscoggin River to Molleychungomuck Lake, thence
along the easterly side of said Lake to the outlet of Mooseluk-
megantick, then up said river to said Lake Mooseluckmegantick
including all the waters & Islands thereof, then across the car-
rying place Quasuktecuck, thence down said river till it emp-
ties into Awsisgowassuck River, then up said river to Palmach-
inanabagogg Lake including all the waters & Islands thereof,
thence up Awsisgowassuck River to the carrying place that
236 APPENDIX.
leads into Awseecunticook River or St, Frances River, thence
down said river till it falls into the branch which empties from
Lake Mamsloobagogg, then up said River to Skessawannoock
Lake, thence up said River to said Mamsloobagogg, including
all the waters & Islands thereof, from thence up Masskeecoow-
anggawnall River to the head thereof, then across the carrying
place to the head of Nulpeagawnuck, then down said river to
Conneeteecook or Connecticut river then down said river in-
cluding all the Islands thereof to the mouth of Ammunoosuck
river, the place began at, agreeably to a plan I have this day
given to them, their heirs & assigns forever with the following
conditions & reservations, namely that I reserve free liberty to
hunt all sorts of wild game on any of the foregoing territories,
and taking fish in any of the waters thereof for myself my
heirs & sucksessors & all Indian tribes forever, also liberty of
planting four bushels of corn & beans ; & this my trusty friend
Thomas having given me security to furnish me & my Squaw
with provisions & suitable clothing which I have accepted in
f uU. I have for myself & in behalf of all Indians who hunted
on or inhabited any of the foregoing lands or waters, forever
quitclaimed & sold as aforesaid to them the said Thomas, John,
Jonathan & Nathan as a good estate in fee simple, and do cove-
nant with them that myself & my ancient Fathers forever &
at all times have been in possession of the above described
premises, & that I have a good right to & will warrant & de-
fend the same to them the said Thomas, John, Jonathan &
Nathan their heirs and assigns forever against the claims of all
or any persons whatever. — In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand, seal & signeture, this twenty eighth day of June
1796.
his
PHILIP + INDIAN CHIEF. [seal.]
mark
her
MOLLEY + MESSELL. [seal.]
mark
her
MOOSELECK + SUSSOP. [seal.]
mark
Signed Sealed & Did
in presence of
Ely Buel
Jeremb Fames.
APPENDIX. 237
State of New Hampshire. Grafton, ss. June 30th, 1796,
Personally appeared Philip Indian Chief, Molley Messell &
Mooseleek & acknowledged the foregoing instrument by them
respectively subscribed to be their voluntary act & deed.
Before me
JERh EAMES, Justice Peace.
GRAFTON, SS. No\. 22, 1796.
Received, Recorded & examined.
Attest,
JOHN ROGERS, Regr.
State of New Hampshire,
GRAFTON, SS. December 9, 1879.
I, Charles H. Day, Register of Deeds, for the County of Graf-
ton, hereby certify that the foregoing Is a true copy of G^'afton
County Records, Libro 23, Folio 206.
Attest,
C. H. DAY, Rec, Deeds.
INDEX.
Bailey, Gen. Jacob 35, 53
190, 213-218
Bailey, Col Joshua 50
Baker's River 171—174
Barnes, J., lost son 171
Bradford, Vt 160
Brook, Poole 46
Brown, Josiah 170
Burton, D. D., Rev. Asa 83
134—141, 154—158, 159
Campton 169
Cart with two tongues 218
Chamberlain, John... 141 — 142
Charters 47
Claremont 129
Connel, John Mc 113—116
Cornish 129
Cow, instinct of a 89
Crank, saw-mill 68—72
Dearborn, Samuel 165 — 171
Eastman, Amos .-T 14
Elkins, Col. Jonathan 191
197, 217
Elkins, Dea. Jonathan 52
Fairlee, East 159
Fifield's, A., lost son 164
Flood 110
Freeman, Col. Otis 78
Foreman, John 50
Groton 169
Hanover 78—80, 130—133
Harriman, Polly 46
Hazen, Capt. John 36, 43
Hebron 169
Hobart, Capt. James 165
Holderness 169
Howard, Col. Joshua 43
Howard, Deacon 80—82
Hughs, John 43
Indians 172—186
Instinct of a cow 89
Johnston, Capt. Michael 45
Johnston, Col. Charles 45
91, 95—103
Johnston, Michael 36, 40, 44
Johnson, Col. Thomas.. 47, 177
190, 217
Kent, Col. Jacob 49
Kent, Mary 49
Ladd, Hon. Ezekiel 52
Ladd, Mrs. Ruth ........ 60, 67
Lancaster 48
Lebanon 129
Living and Dress 119 — 120
Lyme 130
Mann, Esq., John 124—128
Morse, Uriah 46
Norwich, Vt 134—144
Orford 126
Osmer, John 160—163
240
INDEX.
Ox Bow, Great, old Indian
Settlement 36—39
Page, John- • • ■ 49, 69, 71
Parker, Lieut. Z 165
Peabody, Nathaniel 209
Peters, Esq., Andrew B 163
Pettie, John 36, 40, 44
Piermont 119—120
Pigeons 109
Plainfleld 129
Plymouth 16.5, 168—175
Plymouth, first ox-team
from 116
Powers, Capt. Peter, ....15 — 32^
84-87
Powers, Rev. Peter 53—57,
75—88
Revivals 219-221
Rogers, Col. Robert ....34—35
Rumney 1 69
Sleeper, Samuel 40, 61—63
Sparks, Jared 211
Stark, Gen. John 13—14
Strong, Joel 157
Thanksgiving 74
Thetford, Vt 141—159
Thornton 169
Tyler, Jonathan 120—12.
Wait's River 163
Walbridge 78—80
Wallace, Mrs 146—148
Wallace, Richard 91—94
113—118, 143—153
Warren 169
Washington, Gen 202—212
Ward, Rev. Nathan... 166— 168
Way, Mr 56, 57
Weare, Meshech 208
Webster, Ephraim .... 150—154
Webster, Lydia 168
Wentworth, 169
Wheeler, Charles 181
Wheeler, Glazier, 40, 44
Willard, Oliver 41, 42
Woodward, Hon. James — 48
64—71
Worms 103—108
Wright, Benoni 62, 63
