USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bristol > Bristol, Connecticut : "in the olden time New Cambridge", which includes Forestville > Part 7
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
After the second day one horse became so lame that they left it to its fate, and were thus obliged to plod wearily on foot, the remaining steed carrying their goods.
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On the fourth day they arrived at a large stream. Here, either finding, or building a raft, they loaded nearly all of their precious stores upon it, intending to float them to a ford, which they knew must be somewhere below, hoping there to cross.
To their dismay, after starting the raft, they were told (perhaps by fugitives like themselves) that there were Indians below. Small wonder then, after hearing this, that even to save all they owned upon earth, they should not venture down the stream. So abandoning their goods, as they had previously their horse, they found a crossing elsewhere.
Their situation was now desperate indeed. They had their one horse with four to ride; one blanket strapped upon the saddle, for four to use; a precious box of tinder and flint; and one musket, with a small quantity of ammunition, which must be hoarded to the utmost and saved for defence. How many of those hard nights may we suppose that Katherine Gaylord slept under that solitary blanket? Not one. with her three children to be sheltered and comforted!
Their clothing must very soon have become worn and soiled enough; and this, to a person of Katherine Gaylord's natural refinement, must have been an added bit of distress-small though it was in comparison . with greater burdens to be borne.
The bullet-pierced hat and leathern wallet were carried always in her hand, or about her person, and were in this way kept from disaster, and brought safely to her father's house. She treasured them as long as she lived, in an old chest, from whence children and grandchildren would reverently bring them forth to illustrate the never-old story of her escape from the Indians, and of the death of their heroic grandfather, Aaron Gaylord. After she was gone, these priceless relics were in some way most unfortunately lost.
And now for weeks they toiled slowly on and on, following the trail indicated by blazed trees, with many wandering aside into the pathless forest, with weakness and weariness, suffering and danger, ever on and on toward home.
After the loss of their provisions, they subsisted for several days upon berries, sassafras root, birch bark, or whatever they could gather by the way; not daring to start a blaze, or fire a musket so near the dreaded foe. Well for them that it was summer. Once they went from Thursday to Sunday afternoon without food. They met then a party of friendly Indians who fed them; but we can hardly imagine their ter- ror at first sight of a red man! They afterward met other friendly In- dians as they left Wyoming farther and farther behind, and were never once refused aid in all their terrible journey.
The country, however, was very sparsely settled, and many of the cabins they came across were deserted. As days grew into weeks, they no longer feared to kindle a fire at night, or to shoot game; although it was necessary to hoard their slender stock of ammunition with utmost economy.
They sometimes met stragglers from the army, or hunting parties but these were invariably kind and helpful; and such encounters must have sent many bright rays of hope and courage through the gloom, and unutterable loneliness of the vast primeval forest, in the dreary days when they saw no human face but their own.
One morning the little Lorena and her sister Phebe were running on in advance of mother and brother-though never out of sight- singing and chasing butterflies, gathering wild flowers, forgetting already the past, fearing nothing so long as they had mother, when they came upon two men sitting upon the ground. These proved to be hunters, who divided with Katherine their stock of food, as they heard her sad story; and helped her on her way.
But this incident made a great impression upon Lorena, owing to the fright of Phebe; who, screaming in terror, literally dragged Lorena back to her mother, scratching her face, tearing her garments (for the
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(28) No. 368, Chas. Nagle R; (29) No. 360, C. M. Carrington (), Miss Louise M. Upson R, (Maples in front planted in 1845); (30) No. 350, E. L. Carrington O; (31) No. 352, H. B. Norton O; (32) No. 33S, Lewis C. Morse 0; (33) No. 307, H. A. Peck O; (34) No. 289. Wm. . 1. Terry O; (35) No. 275, Geo. C. Canfield R; (36) No. 271, F. S. White R, C. E. Potter R.
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latter mishap there being no remedy, although Dame Nature would mend the former!) and greatly alarming the others. She remembered how her brother, the lad Lemuel, grown, since Wyoming, to man's estate, his mother's confidante, protector, and sole reliance-stepped boldly to the front, musket in hand, ready to defend his mother and sisters with his life, if need be. And the surprise and hearty sympathy of the two men remained always a warm memory with Lorena.
Another day, losing the trail, they came at nightfall, in sight of a large building with many lighted windows, which they took to be a wayside tavern. Within they could see a company of men seemingly soldiers, seated at a table, eating their supper.
Faint for want of food, and exhausted with travel, still Katherine Gaylord hesitated. With the memory of the British and Tory at Wyo- ming fresh upon her, how could she trust any man!
Desperation at last gave her desperation's courage; and entering a back room, she sank down in the darkness, with her little girls drawn close beside her; while her boy strode sturdily forward into the room where the men were gathered, and asked for food for his mother and sisters!
In a moment a light was brought, and they were surrounded by the astonished men, who with curious and pitying faces gazed at the forlorn little group, and listened to their pathetic story with manhood's unaccustomed tears. Nothing could exceed their kindness as they rivaled each other in giving comfort to the poor wanderers.
The unwonted luxuries of enough to eat, a bed to sleep in, with strong and ready protectors, were theirs that night; while the sense of security must have given to the poor mother such a rest as had not been hers for many long weeks.
"The gentlest woman," said Lorena in after years, "could not have ministered to our needs more thoughtfully and generously than did these rough, stalwart men."
In the morning they were loaded with provisions and sent on their way with many kind and hearty words.
They never forgot these friends, although they never knew who or what they were. Possibly, in the same way, their descendants may have heard this tale; and sometimes, even to this day, may ponder the fate of those hapless refugees whom their ancestors befriended in the wilderness!
They had often heard at night the howling of wild beasts, but had never been molested. Now, however, for several days an undefined feeling of unusual danger near at hand, had haunted Katherine, (who seems to have been one of those prescient souls, delicately susceptible to impressions which one of coarser fibre could not feel).
One night as they camped by their fire they caught a glimpse of a long, crouching, stealthy form in the underbrush, and knew that some savage creature was on their track. All the night long they could see his gleaming eyes in the firelight, but he dared not attack them. Neither dared he touch them by daylight, and in the morning they cautiously and fearfully went on their way, not venturing to stop for rest or food. Lemuel led, and the others followed, upon the staunch back of their sorely-tried friend-the one remaining horse. A driving rain set in, and the blanket formed but poor protection.
All day long they moved slowly on, with that fearful nightmare creeping ever softly, softly behind-biding his time!
When night drew near their outlook seemed hopeless. To go on in the darkness and storm would be impossible. The soaking rain pre- cluded all hope of a fire, while to stop without a fire meant instant at- tack, and-a reward to the dogged determination of the brute behind them, of which they dared not think.
With the knowledge of all this and with a dreadful doom seemingly
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(37) No. 261, F. W. Jacobs R, Mrs. C. B. Andrews O; (38) No. 251, G. Hendry R, L. L. Pierce O, Geo. Curtiss R; (39) No. 270, W. L. Hart 0; (40) No. 262, G. C. Arms O; (41) No. 227, Mrs. Anna Wandle R, Geo Potter R; (42) No. 219, Chas. G. Eddy R; (43) No. 213. Geo. Kempster O, Alfred W. Kempster R; (44) No. 226, James Hayden O; 45) No. 216, J. H. Johnston R, No. 218, D. Sullivan. R.
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so near, the faith and fortitude of the heroic mother did not fail. She drew her frightened children as closely as possible to her side, and, in her helplessness prayed ceaselessly for that help which to human vision could never come
Faith and works "go hand in hand to fulfillment; and while she prayed she kept moving, straining her eyes in the darkness which set- tled so awfully upon them. And Katherine Gaylord never doubted that the Ever-Present Power in which she trusted. led their feet neither to right, nor to left, but directly into a little clearing, where the dark outlines of a deserted cabin with open door, appeared to their gladdened eyes !
Straight through the friendly portal-not stopping to dismount! Lemuel swung too the heavy door, dropped the bar into its place, and they were saved! Often in after years did Katherine say that she believed that they were directly led by Providence.
The cabin contained one room, with a small lean-to in which the horse found luxuries undreamed of in his recent philosophizing-warmth and shelter! The place had evidently been abandoned in haste; for they found stacks of firewood. with potatoes and corn meal in plenty.
A good fire soon warmed body and soul; and with safety, shelter, warmth, dry clothing and a hot supper of roasted potatoes and corn meal cakes, they felt a rush of fresh courage and new life. Their stead- fast friend in the lean-to shared with them-(though whether or not, in the exuberance of their reaction, the children roasted for him the potatoes, history does not say).
And then they sat around the glowing fire, while Katherine thanked the Power that led them thither.
In the morning the panther had disappeared but fearing its return, they remained in their place of safety, and rested two days; then went on. doubtless strengthened by their enforced period of waiting.
Somewhere on this weary road, they must have met, but passed unseen, the brother of Katherine, sent out by her anxious father (who had heard of the Wyoming tragedy), to find and help her home. "Our unknown losses!" What a subject for thought. The brother, however, must have kept the trail, which she often lost; and so it came about that she was first to reach home. As after many weeks they saw once more the hills which compassed that dear home on every side, how tumultuous must have been her thoughts; while the mingled fear and suffering of the weary way by which they had come, must already have seemed as a troubled dream.
The news of their coming went before. and all through the familiar streets as they passed. old friends came out to greet them as those risen from the dead. Many went on with them to her father's house. As he came out to meet her, brave Katherine broke down at last, throwing herself into his arms, burst into tears-the first she had shed since that fatal night at Wyoming. And not the least touching of all, was her determined attempt still to keep up, prefacing her tears by the cheerful greeting: "Well, we are the worst looking lot you ever saw."
Love, home, and care were hers once more-even though that which was gone could never return. Here she found refuge at last; but she could not rest while her country suffered. Although she had seemingly given all-yet her patriotic heart consented to one more sacrifice.
In 1780, when Lemuel was about sixteen, she gave him to serve his country in its need, as he had upheld his mother in her own. Remem- ber, he was her only son, and she was a widow. When we realize all that he was to her, we can more fully appreciate the intensity of her patriotism, as shown by this final offering. Lemuel was at the surrender of Cornwallis, and then, some time after the war, he left his mother at New Cambridge, and returned to Wyoming, drawn, perhaps, by more interests than one; for here he married Sylvia Murray, daughter of Noah Mur- ray. They settled, finally, in Illinois and had a family of ten children.
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Phebe, Katherine's eldest daughter, married Levi Frisbie, and in 1800, moved to Orwell, Pennsylvania, where they had five children.
Lorena, the "baby," married, in 1799, Lynde Phelps, of Burlington, Connecticut, and was the mother of seven daughters.
So Katherine Gaylord lived, in spite of fate, to see twenty-two grandchildren. After her brood had flown and no longer needed the care which once was literal life to them she stayed on with her parents and cared for them. Her father, James Cole, living to be over ninety,. was one day left for a short time alone in the house. In some way the roof caught fire and the building was burned to the ground. Almost nothing was sayed, and again Katherine was homeless. It was with difficulty that Mr. Cole was rescued; and shortly after he died.
Katherine went then to live with Lorena, and for forty years she passed in and out among them, taking the liveliest interest in helping to "raise" the seven daughters of her daughter; who remembered ever her kind, motherly care, and the quiet, patient, Christian character she maintained.
In 1799, she had united with the Congregational Church of Bristol and she proved ever the truth of the beautiful thought, so suggestive of her spirit:
"Our life is no poor cisterned store, That lavish years are draining low, But living streams that, welling o'er, Fresh from the living fountains flow."
Her sturdy independence was characteristic to the last, When in her nineties, her daughter Lorena begged her to lie down in the day- time to rest, she determinedly refused, giving as her reason, that she "did not wish to get in the habit of it!"
In extreme old age, later events faded from her mind, but Wyoming and its fateful memories were never dim.
She is said once to have been so overcome by the sight of a picture representing an Indian in the act of scalping a man, that she fell to the floor-so vividly did the horrible past return to her.
At the very last of her life here, she would sit for hours by the fire, lost to her surroundings, apparently living over the days gone by. She would sometimes start up in terror, calling to her children to hide from the Indians! Again she would seem to be in fear of wild beasts and cry out pitifully. . Sometimes she would speak her husband's name, and smile-seeming to hold communion with him-perhaps she did- who knows? And at the last, after ninety-five years, she passed peace- fully away; feeling no doubt in regard to the love of her youth, that while
"Clouds sail and waters flow, Our souls must journey on, But it cannot be ill to go The way that thou hast gone."
The storm and tumult of her life seemed to follow her even unto death. At the time of her going a terrific snow storm occurred in New England, blocking the roads and shutting off all possibility of immediate interment. The village carpenter, who was also the village undertaker, had probably time to provide a suitable casket before the storm; but it was several days before the men could venture out even to break paths. Owing to a fierce wind, in many places the paths had to be twice cleared.
When at length the last storm which should ever rage over the head of devoted Katherine, had raved itself into calm, a handful of men left the "Center," to do for her the last service she would ever need at their hands. They started with horse and sleigh; but after going a few rods the plunging steed tore off a shoe, cutting his foot so badly as to disable him; and so they abandoned his help, even as Katherine had abandoned
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her steed near Wyoming long years ago. The men then drew the sleigh across the drifted fields to the place, two miles away, where, heedless of all tumult now, the body of the heroine lay in peace.
Greatly exhausted by the hard road and digging, the men were obliged to rest and take food before making further effort.
One still living, who as a boy, was present at this strange burial, recalls clearly the occasion, and how the body of Katherine was placed upon the sleigh, while her old friends and neighbors, with their own hands, drew it to its final place; even as in ancient times great heroes were borne upon the shoulders of those who would do them honor. Eight men were present at this final scene, but no woman was among them. A tragic ending to a tragic life!
"Never more, O storm-tossed soul- Never more from wind or tide, Never more from billows roll, Wilt thou need thyself to hide!"
Committee on Award of Prizes.
[SIGNED.] "CONNECTICUT." ELIZABETH BRYANT JOHNSTON, Chairman, MARGUERITE DICKENS, HARRIET M. LOTHROP.
DESCEND
ITK
GRAVE OF KATHERINE GAYLORD AT BURLINGTON, CONN. (Courtesy of Bristol Press.)
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Prehistoric Remains Of the Tunxis Valley.
Illustrated With Photographs from Original Objects .* BY FREDERICK H. WILLIAMS.
DR. F. H. WILLIAMS.
To the majority of men the Aborigine of Connecticut is less real than a vanished dream. The antiquarian finds him in musty deeds or forgotten laws. The etymologist traces him in the names of the moun- tains, brooks or vales that he loved, while here and there the thoughtless turn up his discarded arrows or his mouldering bones. But his wigwam has vanished with his council fires, the echo of his war-whoop is lost in the valleys and time has levelled the earth over his forgotten graves. Yet along with the disused tomahawk and the shaftless spear, the humbler implements of his domestic life everywhere betray to the patient seeker his ancient habitations. Sallust believed that the deeds of the ancient Romans were as illustrious as those whose praises were sung by the bards of Greece, but that they were so occupied with those deeds, that none thought to record them. So we may believe that some among
* All the articles illustrated belong to the writer except such as are marked with letters: c A. J. Churchill, Southington; r William C. Richards, of Bristol, who are here thanked for their use.
Students interested in Archaeology may feel assured that all articles described are known to be genuine, and from this section tributary to the old Farmington Valley, and from Collinsville to Windsor.
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THE SOAPSTONE QUARRY AT BRISTOL.
the early settlers of Connecticut were curious enough to have studied the domestic tools of the savage, but, if so, they forgot to record much of their knowledge. Besides we should remember that the metal tools of the white man were so vastly superior to the stone implements of the Indian, as to cause an almost immediate disuse of the latter, where metal could be obtained. Thus it happened that the students of eth- nology, when attention became turned towards unravelling the domestic life of ancient savage man, some forty years ago, found it nearly a sealed book. Yet piece by piece the relics of ancient man have been collected, compared with each other and with what may now be found among existing savages. No longer held as mere curios to tickle a momentary fancy, these implements and ornaments have been used as the alphabets of a forgotten tongue, until now one can not only largely reconstruct the life of this vanished man, but, even entering his departed mentality, ask the reason of many of his ways and deeds.
It must, however, be the scope of this article to deal only with such visible remains as have come down to us from the pre-Columbian owners of the Tunxis Valley. Therefore, very many interesting topics must be left untouched.
POTTERY.
It has been said that, "articles of fictile ware are the most fragile and yet the most enduring of human monuments."* But owing to some cause, doubtless the alternate freezing and thawing in a country
* Jones' Antiquities of the Southern Indians, p. 441.
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subject to heavy rainfall and shallow burials conjoined, perfect pottery is very rare in this valley. Small sherds are found, however, upon nearly all old village sites. They appear to have been well made and are often of a fine red color, but frequently black- ened by fire and smoke. The clay is usually mixed with micaceous sands although some appears to have been mixed with ashes, and other sherds seem
made of nearly homogenous clays. Externally the pottery is usually orna- mented, sometimes with parallel lines, or with oblique detached lines, or series of punctures. Again we frequently find a net work of various patterns impressed upon it. In the American Museum of New York may be seen a very fine jar found near Windsor, belonging to the Fig 1. Terry collection. We know of no other perfect pottery from this section. In fig. 1 we illustrate a very rare pottery A POTTERY PIPE. pipe and tube, which may or may not have been its stem, found in the bank of the Connecticut River, near the mouth of the Farmington, in 1884. Fig. 2 shows typical pottery sherds from Farmington, Plainville and Southington. A curious study is being developed by taking impressions in wax of the ornamental lines on both faces of pottery jars. One can thus often reconstruct, not only the forms of the matting or basketry upon which they were molded, but at times ascertain the nature of the fibres of which the netting or mats were made.
"It was a common practice among the aborigines to employ woven fabrics in the construction and ornamentation of earthenware. Im-
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3,3% size.
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SOAPSTONE DISHES.
pressions were thus left on the clay, and by baking they were rendered as lasting as if engraved on stone. From no other source do we obtain so wide a range of fabrics." ¡Fibre lines will be noticed upon the sherds illustrated in fig. 2 .* From this we perceive how valuable any particular pot-sherd may be to science, and why each fragment should be carefully saved and shown to the nearest general collection.
STEATITE.
The working of soapstone is one of the oldest organized industries of the Tunxis Valley. In Bristol, Nepaug and Harwinton ledges have been found where the prehistoric Indian mined and roughly formed his pots and bowls. In 1892 a beautiful exposure of an aboriginal quarry was uncovered in Bristol, with many bowls in various stages of finish still attached to the ledge. For the Indian first marked out his dish and finished shaping its bottom and side before detaching it from the rock. This separation, owing to the general irregularity of cleavage and frequent faults in the steatite, was often disastrous, as the many broken rejects about the quarry show .. When the bowl was once freed from the ledge it seems to have been taken to some village site and slowly finished, being generally smoothly polished, both within and without. The frontispiece shows the Bristol quarry from a photograph made by the Peabody Museum, and shown at the Columbian Exhibition at Chicago.
Fig. 3, one third natural size, illustrates a very fine two-handled bowl, found some thirty years ago, three feet deep in a sand bank at
t Holmes Prehistoric Textile Art, 13th Annual Report Bureau Ethnology.
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