USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > More chronicles of a pioneer school, from 1792 to 1833, being added history on the Litchfield Female Academy kept by Miss Sarah Pierce and her nephew, John Pierce Brace > Part 10
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" Polly Wells", Mary Wells, a very beautiful little girl from Hart- ford, daughter of Dr. Sylvester Wells & sister of Ralph. She died very soon after this, of the Spotted Fever, very suddenly.
" Eliza Johnston", A native of Savannah, Geo. My flame in 1806, 7&8. For the history of this girl, see "History of Eliza Johnston," a long work written in 1811 with notes at the close of 1850. She is now living in Savannah, a widow of James Morrison. She is about two years younger than I.
Jan. 3, 1806
Osborne's Soliloquy (written Feb. 10, 1806.)
To day I arose and told some lies, And then beheld bright Phoebus rise:
He look'd upon me, in bright array, To see what lies I'd tell today
He view'd me to the setting sun,
Until my lying work was done. This Witness, see, you Feds,
And then take care for your heads. Every lie here shall find a column, But all my lies would fill a volume. Osborne the great one I; by me the Federal dies. Far fam'd am I for telling mighty lies.
Selleck Osborne was the Editor of the Witness, [published in Litch- field, Conn. for about six years] a most violent, scurrillous, and personal Democratic paper. He was a man of talents, but unscru- pulous in his attacks on the Federalists and in the private scandal admitted into his paper. He wrote and published a volume of very respectable poetry. He was a Lieutenant in the war. He has been
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dead many years. The piece shows how violent my party feelings were. I suspect the first six lines were a parody; there is more sound in them than in my verses then.
Jan. 1806 Gun Boat No. 1 or Jefferson's Philosophy a poem by J. P. Brace Esq. A.M.
Third Edition carefully revised and corrected. containing various stuff and things ridiculing the "The Scare- crow of the Charleston Cornfield" or Gunboat No. 1,
MDCCCXI Aug. XI (First edition, Jan 1 : second, Jan XIV
SATIRE II Why, Jefferson, why, what is the matter?
You make such a confused spatter?
Oh ho! I see it, now it is done. And so you are launching No One.
"Oh her," said he, "I've done it, I know,
" And you shall stay to see it go."
And so I staid to see it sail.
They said, it would go in any gale. When lo, from the East arose a storm
And laid it in a cornfield, snug & warm. Which show'd Miss Gunboat's proper station. For she knew how to guard a cornfield better than a nation. "Oh where's my Gunboat, does anyone know? It is hid up in a cornfield for a scare crow.
Sept. 3, 1850
I insert here title page & all. Methinks a poem heralded by such a flourish of trumpets should have been rather longer. There is neither wit, humour, poetry nor sense in it. It was founded on the following fact. When Mr. Jefferson sold the American Navy, contrary to the wishes of the Federalists, he had constructed several gunboats, each carrying a heavy gun in the stern on a pivot. They were to be em- ployed along the coast as defences of our harbors. In a violent storm
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at Charleston, S. C. Gunboat No 1 was driven up, high & dry, into a cornfield. It was made the subject of many epigrams & the only I can remember was the following parody of a nursery rhyme.
Far in a cornfield, high & dry. Sat Gunboat No One; Wiggle, waggle, went its tail, And pop, went its gun.
Feb. 1806. SATIRE IV
Roger Skinner, No. 2
Roger Skinner strok'd his hair
And then rose up to plead, Sir.
For no law he does not care,
While the Democrats he does lead, Sir.
Roger Skinner is a dunce,
As ever I did hear, Sir.
I never heard him plead but once,
And then he brought up the rear, Sir.
Roger Skinner rais'd his voice To the Democratic side, Sir. "Come, 'pubs,' come, rejoice, "For now we shall abide, Sir."
Roger Skinner went on With his palaver and stuff, Sir.
"Come, 'repubs,' come on; "For we must have votes enough, Sir.
Roger Skinner was answered straight
By one of the other side, Sir. "You need not go on to rate, "For you will not abide, Sir.
Roger Skinner was rather mad, And began to huff, Sir. He began to be so very bad, They had to be very rough, Sir.
At the session of the Supreme Court in Litchfield the February term of 1806, I happened one evening to say to my father that I never had
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had an opportunity of seeing the proceedings of a court as some of the other boys had. Contrary to all my expectations, based upon his usual character, he said to me that I might go to Court and stay just one week. I need not study or go to school during the time. The conditions were that I was to bring to him every evening an exact account of all that had been done during the day. I suppose, he thought I should be sick enough of the plan before one day was up. Hardly any event of my early life took such strong hold of my mind. I gave him fresh every evening a long detail of all that had been said and done, which so interested him, that my permission was lengthened out another week. I watched, with the most eager attention, every case as it came up. I can remember them to this day. I have a vivid impression yet of the speeches of Daggett, Nat. Smith, Holmes, John Allen and other distinguished pleaders. Daggett and Nathaniel Smith saw how interested I was in each case, and took much notice of mne. I can remember how proud I felt when Daggett sat by me and put his arm around me and talked with me. The effect this had upon my imagination was to create a new day dream. All the little quarrels among the boys; all the slight trespasses they committed were imag- ined by me as brought into a court of the boys and tried. I have now long written reports of these fancied trials where the evidence and pleas are all in full.
Among the lawyers was Roger Skinner, a young democrat, son of Gen. Timothy Skinner of Chestnut Hill. He had not much practise. Against him these satires were written in court and passed around among the lawyers.
Roger Skinner became a lawyer in New York, a friend of Martin Van Buren. His brother Richard was Governor of the State of Ver- mont. Roger held some lucrative office in some county between Albany & Lake Champlain. He died unmarried some time ago.
The two satires show nothing but political ill nature.
In those days, "Democrats" was a term of reproach given to the Republican party by the Federalists, similar to the word Loco Foco?, now & "pubs" means Republicans.
Respecting the characters.
Eliza Ely was some years older than I. She was from Lyme & was some connection of McWilliam Ely of Hartford. There is much said of her, through my journal of 1806 &7. I find an account of her death in 1808.
Anna Cutler was from Watertown, the daughter of Younglove Cutler. She and her older sister Betsey appear often in my journal. They grew up to be very fine women, but I believe are both dead.
HOME OF FANNY, ERASTUS, AND AUGUSTUS LORD Built by Lynde Lord, Sr. Date 1771
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Maria & Fanny Goodwin were sisters from the Western part of New York. There subsequent history I do not remember. Likewise, Esther Kissam of New York, I know nothing of her. She belonged to the older set. The "Nathan" referred to is Nathan Levenworth.
I think the age of Eliza Johnston is underated. I believe she was then eleven.
In the Satire VII, Present State of Affairs, the Eliza thus deified and satired is Eliza Johnston who, without exception had more flames than any girl I ever knew, even from the "Sunny South". "Harry" - Henry Sheldon, a boy two years older than myself, a great gallant and a fine fellow. My journal of 1807 &8 is full of him. He lives on the Hudson River, now, in a beautiful villa. He never married. "Sally" Ann Van Kleeck was a bright black eyed girl from Pough- keepsie of warm temperament & fond of the beaux.
George Tracy, Robert Morris, and Charles Butler are next mentioned. George Tracy's now a broker in New York; the others I know nothing of. They were all older than myself. Charles Butler bore the nick- name of Fiddlehead, by inheritance. "Charley & Maria" Charles Bald- win and Maria Goodwin. Baldwin graduated from Williams College in 1810: he became a distinguished lawyer, and died just as he was nominated for member of Congress. He was a fellow of most superior talents & "William" - William Deming: well known even then.
In reference to Satire VIII - The Dancing School Class, Mr. Grey, the French master had a very large school. "David" is David Welch. He and his brother Hugh came in from Milton to attend the school. They were sons of Hon. John Welch. He was a disagreeable boy, pompous and overbearing. He was subsequently, a Lieutenant in the War of 1812, and died soon after the peace.
Bard and "Greene" were John Bard Pendleton and Nathaniel Greene Pendleton who were at school at Litchfield. They were sons of N. Pendleton, Esq. a lawyer of New York, and second to Gen. Hamilton in his duel with Burr. Their mother was sister to my Uncle John's wife and hence the families were intimate.
Greene was a fellow of talents and has borne some distinguished office at Cincinnati since. Bard was a poor scholar. A still younger brother James was at school with them.
It must be confessed my youthful "satires" were bitter enough to deserve the name. I do not know where I picked up the idea of writing them or of numbering them in regular order. I was always remarkable, however, from childhood for a love of method & regularity.
In reference to Satire XII Present State of Affairs.
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Mr. David Bacon, brother of Asa Bacon, Esq. studied law in Litch- field and room'd in the north part of his brother's office. He took a great fancy to me, and allowed me to read at his room whenever I pleased. I remember spending many Saturday afternoons reading in his room, the only time I had for amusement except evenings. He directed my reading much, and it was there I devoured Shakespeare I recollect his being surprised at the maturity of my taste, when I told him, I preferred Pope for poetry, and Goldsmith for prose. I showed him this satire, and he pointed out its errors of versification and taught me the syllabic formations of poetic lines. For instance, the second line was written "stuff'd with Latin" etc and he showed me how it might be beautified. This directed my mind and my ear into the right channel. I always felt grateful for this very valuable assistance. He is now living.
Jane Shedden had been here for some time and my journals are full of her.
Satire XIII - The occasion of this satire was a Camp Meeting held at Goshen, to which I was taken by my father. It was a period of the utmost enthusiastic exhibition of the religious peculiarities among the Methodists and when trances or falling were common. The satire is not in the least exaggerated.
Referring to the Epic Poem.
The leaders were Jane Shedden and Rebecca Ann Davenport.
Jane Shedden was about my age, perhaps a little older, She al- ways went with the older set and in 1809 was called a great girl. She was from New York City and had lost both her parents when very young. She came to school at Litchfield in Jan. 1802 and boarded at my father's until 1805. Of course she was one of my earliest playmates. She went to Miss Pierce's to board, when her sister became music mistress there. She was a leader of the girls, had a strong mind. I find her as a scholar in winter 1809. The next I see of her is as Music Mistress in 1810. She was a very talented and accomplished girl, though exceedingly plain in personal appearance. She corresponded with me through the whole of my College Life, and was the most interesting correspondent I had. She gave me, always, the best and most judicious advice. She remained as Music Mistress until the Spring of 1813 when she went to Norwalk, Ct. to teach school. Her letters from there were not happy. I next hear of her as being at Marietta, Ohio, with her sister, who had married Mr. Burr for her second husband. They all three moved to Richmond, Va. where Mr. & Mrs. Burr lived until they died.
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Jane's brother William, a lieutenant in the East India company's service then gave her an annuity and she spent some time with him in England. After his death she lost her annuity and went to teaching school. She has proved one of the most elegant, accomplished fashion- able and polite teachers of the South, where her health has obliged her to continue. She is now in Natches, Miss. I have had calls from her several times at Hartford, and occasionally hear from her on business.
Rebecca Ann Davenporte was from Stamford, Ct. She was a very large girl of her age.
Doctor Fill is a nickname for Henry Sheldon. Son of Dr. Sheldon not only well known in Litchfield but all over the state.
" Miss Tracy" - Caroline Tracy, who was about my age, and for a long time a companion of mine. She was afterward music mistress. She has been dead some time.
" Marrelta" - Marrelta Noble - either of Milford or New Milford. She was very bashful and when any of the boys took hold of her arm to wait upon her home from Conference, she would twitch her arm away and run.
"Flora Catlin" -daughter of Mr. Grove Catlin, who kept the leading tavern in Litchfield for many years. He was a remarkably fleshy man. She was about my age, perhaps a little younger. I do not remember much of her until I left college. I then found her sharing with Harriet Talmadge the credit of being the belle of Litchfield. She was a very graceful beautiful and gay girl, a first rate dancer and dressed with a great deal of taste. She was engaged once, but the gentleman? very dishonorably deserted her, and she always refused all offers after that. When she became religious she became one of the most interesting young ladies of my acquaintance. For several years, I taught her in the evenings, Latin, Arithmetic etc. She was then Drawing Teacher in our School. In 1831, she boarded in my family during the winter, and was a very agreeable member of the family. The spring of that year, she came to Hartford, as teacher in the Seminary; she was here when I took it in 1832 and continued in it until 1842, when I was obliged to dismiss all the teachers, there were so few scholars. She now lives with her brother, here. At the age of 40, she was the finest looking woman in Hartford.
" Maria Milldollar" was the daughter of Rev. Dr. Milldollar of New York.
" Mary Davies" must be Maria Davies who was my flame in 1809.
" Polly Wildman" was Mary Wildman of Danbury of 1807-1808 pupils. I know nothing now of her.
" Harriet" is Harriet Whittlesay of Danbury.
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" Two Centers" Abby and Margaret Center, two of the 1809 Oct.
"Sally Hazard" another of the set of 1808.
"Charlotte Strong" I have no recollection of unless she was a girl from Windsor.
" Amelia Smith" a beautiful girl from Fishkill that belonged to the older set. "Miss Bellamy" is Bellamy Crawford Robertson from Sa- vannah, a cousin of Eliza Johnston, and one of the excellent of the earth. She married very late in life and is now living in Savannah. "The lofty town" of Bracedom, and "the cloud capt turrets" are rather extravagant expressions for our old red house! "Poetical illus- tration!"
"Julia Smith" - Julia Ann Smith, daughter of Rev. Mr. Smith of Stamford. She was a girl of good talents, and sprightly amiable dis- position. In one of the bunches of L. C. I have a long "conversation book" between her and Bell Robertson which throws some light on the history of the times. She married Dr. Milo L. North and lived in Hartford when I came here in 1832. They moved to Saratoga, but I understand, are now living in New York with their only child who is a merchant, there, in good business.
"Caroline Tappan" was of Dutch origin. I remember but little about her. " Adams' dome" was a boarding house kept by Mrs. Adams, which Miss Edwards afterward kept and where Mr. Charles Jones' 1 house now stands. I do not speak very favorably of the quiet in that house. " Margaret Bloodgood" was from Albany; she was sometime at Litch- field. The subsequent history I know nothing of. "Denison & Eg- berts" I do not remember, except that Susan Dennison was one of the winter of 1808. "Mary Shelden" was, probably some connection of Dr. Sheldon's, but how I know not.
" Maria & Nancy Butler" were two daughters of Charles Butler, tailor, who sailed under the expressive cognomen of "Fiddlehead". The cause of that name is beyond my time and recollection. I remember there were there two girls in the family, and two boys, Charles & Wil- liam The family moved to Poughkeepsie very soon after this was written. I know nothing about their subsequent history.
"Clara Deming", Clarissa Deming was always a favorite of mine. Clarissa Deming was a native of Litchfield. My private journal sub- sequently was full of her praise. I speak of her as probably destined to make one of the best wives in the world. I admired her character exceedingly. She married Charles Perkins, Esq. of Norwich; lived for a while in Rochester but removed to Litchfield, where she died, I think, in 1830 (1836) She left a number of interesting children.
The "Colliers" were daughters of Thomas Collier the proprietor of 1 Mr. Ludlow Bull's - North St.
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the Litchfield Monitor, a warm Federal paper. I thought they had left Litchfield before that time.
"Celia Cleaver" is Cecelia Cleaver, daughter of Tobias Cleaver. She married a man of Vermont by the name of Potter, and died insane.
"Susan" is probably Susan Denniston who came from "Adams' Dome." And who "Susan Denison" was I do not remember. She is mentioned as one of my tormentors, winter & summer of 1809, but, I do not remember her.
Caroline Tracy was a remarkably cheerful girl, of a very happy temperament.
"Harriet" is probably Harriet Whitlesey of Danbury.
Note, Nov. 18, 1850
I perceive that History E. J.1 23 says that Sally Ann Smith was a beautiful girl from Poughkeepsie boarding at Judge Holmes. I have not the least recollection of her.
Stephen Dodge was a merchant of Litchfield; a man of piety, but one "who made his good evil spoken of." During the absence of his clerk I was with him, as a clerk, from Oct. 1807 to Feb. 1808, and then again Dec. 1808.
Monday, so called in P.J. l.c. The "Fanny" thus apostrophised, is Fanny Merrick the daughter of the then principal innkeeper of Pitts- field, Mass. who was then at school. I commenced quite a flirtation with her in order to excite Marie Davies' jealousy, as she seemed to be more pleased with Erastus Lord. Fanny was a little dumpy figure, with a doll face, blue eyes and brown hair. She was just romantic and silly enough to be pleased with my attentions. Fanny died early, I believe, unmarried.
Page 144 Referring to a poem dated April 11, 1809.
It may be that the "Delia" mentioned here is Delia Mallory from Milford who boarded at our house that winter. She was a young lady, that the beaux thought much of and she had beautiful teeth.
Sept. 17, 1850.
The design is a satire on the boys & girls that belonged to the "glo- rious times" of 1809. That period of my life seems, for many years, to have called out my most ardent feelings, and even now, it appears one of "the greenest spots on Memory's waste". I had overcome the hatred which my person and manners had created in 1808 and had
1 Eliza Johnston.
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commenced the character for kindness which has clung to me thro life. I was look'd up to in my set, as being superior to them all in talents, scholarship, and genius, and I had shown how, without qual- ities of person or fortune, I could be acceptable to the female sex. Maria Davies a beautiful black eyed houri from Poughkeepsie, smiled upon me. The friends I had were enjoying the same blessing with me. We had all divided into pairs, and no one interfered with the other.
" Mother Hoys" was a house at the turnpike on the Goshen road, about two miles from the centre of the village. The old woman kept a very good cake & beer shop and her house was much resorted to by persons riding.
Oct. 4, 1809. SATIRE XV Trip to Mother Hoys
Come, come along, my jolly boys, Let's take a trip to Mother Hoys, And taste her cake and beer; The girls shall go, to have some sport, For there's the place for us to court, As is the custom here.
Come, Talmadge, quick, take up your Beau, With Abby Centre you shall go, The one you love so well. How happy ye, if, for this life,
You should be joined, man and wife, Would be, I cannot tell.
And Henry Holmes may, if he will, Miss Randal's happiness fulfill, By taking her aboard, If he's got o'er his jealous fit, And thinks she don't love F. a bit, And he's alone ador'd.
You must be with us, Johnny Brace, Come, lay aside your parson's face, And let us have some fun. Your Daddy ne'er will whip you for it, If you do go the girls to court, As you have often done.
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And Virgil Peck, too he must take, (If he don't fear his purse 'twill break, To spend a dollar there,) Eliza Johnston, for they tell, He loves her most exceeding well, That girl so lovely fair.
But I'll no more tell who did go; Suffice to say, 'twas every beau And belle of Litchfield town, Whose age entirely lay between The years of twelve and of sixteen; The Lords and Lyman Brown.
The chaises now, with rumbling noise, Convey them up to Mother Hoys, To cut a caper there: The people staring as they go, Old maids, and young, and married too, And tho't 'twas very rare.
The chaises now stop at the door Of Mother Hoys, who views them o'er; Then runs to fix the bread. "Excuse my trim; pray, take a seat "Some in the chairs, some on your feet, " And some upon the bed.
"I have not chairs enough - here, Jack, "Run out and bring upon your back " A monstrous shingling block; " And bring some boards; we'll make a seat "Quite large enough these folks to greet; "I'll go and change my frock."
"Oh, no:" says Holmes, "'Tis clean enough "Pray bring along, now, all your stuff, "Your cake and wine and beer, " And place it full before on view" Says Bill, " A glass of rum or two "If you can find it here."
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The table soon was cover'd oer With wine and beer, 'twas all her store; With cakes of every kind; All fruits that mortal man could wish; And pies, heap'd on a wooden dish, That sure would please the mind.
"Fall to, now, ladies," exclaim'd Bill, "You now can have what e'er you will, "For here 's enough to eat." But Holmes, polite, reach'd round the cake, That every lady might some take, And still might keep her seat.
Then Bill yell'd out - "I say that pie "Belongs to Marg'ret, Lamp, and I: "Hand it: I cannot reach." Then Johnny said, "Let 's have a knife; "I'll cut them all, and end the strife, " And give a piece to each."
The food divided into shares; The gentlemen now took their chairs, While it was handed round; The beer unbottled; wine turn'd out, And then in glasses brought about; The roofs then did resound.
Now every beau look'd out his dear, And took his seat on bench quite near, And talk'd of nought but love: No wonder, then, they talk'd so fine, It was the "rapturous" power of wine, That caus'd their tongues to move.
While Brown sat squinting from the door, And look'd the ladies o'er and o'er, And mark'd their beauties all, Thinks he, there is not one so fair, As can with Marg'ret's form compare, So graceful, slim, and tall.
THE MANSION HOUSE
Built by Grove Catlin in 1801, on the corner of South and West Streets, burned in 1888, where Flora Catlin lived with her father, Grove Catlin, who kept the house. She was handsome and an acknowledged belle among the law students. Her father appreciated her popularity and said his daughter "was 'assasinated' most every night"
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They all felt happy; all were glad; And none had reason to be sad, Except Eliza Lamp. She mourn'd Erastus gone away, Which did her pleasures damp.
The reckoning paid, the horses feet Soon gallop'd down the Litchfield street, And caus'd the dust to rise; Old maids, and young, and married too, Ran out to take another view, Before they clos'd their eyes.
The girls were tir'd the muse is too: She hopes in mercy we've got through. She thinks, she soon will die. Poor jade, I fear I've used her ill; The road is bad across the hill, Where Fancy's regions lie.
"Talmadge," Benjamin Talmadge Jr. in love with Abby Center. See P.J. 1809 notes. [B. T. entered the Navy, died and is buried at Gibraltar. - E. N. V.]
" Beau", the name of his horse.
"Henry Holmes" character is well touched off. His jealousy and his extreme and celebrated politeness are alluded to. He had been afraid that Ann Maria Randal loved Talmadge better than him, but without reason.
"Johnny" is myself, my love of order is touched.
"The Lords and Lyman Brown" ought to have been " Bill Lord & Lyman Brown", for I mention afterward, that Erastus was absent. "Lyman Brown" is Solyman Brown 1 who was educated for college by the ladies of Litchfield. He was a man of genius but failed in stability of character. He went thro' college and became a preacher, was noted for his eloquence and his fine writing, but was subsequently silenced by the Litchfield county association for some irregularities of belief. See his vindication in one of the earlier volumes of my pam- phlets. He then went to New York; taught school; published a volume of poems; became a Swedenborgian; established himself as a dentist etc. He is now there. A few days ago, he made a proposition in the public papers to republish the rejected Jenny Lind Songs.
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