USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 37
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lives in Wakefield ; Elizabeth, b. 1818; m. Mr. Kimball ; and other children, who d. young.
This place was one of the early homesteads of the Wiley settlers, and was probably the residence of Timothy Wiley, Esq. (the representative). Thomas Wiley, son of Timothy, was living here about 1765. It sub- sequently became the property of David Wiley, the son of Eli. The old house was burnt some forty years ago.
ELI WILEY lived on the place now or recently owned by Jeremiah Shannahan.
He was son of Nathaniel and Mary (Eaton) Wiley ; b. 1774 ; m., Ist, 1795, Love Mansfield, of Lynnfield ; m., 2d, 1832, Wid. Lucy (Tapley) Wiley ; he d. 1848, aged 75. Chil. : Ruth, b. Feb. 22, 1796 ; m. 1814, Wm. Edmands, of Saugus ; Harriet, b. March 1, 1803 ; m. 1820, James W. Leatherbee, of Boston ; David, b. March 18, 1799 ; m. 1821, Sally L. Pease, of Lynnfield ; Warren, b. Jan. 26, 1801 ; m. 1820, Abigail Pease, of Lynnfield ; Sophia, b. May 5, 1807 ; m. 1827, Russel Foster ; Sarah, b. June 28, 1809 ; m. 1831, George Sweetser ; Lucinda, m. 1833, Luther Locke, of Stoneham ; Mary, b. June 9, 1820 ; m. 1846, M. W. Sullivan ; Ellis, b. July 17, 1815 ; m. 1834, Elizabeth Wade, of Lynnfield, and d. in 1868 ; Enos, b. 1818 ; m. 1838, Susan C. Upham, of Saugus ; m., 2d, Hannah S. (Tuttle) Fletcher. By second wife, he, Eli, had several other children.
Mr. Eli Wiley succeeded his father, Nathaniel, on this place, which was one of the homesteads of the Wiley family.
SALEM STREET.
THOMAS EVANS, Jr., lived in a one-storied house that then stood where now stands the larger house that is owned and occupied by Lu- cius B. Evans. He was son of Thomas and Rebecca (Smith) Evans ; b. 1778 ; m. 1802, Phebe Cummings, of Woburn ; d. 1832, aged 54, His wid. died in 1871, aged 90.
Mr. Evans was an active, industrious, and intelligent man, an earnest and effective speaker in the municipal assembly, an honest and public- spirited citizen ; was often intrusted with public office ; was a shoe manufacturer, trader, and to some extent an orchardist. Children : Phebe, b. 1804; m. 1826, Capt. Loel Sweetser ; is now dead ; Rebecca, b. 1805 ; m. 1825, Capt. George Batchelder, of Reading ; he died in 1868 ; Thomas Jefferson, b. 1806 ; m. 1836, Mary D., dau. of Eben D. Symonds, of Reading ; he lives in Woburn ; James Madison, b. 1809 ; m. 1833, Sabrina Wilson, of Saugus ; Otis Morton, b. 1813, and d. young ; Harriet Newell, b. 1815; m. 1840, Chas. F. Flint, Esq., of
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
North Reading ; he d. in 1868; Lucius Bolles, b. 1819 ; m., Ist, 1846, Lucy Jane Moulton ; m., 2d, 1853, Emily, dau. of Reu. Newhall ; Geo. Washington, b. 1821 ; m., Ist, 1843, Harriet Eaton ; m., 2d, 1854, Wid. Martha (Upton) Doton ; Charlotte, b. 1822, is unm.
Mr. Evans was preceded on this place by Lilley Eaton, who subse- quently built the house on the corner of Main and Salem Streets. The one-storied house was purchased some years ago by Sumner Pratt, re- moved to Pleasant Street, and there enlarged.
THOMAS SWAIN, MOLLY PARKER, brother and sister (in law), lived in a house lately owned by Charles F. Flint, Esq., and recently taken down.
Thomas Swain was son of Dr. Oliver and Margaret (Walton) Swain ; b. 1771 ; m. 1795, Betsey, dau. of Ebenezer and Sarah (Whittredge) Pope, of Danvers, and d. 1813, aged 42. He was by profession a schoolmaster ; taught the town school in South Reading in 1809, and was teaching at Saugus at the time of his death.
Master Swain was an intelligent and worthy man, a good English scholar, and, as a teacher, was nervous, somewhat severe, but faithful and successful. He had no children. His widow long survived him, and died in the almshouse a few years since.
Molly Parker was dau. of Ebenezer Pope, and sister of Master Swain's wife, and widow of Hananiah Parker. (See Early Settlers.) She was m., Ist, to Mr. Parker in 1787. He d. 1798, aged 32. She m., 2d, Joseph Boutwell, of Reading, in 1834, and is now dead. Her mother, Wid. Sarah Pope, d. 1832, aged 94. Chil .: Oliver, who d. young ; William, b. 1790, and m. 1818, Abigail Haynes ; Thomas, b. 1792 ; m. 1819, Hannah Emerson, and d. 1868 ; Polly, b. 1794; m. 1817, Capt. Samuel Wiley, and lived and died in Hartford, Conn. ; Oliver, b. 1797, m. Sophia Pope, of Salem ; Lydia, b. 1798 ; m. 1821, . James B. Emerson, and d. at Natchez, Miss., of yellow fever, in 1822.
The house was built by Joseph Gould, and the boards were fast- ened with wooden pins instead of nails. It was taken down in I866.
LEMUEL SWEETSER lived in the house now owned and occupied by Capt. Asaph Evans. He was son of Paul and Mary (Hart) Sweetser ; b. 1779 ; m. 1801, Hannah, dau. of Lilley and Sarah Eaton, and d. of pulmonary consumption in 1835, aged 56. He was colonel of cavalry, school committee, justice of the peace, and representative. His busi- ness was shoe manufacturing.
Col. Sweetser possessed strong native gifts ; was an original thinker
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well-posted ; an effective public speaker ; a man of firmness, courage, and probity. In some particulars he was remarkable and peculiar. He had a mind of his own ; never took opinions second-hand ; never admitted any proposition to be true, until he had thoroughly analyzed it ; often seeming to favor the side of a question which he believed to be the wrong side, for the purpose of drawing out the arguments of that side ; he had a good opinion of his own judgment ; for instance : when about locating his new house, which he built on Main Street (the same recently owned by P. C. Wheeler, Esq.), he called his brethren and kinsfolk together, and asked their advice how it was best to locate and face the new building ; and having got the assembled wisdom of his friends in the matter, one of whom (B. Badger, Jr., Esq.) was a practical surveyor, he then pro- ceeded to place his stakes in an entirely different position, and then said to his friends : "Gentlemen, - I am much obliged for your advice, but the house will stand there." It was a marked trait in the colonel's character, a trait common and notable, to a considerable extent, in the whole Sweetser family, to have a very excellent opinion of his own belongings, whether of houses, lands, wife, children, or any other pos- session, not excepting himself. He had a large organ of order, neat- ness, and exactness ; was ever prompt, practical, and conscientious withal, as was evinced by his scruples about the propriety of answering an order for supplying the trade with a variety of shoes called "dan- cing pumps." He was very fond of the military organization, particu- larly the cavalry corps, in which he was an accomplished officer and colonel ; and when his regimental chaplain was absent, he would him- self perform the sacerdotal service to great acceptance. His especial fondness for the cavalry branch of the militia was perhaps owing to his love of, and pride in, a noble steed ; and he never used any other than a good one. He possessed and exercised an extended influence in the town, and particularly in the Baptist society, of which he was a prominent founder, and a life-long, earnest supporter ; he was public- spirited and liberal ; a friend of the common school and of education gen- erally ; and was one of the founders of the "South Reading Academy."
The colonel had not been much taught in the schools, but the follow- ing lines, the composition of which has been ascribed to him, the same having been found among his papers, in his own chirography, and with his own sign-manual attached, show (whether he was the author or not) the bent of his mind and sentiment at the time, and that he had some relish for rhythmical composition :---
4
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
A NEW CATECHISM,
MORE STUDIED THAN AN OLDER AND A BETTER ONE.
What is the chief end of man ?
To gather up riches, to cheat all he can ;
To flatter the rich, the poor to despise,
To pamper the fool, to humble the wise ;
The rich to assist, -to do all in his power, To kick the unfortunate still a peg lower ; To cry up fair freedom, defend it with vigor,
Have slaves without number and use them with rigor ;
To deal fair with all men - when riches attend them,
To grind down the poor - when there's none to defend them ; To seduce the fair virgin to accept his embrace,
To cast on her then all the shame and disgrace ;
To be angel without, and devil within, -
To pretend to all virtue and practise all sin ;
This is most men's chief end or their actions belie them,
And if you don't believe it, - you may e'en go and try them. Signed, LEMUEL SWEETSER, Reading, 1798.
Chil. : Loel, b. 1802 ; m., Ist, 1826, Phebe Evans ; m., 2d, 1862, Evelina S. Sibley, and d. in 1873 ; Olive, b. 1805, and m. 1840, Dea. Martin Stowell (2d wife) ; Lemuel, b. 1807, and m. 1831, Clarissa Wiley ; Nelson, b. 1809 ; is unm .; insane ; Elbridge, b. 1815, m. 1838, Mary Richardson.
The easterly part of this house was owned by Joseph Gould in 1795 ; and the westerly part was then the property of Elizabeth, wid. of Israel Walton, who m. in 1791, Paul Sweetser, Sen.
TIMOTHY POOLE lived on the place now occupied by his son, Frank- lin Poole, Esq.
He was son of Jonathan and Mary Poole (see Early Settlers) ; born 1762 ; m., Ist, 1787, Lucy, dau. of Ebenezer Pope ; m., 2d, 1798 or '9, Jerusha Richardson, of Woburn. He was a house painter and an in- genious mechanic ; an industrious and faithful workman ; of a disposi- tion fretful, oftentimes, "because of evil doers," but fond of practical jokes, such as slyly painting a cabbage upon a corner of a tailor's sign, and other innocent jests. He was one of the founders of the Univer- salist society in this place, an honest citizen and kind neighbor.
He died Feb. 10, 1828 ; his death was occasioned by a fall from the upper scaffold of his barn. Chil .: Lucy, b. 1789 ; m. Mr. Jennings ; is now dead; Caroline, b. 1802 ; lived in Cambridge, and d. unm. ; Al- exander, b. 1804; m., Ist, 1847, Cynthia Rugg, and 2d, 1873, Lucy A. Upton ; he is a physician ; formerly of Chelsea, now of Wakefield ;
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Franklin, b. 1808 ; m. Rebecca P. Rollins, of Deerfield, N. H .; is an artist ; has been representative, and lives on the homestead in Wake- field.
The predecessor of Mr. Poole on this place was Elias Emerson, who removed to Lancaster.
BENJ. BADGER, Sen., AND BENJ. BADGER, Jr., father and son, lived on the place now owned by Wid. Sarah Brown, and long known as the " Badger Place."
Benj. Badger, Sen., aforesaid, came from Boston ; was a soldier of the Revolution ; m. Naomi, dau. of Joseph and Phebe Emerson ; was selectman and schoolmaster.
He was a man of intelligence and probity ; was peculiar for his reti- cence and sententiousness. He removed to Charlestown, where he died at an advanced age. His wife was a most excellent woman; a pattern of amiability and piety. Chil. : Benjamin (see below) ; Thomas, a portrait painter, who lived in Boston, and has recently deceased ; Betsey, who m. 1809, Bill Richardson, and is d. ; John, who m. Betsey Howard, and settled and died in Charlestown.
BENJ. BADGER, Jr., was b. about 1779 ; m., Ist, 1808, Katharine, dau. of Lilley and Sarah Eaton ; removed to Charlestown, where he d. 1855, aged 76. He m., 2d, Wid. Eliza (Green) Stone. Was select- man and justice of the peace, land surveyor, a noted mathematician, and a philosopher generally.
Although self-taught, he became learned in many branches of sci- ence. Like his father, he was a man of few words, and could think and write better than he could talk. He was a great lover of physical science, and very ingenious and successful in developing and exhibiting its curious wonders ; his house was full of philosophical apparatus. Chil. : Katharine, b. 1811, is a popular teacher, and lives in Charles- town, unm. ; Benjamin Franklin, b. 1820; m. 1845, Frances Ellen Hammond.
This house was built, in part, from the old parish school-house, that once stood near where formerly stood the First Parish parsonage ; in which old school-house, the said Benjamin, Sen., was sometime school- master.
AMOS EVANS lived about this time on the place not long since oc- cupied by the late Silas Richardson, in a house recently burnt down.
He was son of Tho. and Rebecca Evans ; b. 1787 ; m. 1811, Kath- arine, dau. of Jethro Richardson ; was a jeweller ; removed to Reading, where he long lived ; was a Baptist deacon, and now resides in Wake- field.
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
This old place was the residence formerly of Joseph Gould, who came from Stoneham ; m. Mary Badger ; built several houses on this street ; was a sort of self-made carpenter and wheelwright ; he died ยท in 1810.
ELIZABETH BRYANT built about this time the house recently occupied by the late James Walton. She was the dau. of Josiah and Lydia (Green) Bryant ; m. 1818, James Walton. Before marriage, she was a popular tailoress ; very industrious and successful.
James Walton was the son of Timothy Walton (see Early Settlers) ; and was born in Lynnfield, about 1785. Before his marriage, he lived in the easterly part of the town, on the place now known as the Austin place.
He was a man of intelligence and integrity ; slow and cautious in embracing opinions, but firm and pertinacious in maintaining them. Was selectman ; he d. 1860, aged 75. His wid. removed to Lawrence, and there d. in 1868. Chil. : James Coleman Wheelock, b. 1819, and m. 1843, Mary Cowdrey, and lives in Wakefield ; George Augustus, b. 1822 ; m. and removed to Lawrence; was principal of the high school there ; was an alderman ; is author of popular text-books in arithmetic, and is now teacher in Westfield Normal School; Daniel Gould, b. 1824 ; m. E. Jeanette Aborn, and lives in Wakefield ; Josiah, b. 1828, and d. 1838.
THOMAS WOODWARD occupied the larger portion of the house now owned by his son, Ralph E. Woodward ; he was son of James and Rebecca Woodward (see Early Settlers) ; was born in Lynnfield, in 1773 ; was a very ingenious mechanic and nice workman; was the original manufacturer of the celebrated " Woodward's Awls," and other improved shoe-tools. The original invention or suggestion of " Emer- son's Elastic Razor Straps," has been credited to Mr. Woodward. He was an honest, industrious, and kind-hearted man, but possessed some peculiarities of character ; he had an inquiring and rather credulous mind ; any new idea, either in physic, physics, or ethics, he was ever ready to adopt, and if he thought it valuable, he was disposed to pursue it with great sincerity and pertinacity of purpose ; hence we find him , ever trying some new experiment in manufacturing, using some newly invented pills or cordial, making a " Tincture," that becomes and still continues a popular medicine, becoming an anti-Mason and abolition- ist of the most approved patterns, and an honest and sincere believer in Millerism. He was, however, a very useful citizen. He lived to be aged, and his body outlived his mind. He d. 1860, aged 872.
He m., Ist, 1794, Nancy Batt, by whom he had : Thomas, b. 1798,
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who m. 1818, Esther Slocomb, and was father of James F. and other children ; Nancy, b. 1800, who m. Mr. McIntire, of Saugus.
Mr. Woodward m., 2d, Rebecca Johnson, of Lynnfield, and by her had many children, among whom were : Edwin, b. 1811 ; m. Selina Sweetser, and occupied the northerly part of the house now owned by Ralph E. Woodward, He d. 1866 ; Ralph Erskine, b. 1814 ; m., Ist, Elizabeth Rayner, and m., 2d, Miss Pervear. There were daugh- ters, Eliza P., Rebecca J., Angelina C., Sabrina, Ellemandia, Sarah, Eliza, Mary, Ann, Orrella, perhaps others. Ralph E. now owns the place.
EBENEZER BRYANT lived in that part of the house above noticed, that was recently occupied by Edwin Woodward, and in which Eliza- beth Bryant, the tailoress, sister of said Ebenezer, formerly lived prior to her marriage. Ebenezer, son of Josiah and Lydia (Green) Bryant, m. 1804, Hannah Centre. He removed many years since to Charles- town, where he recently deceased. Wm. C. Bryant, now of Wake- field, and the late Rev. Charles Bryant, were his sons ; he had other children.
The predecessor of Messrs. Woodward and Bryant on this place was a Mr. Smith.
THOMAS SKINNER about this time purchased the wheelwright's shop that stood near where the town pound now is ; (a shop that was erected some years before by David Gardner, from Hingham, a dau. of whom is now the wife of Calvin Nichols, of Wakefield) ; Mr. Skinner removed this shop to the foot of Fitch's hill, and fitted it up for a dwelling- house ; the same that is now owned by Joseph Connell. Here Mr. Skinner spent the residue of his life. He had previously lived for some years in the small farm-house that once stood on the Olive New- ell place. He was son of Benja. Skinner, of Woburn; was born in Woburn ; m. Mary Parrott, of Salem ; died 1864, aged 80.
Mr. Skinner possessed good natural abilities, but was uneducated ; in business he was diligent and shrewd, but impetuous and hasty ; as a religionist he was sincere, but impulsive and sometimes enthusiastic. He was a kind neighbor, a faithful friend, and a good citizen. Chil. : Mary, who m. Joseph Wheeler, and is now a wid .; Lucinda, who m. Capt. Asaph Evans, of Wakefield ; Thomas B., who m. Phebe Smith, and lives in Wakefield ; Wm. Green, who m. Olive E ton, and lives in Wakefield ; Oliver Parker, who d. at sea, unm .; Elizabeth, who m. Rev. John Upton, and is now dead ; Abigail, who d. at the age of 17, unm .; Gustavus F. Davis, who m. Ann Maria Walton, and lives in Wakefield.
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
WILLIAM PATCH came from Francestown, N. H., and built, about this time, the house now owned by Daniel Nichols.
He was a captain of infantry and a wealthy and intelligent man. He died in middle life. The place was afterwards owned a while by Phin- eas Bailey, who added the second story.
JEREMIAH BROWN and WILLIAM BROWN, father and son, lived on the place occupied by said son.
Jeremiah Brown was the son of Jeremiah and Ruth (Welman) Brown, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (see Early Settlers) ; was b. 1755 ; m. 1777, Lydia, dau. of Dea. John and Ruth (Burnap) Smith. They both d. 1822 ; he at 67, and she at 69. He was a noted singer, and was chorister at the old parish church for many years. Children : John, b. 1779, and d. soon ; John, b. 1780 (see after) ; Thomas Burnap, b. 1783 ; d. 1822, unm .; Lydia, b. 1786, and m. Abraham Sweetser ; William, b. 1791 (see below) ; Jeremiah, b. 1798, and m. 1826, Betsey French, of Tewksbury ; had no children ; a man of great diffidence and bashfulness ; honest, but weak-minded, and in his later years, insane.
William Brown, b. 1791 ; m. 1819, Hannah J. Eames, of Wilming- ton, and had chil. : Wm. Locke, b. 1821 ; m. Frances Matilda Oliver, of Malden ; grad. at the University of New York ; was a counsellor- at-law, justice of the peace, selectman, etc. He was a well-read lawyer, but possessed rather a large share of self-esteem and vanity. He died of croup, in 1863. Lydia Smith, b. 1822, and m. Mr. Rich- ardson, of Stoneham ; Thomas B. is a counsellor-at-law in Chicago, Ill .; Abigail and Hannah Elizabeth, both died in early life; Mary, lives in Wakefield.
This old place was the early homestead of the Burnap family, who were among the very early settlers.
Thomas Burnap, who was born in 1689, was living on the place in about 1765.
Lydia Smith, whom Jeremiah Brown m. in 1777, was niece of said Thomas Burnap, became his heir, and succeeded to the farm.
John Brown, son of Jeremiah, as aforesaid, and born 1779, lived on the place now owned and occupied by Jonathan Nichols, having built thereon the house in which he lived. The house has since been enlarged. He m. 1805, Abigail Trull, of Tewksbury. Was a quiet, honest, frugal, unaspiring man ; had no children ; he succeeded his father at the homestead. He d. 1864, aged 842.
SAMUEL PETERS lived where Nathan Slocomb now lives ; was a native of Andover ; son of Benj. Peters ; m. 1791, Elizabeth, dau. of
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Timothy and Lydia (Walton) Stearns, of Reading and Lynnfield. Chil. : Samuel, Benjamin, and Timothy, who early left home, and their fate is unknown ; Eliza, b. 1801, who m. Jacob Parker ; Lydia, who m. Na- than Slocomb ; Naamah, who m. Peter Tucker. The daughters Eliza and Lydia are dead.
Mr. Peters was the first resident on this spot, and paid for his house lot by watering, for a course of years, Mr. John Gould's cattle, whose pasture adjoined.
MICHAEL BURDITT lived where Joseph Burditt, his son, now lives ; he was son of Joseph Burditt, a native of Malden, who m. 1766, Sarah, dau. of Michael Sweetser, of Reading. Mr. Michael Burditt m. 1801, Polly Dix, of Townsend. He was a respectable citizen, not particularly conspicuous. He d. 1854, aged 76. Chil. : Michael, b. 1803, who became a Congregational clergyman ; was chaplain in the war of the Rebellion, and now resides in Philadelphia ; Mary Dix, b. 1806 ; m., Ist, 1826, Rev. Samuel Nichols ; he d. in 1844, and she m., 2d, John Stow, and now lives in Dedham ; Sarah, who lives in Wakefield, unm. ; Oliver, who m., Ist, 1829, Mary Henfield; m., 2d, Miss Mansfield ; Samuel, became a physician, settled in Philadelphia, and has recently died ; Joseph, m. 1832, Sarah J. Mansfield, of Lynnfield, and has succeeded to the homestead ; George was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion.
Mr. Burditt was the builder and first occupant of this house.
WILLIAM GOULD lived in a small, low house, that stood near that long occupied by his widow, recently deceased, and lately purchased by Geo. H. Wiley.
He was son of Daniel and Martha (Nichols) Gould ; b. 1784; m. 1802, Sally, dau. of Col. Joshua Burnham ; died 1833, aged 49. Chil. : Sally, b. 1802 ; d. 1821, of pul. consumption ; William, b. 1804; m. 1827, Louisa Hawkes, of Lynnfield, and is d .; Abigail, b. 1807 ; m. 1833, Noah Derby, and is d. ; Daniel and Joshua, twins, b. 1809 ; died in early manhood, unm. ; Mary, b. 1811 ; m. 1833, Alfred Stimpson, and is a wid. ; Martha, b. 1813 ; m. 1834, Lewis Fairbanks, of Wake- field ; Abraham, b. 1816 ; Lucy, b. 1818 ; m. 1839, Thomas E, Cox, of Lynnfield ; Joseph, b. 1821; is unm. ; Sarah, b. 1823 ; m. John Sweet- ser, 3d ; Hannah, married Abner N. Blanchard,
Mr. Gould was a man of good natural abilities ; a frequent speaker in town-meetings ; possessed a good share of self-esteem ; was a lively and industrious man of business ; a good player on the fife ; an honest citizen. He accumulated property, and built the house now standing on this spot.
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GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
DANIEL GOULD, brother of the foregoing, lived on the place now occupied by Abraham Gould ; was b. 1769 ; m. 1800, Rebecca, dau. of Timothy Walton ; died 1839, aged 70 ; he had no children.
He succeeded his father on this place. The place formerly belonged to the Swain family.
His father was Daniel, son of Daniel, and m. 1765, Martha Nichols, and had chil. : Martha, b. 1767, and m. 1787, Jacob Parker ; Daniel, b. 1769 (noticed above) ; Lucy, b. 1770; d. unm. ; Hannah, b. 1776 ; d. unm. ; William, b. 1784 (noticed above).
The above-named Daniel Gould, the father of Daniel and William, kept a journal, in which he noticed from time to time, passing events, chiefly, however, those of a private and local character. Occasionally, he mentioned a more public matter ; for instance : under date of March 3, 1780, he writes : "The last winter has been an uncommon hard one ; it began on the first of December, and continued till the middle of Feb- ruary, without scarcely any thaw, and the snow very deep." This was the year when the snow was so abundant and the cold so severe, that the highways of the town were impassable for teams, for many weeks together ; and when the farmers, this Mr. Gould being one of them, went on rackets or snow-shoes to Danvers Tide Mills, taking thither their grists on hand sleds, and going in a straight course to Danvers, without regard to roads or fences.
Under date of May 19, 1780, he writes : "This was an uncommon dark day ; it came on in the forenoon, about 10 or II o'clock, and con- tinued till some time in the afternoon, and was followed by an un- common dark night ; the day was so dark that we were obliged to light a candle to see to eat dinner." This is the day, an account of which is so beautifully and poetically paraphrased by Whittier : -
"'T was on a May day of the far old year Seventeen hundred eighty, that there fell Over the bloom and sweet life of the Spring, Over the fresh earth and the heaven of noon, A horror of great darkness, like the night In day, of which the Norland Sagas tell, The twilight of the gods. The low-hung sky Was fringed with a dull glow, like that which climbs The crater's sides from the red hell below. Birds ceased to sing ; and all the barnyard fowls Roosted ; the cattle at the pasture bars Lowed and looked homeward ; bats on leathern wings Flitted abroad ; the sounds of labor died ;
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Men prayed and women wept ; all ears grew sharp To hear the doom blast of the trumpet shatter The black sky, that the dreadful face of Christ Might look from the rent clouds, not as he looked A loving guest at Bethany, but stern As justice and inexorable law."
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