USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Ware > History of Ware, Massachusetts > Part 21
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BANKS
On Feb. 26, 1825, the Hampshire Manufacturers' Bank was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. The first president was Elnathan Jones of Enfield, who filled the office until 1827, and was followed by Joseph Bowman of New Braintree, who continued until 1848. Orrin Sage fol- lowed Mr. Bowman, from 1848 to 1865. William Hyde filled the office from 1865 to 1888, and William S. Hyde from 1888 to 1899. The present president is Henry K. Hyde. In 1836, 1848 and 1853 $50,000 was added each year to the capital, and in 1857 $100,000. In 1864, with the passing of the State banks, the Manufacturers' Bank was changed into a national corporation under the name of the Ware National Bank. The capital was further increased to $400,000 in 1869, but was reduced ten years later to $300, 000. The present building was erected in 1893, replacing the less convenient but more attractive looking building that faced Main Street so many years.
The Ware Savings Bank was incorporated in 1850. Joel Rice was treasurer until 1857, and was followed by Otis Lane, who held the position until 1885, when he was suc- ceeded by the present treasurer, Frederick D. Gilmore. The steady increase of business demanding more ample quarters, the Bank Building was doubled in size and greatly improved in appearance in 1903. A modern, up-to-date vault was constructed in the early part of the present year. The number of depositors at the beginning of 1911 is 10,505, and deposits amount to $5,800,000. The assets of the in- stitution are $6,200,000. The presidents of the Savings Bank from its incorporation have been William Hyde, Charles A. Stevens, and Lewis N. Gilbert.
246
HISTORY OF WARE
ASSESSORS LISTS The Sum total of this Bill is £17-4-7 Ware February the 16th 1787
Daniel Gould Jacob Pepper William Anderson Ware
Mens Names
Polles
Real Estate
Personal Estate
Anderson Wm
1 8
1 5 2
0
2
Adams John
1 8
2 60
0 9 2
Andrews Lemuel
1 8
2 8 2
0
5 0
Brakenridge Capt
1 8
7 11 0
1
8 0
Brakenridge Wm
1 8
4 20
1
1 1
Brakenridge James
1 8
3 90
0 10 0
Brakenridge George
1 8
3 40
0 10 2
Brakenridge Francis
1 8
2 60
0
7 2
Brown Lieut
1 8
3 10 2
1
0 :
Brown Moses
3 4
3 52
1
2 9
Brown Samuel
3 4
4
20
1 80
Bush Widow
1 8
1 42
0
2 2
Buker Calven
18
1
30
0
3
Cummings Lieut
3 4
5 10 0
1
80
Cummings Benja
18
1
5 2
0
5 2
Cummins Simeon
3 4
1 10 2
1
11
Cummins Joseph
1 8
1 5 2
0 11 2
Coney Capt
Cross John
1 8
1
10
0 52
Chandler Joseph
1 8
0
72
0 4 0
Chandler Joseph Jr
1 8
2
Clapp Elijah
0
20
Dunsmore Samel
3 4
6
0 2
2 00
Daman Stephen
1 8
2 8 2
0
63
Downing John
3
80
1 30
Davis Abijah
1 8
0
60
0 20
Ellis Seth
1 8
0
8 2
0
30
Eddy John
0
8 2
Eaton Samuel
0
20
Foster Jonathan
3 4
2
7 0
1
0 2
Gilmur John
1 8
1 9 0
0
Gilmore James
1 8
1 10 2
0 10 0
Gould David
1 8
3 4 0
0 11 0
Hixson Elkanah
1 8
1
90
0 70
s ·d
s d q
s d q
Adams Ephem
0
2 9
Assessors for
247
Jenkens Deacon
1 8
1
8 0
0
80
Jenkens John
1 8
3
00
0
6 2
Leonard Dan
18
0
60
0
1 0
Lazell Jacob
1 8
0
50
0
2 2
Lamberton James
1 8
3
4 0
0
9 1
Lammon James Jr
18
2
31
0
8 2
Lamberton Seth
3
00
0
8 0
Marsh Judah
18
Marsh Thomas
1 8
4 70
1
30
Marsh Jonathan
1 8
3 10 2
1
00
Marsh Judah Jr
1 8
5
6 2
1
10
Marsh Joel
1 8
1
1 2
0
8 0
Magoon Isaac
18
3 00
0
8 0
Magoon Isaac 2nd
1 8
0 30
Magoon Elex"
3 4
9 82
2
1 2
Magoon John
1 8
McClintock Joseph
1 10 2
McCoy Neal
1 8
0 10 0
0
3 2
McClintock David
1 8
2 11 0
0
6 2
Morse Phille
3 4
22
1
5 2
Miller Benja
0
30
0
4 0
Nye Ebenezer
1 8
1 5 2
0
60
Paddock Epheriam
18
Paddock Bradford
1 8
2 00
0
5 2
Pepper Ezra
1 8
0 10 0
0
2 9
Persons Joshua
2 10
0
2 9
Raimonds John
1 30
0
1 2
Roberson William
2 10
0
80
Smith Deacon
3 4
3 62
1
1 0
Roberson Joseph
2 11 0
0
3
Smith Merverick
1 8
1 9 2
0
5 2
Sherman Reuben
3 4
2 10
0
90
Simonds Judah
1 8
0 72
0 50
Shaw Andrew
1 8
1
20
0
2 2
Wood Zephaniah
3 4
4 2 0
0 92
Soul Constant
1 8
1 80
0 9 2
Snell William
1 8
3 11 2
0 10 0
Stone Oliver
1 8
1 52
0 22
Thomas Nehemiah
1 8
2 10
0 10 0
Thayer Jedidiah
1 8
1 60
0 23
Winslow Thomas
1 8
0 13
Wait David
0 70
Osborn John
1 8
Nye Samuel
1 5 2
. MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
248
HISTORY OF WARE
The sum total of this Bill is £61-15 Ware September 25, 1787
Daniel Gould Jacob Pepper Wm Breakenridge Jr Ware
Mens Names
Polles
Real Estate
Personal Estate
£ s d
£ s
d q
S d q
Andrews Stephen
6 10
7
10
0 6 0
Andrews Thos
1 0 6
8
90
1
63
Andrews John
6 10
8
90
1
4 0
Andrews Timothy
6 10
2
60
Bonney Charles
6 10
7
3 2
Bullen Capt.
7
1
0
60
Bellows Silas
1 0 6
8
40
2 10
Bellows Joseph
13 8
6 30
1 73
Bowdion Wm
6 10
7 32
1 11 1
Cleland Samel
13
8
9 7 0
2 00
Capon James
6 10
0 10 0
5
8 3
Gould Eben"
6 10
6 10 2
1 4 0
Harwood Andrew
6 10
18
90
2
4 3
Hide Othniel
13
8
6
0 2
2 50
Joslyn Abraham
6 10
7 60
3
2 0
Kee Steward
10
5
50
2 10
Lamon James
13
8
14
7 0
4 20
Legate Esqu"
16
00
Lamon David
6 10
7 32
1
3 0
Lamon Wm
6 10
Linsley Norrin
$ 10
1 30
0
50
Merritt Benjn
6 10
14
7 0
3
1 2
Merritt Ichabod
6 10
Morton Thomas
6 10
10 50
3
3 2
Morton Widow
2 60
0
2 2
McClintock Tho®
6 10
2 60
0
7 2
Miller Wm
2 60
Nevens James
6 10 2
1
30
Overen John Henry
2 10
Paige William
10
3
1
9 92
6 30
Paterson Joseph
13
8
7
6 0
1 10 2
Pepper Isaac
6 10
17
8 2
1 80
Pepper Jacob
: 10
17
10
3 23
Partrick William
13
8
$10 2
550
Partrick Thomas
10
12
60
3 71
Partrick Samel
6 10
11
5 2
2 11 0
7 11 0
1 40
Cleland Thomas
6 10
Gray Joseph
13
8
1
2 11 0
1
0 2
Conve(r)s Phineas
0 11 0
Assessors for
249
MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
Partrick Johnson
6 10
8 4 0
2
8 2
Parker John
13
8
7 11 0
1 0 2
Pond Sewa
6 10
6
30
2
10
Quinton John
10
6
2
6
30
12
60
Rogers Richard
7
1 0
1
9 2
Rogers Daniel
6 10
7
10
1
2
Smith Lemuel
10
3
3
6 2
0 10 0
Simond Jotham
6 10
1
30
0
50
Shaw Widow
6 10
1
2 11 0
7
60
Shaw Erwin
6 10
17
3 2
5
13
Shaw John
2
60
Stone Amos
6 10
12
60
2
10
Simpson Charles
6 10
1
0 2
0
50
Swift Whitfield
6 10
7
3 2
1
0 2
Swift Lemel
6 10
0 10 0
Thayer Abram
6 10
17
10
5 10 0
Thayer Eben"
6 1
Thompson Benja
1 0
6
1
8
6 2
7 60
Tisdale John
13
8
5
2 2
3 90
Whitney John
6 10
6
30
2
10
Wheelor John
6 10
White Jabez
6 10
13
9 0
1 02
Read Wm Exeutr
5
00
Newton Oliver
6 10
Marsh Silas
6 10
1
8 0
Thompson Noah
3
6 2
0 42
Gould Daniel
10
3
1
4 2
6 52
COMMITTEE OF THE PRECINCT
1743 - Jacob Cummings, Edward Ayres, Joseph Simonds. 1744 - Jabez Omstead, Jacob Cummings, Edward Ayres. 1745 - Thomas Marsh, Jacob Cummings, William Black- mer.
1746 - Jacob Cummings, Samuel Huggins, William Black- mer.
1747 - Jacob Cummings, William Blackmer, Samuel Hug- gins.
1748 - Jacob Cummings, Judah Marsh, Moses Allen.
1749 - John Davis, Jacob Cummings, Joseph Simonds.
1750 - Jacob Cummings, Timothy Brown, John Davis, Joseph Scott, Edward Daman.
1751 - John Davis, Jacob Cummings, Timothy Brown, Joseph Scott, Joseph Wright.
1752 - Jacob Cummings, Benjamin Lull, Samuel Davis, Judah Marsh, John Davis.
0 10 0
250
HISTORY OF WARE
1753 - William Blackmer, William Breakenridge, John Downing.
1754 - Jacob Cummings, Edward Daman, Israel Omstead. 1755 - Jacob Cummings, Samuel Sharmon, William Break- enridge, Joseph Scott, Jonathan Rogers.
1756 - Jacob Cummings, William Breakenridge, Samuel Sharmon.
1757 - William Breakenridge, Samuel Sharmon, Jonathan Rogers.
1758 - William Breakenridge, Samuel Sharmon, Jonathan Rogers.
1759 - William Breakenridge, Edward Ayres, Joseph Foster.
1760 - Jacob Cummings, John Davis, John Downing.
1761 - Jacob Cummings, William Breakenridge, Samuel Sharmon.
SELECTMEN FOR FIRST YEAR AFTER INCORPORATION OF TOWN.
1762 - Samuel Sharmon, William Breakenridge, John Davis, Jacob Cummings, Judah Marsh.
PRECINCT AND TOWN CLERKS
1742 - John Post 1830 - William Bowdoin
1744 - Jacob Cummings 1831 - Leonard Gould
1748 - John Davis 1832 - George W. Porter
1750 - Timothy Brown 1837 - Jason Gorham
1751 - Jacob Cummings 1839 - Lewis Demond
1757 - William Brakenridge 1850 - Francis De Witt
1760 - Maverick Smith
1853 - William H. Willard
1762 - William Brakenridge 1855 - E. L. Brainerd
1777 - Abraham Cummings 1856 - R. L. Hathaway 1780 - David Brown
1782 - Thomas Tuffs
1858 - Stephen B. Witherell
1861 - Francis De Witt
1786 - David Brown
1787 - William Paige
1789 - William Bowdoin
1811 - Leonard Gould
1825 - Joel Rice
1826 - Leonard Gould
1828 - Joel Rice
1829 - William Snow
1868 - Lewis P. Edwards
1872 - Hubert M. Coney
1876 - Almer F. Richardson
1907 (41 days)
Henry K. Hyde
1908 - Edward P. Morse
1863 - S. B. Witherell
1866 - George K. Cutler
251
MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
REPRESENTATIVES FROM WARE 1 To Provincial Congress in 1775 William Brakenridge Joseph Foster Thomas Jenkins
Under the Constitution
1787 - Daniel Gould 1788, 1795 -
1839 - Thomas Snell Jason Gorham
Isaac Pepper 1840 - John Bowdoin Nelson Palmer
1798, 1801-04, 1806-12 - William Bowdoin
1841 - Joel Rice
1813-14 -
1842 - Ebenezer Gould
Enos Davis
1843 - Horace Goodrich
1815 - William Paige, Jr.
1844 - Jonathan Harwood
1816-17, 1822 ---
1845 - Ansel Phelps, Jr.
Joseph Cummings
1846 - Samuel M. Lemmon
1824-25 - Aaron Gould
1847 - Avery Clark 1851 - Ira P. Gould
1826 - Wm. Paige, Jr. Alpheus Demond
1853 - Charles A. Stevens
1854 - William E. Bassett
1827-29 - Aaron Gould
1855 - Freeman W. Dick- inson
1829 - Samuel Phelps
1830 - Joel Rice
1856 - Samuel H. Phelps
1857 - George H. Gilbert
Joel Rice
1858 - Benjamin Davis, Jr.
1832 - Allender Braken- ridge 1861 - Samuel Morse
Homer Bartlett
1863 - Joseph Hartwell
1833 - Alpheus Demond
1864 - Luther Chapin, Jr.
Enos Davis
1866 - William E. Lewis
1834 - Calvin Morse
1868 - Henry Bassett
Benjamin Wilder 1870 - Benjamin F. Angell
1835 - Thomas Wilder 1872 - John W. Robinson
John Osborn, Jr. 1874 - Henry C. Davis
1836 - Thomas Wilder Reuben Lazell 1879 - Frederick N. Hosmer
1837 - Edmund Freeman 1882 - Charles E. Stevens
Reuben Lazell 1884 - William C. Eaton
1838 - Thomas Snell
1886 - Levi W. Robinson
Royal Bosworth 1891 - William S. Hyde
1852 - Harrison French
1831 - Aaron Gould
1860 - Lewis Demond
1876 - Addison Sandford
1 In the years not named the town was not represented.
252
HISTORY OF WARE
1892 - Frederick A. Volk 1900-01 -
1894 - Frank M. Sibley Arthur E. Newcomb
1895 - George D. Storrs 1906-07 - John H. Schoon-
1897 - William N. Newcomb maker
RAWSON'S PETITION
Hampshire Co.
To the Honble His Majesties Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace now holden at Springfield within & for the County of Hampshire this 25th Day of Augt Anno Dom. 1752
Grindall Rawson of the Plantation called the Mannor of Peace sometimes & sometimes called Ware River Parish in said County Clerk & Minister of God's Word to the Inhab- itants of said Parish
Humbly sheweth
That on the Ninth Day of May 1751, at said Manor he was regularly inducted into the Work of the Gospel Ministry ordained Pastor of the Church of Christ there & that the Inhabitants of the said Parish previous to his said Settle- ment there and as an Encouragement thereto agreed & contracted with Him to give Him the Sum of one hundred pound Lawful Money For a Settlement to be paid in Ma- terials for Building & in Labour at Money Price and also to give Him the sum of Forty Five Pounds Lawful Money yearly for the Salary for the Two first years of his Continu- ance in the Ministry there & then to add thereto the Sum of Four pound yearly till the Whole amount to Sixty Pounds annually and the sd Grindall saith that the Inhabitants of said Parish disregarding the said Contract & obligation have never paid the sd Complaint The Sums agreed for his Settlement in Materials for Building or in Labour tho he has been always ready & desirous to receive the Same nor have they satisfied the same any other way Neither have they granted & asessed the Sum due to said Complaint for his First years Salary or if they have they have never al- lotted and paid the same to sd Complaint as they ought to have done but altogether refuse & deny to do it whereby yr Complaint is reducd to great Straights & Difficulties and is rendered unable to support Himself in the Important Business he has undertaken or to Support the Character of
1
Arthor D. Komenil
WARE CENTRE
In the Flat Brook Valley was the heart of Linialey
the town in its early days. Stores, taverns and schools were grouped about the meeting-house, behind which was the burial place, and in front the training field.
www river LL
253
MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
a Gospel Minister. He therefore Humbly prays ye Honbl Cognizance of the Premises and seeks Relief therein as to Law & Justice appertains and as in Duty bound shall ever Grindall Rawson
pray
A REMINISCENCE BY C. A. G.
READ AT THE GOLDEN WEDDING OF DEACON MILTON LEWIS, OF WARE, APRIL 6, 1881
Halt! halt! old Father Time! Don't you hear this golden chime? Stay here, and tell us if you know What the world was doing so long ago. Full fifty years you have swung your scythe, Since this good couple, then young and blithe, Were knotted together in a band so strong,
That their Golden Wedding demands my song.
Nay! ask not of me for an instant's pause; I never was known as a breaker of laws. I must onward move as surely as fate, "Time and the tide for no man may wait," But memory here with the open scroll, The long panorama may unroll, And show to your glances, as backward cast, The persons and scenes that have long since passed.
The first to appear as the roll glides by Is the parson young, who the knot did tie; With a clear blue eye and a shaven face, A winning smile and a stately grace, He gives kindly words to each child he meets, And with courtesy true every friend he greets. His fair, blooming bride, with her cheeks of rose, And light nimble footsteps wherever she goes, Intensely in earnest, with a positive air, Is a partner well worthy his kingdom to share; But would n't it now-a-days bring up a smile, Should they walk, locked arms, through the great broad aisle?
Now, just at this point, my retrospect muse Will give you a glimpse of those old-time pews, With seats that turned up, and oh! what a clang, As after the prayers they came down with a bang. On all sides they were, and as some folks would say, The great congregation looked "every which way." Here sits uncle Richard, hair dressed in a queue, And Abner and family in the same pew; Not yet have the elders on him laid their hands, To set him apart for the deacon's demands.
254
HISTORY OF WARE
For farther along, next pew in the row,
Is the small wrinkled visage of good Dea. Snow. Long time he "kept store," and sold blackstrap as well, Which nobody then thought it wicked to sell. But when better informed on the evils of drink, Pastor and deacons from the test did n't shrink; They formed a Society, maintained the pledge, Yet it split the community just like a wedge. Dea. Snow sold his store and lived by his farm, No longer would he bring his neighbors to harm. For years upon years, at the Wednesday night call, He takes coals from his fire to build that in the hall. In that hall, who that saw it can ever forget Leonard Gould's little foot - is his crutch sounding yet? For the good of the public he worked with his might, So the foot was no matter when the head was all right. Just over the broad aisle from Dea. Snow's pew, Can you see it, half covered with kerchief of blue? Behind him, Capt. B., his good cousin and friend, A pattern of faithfulness unto the end.
O'er his conjugal pathway, the shadows, how deep; But the vow that he's made he will loyally keep. No Douglas more tender, no Bayard more true, For the thirty long years it was given him to do. Here's the post, where Esq. Bowdoin must tack up the names, Which the people's intentions of marriage proclaims, But once in awhile, after service he stands,
Then in clear ringing accents calls out the banns. There were some who considered the north pews a treat, For the view which they had of the long singers' seat. We have Andersons now, they had Andersons then; They have always been known here as musical men. There was Will, with flute, and S. F.'s clarionet, Uncle Amasa's clarion the bass to complete, Oriva's strong treble, so birdlike and clear, While her mother sang counter for many a year. The Snells were all singers, so far as I know; And enough of them, too, to make out a good row. Were just at this time in the choir to be found, For help in the worship as Sundays came round. And here were the children of old Dr. King, Whose voices alone could make the house ring; Bowdoin, Eunice and Sarah, Dea. Davis's Ann, Loring Brigham, the tenor, long a prominent man In the choir leadership; a few years farther on Some one else will be leading, for he will be gone. Sweet-voiced Gardner is still the first chorister here, But soon in his place Dr. Cary 'll appear Bringing in a new style, operatic and grand. Does some one remember G. Lucas's hand, With its fingers spread wide as he passed round the tone? There's no more fa, sol, las; those old ways are flown.
255
MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
A glimpse at the business brings an end to these lays, For Ware Town had business in these far away days. The Keene O!1 rushes in on each alternate morn, From the Gardner hill-top resounds the post-horn; It stops at the tavern ten minutes or so, To take up any passengers wishing to go, Give drink to the horses, to help them pull through, And mayhap the driver 'Il "wet his whistle," too. S. Gould keeps the house in an orderly way; 'T is a favorite place for the teamsters to stay, Good beds and good fare, and good landlady's found - They have the best gingerbread sold anywhere 'round. Is this the May training that is passing along? The flood-wood militia are coming out strong; Blue coats and white pants, red tipt white cockade, Capt. Snell is commander of this day's parade. It is only big boys to training may come, So papas buy a treat for the children at home.
Aaron Gould, the rich farmer, has mention in brief, Though a bachelor long, he's town father in chief, And when winter comes round, bringing sleigh-rides and sport, He will spend it away at the great "Gineral Court."
In variety stores, on either side of the way, Here's Crowell and Stowell selling dry goods each day; Tea, sugar and spice, besides lace for a ruff; Crockery and slippers and fish-hooks and snuff, I. Stearns has a shingle mill by the King brook; D. J. Converse makes rifles 2 in this little nook. At the fork of the roads stands the old blacksmith's shop, Lee Sprague here shoes horses till ready to drop. Down in the fields Osborn's tan-shop is seen, But it takes Peter Wheeler to "run the machine." Up the stream are the auger shops, busy with work, T. Snell and his sons are not men to shirk; The trip-hammer music booms out on the air; Now all is deserted and silent and bare. A. B. Adams, fine boot-maker, works at his trade, For nobody is dreaming of things ready-made; His work will be desirable, well-fitting and neat, But he won't look out for the corns on the feet. To Leonard Gould's house the apprentices come To practice in shoe-making, finding a safe home; They are taught in the trade, learn goodness as well; A word on this point T. S. Norton could tell. Jesse Bee Wetherbee; "salt of the earth " Is none too expressive of his christian worth. A queerer outside is not often seen, to be sure; Though the setting be rough, the jewel is pure;
1 Referring to stage-line from Ware to Keene, New Hampshire.
2 For sharpening scythes.
256
HISTORY OF WARE
By trade he's a joiner, and when spirits take flight, For the body's encasement he works day and night, It is simple stained pine, but it answers as well As the costly trimmed casket in these days they sell. A. Anderson & Sons shall make one more view Of the industries various the people pursue. Wheel-wrights and masons, and sextons as well, For dinner and curfew they ring out the bell. And when one in silence the last journey goes, To "God's Acre " they bring him for quiet repose.
Now roll up the canvass - put out the light, My review is all over - to the past bid goodnight.
MISCELLANEOUS
Current prices of various commodities, taken from old accounts kept by William Anderson with his neighbors are as follows:
1784 - Five days work spinning stocken yarn
2
1
Two washings
1
Two days keping house
10
1785 - 1014 days spinning tow 12 bushel wheat 2
4
8
2 bushels oats
4
Three pigs
8
1789 - 4 barrels Sider 15
2 days work of himself and of his oxen 6
2 bushels of potatoes 3
3 fowls 1 6
Butter, per lb.
6
Beef by the Quarter, per lb.
2
1798-1800
95 lbs. beef $2.85
5 pecks of corn & half a day tending mill .79
13 qts. of soap .72
Butter per lb.
.14
Corn per bushel
.50
Killing a hogg
.16
Weaving per yard
.051/2
One Quire of paper
.25
200 feet of closing bords
1.00
Turnips per bushel .25
912 doz. of candles
1.14
4
S
d
8
257
MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
1804 - 6 lb. of Shugar 1.00
A Gound for Salley
1.45
One pint of Gin
.1212
One quart of Rum .28
11 bushels of ashes
1.37
One chunk of tobacco
.1212
One pond pressª tobacco
.25
Nothing more vividly pictures the times than old letters, though unfortunately but few have been preserved. The following extracts reflect the sombreness of life in Ware a century ago:
Ware, May 10, 1819.
. With Respect to our affairs here at Ware, through the protection and care of a kind Providance wee are all in tolerable health, and hope that these imperfect lines may find all of you enjoying the same blessing. Wee have had great movements of the Spirit of God on the hearts and minds of the People in this Town, a considerable number have joined the Church . .
There has been no snow this winter to speak of and very mild to the 13th of February, then a snow and very severe and cold to the first of May . . .
May 1, 1820.
. Last winter was very severe, two feet of snow and sharp weather. Verry fine the month of April, but rather dry. It is now good planting weather. It is tolerable healthy at present, but there has been about nine deaths since the year came in in this town
May 1, 1820.
. . I am just able to keep about and do some small . matter of work. My complaints are much as they were when you went away. Mother's being sick and unwell all winter, I have had to do more than I was able. She took of a cold which seated on her lungs, she had a violent cough, the Doctor thought her case was doubtful, we heard of a sirup that was made of the bark of the root of that willer that bears a white the spring that we use to call pusis, this sirup to be swalowed with honey and spirits. This sirup apeared to relieve cough more than anything the Doct could do .
258
HISTORY OF WARE
Ware, Dec. 16, 1822.
Respectable and Beneficent Friends.
I think it my duty to answer your Request . .. and now take in hand to show you some of the marks of my crooked fingars. And through a kind Providence, wee are all in a tolerable State of health, but it has been very sickly in these parts this season, the measles last spring, and a malignant fever has prevailed this fall, which has caused a number of deaths. Wee have had a fruitful summer. Indian Corn and potatoes were exceeding good and other kinds of grain have come in well. . .
Ware, February, 1823.
Benevolent and affectionate Friend.
It is gratifying to hear from our acquaintance and Friends when they have been long absent. But when there comes Disagreeable Tidings it strikes our feelings with a damp. Sir, I am sorry for your bad fortune, and am not able to grant you any relief. Sir, I have been in a state of bad health this winter with the Rheumatism and obliged to keep the house more than two months and when I got out among my Neighbours I endevoured to inquire respecting the Buisnes that you requested me and I have been to Esquire Bowdoin but I find no encouragement respecting your term of service at Roxboro for it does not Corespond with the act of Congress. They go no farther back than seventy six. The act of Congress states a soldier must be enlisted Nine months in the Continental Service, the tower that you served in was eight months. The Congress takes no notice of that tower of service. And furthermore there was one or two men in this Town that were out in that same tower who have tryed faithfully to recover a pention and are de- feated. And now Sir, I have nothing of great importance to wright to you but with respect to our Family through the goodness of a Kind Providence wee are all in a comfortable state of health altho my Wife and I by old age are fast advancing toward the grave. And with respect to my Neigh- bours it has been verry sickly this year past and more Deaths than ever hapened in one year Since the Town was Settled by reason of a malignant fever resembling the Yellow fever. There has thirty six persons died. My son A - has but just escaped with the life with that fever. My son N - lost his second child a daughter about six years and
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MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
an half old last may with the Black measles. As to your relations in this Town Lieut. Cummings and his Wife are both dead. The Widow Hannah Mc Clintock is in a bad situation with the cramp rheumatism. She can neither stand nor go and perhaps never will. I might proseed fur- ther and inform respecting other matters such as alteration of Inhabitance and especialy at Magoon's mills. A company of Boston Jentle Men have bought the place, set up two great Factories, one for Cotton, the other for Wollen. Built eight or ten great two story houses & a number of others.
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