USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 44
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"1722. - Mr. Joseph Avery His ear-mark is a slit in the under side of the Right Eare."
" May 23rd, 1738. - Thomas Shepard's Eyer-marck for all his creators Is a Crop of the top of the Left Eyer, and a swallow's taile in the top of the Right Eyr."
"Nov. 10th, 1747. - John Gilbert's, Juner, Eare-mark for all his Cretures is a swallow's Taile in ye top of the Right Eare, and a half-Penney in the under side of ye Left Eare."
" May 6th, 1758. - Ebenezer White's Ear-mark for all his Creatures is one hole through Each Ear."
" April 2nd, 1766. - The Revend. Mr. Roland Green's Ear-mark for all his creatures Is a half-peny, cut out of the upper-side and under-side of the Right Ear, and the top of the same ear cut of, and a slit in the top of the left ear."
This practice of making " Ear-marks" upon cattle
521
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
was pretty generally continued here till about the year 1800, and occasionally for a few years later.
The last entry of the kind that we have seen was made in 1839, and reads thus : " Thomas Copeland's Ear-mark for all his creatures is the top of the right ear cut off."
ANIMALS UPON THE COMMON, ETC.
In 1693, it was enacted by the General Court, that none but proprietors and freeholders should be allowed to have horses " run to feed upon any common Land ; " and they were not allowed to have more than "one Horse-Beast upon the common," without paying five shillings per head : and the owners of all horses thus going upon the Common were required to have said horses entered with the town-clerk, together with " the natural and artificial Marks," on or before the 10th of April annually, under penalty of ten shillings fine. The " common land " spoken of, we suppose, means the undivided lands of the proprietors. Possibly it also included the idea of all the lands that were " com- mon " or unfenced. In the same Act, it was required that all swine running at large should be sufficiently yoked from the 1st of April to the 15th of October, and " ringed in the Nose all the year," under penalty of sixpence per head fine. Furthermore, every sheep going upon the Common, not under the care of a shepherd, from the 1st of May to the last of October each year, subjected the owner thereof to a fine of threepence. Yet it is supposed that the several towns had the power to allow them to go at large without a shepherd; for, at a town-meeting on the 20th of March, 1722, it was " voted that the sheep should Go at Large to feed upon the Common, without being under the hands of a Shepeard." It is also supposed that swine were not allowed to run at large without a vote of the town each year; for we find, at a town- meeting on the 13th of March, 1721, it was ",voted that the swine should go at Large upon the common, according to law." March 6, 1722, it was " voted to
44*
522
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Lett the Hoggs Run at Large upon ye common this year;" and a similar vote was passed yearly till 1802, when it was " voted that swine should not run at Large the year ensuing." At two subsequent annual meetings, a similar vote was passed. But this was an unpopular movement. It was an innovation upon a time-honored custom, and hence it must be resisted. A grand rally of the friends of the porkers was made in 1805; and the hogs were once more let out of prison, on the condition of their "being well wringed and yoked."
Whether this vote had reference to the " wringing of their necks," we leave the reader to decide. But the hogs maintained their liberty upon the Com- mon till 1811, when they were again shut up: but they regained their liberty in 1813, and roamed at pleasure for two years; but their privileges were somewhat abated by a ring in their nose, and a crotched stick between their ears and shoulders, passing through a narrow strip of board under their throat, and called a "yoke." Their days of freedom were, however, numbered ; for, in 1816, they were once more put into the narrow quarters of a pen, and they have never since had permission to go out therefrom.
THE POUND.
As early as 1698, the General Court enacted " that there shall be a sufficient Pound or Pounds made and maintained, from Time to Time, in every Town and Precinct within this Province, in such part or places thereof as the Selectmen shall direct and appoint, at the cost and charge of such Town or Precinct, for the impounding or restraining of any Swine, Neat Cattle, Horses, or Sheep, as shall be found damage-feasant in any Cornfield or other inclosures; or swine Unyoked or Unringed, Neat Cattle, Horses, or Sheep, going upon the Common, not allowed to feed there by the major part of the Propriety," &c.
In obedience to this law, the people of Norton, soon
523
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
after the organization of the town, took measures to provide themselves with one of these necessary ap- pendages to every considerable settlement. At a meeting of the citizens, held May 23, 1715, the ques- tion of a pound or no pound was agitated ; and, after a full discussion of the subject, it was " voted to have a Pound Built by Richard Briggs, with this proviso, that sd. Briggs Give the Town a deed of a piece of Land for that use during the time the Town Keep a pound there." This deed was doubtless given; and the pound built, probably on the corner of the lot owned by Seneca Sanford, where the road turns to go towards John Hunt's ; or possibly between the corner and the house of Josephus Skinner, on the lot owned by Wil- liam A. West. Richard Briggs, for some years, was pound-keeper.
A new pound is supposed to have been built about 1728; for a rate was raised that year, among other things, for "ye pound." This pound did not stand on the same spot as the old one; for, in the spring of 1758, Gershom Cambell petitioned the town to give him the site of the old pound for a building-lot ; and, on the 20th of March of that year, it was " voted that the town [of ] Norton do acquit all the Right they have to that little spot of Land which the pound was built on - which land was formerly Richard Brigg's, late of Norton, Deceased - to Gershom Cambell." Hence it is supposed that Mr. Cambell built his house on this lot. I am informed that an old house once stood on each of the locations I have mentioned ; but I am rather of the opinion, that the pound was built on what is now Mr. Sanford's lot. I can find no action of the town, relative to another pound, till June 18, 1770, when it was ordered, " that the present selectmen build a new pound." It is supposed that the selectmen did not obey the instructions they re- ceived ; or, if they did, the one built did not meet the wants and wishes of the people : for, March 21, 1774, the question of a new pound was before the town; and it was then "voted to build a new pound with
524
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
timber, and to be thirty feet square, and to be Erected on the Town's Common, near where the old pound now stands, where the selectmen shall think proper." And it was accordingly built, directly in front of where the Trinitarian Meeting-house now stands, and within the meeting-house yard.
" It was," says Rev. Ebenezer Burt, who was born within a few rods of it, " eight rails high. Mr. Peter Carpenter was Pound-keeper." This stood till 1789; when, as appears from " orders " drawn to pay him. therefor, another pound was erected by Gen. Silas Cobb. This was of stone, and stood nearly on the spot where George M. Sweet's house now stands, and was a few rods southerly from Gen. Cobb's house, and he was for many years pound-keeper. It re-
mained there till about twenty years ago, when the present pound was built, agreeably to the will of the town, as expressed Aug. 1, 1837, when it was " voted to have the pound removed to a spot of land near the Gun-House, if it can be done free from expense to the town." Accordingly, it was removed by Capt. Dauphin King, on whose land the old pound stood (he having bought the Cobb Farm), who probably did not wish to have it so near his house, and who there- fore gave the land for the new pound in exchange for that on which the old one stood, and was at the ex- pense of its removal. It is now, however, seldom used, and its walls are tumbling down; for we no longer see the swine, ringed or unringed, yoked or unyoked, at large in our streets. The sheep have almost entirely become extinct; and the well-built fences are a pretty sure proof against horses and neat cattle damage-feasant. The briers and brambles are fast appropriating the strong enclosure to their own purposes, even without asking the town, as did Ger- shom Cambell, for a quitclaim-title to the spot.
LONGEVITY.
We here give a list of those persons who have died here at the age of fourscore or more years. Could
525
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
we have obtained a complete record of all the deaths, this list would doubtless have been much larger. In a few instances, the individuals died elsewhere, but, having long been residents of Norton, were brought here for burial.
Year of Death.
Age.
Year of Death.
Age.
1772. Widow Hannah Andrews .
89
1845. Thomas Danforth
85
1800. Joseph Andrews
80 1836. Elijah Eddy
83 (? )
1818. Widow Phebe Arnold 82 1835. Wealthy, his wife
84
1851. John Arnold
87 1845. Widow Rachel Eddy 1 104
1783. Widow Mary Babbit
80
1829. Abiel Eddy
89
1855. Samuel Balcom
81
1825. Zeruiah, his wife 82
83
1783. William Basset
89
1826. Sarah Fisher
82
1850. Leavit Bates
80 1858. Apollos Francis
87
1850. Widow Peddy Bowen
90 1829. Widow Bethiah Freeman .
84
1833. Thomas Braman .
81
1847. John Freeman
81
1837. Benjamin Braman
82
1790. Widow Mary Gilbert
91
1838. Anna, his wife
80
1813. Mrs. Rebecca Gilbert
84
1842. Sylvanus Braman
88 1811. Widow Mary Godfrey
95
1803. Timothy Briggs
90 1831. Widow Mary Godfrey
95
1798. Hannah, his wife .
80
1847. Francis Guillow
84
1818. Simeon Briggs
89 1840. Phebe, his wife
85
1832. Mary ( ? ), his wife
93
1857. Widow Dilla Hall
90
1832. Mrs. Hannah Briggs
84 1814. Widow Harvey
96
1835. Widow Sarah Briggs
82
1851. Mrs. Lucinda Harvey
88
1750. John Briggs
80
1824. Abigail Harridon .
91
1850. Hannah Briggs
81
1768. Mrs. Hannah Hodges
84
1850. Mrs. Betsy Briggs
80 1814. Widow Mary Hodges
84
1832. William Burt
87
1818. Jarvis Hodges .
81
1842. Prudence, his wife
90 1825. Josiah Hodges.
84
1856. Mrs. Polly Cahoon
85 1835. Wealthy, his wife
86
1858. William Capen
82 1837. Elijah Hodges .
86
1842. Widow Prudence Carpen- ter
82
1842. Benjamin Hodges
91
1840. John Carver
92
1847. Mrs. Abigail Hodges
86
1856. Mrs. Polly Carver
81
1854. Mrs. Lucy Hodges
80
1768. Widow Temperance Clapp
90 1832. Mrs. Mary Horton
87
1778. Widow Bethiah Clapp .
82
1832. Mrs. Eunice Hunt
89
1800. Jonathan Clapp
85
1854. Mrs. Cynthia Hunt .
87
1807. Jerusha, his wife .
93 1845. Josiah King
82
1845. Widow Olive Clapp
90
1852. Miriam, his wife
87
1853. Oliver Clapp
82
1793. Jonathan Knapp
84
1789. Widow Mary Cobb
85
1795. Mehitable, his wife
87
1833. Silas Cobb .
90 1832. Daniel Knapp .
88
1790. Benjamin Copeland . 82
1838. Thomas Knowles
99
1801. Sarah, his wife
92
1855. Jonathan Knowles
81
1833. Samuel Copeland
82
1800. Ephraim Lane
82
1839. Widow Abigail Copeland . 83 1826. Ephraim Lane
86
1820. Widow Rachel Crane
89
1857. Daniel Lane
86
1826. Theophilus Crossman . 84
1852. Eunice, his wife
81
1855. Mrs. Abigail Balcom
80
1852. John Eddy .
1840. Isaac Hodges
83
1807. Thomas Commons 93 1826. Mary, his wife
81
1 She died at the Alms-house, and the town voted her a pair of grave- stones on account of her age.
526
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Year of Death.
Age.
Year of Death.
Age.
1767. Widow Mary Larcher .
83
1855. John Stanley
83
1778. George Leonard
80
1852. Sally, his wife
88
1783. Rachel, his wife
81 1775. Widow Mehitable Stone
85
1819. George Leonard .
90 1835. Nathaniel Stone
82
1827. Experience, his wife
88 1824. Elizabeth Story
92
1773. Jonathan Lincoln
86
1847. Anna, his wife
85
1822. David Lincoln
95 1856. Ruth, his wife .
87
1828. Benjamin Lincoln
87 1858. Widow Anna Sweet
83
1832. David Lincoln .
81
1822. Ebenezer Titus
81
1833. Jemima, his wife . 87
1830. Mehitable, his wife .
89
1843. Mrs. Anna Lincoln
81
1789. Widow Margaret Trow
86
1850. Moses Lincoln.
82 1797. Henry Tucker
88
1848. Luther Lincoln
82 1793. Judith, his wife
86
1853. Mrs. Rachel Lincoln
82
1853. Hannah Tucker
81
1843. Solomon Lothrop
82 1816. Mrs. Abigail Verry
86
1822. William Makepeace
84 1789. Mrs. Bethiah Washburn
84
1824. Ruth, his wife .
82
1824. Meletiah Washburn .
90
1787. John Martin.
80 1825. Mary ( ? ), his wife
83
1780. George Morey .
83 1778. Simeon Wetherell
85
1853. Mrs. Sarah Morey
88 1823. William Wetherell
83
1842. John L. Munroe .
87 1826. Widow Lydia Wetherell
91
1849. Polly Munroe .
80
1837. James Wetherell .
82
1812. Widow Mary Newcomb
83 1851. Miss Lydia Wetherell
82
1829. Joseph Newcomb
82
1846. Laban Wheaton .
92
1852. Richard Newcomb
86
1849. Fanny, his wife
84
1840. Jonathan Newland
88 1856. Widow Roby Wheeler .
95
1828. Ichabod Perry
80
1801. Abraham White .
84
1836. Nathan Perry .
86 1824. Josiah White
83
1832. Widow Abigail Puffer
98 1827. Daniel White
84
1857. Widow Polly Shaw .
96 1835. Zebulon White
84
1796. Mrs. Elizabeth Smith
96
1776. John Wild
84
1807. David Smith
81
1803. Widow Elizabeth Williams 93
1818. Timothy Smith
89
1813. Noah Wiswall .
86
1818. Mary, his wife
83 1782. Israel Woodward.
84
1844. Araunah Smith
80 1816. Anna Woodward .
85
1845. Abisha Smith .
84 1826. Elizabeth Woodward
85
1856. Daniel Smith .
87
1840 (? ). Martha Woodward
. 84
1857. Ebenezer Smith
82
FATAL CASUALTIES.
The first accidental death in town, of which we have any account, was that of Josephi Williams, aged thirty-one, who fell from the scaffolding of a new barn upon which he was at work, Nov. 7, 1744, and was so much injured that he died on the evening following.
Daniel Braman, aged thirty-nine, died Nov. 1, 1758, from injuries received a few days previous in a cider- mill.
Ephraim Hodges, aged about forty, was drowned, while on a whaling voyage, about 1768.
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1829. Widow Rebecca Leonard . 83 1851. Thomas Story
93
82
1808. Abigail Lincoln
88
1849. Seth Sumner
0
527
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
ยท A Miss (?) Gary, an insane woman, disappeared in the autumn of the year 1782 (?), and is supposed to have died from exposure. The next spring, her body was found by some children, between some large rocks now partly in the Barrowsville Mill-pond, on the northerly side. From this circumstance, they were called the " Gary Rocks."
Charles W. Wetherell, aged nine years, died March 14, 1784, from injuries received by a fall on the ice while skating a short time previous.
Elijah Wetherell fell through the floor of a sawmill (near Augustus Lane's) into the pit below, and, from the injuries received, died March 23, 1786, aged forty- seven.
Seth Gilbert, aged sixty-two, was run over by an ox-cart, and died Oct. 3, 1788, a few days after the accident.
William Newcomb was burnt to death in his house, March 17, 1790, aged sixty-eight.
About 1798, a child of Laban Smith was scalded to death.
Lydia Burt, while reading the Bible, in December, 1802, was taken in a fit, and fell into the fire, and was so badly burned that she soon died.
Simeon Allen fell from the high beams of a barn in September, 1809, and soon died from the effects of the fall.
George Godfrey was killed in a cider-mill, Oct. 15, 1810.
About the year 1811, in the summer season, Watson Morey (a colored man) was drowned in the Barrows- ville Mill-pond.
Ephraim, son of Holmes Richmond, aged about three years, was burnt to death about the year 1817.
Amherst Guild, of this town, was choked to death, while eating on the muster-field at Attleborough, Oct. 11, 1822, aged about thirty-eight.
Peter Gillet, while bathing near the " Gary Rocks," in the Barrowsville Mill-pond, was drowned July 11, 1823.
528
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Asa, child of David Woodward, aged four years, was killed by the falling of the wall upon it, Sept. 6, 1825.
Rebecca, daughter of Josiah Macomber, aged about five years, fell into a tub of hot water, and was so badly scalded that she died March 31, 1827, about twenty-four hours after the accident.
Thomas Sweet, of this town (the scaffolding giving way), fell from a factory on which he was at work, in Smithfield, R.I., and died Aug. 23, 1828, a few hours after the catastrophe.
Asahel Dean, of Norton, while riding in the town of Bellingham, was thrown from his carriage, and killed, June 10, 1829.
Daniel Goodwin fell from a load of hay, and was so badly hurt that he died July 13, 1830, a few days after the fall.
Nason White was choked to death while eating his dinner, Jan. 17, 1832, aged thirty-two.
Thomas Braman died April 29, 1833, from injuries received a few weeks previous by falling from a ladder in his barn.
Lloyd S. Lincoln, aged thirty-one, was thrown from his wagon, and killed, Jan. 24, 1834, aged twenty-three.
Simeon Lane was struck by lightning, and instantly killed, July 14, 1835, while driving his team with a load of hay from the field. One of the oxen was also killed.
Laban Arnold was fatally injured by the premature explosion of a rock he was blasting, and died Sept. 16, 1837, about twenty-four hours after the accident.
John Freeman is supposed to have been frozen to death in the westerly part of the town, Jan. 29, 1841, aged forty-five.
David L. Carver, of this town, was instantly killed on the Stoughton Railroad, by the accidental " dump- ing" of a loaded dirt-car while he was under it, March 13, 1845, aged thirty-six.
David Berry, while bathing, was drowned in the Copper-works Pond, June 28, 1845, aged about twenty- five.
t
529
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
William Baylies Arnold, aged about eight years, was drowned July 5, 1847, in Burt's Brook, a short dis- tance above Lincoln's Furnace.
Luther Lincoln died March 31, 1848, from in- juries received by being thrown from his carriage upon the sidewalk at Taunton about two weeks pre- viously.
Horace M. Leonard, while returning from Taunton, Nov. 28, 1848, fell from a loaded wagon, which passed over him, killing him instantly.
Marietta, aged thirteen months, daughter of Charles D. Lane, died April 10, 1851, in consequence of turn- ing a teapot full of hot water upon her face and breast about three weeks previously.
Daniel O., aged ten years, son of Lysander O. Make- peace, was drowned July 26, 1851, in Rumford River, back of his father's house.
Seth Hodges was found dead in his barn, Nov. 17, 1851 ; and is supposed to have fallen from the high scaffold.
David Chapman, of Easton, while skating within the limits of Norton, in the winter of 1854, was drowned.
David, aged eighteen months, child of Edward Keefe, died March 19, 1855, from the effects of burns received by his clothes taking fire.
Harriet M. Stanley (daughter of Benjamin D. Stan- ley), who was, with her brother, burning brush near the Barrowsville Millpond, May 10, 1855, accidentally set her clothes on fire, and was so shockingly burned that she died in two or three hours.
Mrs. Mercy Ann, wife of Cyril S. Sweet, while pro- paring breakfast, Oct. 30, 1855, by some means set her clothes on fire, and survived the accident less than twenty-four hours.
Faugas, aged about six years, son of Thomas Mc- Caffrey, was drowned in the canal at the Copper-works, Sept. 28, 1856.
David, son of Edward Keefe, aged two years, was run over by the cars (which were out of time), and
45
530
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
instantly killed, a short distance above the depot, Oct. 13, 1857.
John, aged twenty-one months, son of Michael Mar- ley, was drowned in the canal at the Copper-works, July 26, 1858.
DWELLING-HOUSES BURNED.
The first account of the burning of a house in Nor- ton, which we find, is in the " Boston News-Letter " of Thursday, Feb. 9, 1738; from which it appears, that, on the Tuesday previous, George Hodges' house was burnt down. The fire was caused by sparks falling upon the roof, there being a high wind at the time.
Peter Makepeace's house was burned April 19, 1775. About 1780, a house belonging to Nathaniel Freeman was destroyed .. William Newcomb's house was con- sumed, and he also was burned in it, March 17, 1790.1 Not far from 1790, Ann Cobb's house was burnt. April 12, 1803, a house belonging to Asahel Tucker, occupied by Levi Woodward. Jan. 21, 1806, the house of Peter Penno, at mid-day. About 1812, Wil- liam Verry's house. In March, 1819, a house owned by Judge Leonard, and occupied by Oliver Hunt. May 10, 1828, Deacon Lysander Makepeace's house. About 1835, a house belonging to Judge Wheaton. April 28, 1838, Clifford Carver's house. Dec. 19, 1841, the public-house kept by Hiram Smith, and owned by Horace B. and Hiram H. Wetherell. April 15, 1846, the house of Jacob Shepard. March 21, 1847, a house belonging to the Crocker Brothers, and occupied by James Lynch. About 1849, a house be- longing to Sibyl Burt, and occupied by James Wash- burn. June 6, 1852, the " Wiswall House," so called, occupied by Irish families. May 18, 1857, the house belonging to D. and S. Holman, and occupied by Oliver S. Titus. June 15, 1857, the house of Lewis E. and Nancy Lincoln.
1 For full account, see Herald of Freedom, March 26, 1790; and the Massachusetts Spy of April 1, 1790.
fact nar to Br 17 wi S Ja Fe ba I 1
531
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
BUILDINGS BURNED.
Dec. 3, 1741, " The Forge and Works for the manu- facture of Iron, at Norton, belonging to George Leo- nard, Esq., were burnt down : the damage is supposed to be about One Thousand Pounds." 1 In 1778, John Briggs's barn was burnt. Elisha Cobb's nail-shop, in 1789. In 1797, James Wetherell's barn was struck with lightning, and consumed. About 1808, Daniel Smith's nail-mill. Samuel Balcom's nail-shop, in 1816. James Godfrey's sawmill, in 1820 .. About the same year, Benj. Horton's cutting-mill. Ephraim Allen's barn was struck with lightning in 1822, and consumed. In 1824, the rolling and slitting mill of Benj. Horton. December, 1831, Nathaniel Newcomb's factory. About 1835, a store belonging to Judge Wheaton. Henry Blandin's barn, in 1836. Stillman Smith's shop, January, 1840. In the spring of 1842 (?), the shin- gle, grist, and wadding mills at Barrowsville. Thomas Story's barn, in 1844. In December, 1844, John Mc- Cormack's barn. Hathaway Leonard's carpenter's shop, in the spring of 1852. March 14, 1854, the schoolhouse in District No. 5. The blacksmith's shop at the Copper-works, July 1, 1856. A portion of Lin- coln's Furnace, April 9, 1859.
RUNAWAY WIFE.
In the "Boston News-Letter" of March 1, 1750, is the following advertisement : -
" Feb. 15, 1749-50. - Whereas Rebecca Harris, the wife of me the Subscriber, living at Norton, has unlawfully ab- sented herself from me and my family, and carried off sundry Effects to a considerable value, and may endeavour to run me in Debt, - These are, therefore, to caution all Persons what- soever not to entertain, trust, or give Credit to her, the said Rebecca, upon my Account ; for I will not pay any Debt con- tracted by her during her continuing to absent herself. - As witness my Hand, "JOSEPH HARRIS.
"N.B. - If she will return to my Family, and behave as a virtuous wife ought to do, she shall be kindly received."
1 Boston News-Letter, Dec. 10, 1741.
532
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
WITCHCRAFT.
Norton has not been exempt from believers in witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins; and there are some yet living who hug these ideas to their bosoms. Tradition has handed down to us the important intelli- gence (we do not, however, vouch for its truth), that Major George Leonard - the first of the name in town - made a league with the Devil in order to acquire great wealth ; and, as a return for the services rendered, Leonard promised to give his body to the Devil when he called for it. Accordingly, in 1716, while Mr. Leonard was sick with a fever, of which he died, the old imp came, claimed his body, and actually carried it off! As he left the premises with it, he made a tre- mendous jump, and landed on some rocks situated thirty or forty rods back of the house, where he came down with so much force as to make his foot-prints in the rock, which are to be seen at the present day ! At the funeral, the corpse was not to be seen, of course ; and the family gave out word that it was not proper to be seen : but, in reality, there was nothing in the coffin but a log of wood, put in to lull all suspicion that the body was not there.
Theodora, or Dora Leonard, as she was generally called, was reputed a witch, and, if we can believe the stories of some now living, " cut some curious capers." People would sometimes go to the barn, and " tie up" the cattle; and, before they could get away therefrom, the cattle would be all unloosed by some mysterious agency. She lived some two miles from the centre ; and once, when up in town, it was needful that she should get some cloth that was left at home, and she went after it, but soon returned with it, not having had time to have gone a fourth part of the dis- tance. One day, some boys were out hunting squirrels, near her residence ; and they found a large one in the top of a tree, and fired almost numberless times at it, but could not kill it. But, as they were going home, they encountered a strange cat, which was believed to have been Dora in disguise, who had prevented the
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