USA > Maine > Franklin County > Jay > History of Jay, Franklin County, Maine > Part 3
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Not only articles of dress but also almost all other articles needed in the house and upon the farm were home-made. Wooden vessels of all kinds were in common use. The milk pan was a wooden bowl, the water-pail was a wooden bucket, and the water was drawn from the well by the well-sweep in the "old oaken bucket." Even the dipper from which our forefathers drank the cooling draft was of wood, with a long handle ingeniously wrought by leaving a branch of the tree on one of the staves that formed the dipper. Instead of stone or earthen jugs for all kinds of liquids, such as molasses, vinegar, etc., wooden kegs in the form of small barrels were in use. These were often made by the farmer in his leisure hours in the winter months. It is related of a witty old farmer that having carried his three-gallon keg to the village store to have it filled with molasses, the merchant charged him for four gallons. In demurring about paying the bill he remarked that he didn't mind so much about paying for the extra gallon but it was the strain on the keg that worried him.
In the days following the clearing of the forests and raising the first crops the people became better off and homes and houses were of a better class. But the large open fireplaces with the crane and pot-hooks for suspending kettles over the fire were still in use. In addition to these methods of cooking, the brick oven was introduced by the forehanded farmers for baking the brown bread, Indian puddings and pies. The small boy of the family was expected every Saturday morning to cut up and bring in a good supply of fine dry wood for his mother's oven before going to play or attending to other duties. The Thanksgiving turkey was suspended by a string from the mantel-piece before the fire, with a dripping-pan on the hearth underneath. Later on came the tin-baker and tin-kitchen, which greatly facilitated the means of cooking and aided the housewife in household duties. And at a still later day earthen-
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ware and crockery-ware displaced the wooden vessels, the wooden bowls and spoons of the early settlers and even the pewter platters, spoons and mugs of the better class were put aside as relics by the use of more modern dishes.
Few young people of today realize the changes that have taken place in the matter of foods and especially in the manner of preparing and cooking the daily meals during the last century. Instead of the baked beans on which the people of New Eng- land breakfast on Sunday mornings in these later days, in the early days they had their stewed beans and johnny-cake and bean porridge. The old Revolutionary soldier, James Starr, the father of Judge Starr, was wont to complain that "Jim's folks were too aristocratic to live on plain foods, and that if bean porridge cost a guinea a gallon and came from the West Indies, they would live on it."
In the early history of the town few potatoes were raised or eaten. I have heard Dr. Small say that at one time in his boyhood a neighbor was regretting that he had raised no potatoes that year, when his father replied, "I can let you have all you want, for I have raised three bushels this year." Salt pork and johnny-cake, with potatoes and other vegetables in their season, were the staples of living. There were no butcher carts going from house to house, no meat markets in the larger towns and villages. Fresh meats were to be had only at the time of hog-killing in the late autumn or when the beef creature was slaughtered for the packing of the salt junk for the year's consumption. It is related of Scarborough Parker, when he moved his family and household goods from Roxbury, Mass., in 1804, to the town of Jay, coming from Boston on a vessel to Hallowell, that he took with him a barrel of salt pork and a barrel of salt beef, but having turned off the brine to reduce its weight, the beef was tainted be- fore reaching its destination. Sometimes in the early spring
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the fatted calf was killed, and by a friendly exchange with neighbors at different times of killing the season of fresh meat was lengthened out.
MODES OF TRAVEL
The only means of travel in the pioneer days was on foot or horseback. It was not an uncommon sight to see a man in the saddle with his wife sitting behind him on the pommel of the saddle, with a child in her arms, on their way to meeting on a Sunday morning. I remember when a small boy listening to an aged minister who had called to visit my grandfather and grandmother, reminding them of an incident in their early life of which he was a witness. He had seen them on their way to meeting at Livermore Corner, father, mother and youngest child all on the old family horse. When they came to a small brook too deep to ford, the horse was made to walk over the stream on a single log, carrying his riders safely on his back. House utensils and farm implements were scarce and of the rudest kind, which necessitated much borrowing and exchange with neighbors. Joseph Lawrence built the first two-wheeled vehicle in the town of Jay (excepting perhaps the white oak ox cart brought to Jay by Scarborough Parker from Cambridge). It was a two-wheeled horse cart, and the neighbors from far and near came to hire or borrow it to trans- port their produce to Hallowell, thirty miles distant, and bring groceries and other necessities for their family use. It was several years after that the first four-wheeled wagon came to Jay Hill one day, exciting a good deal of curiosity. The body of the wagon rested on the axletrees without thorough- braces or springs. It was thought too frail for the roads of those days. A few years later some of the gentry and well- to-do farmers became the envied possessors of the "one-horse shay."
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PRIVATIONS OF EARLY SETTLERS
Few of us in these times of comfortable homes and easily cul- tivated farms are able to realize the utter poverty and priva- tions of those sturdy men and women who first came to these primeval forests to make a home for themselves and their families. Grown men and women, scantily clad in homespun garments, barefooted in summer months, sheltered in their rude log cabins, laboriously worked to clear the hitherto un- cultivated soil that it might produce for them the bare necessi- ties of life. Families were often reduced to actual want, and many times there was anxious though patient waiting and longing for the ripening grain that would keep the wolf from the door. The sound of the flail threshing out the first-fruits of the harvest was often heard in the early autumn, which gave rise to the saying, "The life and death flail has commenced."
The following incident is related in a Maine history of Joseph Coolidge, one of the first to make a home in Jay, probably on the west side of the Androscoggin near the Canton line. In one July his family was on the point of starvation, and there was nothing to be had nearer than Hallowell, some thirty miles distant. Early in the morning he started and footed it to the home of his brother-in-law, Deacon Livermore of Liver- more, where he procured a horse. From there he rode to Hallo- well to get some corn. He came back as far as Wayne, where he had it ground, and started for home. It was near midnight when he reached the ferry, afterward known as Hillman's Ferry, but the boat was on the other side and no one to bring it over nearer than Deacon Livermore's, a mile distant. He swam the river and brought over the boat, took over his horse, returned the borrowed horse, and then with his bag of meal on his back made his way to his home, which he reached about daylight. His wife got up and made a johnny-cake, of which they all partook, and which he declared was the sweetest
SAMUEL CRAFTS.
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morsel he ever tasted. His father was killed at Watertown by the British soldiers on their retreat from the battle of Lexington.
We read of the barefoot boy, but few grown-up men and women of those days wore shoes in the summer months. An old resident of the intervale told me years ago that when a big snow-storm came on one November day a neighbor living more than two miles away came through the snow barefoot and got him to go several miles farther on to a shoemaker and get a pair of shoes for him. Leg-boots had not come into use among the poor people in those days.
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PREPARING FOR THE LONG WINTER
The necessary preparations for the long winters made a very busy season in autumn for our grandfathers and grandmothers, even in the matter of foods. In harvest time there was the reaping and threshing of the grain; then the cutting and husking of the corn, and then were the potatoes to be dug and placed in "the potato hole," a cave in the ground near the cabin, for few hastily built cabins had cellars. In later years, after orchards had been set out, there was the apple picking, and in the long evenings the paring, cutting into quarters and stringing on long strings to be hung on poles or sides of the building to dry in the sun. And when the new cider had been brought from the cider-mill, a day was spent in boiling it down to be used in mince pies and to make the winter supply of apple butter or apple sauce as it was called. The making of the apple sauce made a busy day for the whole household. The evening before was spent in preparing the apples, and on the next morning the large brass kettle was brought out and thoroughly cleansed. In the bottom of the kettle were placed the sweet apples, less liable to burn, then followed the sour apples and the boiled cider. Then the kettle was placed over
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the kitchen fire and had to be carefully watched for several hours lest the contents be spoiled in the cooking. Who as a boy reared in the old-time home does not remember the delicious smell and taste of the sauce that was brought on cold winter mornings from the well-filled firkin in the pantry, placed by the fire to thaw, and then served with johnny-cake, fried eggs and bacon, at the breakfast table?
And then after the beef creature had been killed came the trying out of the tallow for the winter's supply of candles. It would be a curiosity to most young people of today to witness the process of making the candle-dip that furnished the light for the homes of our ancestors. First a bundle of sticks about a foot long and one-third of an inch in diameter were whittled out by the man or boy of the house. On these were fastened the wicks, taken from a ball of cotton wicking and made the desired length of the candle. Usually six of these wicks were placed on each stick, with a little space between to keep the candles separate. Two poles extended across the room on chairs or boxes just far enough apart for the ends of the sticks to rest upon them. When all was in readiness the pot of melted tallow was placed beside the row of candle wicks, and the good housewife, seated in a split-bottomed chair, would patiently dip the long row of wicks in the melted tallow, repeating the process until the candles grew to the required size, the kettle of tallow in the meantime being kept warm and full by the frequent pouring in of boiling water, which, also, the tallow rising to the surface, enabled the dipper to use the whole of the melted tallow if desired. It was from this process that the candle came to be called a "dip." And it was the forehanded housekeeper that had a large box of these dips for ready use. In later years tin candle-molds holding from three to a dozen each made a more convenient method of manufacturing the candles.
COLONEL DANIEL MERRITT.
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EARLY AMUSEMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENTS
The young people in the earlier times did not lack for the social life and entertainments. Even the rural districts had their social gatherings when dancing and innocent amusements were enjoyed. Among the more refined and sedate afternoon parties of young ladies gathered at times in the neighboring homes, to be joined by the young men in the evening for a social hour. It was on these occasions that many a fine piece of needlework was wrought out which has been handed down as an heirloom. Among the first work, after common sewing, that a young girl was expected to do was a sampler. I well remember my mother's which she had made when only ten years of age, and which she religiously kept among the keep- sakes of her youthful days. It was worked with silk thread in fancy colors, on a piece of brown linen some six inches wide by ten in length. It was bordered by a cross-stitch of fancy pattern. On it were worked the letters of the alphabet in capitals. Then followed the name of the town (Livermore) and state, closing with her own name, Susan Norton Winslow, with date of birth. Older girls often made more elaborate samplers which contained the Lord's Prayer or some quotation from some distinguished author. These samplers were usually hung on the walls of the best room beside the family portraits.
Nor should we fail to notice the old-time spelling-schools and lyceums and singing-schools which filled up the winter evenings of the rural districts.
The spelling-school, which was usually held once or twice during the winter term of the district school, was often a place of heated rivalry and did much to perfect the art of good spelling. Not only the scholars of the same school competed with each other, but adjoining districts frequently held spelling matches with all the enthusiasm of the baseball and football games of today for the championship of their own schools. I was recently
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told by a schoolmate that my older sister, Deborah Lawrence, in one of these spelling matches not only spelled down every other contestant but every word found in the old spelling-book.
The singing-schools of those days were especial sources of entertainment and enjoyment to old as well as young. They were usually held in the village schoolhouse, closing in the near-by meeting-house with a concert. The teacher as a rule was some renowned musician from abroad, who raised the tunes with a tuning-fork. On rare occasions the violin or bass viol accompanied the singing, but for many years there was a prejudice against the use of musical instruments for sacred music. Nevertheless there was often grand harmony in the singing. Never was the inspiration of song more keenly felt or more warmly appreciated than when fifty or a hundred voices rendered some of those grand old tunes in which the parts came in with ringing melody that stirred every heart in the audience. Who that in boyhood listened spellbound to the music of the old-time singers will ever forget, no matter where he has wandered or how much his ears have become cultivated under the influence of the modern concert or opera, how his heart was thrilled by the music of the old-time singing-school?
THE VILLAGE LYCEUM
Another source of entertainment was the village lyceum, which in many of the villages, even of the smaller towns, was an established institution for the winter months. It was here in these small debating societies that many an amateur orator, who afterwards became famous in public life, got his training in public speaking and the art of oratory. The most profound questions were frequently discussed by these youthful debaters, such as "Which is the mightier, the sword or the pen?" or "Which is the greater evil, pride or the love of money?" At these lyceums there was usually a village paper edited by some
MAJOR STILLMAN NOYES.
م
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bright young lady, to which both sexes contributed their first literary effusions. Here the newly fledged poet found his oppor- tunity to climb the heights of Parnassus, and the Artemus Wards found expression for their witticisms. And here the speeches of Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster were declaimed with a force and zeal which did honor to those renowned statesmen.
The young people of our day with all their social privileges, their picnics, their musicales, their literary clubs, their tea parties and other social entertainments, may look upon these former times with a feeling of pity for the hard lot of their grandfathers and grandmothers in the absence of all the pleasant things that make up the life of modern society. But it is doubt- ful if the average young person of today is having any more real enjoyment than did his or her ancestors in the simple life of former times. The large families of former years made up a home life of substantial pleasures that is seldom found in these days of strenuous duties when the members of a family seldom see much of each other except at the morning or evening meal. And it often happened that in even the small but scattered neighborhoods there was a social circle that furnished enter- tainments and social enjoyments that have never been sur- passed in later years with all the privileges and refinements of modern life.
"Our ancestors lived on bread and broth And wooed their healthy wives in homespun cloth. Our grandmas, nurtured to the nodding reel, Gave our good mothers lessons on the wheel. Though spinning did not much reduce the waist, It made the food much sweeter to the taste. They never once complained, as some do now,
'Our Irish girl can't cook, or milk the cow.' Each mother taught her red-cheeked daughter, To bake and milk and draw a pail of water. No damsel shunned the wash-tub, broom or pail To keep unharmed a long-grown finger nail.
They sought no gaudy dress, no hooped-out form, But ate to live and worked to keep them warm."
CHAPTER IX
SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES OF NOTED MEN
DR. SAMUEL SMALL came to Jay from New York state about the beginning of the century and settled on Jay Hill, where he commenced the practice of medicine and where he resided until his death. He married Elisabeth Barnard of Dixfield, who died at the home of her son, Dr. Samuel, Jr., of Temple, aged one hundred years. Dr. Small was a man of scholarly tastes, witty and fond of telling stories. His home, presided over by his intelligent helpmeet, was a common resort for the better class of the town and county. His witty sayings were much enjoyed. He never lost the opportunity of cracking a joke, even if it was at his own expense. At the time of the War of 1812 he was the medical examiner for drafted soldiers of Oxford County. One Gilbert Winslow of Livermore was drafted, and having some physical disability came to see the doctor for a certificate of exemption. It was the day of the March town meeting. The doctor was on the common, watch- ing a wrestling match, in which William Grose was the cham- pion. Winslow making known his errand, the doctor turned to him and said, "Gilbert, put Bill Grose on his back and you shall have the exemption papers." Bill was soon put on his back, amid the cheers of the crowd, and Winslow returned home exempt from military duty.
The doctor was quite an oracle at the village store where the neighbors gathered to talk up the news of the day. On one occasion when the subject under discussion was "What will be the condition of the country a century hence?" the doctor, springing quickly to his feet, as was his habit when he had
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HON. INCREASE E. NOYES.
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something of importance to deliver to which he wished to call especial attention, remarked, "I should like to live till I am ninety-five years old, then be headed up in a cask of wine, remain ten thousand years and then wake up and see what in h- the world is doing." He was rather proud of calling himself the laziest man in town. One time of general health he chanced to meet the neighboring physicians of Livermore and Canton, Doctors Bradford and Holland. They talked of the few calls they had in their profession, and it was agreed that the first time either of them was seen hurrying to a sick patient he should stand treat the next time they met. Not long after the doctor had an urgent call to Dixfield and was seen passing Dr. Holland's, his horse on the gallop. At the next monthly meeting the doctor was called to account. He said he "had no practice for a long time and the old horse had grown frisky and he was too d-d lazy to hold him in and so he let him go." In the last days of his life, after sons and daughters had grown up and left home, though having hundreds of dollars of uncollected bills, he was at times in straitened circumstances. The old Vermonter, his faithful horse, had died and the old cow had followed suit. His son, a practising physician in Livermore, sent a boy with a cow, bidding him leave it in the lot behind the old homestead, unknown to his father. A few days later William went up to see how the old folks were getting on. He found the doctor much excited over a streak of luck that had come to him. He had found a fine cow out in the back pasture. He thought it probable it had strayed from a passing drove. He was about to advertise it, but he thought it doubtful if the owner ever called for it. After enjoying his father's elation for a while William said, "Why, father, I sent up the cow." Quick as a flash the doctor replied, "The Lord sent it if the devil brought it."
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Judge James Starr, Jr., who settled on Jay Hill in 1802, was a prominent man in town for many years. He was town clerk for twenty consecutive years, a justice of the peace, and was the municipal judge of Oxford County till Jay became a part of Franklin County. He was the first representative to the General Court of Massachusetts from the town before Maine became a state. He was a small man, and in early life usually wore a pair of large round glass spectacles. On his first appearance in the Massachusetts legislature, a certain humorist of the press wrote, "A new star has arisen in the East, but it can only be seen through a telescope of double lenses."
James Starr, the father of the judge, who came to live with his son in his old age, was a soldier in the Revolution. He was one of the minutemen near Boston at the time of the battle of Lexington, being enrolled April 19, 1775. He was said to have been one of the party disguised as Indians who threw the cargo of tea from the British merchant vessel into Boston Harbor. He probably continued in the service of the arm'y or navy till the close of the war. He was fond of telling the story of his home journey. After his discharge, not being paid off, except perhaps in Continental scrip, he was com- pelled to beg his meals and lodgings at the farmhouses on the way. One day he stopped at the house of a good deacon who was entertaining his minister and family at dinner. The minister and the soldier were seated on opposite sides of the table, on which was placed a large platter of beans, liberally buttered on the minister's side but without butter on his. The clergyman after grace began to question the soldier about his adventures. "I suppose," said the divine, "out in the West Indies where you say you have been, they think nothing of killing a man." "They would," said Starr, "think no more of killing a man than I do of turning round this platter," suiting the
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MAJOR MOSES STONE'S HOMESTEAD.
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action to the words and bringing the buttered side toward himself.
Col. Daniel Merritt came to Jay from Jonesboro, Maine, and lived first on a farm on the south side of the Androscoggin River, near Peterson's Rips. Afterwards he moved to Jay Hill, where he resided till the close of his life. He was a farmer and a large dealer in cattle, driving large droves to Brighton market for many years. He was a prominent man in town affairs, a shrewd politician and always a pronounced Demo- crat; very bitter toward the abolitionists of his day, who he declared were violators of the Constitution and disturbers of the peace. Besides holding several town offices, he repre- sented Franklin County in the state senate in 1842 and was High Sheriff of the county from 1846 to 1850. He was also inspector of beef cattle in Portland, Maine, where he resided for a few years toward the close of his life. Notwith- standing his rough exterior, he was a man of the kindest feelings, a ready sympathizer with any in trouble, and of sterling integ- rity. He was a member of the Baptist church, which he honored and to which he gave his constant support. His death occurred at the age of 69 years, in 1863.
The Noyes family dates back to 1086. Baron William Des Noyes was a follower of William the Conqueror and settled in the county of Norfolk, England, where some of his descendants remain to this day. Nicholas Noyes, born in England, came to this country with his brother James in 1633. Settled in Newbury, Mass.
Enoch Noyes, one of his descendants, was born in Rowley in 1768. In the year 1790 he came to Jay. He married Betsey E. Dascomb in 1793, and Hannah Eustis in 1815. (See Gene- alogy.)
Major Stillman Noyes, son of Enoch, was one of Jay's most distinguished citizens. He was a large farmer, lumber
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