Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 40

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 40
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the Newbury side of the river families of Atkinson and Coffin had established homes, the former "at ye head of ye upper green," and lived as neighbors with the Merrills and Bradburys on the "Shore." When the sons and daughters of these early families had reached mature estate and were standing at the threshold of life's opportunities looking outward for some field of promise into which they might enter and find scope for individual enterprise, by action of the General Court a long unfulfilled promise was redeemed and seven townships of land granted to the heirs of the soldiers who had served in the war against the Narragansett Indians. One of the townships was laid out on the east side of the Saco river, and was named Newbury-Narragansett in consequence of being owned principally by persons who lived in Newbury on the Merrimack. When the Indian wars were over, and it was deemed safe to found a plantation in the wilderness, the proprietors of these Narragansett grants exerted themselves to induce the sturdy young men and their equally robust wives to go down upon the Saco and hew out homes for themselves; and so liberal were the conditions offered that a goodly number said farewell to parents, for the time being, and removed to the new settlement, eastward.

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A HORSEBACK JOURNEY WESTWARD.

By this transaction a bond united, for many years, yea, even until today, fam- ilies who lived on the two noble rivers, the historic Merrimack and storied Saco, and for nearly half a century communication between these distant local- ities was kept up with as much constancy as the means would allow.

For the purpose of facilitating our elucidation of the events about to be treated, we will now rest the thread of our historic discourse, and pass down an interval spanning one hundred years, from about 1755 to 1855. It was a cool October evening, when around an ample hearth-stone, upon the table- land back from the Saco, gathered a family representing three generations, and numbering as many as seven persons. Seated at one side of the wide fire- place, near the venerable head of the family, was a first cousin, who, after an absence of some forty years in the eastern section of the state, where he had settled in early life, was visiting his kindred in his native town on the river. He was a man of large frame, above the medium in stature, and of florid com- plexion. His crown was bald and high, and his expression indicated more than ordinary intelligence and shrewdness.

The occasion of which we now take notice was one of unusual interest to all who composed the fireside circle. The two old cronies had passed their childhood years in the same community, and as they spent the evening in the discussion of themes pertaining to the olden time, great social enjoyment was experienced. They rehearsed stories of the pioneers and their hardships and dangers, and dwelt with unwearied fondness upon the dark days of the Rev- olution, in which their fathers had participated. When there was a momentary lull in the conversation, the two old men would gaze into the glowing embers and dream of the long ago, while the flickering firelight played "hide and seek" on their shining heads. After one of these rests, Abram Merrill laid his hand on his cousin's knee, and looking him square in the face, said:

"Say, Thomas, did ever your mother, my Aunt Pattie, tell you children about her horseback journey to the westward, when she was only a girl?"

"Loh sakes alive, Abram, I've heard her tell o' that mor'n a hundred times. Why, Abram, I've seen the very beaver hat and the bottle-green cloak she wore on that journey. Did I ever hear 'bout that? To be sure I hev. Why, I remember how she sed the whole company was fixed out, and how their horses were finnified off; and how Humphrey Merrill, my own uncle, and Parson Coffin did race their mears on the way to Salisburytown. There! there ! Abram, thet's just as fresh, now you mentioned it, as though 'twas yisterday. Loh yes!"

"Well ! well! Thomas, you know your Uncle Humphrey Merrill was my own father, and he it was who rode by the side of his sister Pattie, who was your mother; and old Grandthur Merrill, the one who used to be called lef- tenant, he an Grandmarm Merrill, they rode near Parson Coffin in the van- guard of the party. Why, I've heard my father describe that journey west'ard

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many a time, and all 'bout the carrins on when making the journey. You see, Thomas, old Grandthur Merrill, he gin that old yaller mear to my father when he moved down east, and she's the toughest old critter you ever see. Why, Thomas, she lived to be mor'n out of her time; } should say all of five-and- twenty, when she died; there, she didn't die at all, we just had to kill her. And do you think she was amiable, Thomas? Why, she's ugly as old Muck- ford. She'd switch her sprig tail, lay back her ears and keep busy at both eends. That mear had crossed the Merrimack, the Saco, and the Kinnibeck."

"You said how Pattie, my mother, rode beside her brother Humphrey, your father. 'Pend upon it, she was a mighty fine rider in the saddle, Abram, and I've heard old Grandthur Merrill say how she'd run down in the parster, when she's a leetle gal, and kitch the old mear and when she'd led her to the rail fence, she'd spring on her back and come dashing down the lane like a dragoon. Why, 1 mind riding down to Durhamtown with her on our old sorrel mear, when I was only a leetle feller, and there wasn't a woman on the post-road that had enny bizness with her. To be sure they didn't."

More than a half-hour was spent in animated discourse about the remark- able journey to Newburytown and Salisburytown and of those who composed the joyous party on the road.' No one at the fireside presumed to interrupt the conversation, and the two old cousins had their own way until a late hour. One there was in that group, a mere lad, sitting on his lowly stool, who drank in every word spoken, and from that far-away hour has held, amid the accu- mulated rubbish stored in his cranial attic, a clear recollection of every light and shade of the narrative interchangeably related by those two venerable men. I believe they were exceptionally good story-tellers.

It appears that occasional letters had been brought through from Salis- burytown to the new settlement in Newbury-Narragansett by proprietors who rode down on business; these epistles dictated by the fathers and mothers contained many endearing expressions of parental solicitude and were well seasoned with wholesome injunctions that stimulated warm longings to visit once more the green banks of the Merrimack. The appearance of these men from the westward, who came on to attend proprietors' meetings, were antici- pated with much satisfaction, and when one of them was observed approaching by some bridle-path there were manifestations of great expectation upon the

NOTE .- August 6, 1894. Wearied with protracted application at my desk and the confinement of the house, I have hied away for a change of environment and air, and am, today, writing this article far up on the mountain-side, overlooking the valley of the Saco, in one of the most romantic and wild corners of old Oxford county. Down in the vale I see the glimmering waters of the river, and, winding along its borders, the highway that follows the course of the old Pequawket trail. On the opposite side of the river rise the "Hills of Rock," purchased of the Indians by Major Phillips, which were supposed to be a valuable treasury of silver ore. Now the intervales and hill-sides are covered with ripening corn and grain, the apples are blushing upon the orchard trees, and the whole region presents a scene of peaceful, prosperous rural life both attractive and restful .- AUTHOR.

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part of the families called upon; and as the rider drew rein at the door and from his hat-crown handed down a wafer-sealed letter, subscribed by his "politeness," the hearts of the recipients beat warmer as they retired within to read the contents. We fancy the perusal of such missives from the old homes evoked visions of a mother's gentle face and a father's stately form.

As soon as the roads were made safely passable from the Saco river westward, and the material conditions of the families settled in Newbury- Narragansett enabled them to leave their homes for a season, Parson Coffin suggested that a party be formed and a visit made during the autumn months to their early home on the Merrimack; this proposal was most cordially assented to by those who were connected with the families there, and imme- diate preparations were made for the journey. It was not a light undertaking, but if well carried out involved considerable expense and painstaking. The young men and their wives who had come down to the new plantation on the Saco had been brought up in homes of respectable independence; their parents were well-to-do, and it was very natural that when contemplating a return to those with whom they had spent their earlier years they should wish to make a fair show of prosperity by appearing in becoming dress and well mounted. It was customary at this period for ladies of quality to wear soft beaver hats with broad brim, and a requisition for a dozen such was served upon the hatter in Portland. These were modestly be-plumed with the long, graceful feathers found in the tails of the brilliant-colored cocks at the barns, and in deference to a woman's fancy such were despoiled of the adorning with which Nature had endowed them. The riding habits of the married women were of color bottle-green or blue, and those worn by the maidens of gay-colored plaided goods. The coats of the men were generally of the then popular blue broad- cloth, bedecked with lacquered buttons. Their breeches were of buff buck- skin, attached at the knee with buckles to white stockings.

Several new ladies' saddles with bridles to match had also been procured. The arrangements were consummated at last, the auspicious morning dawned, and, as per agreement, all who were to make up the visiting party were assem- bled on the wide lawn fronting the mansion of Parson Coffin. Nearly every family in the township had come out to see their neighbors off, and were standing in groups about the door-yard when the minister appeared upon the scene, and as he went to prayer all heads were uncovered. This ceremony over, horse after horse and palfrey after palfrey were led to the horse-block in turn, and the gallant "sparks" assisted the young ladies in reaching the sad- dles. Girths were then tightened, bridles adjusted, and the good parson guided " Deborah," his white-faced mare, into the roadway. He was followed by the heads of families, and in turn by the young men and maidens, who rode at the rear of the column. This was an attractive equestrian spectacle, and the gay appearance of the ladies called forth many a compliment from

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gentlemen along the way. There were in the party twenty persons, all told, about equally divided between the sexes.

Everywhere they attracted much attention while en route and their appear- ance excited great admiration, as evidenced by notices that are said to have been published in the newspapers at the time. At Wells they dined with Parson Little and his neighboring parishioners, and reached Portsmouth at sundown, where they were entertained at the "King's Arms" public house. Although this was one of the largest of the colonial New England taverns, the landlady taxed her ingenuity in finding comfortable lodgment for so many unlooked-for guests. The landlord had been a classmate of Parson Coffin, and the party found great pleasure in listening to the entertaining conversation that passed between the host and his learned guest while gathered about the cheerful fireside during the long, cool evening. There were sparkles of wit and harmless thrusts between the two scholarly gentlemen, and good fellowship was stimulated and an old acquaintance cemented in stronger bonds by the meet- ing. "Two-and-six " was the charge for each horse and rider. At an early hour they were all mounted and rode down the old post-road of Strawberry Bank, where the ladies were saluted by gentlemen who waited to see them pass.

During the second day's journey there were some lively amusements on the road; especially in the horse-race between the good-natured parson and Humphrey Merrill, as before intimated, an event that suited the dominie as well as any in the party. We have mentioned, incidentally, the parson's mare, called " Deborah," named, we assume, for the 'remarkable woman mentioned in the Jewish Scriptures. Now she was venerable and serious looking as became a ministerial mare. Moreover, she was hearse colored, relieved with a white stripe which extended from her forelock down to her muzzle. There were, however, occasional side glances from her meek eyes that were signifi- cantly expressive of latent fire within that, when fanned to a flame, might set her feet in motion at a lively pace; the mettle was evidently there, but under the religious restraint of her owner.

The yellow-hided, tight-bitted mare upon which Humphrey Merrill rode was as furious as a slip cut from a West Indian hurricane. My soul! that mare was saturated with wild-fire, wind, and tough-leather, and when she had been inspired with the spurs she would come down upon the road with a gait that made the earth tremble and the stones smoke in the track. Her great. wall eyes, white-bordered and frenized, would almost hang from their sockets; she would snap her long teeth upon the bitt and blow blasts of steam from her pink-lined nostrils that was startling to behold. She was named "Bess," which was evidently a contraction for best.

Like a good general, Parson Coffin rode back occasionally to see how all fared, and as he jogged along, for a few moments, at the side of young Humphrey and his petite sister Pattie, he quietly suggested that the journey

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might be enlivened somewhat by a prudent trial of speed between the mares " Deborah" and " Bess," when a suitable piece of road was found. To this Humphrey readily assented, for he possessed just the constitutional fondness for such an adventure. The minister then rode forward to take the lead again, without an intimation of what might take place. As soon as he was out of ear-shot, " Humph " informed his sister Pattie that he intended to steal a march on the dominie by making a dash for the lead when unexpected. But some- how the old black " Deborah," so meek-looking and moderate, seemed to have premonitory inklings of impending events, and frequently turned her eyeballs backward to survey the surroundings as far as her range of vision extended. This was noticed by the parson, but he attributed it to an exhileration com- municated by saddle and bridle from his own animated spirit, which fairly reveled in anticipation of the surprise which would be sprung upon the party, when the race commenced. Meanwhile " Humph " Merrill had been torment- ing old "Bess" with the cruel spurs, and holding her down with a powerful curb-bitt. She looked furious and demoniac as she champed her teeth and threw off great patches of froth. Her tread was light and graceful and every nerve of her body thrilled with excitement. The party had descended a long hill and emerged from a heavy growth, that had skirted the road, to a level stretch, bordered by farms, on which the harvesters were still at work. This was somewhere in old Hampton. Humphrey stood up in his stirrups and looked down the road; the desired conditions were now found, and reining old "Bess" to one side, he touched her quivering flanks with the rowels, gave her the lease of the bridle, and such a rush of yellow hide and clatter of steel was never seen nor heard since the death of Jehu or the chariots of Solomon were taken off the road. My patience! How that animal set the air a-going! But the quick ear of " Deborah" had caught the sound of hastening hoofs, and by a suggested snort communicated her suspicions to her owner, and by the time Humphrey and old yellow "Bess" were alongside, the ministerial mare had got up steam, and came to the road vehemently. Shout after shout rang out from the throats of the fore-riders, cheer after cheer came up from the field-sides as the farmers paused to watch the fray. The parson was a fine horseman, and on ordinary occasions humane, but he did not take kindly to defeat, and used the spurs under old "Deborah " without mercy until he seemed to lift her bodily from the road-bed, when he touched her sensitive flesh with the cruel "Catherine wheels" that were strapped to his riding shoes. For some time the race seemed nearly a "draw." Great streams of spray were blown from the mares' nostrils, and both were flecked with foam; their shoes made metallic tumult on the flinty ledges crossed, and a cloud of dust rose along the highway as they passed. But old "Bess" was the most enduring; she had a store of wind like the blacksmith's bellows, and the sup- plement of "grit" that made her joints limber. She put on her reserve force

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until the parson saw that it was presumption to urge "Deborah " to greater exertions and drew rein. When the two rode back to meet their friends, who had long before lost sight of them, the old yellow mare blew like a sea-horse. The parson frankly owned himself outdone, and neatly complimented Humphrey for his horsemanship and for his noble beast; this courtesy he received with becoming shamefacedness and guided old " Bess" to the side of the ehubby · palfrey upon which his sister Pattie rode. It was near sundown when the party rode into the broad lane leading to the old Coffin mansion, where all dismounted for a half-hour's rest and took refreshments. This was the early home of their guide, the parson, and here the Bradburys and Merrills took leave of him and rode forward over the "high road " to the Merrimack, and before night fell drew rein at the doors of the parental dwelling, where they received the greetings of their joyous kindred.

We will now take a mental view of the interior of the old Merrill house and those who gathered around the ample hearth-stone there. Overhead the great square beams were exposed to view, browned and yellowed with heat and smoke. The "living room" was very broad and long, and the furnishing plain but substantial. In the corner stood the tall elock, brought across the Atlantic, and its pronounced metallic tiek-tack, tick-tack, sounded louder within the solid mahogany of which the case was made, while the spasmodic move- ments of the second hand, as it performed its circles with jerk, jerk, was ex- pressive of the powerful weight by which the intestine machinery was pro- pelled. Everywhere neatness and good order were observable. Nothing was out of place. The bright red brieks in the hearth and chimney jams were clean and shining as a new tile. The crane and tea-kettle were polished and spotless, and the brass andirons reflected the dancing firelight with a lustre as fine as if they had passed under the jeweler's brush; the same may be said of the twin candlesticks upon the long mantle-shelf and the handles on the bureau at the wall-side. A lively hickory fire flashed and roared up the chimney flue. A long braided mat spanned the space before the hearth. A pair of orna- mental bellows hung upon a brass hook at the fire-side, and the shovel and tongs glinted and glistened at the opposite corner. The uncarpeted floor was scoured as white as the grain of the pine, and every iron nail-head shone like the rivets in a knight's armor.

At one side of the wide fire-place sat William Merrill, now a man venerable in years; was rising five-and-seventy, but hale, hearty, and vigorous for his age. In stature above the most of men, frame expansive, complexion florid. His garments were plain drab and blue and about his neck was a tidy handker- chief of small figured muslin. A genial, talkative man was William, and not a stranger to humorous speeches. Facing her husband sat Mrs. Ruth Merrill, who was a fine type of the mothers of the period. She was not tall, but plump, ruddy, black-eyed and of a lively faney, and glib of tongue. Her

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voice was low and her enunciation distinct. As a wife and mother she had acquitted herself of her responsibility with genuine conscientiousness and great faithfulness, and she possessed the happy faculty of communicating the sunlight of her own tranquil spirit to the hearts of her children; she created an atmosphere of domestic peace and restfulness in her household and made it an attractive centre about which tender affections and hearty good cheer throve, blossomed, and bore abundant sweet-flavored fruit. The word precision expresses the prominent characteristic of Mrs. Merrill's temperament. Not only her house within, and all its furnishings, showed her orderly touch, but her own personal apparel spoke of the same nicety and prim attention to details. If she adjusted her tidy lace cap the old-fashioned mirror reflected her critical taste, as every plait and ruffle was deftly made to take its appointed place. When she put on a clean apron she folded it until corner touched' corner, and then placed the crease at the middle precisely on a perpendicular line with the pin above that held in place her tidy cape. The broad ribbon strings that held her morocco "village ties" upon her plump feet were formed into a bow-knot as "set" as if it was of wax. Her silvery hair was dressed in high twist behind and held by a dainty, tortoise-shell comb, and just three fluffy curls fell down before her ears. She was still fresh looking, and the roses that had once bloomed upon her face could be seen hiding under the fair and almost unfurrowed cheeks. She moved about the house with almost noiseless tread; indeed, she rather glided from room to room. As a maternal governess, her rules were without any display of authority; she looked toward her children, and they read her wishes in her face ; she spoke in gentle tones, and each hastened to do her will. An air of becoming dignity in her bearing restrained any tendency toward frivolity among those about her. Such is the brief outline, pen portrait, of one of those mothers whose children became early settlers on the Saco, and whose children's children, now visiting their grandparents, rose up to call her blessed.

It is the evening after the arrival of the son and his wife and the two grandchildren, Humphrey and Pattie, both of them born in Salisbury. These last mentioned had been carried down to Newbury-Narragansett when small children; now they were grown to sturdy manhood and womanhood, and were admired with great admiration by their grandparents. As William Merrill came to his seat at the fireside, after the evening meal was done, he looked for a moment upon the pleasant faces of those who had come so far to visit the old home; a smile played about the old man's features as he extended his hands toward Pattie and said: "Come here, my precious child, little woman though you be, and let me hold you in my arms as I used to do"; and the blushing girl sat on her grandfather's knees, while he smoothed her soft, brown hair with his wrinkled palm; yea, she nestled her head upon his broad shoulder as he sang the benediction, "Heavenly Father, bless my child."

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The news of the arrival of the folk from the eastward soon spread like a sea-wave along the "Salisbury shore," and at an early hour the Morrills, Osgoods, Worthings, and Pettingalls came in to pay their respects to those with whom they had lived as neighbors in earlier years; came they to inquire about the lands of Newbury-Narragansett, the timber, the advantages or dis- advantages, and prosperity of the new settlement on the Saco. The conver- sation ran smoothly and was animating. All were in the best of spirits, in good health, and the visitors had great store of news to tell; of adventure and startling incident; of Indians and the wild beasts that howled about the clear- ings opened in the wilderness; of the richness of the new soil and the enor- mous crops of maize and grain produced, and of the burdens of grass upon the intervales and wild meadows. The basket of apples was handed round, the tall, white mug of sweet cider followed, and the hours flew merrily away. When the old clock slowly measured off the number nine the neighbors rose to go home, with the many times repeated "Now you must all call in and see us afore you go back to the eastward." They were followed to the door, the old gate was heard to creak on its hinges, and those within the Merrill mansion re-assembled about the warm hearth, where they lingered until the fire burned out and the brands fell apart over the andirons. Then all knelt before God, and the venerable grandparents in humble prayer commended all to His mer- ciful protection. The bolts were drawn and the family sought that refreshing balm which a beneficent Creator provided for his weary sons and daughters.

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Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 40

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Portland, Me., The author Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424