USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 50
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 50
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428
PATCHWORK AND QUILTING-FRAMES.
Mrs. Linderman still expressed doubts and it was arranged that she should be accompanied by Aunt Hadassah Higgins, who had once made Sally Single- ton a visit ; that removed all objections. The quilting day dawned bright and crisp, and the women of the settlement might have been seen wending their way by winding paths through the old shadowy forest, cautiously creeping over wet places and across brooks on mossy logs. They found the " spall-butted hemlock," and the "swale," and "slag"; they followed the "cow-path " and reached the "sou'west cant" of Hornbeam hill by nine in the forenoon, where they found Sally Singleton, arrayed in a span clean cap and dress, ready for their reception.
"Good morrow, Mistress Singleton, how du you do ?"
" Rael smart, Granmarm Mullikan; be you well?"
"Quite smart for me, but I'm all out o' breath climbing up the swale ; skeircely git my voice ; let me rest a meenit, du."
"Well! Well !" said Mrs. Singleton, "here's aunt Hadassah Higgins'n Margit Mullens'n Polly Pennell'n Pashunce Palmerton'n Judy Killpaterick'n Reliance Rumery'n Lovie Hamilton; well! well ! there comes Mistress Bun- tin'n Mistress Laureston'n Goodie Fairbairn'n old Aunt Harlenson. My stars ! what a nice quiltin'-party we'll hev today."
The shawls and hoods were laid aside, and all were seated to rest awhile. They smoothed their broad aprons, daintily adjusted their cap-strings and "glared " about the room. At length Goodie Fairbairn declared that she had come to a quilting, and to quilting she would go. She was an "old hand at it," and really "hankered " to be sewing. She put on her heavy " specks" and took her station at the quilting-poles. Opening a needle case, she selected one of suitable size, stuck a thread through the eye, pulled it over the lump of bees- wax, lined a square with twine and chalk, and went diligently to her work. Aunt Hadassah Higgins, Reliance Rumery, and Polly Pennell joined her on that side of the quilt, while Margaret Mullens, Patience Palmerton, Judy Kill- paterick and Lovie Hamilton took chairs on the opposite side. Mistress Buntin and Laureston and old Aunt Harlenson sat awhile at the fireside and smoked their pipes of clay.
"Thet's a rael purty quilt, Sally," said Aunt Molly Harlenson. "Where'd you find them bright red pieces'n them sky blue squares'n them ones kivered with leetle poesies, Sally?"
" Where'd I git um ? Lem me tell ye. Arter ole Gineral Battleface died'n the property was settled up, they hed a vendue an' Lias, he bid off the old uniformed coat. Well, we seed 'twas wus for ware an' a good deal siled, so I cut it into squares an' blocks for this ere quilt. Well, ye see thet coat hed a scarlet linin' en thet's whare I gut them red pieces. I kum honestly by 'um, to be sure."
"I want tu know," responded Molly.
429
PATCHWORK AND QUILTING-FRAMES.
"Wall, you was in good luck, Sally."
"So she was, Aunt Judy."
"I declare, thet'll be the han'somest quilt'n this clearin'," said Mistress Buntin.
"Thet's what Lias thought," said Sally.
At this juncture Lovie Hamilton asked Judy Killpaterick if she heard about the trouble out in the "Cartright Clearing."
"Why, no, Aunt Lovie, don't know's I hev. What's it 'bout?"
"Why, I'm 'stonished that you've not hearn how Caleb Norstrom was 'cused o' stealin' an ole bell-weather out'r Jim Simpson's back parster'n how Squire Justicator found him guilty'n 'low'd he must pay for the sheep'n give up the pelt ; they found the pelt up'n Caleb's wood-house chamber, they did." "I guess you lie."
"'Pon my word, I don't, Goodie Fairbairn."
"An' did Caleb give up the pelt ?"
" Sartin, he did."
" An' settled the bill ?"
" To be sure he did."
" Shoah !"
"I'll wage thet's what become o' Ike Kindrick's sheeps. He lost some o' his flock last housin' time'n hunted all over the plantation, but couldn't find eny sign o' them. They concluded thet some varmint hed kerried 'em off."
"I want tu know."
"They sarch-ed Caleb's buildin' and look-ed 'nunder the brush fence round his clearin', but couldn't find hide nor hair o' eny critter; so they didn't see's they hed eny ividence 'ginst Caleb."
"Stonishin'!"
Dropping Caleb and the sheep-stealing business, they paused to take breath, and roll up the quilt.
"Say, Aunt Molly, did you hear how's Marinda Spinford backbited Lor- anna Hanscum, 'n what an awful fuss it raked up 'tween 'em ?"
"Why, no, Goodie. What did she say?"
"Well thare, Aunt Molly, I don' no's I ken tell it jest's 'twas tol' me, but nigh's I ken recolleck, Miranda said Aunt Rachel Rankin said Sabra Sunbeam said Pashance Dearborn said old Polly Crowly said, said she, thet Abrum Hardman said, said he, thet Uncle Jeams Jimmerson said, said he, thet Liab Brassbrige declared 'pon his high honor how Sall Waterman she rolled out the white o' her eye to Amos Allenson down tu old Uncle Robin Rollinses huskin' last fall. said he, said she, said-said-he-she."
"Well there," said Judy Killpaterick, "I know'd Sall Waterman wasn't eny better'n she oughter be for I seed her winkle her eye to Siah Larkin down in the meetin'-house entry."
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PATCHIWORK AND QUILTING-FRAMES.
"Shoah! "
"Don't you believe thet, Goodie ?"
"To be shure."
"Thare!"
"Well, what'll cum next?"
"Siah Larkin was a 'high-flyer' from his youth, and Dorothy Dinsmore she seed him put a whole han'ful o' huckleberries into Sall Waterman's pail down on the pine plains last summer gone past."
"Why, Aunt Pashunce !"
"Sartin fact !"
"Only think o' that !"
"Wust of all, this fuss hez turned old Mistress Waterhouse agin Siah's mother; now they don't set their horses together eny more."
"I want tu know, Judy."
"Wall, I surmised 'twould be thet way."
"What a pity !"
" Yes, 'tis an awful thing for one woman to talk 'bout their neighbors, an' I dunno what'll become o' sich folks; indeed, they'll come to some drefful eend. I never did indulge in talking 'bout folks, for Parson Penticost, he preached hard agin thet awful sin and 'lowed sich people would go where the wor-rum don't die and the fire aint squinched."
"Oh dear! Pashunce."
For a brief space all were silent, and the first sound that broke the sud- den hush was softened in sighs.
"Well, I allers did think how people thet lived in glass houses shouldn't fling eny stones," said Rachel Rankin.
"Who's throw'd rocks?" yelled Judy.
"What I've sed I hev sed," replied Rachel.
"You'd better look out, Mistress Rankin."
"Look out? Who think I'm feared of ?"
"Now look a-here, Rachel Rankin, you better keep yer mouth shet ; you'r no better'n other folks, and when you come up here to Sally's quilting and twit me o' throwin' rocks at people who live in glass houses, you'll git yerself inter trouble; so look out."
" If the saddle fits your old back you'd better wear it, Judy," retorted Rachel.
"You're an old snake'n the grass, Rach Rankin."
"If I'se in your place, Judy Killpaterick, I'd keep my yop still. You're allers goin' round runnin' agin your neighbors like an old hypocrite'n then wipe your pizen mouth'n prech sermons tu other folk 'bout scandal-monger- ing. You'll du well tu eat some o' thet kind o' gospel yerself."
"Shet up," screamed Judy.
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SAL. SINGLETON'S QUILTING-PARTY.
431
PATCHWORK AND QUILTING-FRAMES.
"Now I shant du eny sich thing; you'd better tell who was father of your boy Isaiah."
"You nasty old rake, you'll git your cum-uppance for this 'buse."
Sally Singleton saw their fingers working nervously as the tears of hot anger began to bubble up in their wild eyes, and knew enough about a woman's methods with claws when engaged in a discussion, to call a halt. She said : "Hush! hush! It don't look well for you women to quarrel so, and I wish you wouldn't speak 'nuther word; there, I can't hev sich talk in my house."
" Let me hev my hood'n shawl," said Judy.
They tried hard to pacify her, and told her Rachel "didn't mean nothin';" they wanted Rachel to confess that she'd been a "leetle too hasty " in her words, but she was a Rankin, and her stiff Scotch temper wouldn't budge a hair because "the truth will bear its weight." Judy rushed for her "things" and went blubbering and sputtering down the "swale." She turned round when she was under the brow of Hornbeam, and raised her thin, skinny arm defiantly, as she said: "Rachel Rankin will rue for what she's said today, she will. I shall hand her name into the church an' they'll make this world a place o' torment as hot as tophet. She's an old lie-teller an' she'll git church mauled till her soul an' body's all bruised and mangled. There, I was never so 'bused. Boo hoo-hoo-hoo."
This altercation had upset the peace of Rachel Rankin and she declared she couldn't and wouldn't quilt another stitch; so she " kitched" her pumpkin hood and shawl and stivered off down the " swale"; not, however, before she had assured all present that she had "nothin' agin' any on 'em."
All had laid down their thimbles and needles and waited in solemn silence while the two angry women "honed one another down " with stinging invectives. Old Grandmarm Mullens said her spirit was "drefully cast down," and Polly Pennell declared that this " jar atween Rachel and Judy had cast a shadder over her life."
It was evident that a majority of those remaining thought Judy Killpat- erick was "onwise." Reliance Rumery said she would advise Judy to " build off agin her own door," and "dig weeds awhile in her own garden with a short-handled hoe, before pulling grass on the other side of the fence." Aunt Patience Palmerston said " Amen."
Some judged that Rachel had been imprudent in rebuking Judy publicly at the quilting, but others viewed the case differently; they said old Judith Killpaterick was always washing her hands of the very things she was guilty of, and preaching to other people a sort of gospel she did not use herself. Sally Singleton leaned over the quilting-frame and hissed between her teeth : "They be two snarly old critters, and I'm glad they be gone away."
Priscilla Singleton now announced that dinner was served, and all brushed their aprons and willingly moved toward the table. It was quite evident that
432
PATCHWORK AND QUILTING-FRAMES.
their appetites had not suffered from the altercation that had so disturbed their equanimity, and the hearty dinner wonderfully composed their spirits. The afternoon passed very pleasantly without further allusion to Rachel and Judy, and long before sundown the quilting was finished, and the women found their way home before night fell.
But the feud between the two women was not settled for many a day; it found its way, as Jndy threatened, into the church ; some favored Judy and others Rachel; the minister took sides with the latter, and a council was called to see what should be done. When the two women died, their children and grandchildren inherited the animosity, and to mention the "scrimmage " at Sal Singleton's would cause any of their descendants to "grit their teeth."
Signs and Superstitions.
E cannot wonder that the sons and daughters born and trained in the New England settlements were superstitious, when we consider how they were imposed upon in childhood years by falsehoods of various shades told them by their own parents. As the old vikings spent the long winter evenings about their hearth-stones, relating mystical stories of the prowess of their ancestors for the purpose of stimulating a spirit of daring and adventure in the tow-headed children who listened, so our grandparents were told, when at the parental fireside, of witches, ghosts, fairies, haunted dwellings, strange, unaccountable noises and happenings, until they dreamed of them when asleep on their beds and worried about them when awake by day. They were frightened by having their attention called to sounds about the house, such as cats walking over corn in the chamber, swallows in the chimney, and the wind screaming around the gables; they were told of strange lights seen among the graves in burying-grounds and jack-o'-lanterns in the swamps; they were terrified by images made of gourd shells and candles in the darkness and old women's night-caps on bed-posts when the moon shone. Black stumps in the clearing were said to be bears, and owls were called wild-cats because they had ears and round eyes. Neigh- bors were declared to be witches and all things that went amuck were said to be bewitched.
Betsey Butterfield accused Poll Pratt of stealing a yard of full cloth from the web she was hired to weave, and Poll bewitched Betsey's spinning-wheels so they "cast band," and her carded rolls so they would not "run," for years afterwards; indeed, she was never propitiated, and only when six feet under ground could wheels and rolls be made to behave with decency. She sent her son to borrow a wood-sled which the owner wished to use that day, and Poll declared that she would bewitch that sled so Jot Jenkins could not haul a load of wood. Jot snapped his fingers at Poll and her witches, but he split yokes and overturned the sled seven times without reaching home as desired; so he confessed that Poll had outdone him and made overtures for a com- promise.
If the weather-vane swelled by reason of protracted rain and did not turn on its spindle with every fickle puff of wind, it was bewitched. When the butter or soft soap did not "come" in season, some old witch of Endor had
434
SIGNS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
handled the churn or mash-tub. If the sheep would not "own" her lamb, she was bewitched ; if the sow killed her pigs, she was one of those into which the devils entered, and her meat would not be fit to eat.
Calves must be weaned and lambs' tails be docked when the "sign was right"; so must the pork be killed if it was to "spend well." Bushes should be cut and peas sowed on such a "quarter o' the moon." One old yeoman who observed all such rules sowed peas at just the right time and they came up like beans, with the pea on top. Some said they were bewitched, others attributed the phenomena to a change of politics.
If a mirror was smashed, the man whose mother had frightened him with foolish lies about "signs," when a child, turned pale and was quite sure that some member of the family would die before the year was out. The good shot who killed an eagle was a mark for death, and might as well make his will and purchase a winding sheet. To kill a garden toad was to have the cows give bloody milk, and to see the moon over the left shoulder was a bad omen.
Wonderful dreams were related which never materialized, and such as were known to "come to pass" were always told of after said event had oc- curred. Men who ate hot mince pie and buscuit for a late supper, if they were not possessed of digestive organs as radical as a stone crusher, would have horrible dreams, nightmares and colts in their disturbed slumbers and bark like dogs or snort like horses. When the housewife dropped her dish- cloth, it was a sign of strangers; when two or three chairs happened to stand in a line on the kitchen floor, all facing one way, look out for company "afore night."
If the cat or dog was seen to eat grass, like Nebuchadnezzar, it was "gwine to rain," and when the soot on the back of the chimney, called " peo- ple coming out o' meeting," caught fire, that was prophetic of foul weather. The same when the kettle boiled dry or when Ezekiel's pantaloons sagged in the leg. But there, all signs failed, you know, in a dry time. Josh Billings said if a man was observed eating doughnuts on Broadway, it was a sign that he came from the rural districts. We believe in signs when such are causes inseparably connected with effects; when the relation of the one can be phil- osophically traced and rationally explained. Where such relation cannot be found, please write our names on the skeptics' list.
The Old Militia Train- Band.
E have before us several muster-rolls, bearing the names of all the able-bodied citizens belonging to the militia from the ages of eighteen to forty-five. These could be called out to repel inva- sion; were required to do military duty once or twice a year in their respective towns, and once a year at such place as might be designated by the colonel of their regiment for the general muster. Besides the regular militia, independent companies were formed and incorporated by act of the General Court. We have at hand a petition "To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives," in which the subscribers state that they "consider the Military establishment as the bulwark of our National Security and the Palladium of Civil Liberty. That they deem it of the utmost Consequence at this important Crisis to have the Militia of the Country, on which our Safety in times of danger must depend, placed in a Situation as formidable as circum- stances will admit." This petition was for the incorporation of an independ- ent corps to be raised by patriotic endeavor, and bears date Feb. 3, 1809.
Such independent companies were well uniformed and equipped, and presented a splendid martial appearance when performing evolutions on the field. Their hats were ornamented with brass eagles and beautiful plumes of white tipped with red. The guns used by the earlier companies were of various patterns, but usually queen's arms, heavy and ungainly; those of the light infantry at a later day were long-stocked, the barrel thirty-six inches in length, and the mountings of brass. These were supplied with light bayonets and had slender steel rods. Many were kept with great care and afterwards fur- nished with percussion locks, making them excellent fowling-pieces.
There was much military rivalry among the officers, and each sought for an early promotion. The swords, silk sashes, belts, and epaulets were beau- tiful, and the uniform coats were made from the finest English or German broadcloths.
It was an occasion of great excitement, when colors were presented to some of the independent companies. The presentation was made by some young lady dressed in beautiful costume, who made a neat speech, which was responded to by the proper officer, when her health was drank.
The general muster was an institution that excited the greatest enthusi- asm among men, women, and children, and called together all classes for many
436
THE OLD MILITIA TRAIN-BAND.
miles around. On the morning of the muster everybody was awake and stirring at an early hour. The place of rendezvous was at the house of their captain, where they assembled before daybreak, and gave him a rousing salute by firing of guns and with fife and drum. He was then to make his appear- ance with pails filled with rum, molasses, and water with which to "treat " his men, and strengthen them to bear the fatigue of the coming march.
It was customary for those who lived a considerable distance from the field where the muster would be called to leave home the evening before, and on the way they would pull up guide-board posts, hang plows and harrows up in trees, and call those who lived on hills to the door to inform them that there were excellent facilities for "draining their cellars." Musters for the training and review of the Saco valley volunteer companies were at Lyman, Buxton Old Corner, and Saco. When all had arrived on the field, and the adjutant had arranged the various commands according to their rank in the regiment, the military evolutions commenced. The music consisted of fifes, snare and bass drums, clarionets and bugles. For good music large sums of money were paid. The grounds for the regiment were staked off and sur- rounded by ropes. At certain points pails of rum and other liquors were placed within reach of all, and from these nearly everybody drank. In the afternoon the regiment was reviewed by the general of the brigade, attended by his aids; this was the grand event of the day. There were prancing horses, waving plumes, and martial music. We have record of officers who paid as much as twenty-five dollars for a horse to ride on muster day.
Then there were "side shows." Along the road-sides were booths where sweetmeats, gingerbread, and liquors were sold. The primitive play-actor and horse-jockey were present. A tin peddler would stand on his cart and sing "Betsey Baker," to draw a crowd, and then sell dippers and coffee-pots at auction. When night came on nearly everybody was drunk or "half-seas-over "; even small boys were carried from the muster field so intoxicated that they were helpless and unconscious. Many of the women were so drunk they could not leave the grounds without much assistance. The old-time train- bands and musters are institutions of the past, but the names of those who composed the "martial array" have survived, and we subjoin those found on a muster-roll, not simply to show their relation to the military organization, but as residents of the Saco valley towns at the time :
MUSTER- ROLL OF CAPTAIN JAMES WARREN OF DATE 1809.
[This list of names represents a company known as "Buxton and Hollis Light Infantry." A list nearly identical appears on the muster-roll of Captain Noah Haley in 1812, and some of the men enlisted under him for the war.]
SERGEANTS. JOSEPH SMITH, LOAMI SMITHI.
THOMAS ATKINSON,
MUSICIANS.
JOHN MARTIN, JAMES BANKS.
N
437
THE OLD MILITIA TRAIN-BAND.
PRIVATES.
MOSES ROBERTS,
ANDREW PALMER,
JOIIN PALMER,
LUTHER USHIER,
PAUL PALMER,
JOHN LANE,
NICHOLAS NASON,
JAMES PALMER,
WILLIAM RIDLON,
JOSEPH NASON, JR., ZACHARIAH LIBBY,
JONAS PALMER,
WILLIAM MERRILL,
THOMAS WHITTEN,
GIDEON TIBBETTS,
JACOB HODGDON, THOMAS WARREN,
SAMUEL RIDLON,
WILLIAM WOODMAN,
BENJAMIN WARREN,
THOMAS RIDLON, JR.,
SAMUEL A. EDGECOMB,
JOHN SIMPSON,
MAGNUS RIDLON, ZACHARIAH FIELDS, SIMON GILE, ROBERT SAWYER,
DANIEL MASON, JOSHUA HEIRL,
JOHN HARMON,
NATHANIEL HALEY,
JOSEPH LINSCOTT,
JOHN HEZELTINE,
EDWARD SMITH,
ELLIGOOD MILLS,
JONATHAN BROOKS,
DANIEL SMITH,
JAMES CHADBURN,
JOEL BRYANT,
SAMUEL SMITH,
WILLIAM HALEY,
JOHN JOSE,
JOSIAH HANSON,
JOSEPH SMITH,
AMOS WOODMAN,
MOSES HANSON,
JAMES SMITH,
SAMUEL JORDAN,
ELEAZER BURNHAM,
THOMAS MCKENNEY,
JOHN BENSON,
ROBERT EDGECOMB,
SOLOMON MCKENNEY,
JOHN JOY,
WILLIAM TARBOX,
YATES ROGERS,
DANIEL TOWNSEND,
NICHOLAS HODGDON,
SAMUEL HODGDON,
HENRY HANSON,
AARON SMITH,
CARPENTER JOHNSON,
JOSEPH TEMPLE,
JONATHAN HOPKINSON,
SAMUEL WOODMAN,
WILLIAM JOHNSON, (?)
SAMUEL DAVIS,
NATHANIEL GILPATRICK,
WILLIAM BRADBURY,
MOSES ATKINSON, JR.,
AMOS MASON,
ROBERT RIDLON,
AARON BRAGDON, JOB BRAGDON,
EDMUND WARREN,
NAHUM GELLISON,
BENJAMIN GUILFORD,
JOHN GOWEL.
NATHANIEL DUNN,
THOMAS SIMPSON,
MOSES BURNHAM,
SAMUEL SIMPSON,
NATHANIEL TARBOX,
JOHN WOODMAN,
REUBEN HALEY, AMOS TIBBETTS,
NATHANIEL COUSENS, NATHANIEL BAKER, (?) SAMUEL BERRY, JAMES BERRY, JR.,
Bunting, Trapping, and Fishing.
HEN the white men entered the wilderness where the broad, smiling farms extend their fertile acreage today, the forest abounded with game and the rivers teemed with a great variety of fishes. This was the red man's hunting ground, upon which no representative of an alien race had any just right to plant his foot without the owners' free consent. The noble moose, his relative the caribou, and his relative the grace- ful deer, roamed at will and browsed on the tender sprouts and grass undis- turbed, save when the Indian selected one of his numerous herd for his family. Bears that retaliated for the invasion of their chosen retreat by breaking down the settlers' corn were plenty; wolves were "too numerous to mention "; panthers, otherwise catamounts, or "Indian devils," were the great and dan- gerous "pussy cats" that walked with stately stride through the dark ravines, and swamps covered with "black growth," at night, or slept by day on some great hemlock limb, watching with one eye open for any straying doe that might pass that way. Lower down in the cat tribe were the lynx with his rough coat and hair- tasseled ears; the regular "bob-cat," tall, lank, long- whiskered, and armed with terrible claws from which it was prudent to keep away; the long, sleek, shining, short -eared, stealthy - treading, black wild cat, and the smaller " fisher cat," so named because living along the streams and fond of fish. Coons, hedgehogs, woodchucks, and hares; otters, beavers, minks, sables, musquash, and weasels; besides the whole happy family of squirrels of divers colors and sizes, were here.
Long trains of wild geese on unwearied wing drew a dark line across the sky, loudly commanded by their dignified leader to whom each, in turn, hoarsely responded: "We are coming-coming-coming." They did not extend their flight so far northward as now, but passed the breeding season about the lakes and ponds, where the earlier settlers often found their nests, from which they carried the great eggs to be hatched under domestic goose or turkey; same with a variety of ducks that inhabited the ponds, rivers, and brooks. All such were easily taken by the sagacious woodsman. Partridges were so tame and plentiful they could be killed with a club.
Salmon of enormous size climbed up the river falls and were taken with spear and traps; so many were caught that they were cured by the barrel and stored for winter eating, as elsewhere mentioned. Spotted trout fairly rev-
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