USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Croydon > Croydon, N.H., 1866. Proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 13, 1866. A brief account of the leading men of the first century Together with historical and statistical sketches of the town > Part 11
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CALVINIST BAPTIST .- Many individuals of this town have connected themselves with the Calvinist Baptist society at Newport Village.
METHODIST .- Itinerant preachers of the Methodist order had frequently lectured in town and formed classes, but it was not until 1853 that a church was formed. At that time a society, comprising some thirty-six members, was organized with C. H. Lovejoy as preacher. In 1854, they erected their meeting-house at the East Village, in which their services are now held.
REVIVALS .- In 1810 there was an extensive revival in town, during which some one hundred and twenty individuals professed the Christian faith. In 1835 a protracted meeting was held, under the direction of Rev. Joseph Merrill of Acworth, and some seventy persons acknowledged a change of heart.
SECESSION.
In 1778 a number of towns on the east side of Connecticut River re- nounced their allegiance to New Hampshire, and formed a connection with the new State of Vermont. This led to a long and heated contention be- tween the seceding towns and the government to which they formerly belonged. In the incipient stages of the controversy, Croydon took no part ; but when, towards the close of the year, a convention of delegates assembled at Cornish, Moses Whipple, Esq., was appointed a delegate by this town. From that time until quiet was restored, the proceedings of Croydon were identified with the eccentric movements of the revolted district. In 1782, Moses Whipple, Esq., was chosen to represent this town in the Vermont Legislature. But, before his arrival at the seat of government, the Ver- mont Assembly, brought to their senses by a letter from General Washing- ton, had resolved that the western bank of the Connecticut river should be the dividing line between Vermont and New Hampshire ; so that Whip- ple and the other delegates from the eastern side of the river, on their arrival, found themselves excluded from a seat in the Assembly. This step of the Legislature tended to close the controversy. The disaffected towns returned to their allegiance, and domestic quiet was restored.
164
List of Representatives, from 1800 to 1866, inclusive :
1800, Benjamin Barton,
1845, Lemuel P. Cooper,
1801, Samuel Powers,
1846, Ruel Durkee,
1802,
1825,
1847,
¥
1803, Benjamin Barton,
1826, Carlton Barton,
1827, Briant Brown,
1848, Lester Blanchard, 1849,
1805, "
1828,
1850, none,
1806, 66
1829, Zina Goldthwait,
1851, Pliny Hall,
1807,
66
1831, Paul Jacobs,
1853, Alfred Ward,
1809, Peter Stow,
1832, Hiram Smart,'
1854,
1810, James Breck,
1833, Zina Goldthwait,
1855, Freeman Crosby,
1811,
1834, Samuel Morse,
1856, Wm. M. Whipple,
1812, Samuel Goldthwait,
1835, Paul Jacobs, 1857, Martin A. Barton,
1813, James Breck,
1836, Alexander Barton,
1858, Freeman Crosby,
1814, 1815, Obed Metcalf,
1837, 1838, Joseph Eastman, 66
1860,
1816, Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr., 1839,
1861, Paine Durkee,
1817, Stephen Eastman,
1840, John Putnam,
1862, Daniel R. Hall,
1818,
1841, Calvin Hall,
1863,
1819,
1842, none,
1864, Denison Humphry,
1820, Abijah Powers,
1843, Alexander Barton,
1865,
66
1821,
1844, Lemuel P. Cooper,
1866, Worthen Hall.
1822, Obed Metcalf,
NOTE .- Prior to 1800, Croydon was classed with other towns in the choice of Representatives. Benjamin Barton was chosen in 1795, and Edward Hall, Jr., in 1797.
The following is an imperfect list of those who have been called to represent other towns, and who received their political training in Croydon :
Solomon Clement,
Springfield, N. H.
Moses Humphry, Aaron Barton,
Orra C. Howard,
Amasa Hall,
Grantham, 66 Hiram Smart, Jr ..
Adolphus Hall,
66 Orra Crosby,
William Melendy,
Springfield, 66 Luther J. Fletcher, Joshua B. Merrill,
Concord, N. H. Piermont, Plaistow, Hardwick, Vt. Lowell, Mass. Barnstead, N. H. Colebrook, 66
Sanbornton, 66
Zina Goldthwait,
66
66
John Ferrin,
Levi W. Barton,
66 Harrison Ferrin, Nathaniel Cooper,
Henry Breck,
66 Cornish, y Alexander Barton,
Orlando Powers,
Jonas C. Kempton,
Horace Powers,
John L. Marsh,
Morristown, Vt. Jefferson Co., N. Y.
James W. Putnam,
Danvers, Mass.
The following is a list of the Selectmen of Croydon, from 1768 to 1866, inclusive :
Moses Leland, 1768 ...... Moses Whipple, David Warren.
Moses Whipple,
1771 .Stephen Powers, David Warren. John Cooper,
Moses Leland,
1769 ..... .Moses Whipple, Stephen Powers. Isaac Sanger,
1772
.... Moses Whipple,
Stephen Powers.
John Cooper,
1770 .....
.Moses Whipple,
Stephen Powers.
1773.
Moses Whipple,
Benjamin Swinnerton.
Allenstown, 66 Morristown, Vt. 66 Leon, N. Y. Ludlow, Vt. Nashua, N. H.
Paul J. Wheeler,
Sherburne Merrill, Alvin Sargent, Charles Rowell,
James Hall,
66
James Breck, John B. Stowell,
Newport, "
1859, no choice,
1830, Carlton Barton,
1852,
66
1808,
1804, Samuel Powers,
1823, Abijah Powers, 1824, Amasa Hall, 66
Edmund Wheeler,
165
Moses Whipple, 1774 ...... John Cooper, Stephen Powers. Moses Whipple, 1775 ...... Stephen Powers, Phineas Sanger. John Cooper, 1776 ...... Moses Whipple, Benjamin Swinnerton. Moses Whipple, 1777 ...... Stephen Powers,
Benjamin Barton, 1798 ...... John Cooper, Jr., Thomas Whipple.
Benjamin Barton,
1799.
.... Samuel Powers,
Simeon Partridge.
Benjamin Barton,
1800
.. John Cooper, Jr.,
Samuel Powers.
John Cooper, Jr.,
1801
.Peter Barton,
John Nelson.
Phineas Sanger. Stephen Powers,
1778. .... Benjamin Swinnerton, Joseph Hall. Moses Whipple,
Samuel Powers,
1803
Peter Stow,
Peter Barton.
Peter Stow,
1804
Peter Barton,
Barnabas Cooper.
Peter Stow,
1781. Phineas Sanger, David Putnam. John Cooper,
1805 ..
Samuel Goldthwait,
Peter Barton.
Benjamin Barton,
1782 ...... Moses Whipple, Stephen Powers. Edward Hall,
1785 ...... Stephen Powers,
Phineas Sanger. John Cooper
1786 .... Edward Hall, Moses Whipple. Stephen Powers,
1787 .. Benjamin Barton, Simeon Partridge. . Benjamin Barton, 1788 ...... Jesse Green, David Putnam. John Cooper,
1789 .Benjamin Powers, Ezra Cooper. Benjanıin Barton,
1790. Abijah Hall, John Cooper, Jr. Benjamin Barton,
1791 David Putnam, John Cooper. Benjamin Barton,
1811
Stephen Eastman,
John Humphry.
James Breck,
1812 ...... Stephen Eastman,
Abijah Powers.
Benjamin Barton,
1813.
.Stephen Eastman,
Abijah Powers.
John Humphry,
1814 ...... Obed Metcalf,
Solomon Clement.
James Breck,
1794
1795.
1817.
1818.
1815.
Benjamin Barton,
Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.
Benjamin Barton,
1816 ...... Obed Metcalf,
Stephen Eastman.
Stephen Eastman,
.Abijah Powers,
Ezra Gustin.
John Humphry,
.Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.,
Elisha Partridge.
1819.
Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.,
Edward Putnam,
Zina Goldthwait.
Physician
1896.
1792. David Putnam, Samuel Powers. Benjamin Barton, 1793 .David Putnam, Samuel Powers. Benjamin Barton, John Cooper, Jr., Nathaniel Wheeler. Benjamin Barton, ..... John Cooper, Jr., David Putnam. Benjamin Barton, .Thomas Whipple, David Putnam. Samuel Powers, 1797 ...... Simeon Partridge, Peter Stow.
1806 ....
John Nelson,
Stephen Eastman.
Peter Stow,
1807
.Obed Metcalf,
Stephen Eastman.
Peter Stow,
1808 ...
John Cooper,
Asaph Stow.
John Cooper,
1809 ..
.. James Breck,
Asaph Stow.
John Cooper,
1810 ....
James Breck,
Stephen Eastman.
James Breck,
Benjamin Powers.
Stephen Powers,
Benjamin Barton,
1802 ..
.Peter Barton,
John Nelson.
1779 ...... John Cooper, Stephen Powers. Moses Whipple, 1780 ...... John Powers,
166
Stephen Eastman, 1820 ...... Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr., Henry Breck. Nathaniel Wheeler,
1821. .. John Humphry, Obed Metcalf. Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr., 1822 .. John Humphry, Obed Metcalf. Stephen Eastman,
1823. Samuel Morse, Edward Hall. Stephen Eastman,
1824 Abijah Powers, Edward Hall. Abijah Powers,
1825. Stephen Eastman, Carlton Barton. Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.,
1826 .. Zina Goldthwait, David Whipple. Abijah Powers, 1827 ... Carlton Barton, Edward Hall. Abijah Powers, 1828 .. Carlton Barton, Hiram Smart. Carlton Barton,
1829 Benjamin Barton, John Barton. Hiram Smart,
1830. Briant Brown, John Barton. Hiram Smart,
1831. .Carlton Barton, Moses Eastman. Carlton Barton, 1832 Paul Jacobs, Zina Goldthwait. Hiram Smart,
1833 .... .. James Hall, Jr., Lemuel P. Cooper. Hiram Smart,
1834 .Zina Goldthwait, Moses Eastman. Henry Breck,
1835 .. Zina Goldthwait, Moses Eastman. Carlton Barton,
1836.
.Lemuel P. Cooper,
Calvin Hall.
Lemuel P. Cooper,
1837 ...... Calvin Hall,
John Putnam.
Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.,
1838 ...... John Putnam,
Sherburne B. Rowell.
Lemuel P. Cooper,
1839.
..... Calvin Hall,
Peter Barton.
Calvin Hall,
1840
.. William C. Carroll,
Sherburne B. Rowell.
Hiram Smart,
1841.
.Ruel Durkee,
Calvin Kempton.
William C. Carroll,
1842 ....
Ruel Durkee,
Freeman Crosby.
Hiram Smart,
1843 .Lemuel P. Cooper, John C. Loverin. Ruel Durkee, 1844. .... John C. Loverin, Timothy G. Powers. Ruel Durkee, 1845. .... Timothy G. Powers, William Darling. John Putnam,
1846 ...... Josiah Ide,
Moses Haven.
Timothy G. Powers,
1847 ..... Moses Haven, Ariel Hall. Lemuel P. Cooper, 1848 ...... John Putnam, Martin A. Barton. Ruel Durkee,
1849
Paul J. Wheeler,
Edmund Rowell.
Ruel Durkee,
1850.
..... Dellevan D. Marsh,
Denison Humphry.
Martin A. Barton, .
1851
..... Ruel Durkee,
Paine Durkee.
Ruel Durkee,
1852.
Dellavan D. Marsh,
Hiram C. Brown.
Ruel Durkee,
1853 .....
.Hiram C. Brown,
Lemuel P. Cooper.
John Putnam,
1854
Dellavan D. Marsh,
Caleb L. Barton.
Daniel R. Hall,
1855 ...... Otis Cooper,
Elias Powers.
Hiram C. Brown,
1856
.E. Darwin Comings,
Martin C. Bartlett.
Ruel Durkee,
1857
.Martin C. Bartlett,
Welcome P. Patridge.
E. Darwin Comings,
1858
..... Dellavan D. Marsh,
Albert G. Barton.
Ruel Durkee,
1859.
Nathaniel P. Stevens,
Hiram P. Kempton.
Ruel Durkee,
1860 ...... Nathaniel P. Stevens,
Hiram P. Kempton.
Ruel Durkee,
1861 ...... John W. Putnam,
Martin C. Bartlett.
Ruel Durkee,
1862
Nathan Hall,
David E. Ryder.
Ruel Durkee.
1863 ..
.. Nathan Hall,
William W. Hall.
167
Ruel Durkee, 1864 ...... William W. Hall, Daniel Ide. Ruel Durkee, 1865 ...... William W. Hall, Elias Powers.
Ruel Durkee, 1866 ...... Elias Powers, Oliver C. Forehand.
The following is a list of Town Clerks, from 1768 to 1866, inclusive :
1768, Moses Whipple,
1801, Reuben Carroll,
1834, Jacob Haven,
1769,
66
1803,
66
1836,
60
1771,
1804,
66
1837,
Benjamin Skinner,
1772,
John Cooper,
1805,
Benjamin Barton,
1838,
1773,
66
66
1807,
Jacob Haven,
1840,
66
1775,
Moses Whipple,
1808,
1841,
Daniel R. Hall,
1776,
66
1809,
66
1842,
1777,
66
1810,
66
1843,
1778,
66
1811,
66
1844,
66
1779,
66
1812,
66
1845,
1780,
1813,
66
1846,
1781, 2
No town Records.
1815,
Stephen Eastman,
1848,
1783,
Stephen Powers,
1816,
Jacob Haven,
1849,
1784,
66
1817,
66
1850,
Nathan Hall,
1785,
66
1818,
66
1851,
66
1786,
66
1820,
66
1853,
66
1787,
66
1821,
66
1854,
66
1789,
Jesse Green,
1822,
66
1856,
66
1791,
66
1824,
66
1857,
66
1793,
66
1826,
66
1859,
1794,
66
1827,
66
1860,
1795,
Jacob Haven,
1828,
1861,
Daniel R. Hall,
1796,
66
1829,
1862,
Dellavan D. Marsh,
1797,
1830,
1863,
1798,
Reuben Carroll,
1831,
66
1864,
Nathan Hall,
1799,
1832,
66
1865,
Dellavan D. Marsh,
1800,
1833,
1866,
Alonzo Allen.
JUSTICES OF QUORUM.
Benjamin Barton, Jr.,
John Cooper, Daniel R. Hall,
Paul Jacobs, Abijah Powers.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Benjamin Barton,
Stephen Eastman,
John Barton,
Joseph Eastman,
Martin A. Barton,
Lyman Hall,
Solomon Clement,
Nathan Hall,
Hiram Smart,
Isaac Cooper,
Worthen Hall,
Allen Town,
Otis Cooper,
Henry Hurd,
Moses Whipple,
John Cragin,
Samuel Morse,
Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr.,
Ruel Durkee,
Dellavan D. Marsh,
Paul J. Wheeler,
Paine Durkee,
Stephen Powers,
Wm. M. Whipple.
William Dodge,
Elias Powers,
66
1835,
66
1802,
1806,
Reuben Carroll,
1839,
1774,
1814,
1847,
1782, 5
1819,
1852,
1792,
66
1825,
1858,
66
1788,
1855,
1790,
1823,
Lemuel P. Cooper,
John W. Putnam, Sherburne B. Rowell, Benjamin Skinner,
1770,
66
168
MILITARY.
Croydon has furnished to the militia the following Officers : Major General Nathan Emery. Colonels- Jarvis Adams, Otis Cooper, Freeman Dunbar, Daniel R. Hall, Calvin Kempton, Samuel Powers, Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr., and Moses Whipple. Majors-Abijah Powers, Peter Stow, Lemuel P. Cooper.
POPULATION .- The population of Croydon at different periods was as follows : In 1765, 143 ; 1790, 537; 1800, 984; 1810, 863 ; 1820, 1060; 1830, 1057; 1840, 956; 1850, 861; 1860, 765.
VALUATION .- 1864, $264,931.
Table showing the annual number of births in Croydon, from 1790 to 1800, inclusive :
Years.
Male. Female. Total. Years.
Male. Female. Total.
1790
20
13
33
11794
Male. Female. Total. Years. 17 17 34
1|1798
26
18
44
1791
15
19
34
1795
21
25
1799 1800
16
16
32
1792
21
14
35
1796
26
15 21
46 41 45
18
16
34
1793
21
12
33
1797
24
Total,
225
186
411
REMARKS .- The first birth in Croydon occurred May 13, 1767. It was of Catherine, daughter of Moses Whipple, Esq. The second was of Joshua, son of Seth Chase, born October 29, 1767. The probable number of births, from 1790 to 1851, inclusive, is nearly twenty-five hundred, of which more than half were of males.
169
BILL OF MORTALITY FOR CROYDON.
The following table exhibits the annual number of deaths, commencing January 1, 1790, and ending January 1, 1867. Average deaths one to seventy-five.
Yrs. Child'n. Adults. Total.
Child'n. Adults. Total.
Child'n. Adults. Total.
1790
7
1
8
Yrs. 1816
9
3
12
Yrs. 1842 1843 1844
1
6 11
7
1791
4
2
6
1817
4
4
8
1792
4
2
6
1818
5
4
9
1845 1846
1 5
2 4 8 10
5
1794
10
1
11
1820
13 10 6
6 4 12
19 16 10 22
1847 1848 1849
7 6
8 7
14
1798
8
1
8 9
1824
2 7
8 9 8
10 16 16
1851
1 1
6 6
7
1801
4
3
7
1827
17 2
4 7
21
1853 1854 1855
1
12
13
1804
10
4
14
1830
5
2
7
1856
5
7 7 9
24
1807
11
6
17
1833
2
10
28 12
1859
3
13
16
1808
12
5
17
1834
10
8
18
1860
2 3
6 7
.8 10
1810
7
3
10
1836
4
5
9
1862 1863
0 4
12
16
1812
6
4
10
1838
8
7
15
1864
0
11
11
1813
12
18
30
1839
5
10
15
1865
3
14
17
1814
3
. 2
5
1840
16
12
28
1866
2
3
5
1815
5
6
I1
1841
4
12
16
Total,
461
511
972
LONGEVITY .- An incomplete list of the names of those who have attained to ninety years and over:
Widow Marsh,
90 Widow Giles,
94 Thomas Blanchard,
98
Mrs. Benjamin Cutting,
90 Samuel Marsh,
94 Widow Rumble,
100
Widow Clement,
93 Widow A. Stockwell,
95 Samuel Goldthwait,
93
Samuel Metcalf,
93
94 Capt. Nathan Clark,
90 Lydia Leland Powers,
92
1
3
24 14
1821 1822
10
4
3
7
7
11
12
1799
2
6
8
1825
7
I800
6
1
7
1826
8
1852
1 2 5
6 12
17
1803
14
5
19
1829
4
7
11
19
1857
0
1806
14
6
20
1832
19
9
9
13
1861
12
12
1811
5
5
10
1837
3
7
10
1858
15
12 7
1805
6
5
11
1831
4
15
1809
4
5
9
1835
4
6
1793
3
6
9 1819
13
1795
23 11
1796
1797
4
4
5
10
1828
9
1850
1
12
0
2
17
14
8
1802
5
EDUCATION .- Early, the wife of Moses Whipple, an intelligent and worthy lady, called the children of the first settlers to her house, and for years taught them without charge. The first school-house, a small struct- ure twenty feet square, was built in 1772, and eight pounds was raised for purposes of education. The second district was formed in 1780, and one hundred and fifty dollars assessed for school purposes. From the begin- ning, Croydon has paid due attention to mental culture.
1
Mrs. Jotham Ryder,
1823
170
LIBRARY .- The " Croydon Social Library" was established in 1806. It contained many standard works of great merit. They were mainly select- ed by the Rev. Jacob Haven, who was, for a long time, librarian. This library has had a decided influence in moulding the character of the young men of the town. The inhabitants of Croydon have been a reading people.
CASUALTIES .- In 1770, Caleb, son of Seth Chase, the first settler in town, wandered into the forest and was lost. The mother, rendered frantic by the loss of her son, had she not been prevented, would have rushed into the trackless forest and been lost. On the morrow all the inhabitants turned out and searched the woods through and through, but no trace of the darling boy could ever be found.
Isaac Sanger and one of the other early settlers of the town, perished while attempting to cross Croydon Mountain.
Alexander Metcalf, son of Alexander Metcalf, senior, was killed by the falling of a tree. He was to have been married the next day to a lady in Franklin.
Abijah Hall was drowned at the " Glidden Bridge" in 1812. A son of Thomas Whipple and a son of Giles Stockwell, senior, were drowned in Spectacle Pond.
On the 19th of April, 1828, the dwelling of Mr. Charles Carroll was con- sumed by fire and two children perished in the flames.
Dr. Reuben Carroll was thrown from a gig, in 1840, while going down the hill between Four Corners and the East Village, and killed.
Son of Nathaniel W. Brown was killed near the Bridge at the East Vil- lage, in 1863, by the horse stumbling and falling upon him.
In 1846, wife of Paul J. Wheeler met a terrible death by burning-her clothes taking fire as she stood warming herself before the stove.
Mr. Cummings, an old gentleman, went out from the Flat towards Coit Mountain, and the next day was found dead.
A son of Simeon Ames fell from a load of hay upon the handle of a pitch- fork which penetrated his body, from which accident he soon after died a most painful death.
Son of Ira Bragg fell from the cart-tongue while riding, and the wheel running over him killed him instantly. Another son was supposed to be murdered. He went West with money to buy a farm, a man went out with him to show him his land, and neither of them ever returned.
Ziba, son of John Cooper, was killed by the kick of a horse which he was driving to tread out clover seed.
A daughter of Foster Hall fell into the river, at the East Village, and was drowned.
171
A child of Rev. Jacob Haven was scalded to death by falling backwards into a pail of hot water.
Asa Kelsey, residing in the south-east corner of the town, fell from a building and was killed.
A son of Leonard N. Kempton was drowned in the mill-pond at the Flat.
Son of John Melendy was killed by the falling of the stone chimney of his father's dwelling.
A daughter of Robert Osburn, in the north-east corner of the town, fell into a brook, was carried under the causeway and drowned.
A son of James Perkins was drowned by falling into the brook near his father's dwelling at the Flat.
A son of Ezekiel Powers was caught between two logs, while peeling bark, and crushed to death.
Willard, son of Urias Powers, fell from the " Glidden Bridge" while on his way from school and was drowned.
A son of Jotham Ryder was killed by a cart-body blowing over and fall- ing upon him.
Wife of David Rowell killed by lightning. Her infant sleeping on her arm escaped uninjured and lived to manhood.
Joseph Smart went out to catch his horse one Sabbath morning, was soon after found dead.
Griswould, son of Aaron Whipple, killed by running under an axe which was thrown from the frame of the house, at the raising.
In 1861, Edwin, son of Moses Whipple, while returning from the Post- office, at the Flat, one dark, rainy night, the string-piece being jarred in towards the middle of the bridge, walked off and met a sad death amid the rocks and angry waves below.
EPIDEMICS .- In 1795, the "Canker Rash" prevailed to an alarming extent among the children. Of twenty-four deaths that year, twenty were under fourteen years of age. In 1813, the " Spotted Fever" made its appear- ance in a most malignant form, defying all remedies and cutting down the strong men almost without warning. Of thirty deaths in town that year, eighteen were from that disease.
FOUR CORNERS .- Being in the center of the town and on the Croydon Turnpike the great thoroughfare, and having a church, tavern, store, and offices and shops, the Four Corners was once the center of trade; but rail- roads diverting the long travel, and the want of water power, has caused its decline.
172
A WOLF STORY .- Benj. Cutting, a poor man, away after provisions, was detained over night and the next day. The wife and children were nearly famished, with nothing in the house to eat. She waited until the shades of evening approached, and still he came not. She then went down to the nearest neighbors to beg something that should keep them from starvation. She had hardly reached the house when she heard the wolves, and , thought of her two little ones at home. She started, and impelled by all the ardor of a mother's love flew towards home. A pack of hungry wolves were after her. She was barely able to reach the door, rush in and slam it in the face of her enemy. She secured the door. They mounted the roof, which was covered with bark. There was no chimney, and she expected every moment they would come down through the open space through which the smoke escaped. She caught the poker and stirred the fire with such violence as to fill the space with sparks and flames. The terrible howling and biting of the wolves made the night hideous. When one of them showed his teeth through an open space in the roof, she would greet it with the burning poker. If they grew desperate she would throw on the contents of her straw bed and thus increase the flames. The con- test was kept up until the straw and wood were nearly exhausted, when the wolves, despairing of success, beat up a retreat and left our. heroine mistress of the field.
Amos Hagar, a man of great physical strength, once going through the woods on the east part of the Wheeler farm, met a bear and threw a hem- lock knot at it with such violence as to knock it over and enable him to capture it.
ANECDOTE .- In April, 1766, the party which came to Croydon for the' purpose of laying out land, discovered, soon after crossing Sugar River, in Claremont, that the plan of the town had been left behind. As the river, swollen by rain and melted snow, was unfordable, and as the impet- uous current had already borne their temporary raft beyond their reach, they hardly knew what course to take. At length, Ezekiel Powers crossed and re-crossed the river by swimming, bringing the parchment between his teeth. For this feat the company paid him a pistareen.
PEAR TREE .- A pear tree, brought to town by Dea. Nathaniel Wheeler ninety-one years ago, now over one hundred years old, is still alive and in a good bearing condition.
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BEAR STORY .- A bear once took a hog from a yard near what is known as the Peter Barton place. The neighbors gave chase, but they were a mile away before they were overtaken. The hog was so lacerated it was necessary to kill it. When dressed its weight was found to be two hun- dred pounds. This feat exhibits the strength of the bear.
DAIRIES .- Croydon Dairies have long ranked among the finest in market.
NEGROES .- Early in the history of the town a colony of negroes planted themselves on Coit Mountain and its eastern vicinity. Among them were Salem Colby, Robert Nott and Scipio Page. They have long since disap- peared.
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