USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 > Part 69
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
They retraced their steps but horse, buggy and money had disappeared. They perceived a light from a neighboring farm house but no tracks conld be discovered whereby they could trace the truant animal. Daylight com- ing on they were obliged to give up their search and seek their own safety. It seems that the horse after toiling some time in ascending the hill discov- ered a narrow path leading from the main road at right angles, and having no one to guide him followed his inclination and took the side track rather than pursue his course up the hill. A man in Marlow who had been out to watch with a sick neighbor, and was riding home with his brother at about four o'clock in the morning was surprised to see a horse and buggy without any driver coming up behind them. IIe said to his brother " Some one has lost his horse and wagon, let us hitch them in sight, as the owner will be along soon." But as they led the horse along they saw in the bottom of the wagon some loose pieces of gold and upon examination they found all the money which had been taken from the Bank, with a number of bags of tools and false keys, which immediately led them to suspect a robbery. The alarm was given, and at Paper Mill Village they found runners who had come from Charlestown to whom they communicated the news of what they had discovered, and moreover that the money was safe at the house of their informant in Marlow. 'This information was soon communicated to Mr. Olcott and Governor Hubbard, who, as soon as possible, took measures to identify the money and restore it once more to the vault of the Bank.
The burglars paid all the expenses of the Bank and were put nnder $ 2,500 bonds, which were forfeited. Abijah Larned was afterwards arrest- ed and tried for robbing the Bank at Cooperstown, N. Y., and was sent to state's prison where he died before the expiration of the sentence.
CHIESHIRE BRIDGE.
Among the inconveniences of western New-Hampshire and eastern Ver- mont was the want of bridges across the Connecticut. For a long time such was the deficiency of knowledge in bridge-building, that the erection of any structure over that stream, that was likely to have any permanency was looked upon as of doubtful practicability. But Colonel Enoch . Hale, who had been a citizen of Rindge but in 1784, removed to Walpole, erected in 1785 the first bridge that ever spanned that river. It was built just below the principal fall at Bellows Falls, and connected Walpole, with Rocking- ham. The spot was granted to him by the Legislature of New-Hampshire, and the toll was established by law. The " experiment" as many regarded it, attracted great attention at the time; and though the idea may now ex-
685
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
cite a smile, its successful completion was deemed such a triumph of me- chanic art that it gave Colonel Hale, an extensive reputation. This re- mained the only bridge on the river till 1796. Its length was three hun- dred sixty-five feet; its height, above the water, about fifty.
The necessity for a bridge across the river at Charlestown had long been felt, but it was not till 1804 that any measures were taken for securing one; in which year the Cheshire Bridge Company was incorporated. The fol- lowing persons were of the Company. The titles are prefixed by the writer. Hon. Simeon Olcott, Hon. Samuel Stevens, Hon. Samuel Hunt, Hon. Benjamin West, Dr. David Taylor, Col. Abel Walker, Aaron Dean, Esq., Lient. Isaac H. Ely, Gen. Lewis R. Morris, Springfield, Vt., Major Jonathan Baker, Dr. Oliver Hastings, Oliver Hall, Esq. These were all of Charles- town with the exception of one, and with such persons as they chose after- wards to admit constituted the Company. They early took measures for building a bridge which has since been sustained. The present bridge was built in 1833, and was described at the time as being "an elegant structure."
FERRIES.
For sixty-five years from the settlement of Charlestown, the Connecticut River, except in the winter season, had to be crossed in boats. Three fer- ries were established. The first (to begin with the farthest down the river) was the one known as the Lower Landing which was reached by passing down the old road to the river from the lower end of Main Street. The second was known as the Upper Landing, which was about a half mile above the other and was reached by passing down River Street, which in- tersects with Main Street at the residence of Mrs. Harriet M. Baker. The third was Wentworth's Ferry, named for Governor Benning Wentworth, and was a little above the present location of Cheshire Bridge, which now connects Charlestown with Springfield, Vermont. The first two were little used as passways to the country over the river, Wentworth's Ferry being the great crossing place to that region. This was at the terminus on the river of the old Indian trail from Crown Point and Canada. Over this ferry all the forces in the various military expeditions in the Indian, French, and Revolutionary wars were transported as well as all their provisions and mili- tary stores. In 1777 James Minor was paid by the State for ferriage over the Connecticut, £ 20 5$ 3d; and Samnel Remington was paid £ 17 7s 9d. These bills were for ferrying over the river the soldiers of Gen. Stark and others. On the erection of Cheshire Bridge, of course the ferry was discon- tinued.
BOATING ON THE RIVER.
From the earliest settlement of Charlestown many articles of merchan- dise were brought up the river in boats. They were propelled by setting- poles, as they were called, with the occasional use of oars. Before the canal was built at Bellows Falls, many articles were unloaded there and were brought to Charlestown by teams. After the canal was opened there were regular boat lines established by capitalists in Northampton and Springfield! Mass., which made regular trips as high up the River as Windsor, Vt., by
686
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
which the merchants of Charlestown were accustomed to receive their heavy goods. The articles for the merchants at the lower end of the Street were unloaded at the Lower Landing; for those at the upper end, at the Up- per Landing. There was a place for temporarily storing goods at the Lower Landing, but none at the Upper. As many more goods were sold in Charles- town in those days than now, owing to its being a center of trade for a con- siderable extent of country, these landings were often quite busy places ; but rail-roads have created an entire change, and these, as well as nearly all the old business channels, have now for a long time been entirely de- serted.
THE TURNPIKE.
The Cheshire Turnpike was extended from Bellows Falls to Charlestown about the time of the completion of the first Cheshire Bridge. Of this Mr. Jason Wetherbe became ultimately a very large proprietor, and through his instrumentality great improvements were made in it from time to time. It was through him that the hills both at the North and South ends of the village were cut down, by which the travelling public generally, and especially persons with loaded teams, were greatly convenienced. Many still remember the old Turnpike gates and the exactions of toll that were, made npon them. These roads were never very popular as many of the people looked upon them as monopolies; but that they were of great benefit to the traveling public, is not to be denied.
There were four gates in Charlestown. The first was near Cheshire Bridge; the second was near where now stands the Stone Watering-trough given to the town by Joseph G. Briggs, jr .; the third was just this side of the residence of Peter A. Evans and the fourth just this side of Bidwell's in Langdon.
These gates were several times carried off without giving notice to those who tended them, by persons who did not believe that anybody ought to have the privilege of obstructing their right of freeway. The Turnpike Company held the road and continued to make their pecuniary exactions at the gates till 1841, when the pressure of public opinion became so great that they were under the necessity of foregoing their claim, and the road from thenceforth became free.
MASONIC LODGES.
The Vermont Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, was for the first time held in Charlestown, New-Hampshire, November 29th, 1781, the Masonic' reckoning A. L., 5781. It was held under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge as per Charter affixed at Boston. In the October previous, the Ver- mont Legislature had met at Charlestown, which by a vote of its citizens, with numerous other townships in the New-Hampshire Grants, East of the Connecticut River, had formed a union with the new state of Vermont. The inhabitants were therefore at the time of the organization of the Lodge, actually under the jurisdiction of Vermont. And as there was no Lodge then existing in that State, and as it was intended that persons should be received to its membership from its whole territory, it was doubtless thought to be very proper that it should be called the Vermont Lodge. It was there-
.
687
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
fore so named; and though Charlestown in the following February ceased to be under the jurisdiction of that State, there was still good reason for re- taining the name, as it was for Vermont Citizens that it had been principally intended.
During the session of the Vermont Assembly at Charlestown, the circum- stances were of such an exciting and so peculiar a character, that the minds of the members very naturally became bound together by more than ordi- narily strong ties of association. They had met, as it were, to legislate in- dependently of the rest of the world. Congress without having any true apprehension of the condition of affairs and prejudiced by party represen- tations, disapproved of their movements, and New York and New-Hamp- shire were in a state of angry and most violent opposition. They were therefore a little band who stood alone to assert their rights and if the friendships that were cemented during that brief session of the assembly, were strong, the result was what under the circumstances might have been anticipated.
The Vermont Lodge was continued in Charlestown till 1788, at which time it was removed to Springfield, Vermont. During the time it met in Charlestown quite a number of distinguished men united with it, among whom may be instanced Governor Thomas Chittenden, Hon. Ira Allen, Judge Nathaniel Chipman and Gen. Roger Enos. Samuel Dexter afterwards an eloquent and celebrated lawyer in Boston also united with this Lodge in 1782 he being then 21 years of age. Others well known though of less ce- lebrity were Col. John Barrett who was for a short time of Charlestown, but afterwards of Springfield, Davenport Phelps of Orford, Eleazer Whee- lock of Hanover, Abraham Ives of Wallingford, Vt., Gen. Joseph Farns- worth and Dr. Jonas Fay, of Bennington. Reverends Ranna Cossett and Benjamin Sumner, were also members of this Lodge.
The following are some of the names of members belonging to Charles- town : Col. Isaac Farwell, Col. George Kimball, Major Jotham White, Inn- keeper, in whose house was the Masonic Hall, Isaac II. Ely, Capt. John Willard, Dr. and General Oliver Hastings, Benjamin More, &e.
The whole number of members that became connected with this Lodge before its removal to Springfield was about a hundred and ten.
The Feast of St. John The. Evangelist, was celebrated in due form at Charlestown, Dec. 27th, 1781. An excellent sermon was preached on the occasion by Rev. Bulkley Olcott. An oration was also delivered by Ezra Styles, Esq., member of the Lodge, who at the meeting of the Vermont As- sembly in Charlestown had represented the town of Keene. The thanks of the Lodge were returned to these gentlemen and copies of their discourses solicited for publication to be distributed to the Brethren of the Fraternity.
FAITHIFUL LODGE.
On the removal of the Vermont Lodge to Springfield, another Lodge was immediately instituted at Charlestown, called Lodge No. 12, of Free and accepted Masons. It was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Feb. 23, A. L., 5788. " A second charter confirming its former rights and privileges was granted by the Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire, April 30,
688
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
A. L., 5800. It was incorporated by the State of N. H., June-1821. No meetings were held nor was any work done from 1828 to 1862; but on the 12th of Sept, A. L., 5862 a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire, reviving the Lodge which now holds its meetings and transacts its business according to its By Laws revised, A. L., 5863, from which I make the following extracts.
Sec. 1. The Regular Communications of this Lodge shall be held on each Monday at or next preceding the full of the moon at the Lodge Room at the following hours; from May to September, inclusive, at seven o'clock P. M. and from October to April at half past six P. M.
Sec. 2. No regular communication shall be called off beyond the day and night in which it was opened and the Lodge must be regularly closed before the Brethren disperse.
Sec. 3. The order of business shall be as follows :
I. Reading the Records since the last Regular Communication. II. Un- finished business. III. Report of Committees. IV. Balloting. V. Re- ception of Petitions. VI. Motions. VII. Work.
Sec. 8. No communications of this Lodge either Regular, Special or Fes- tival, can be held unless the charter is present and none shall be declared open until after devout prayer to God.
ROMANTIC INCIDENTS
IN THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF CYNTHIA HASTINGS AND SOPHY GROUT, TWO CHARLESTOWN GIRLS OF TIIE OLDEN TIME.
In the autumn of 1790, Dr. Jonathan Arnold, of St. Johnsbury, and Enos Stevens, Esq., of Barnet, visited Charlestown, N. H., on a very interesting errand. It was no other than to obtain for themselves wives, such being the paucity of females at that early day in those northern settlements, that none were to be obtained in the towns where they resided.
The manner in which this visit was brought about was this: Dr. Arnold being for some purpose on a journey down the river, found it convenient to put up with Mr. Stevens and spend the night. In the course of the evening the circumstances of their solitary condition becoming a subject of conver- sation, it was mutually conceded that nothing could be done towards rem- edying it in that northern region. Accordingly, to employ the language of Edward T. Fairbanks, the historian of St. Johnsbury, to whose history I am indebted for a portion of this account, " An expedition to Charlestown, No. 4, N. H., was immediately planned, to take effect on the morrow, the object being to spy out the available daughters of the land."
On their arrival at Charlestown they called immediately on Sammel Ste- vens, Esq., a brother of the aforesaid Enos, and son of the celebrated Capt. Phineas Stevens, to whom they communicated the object of their coming. On this a consultation was held, and an arrangement entered into to issue invitations to Cynthia Hastings and Sophy Grout, daughters respectively of Lemuel Ilastings and Elijah Grout, requesting their presence at tea, it be- ing understood by those in the secret that the strangers from Vermont, at the close of the evening's entertainment, were to accompany them home.
In anticipation of a possible emergency, Mrs. Squire West, wife of Hon.
689
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
Benjamin West, was also invited to be in attendance to help on the matter in any manner which her wisdom might suggest.
Tea time arrived and so did the invited guests : and in the agreeable eve- ning that passed no suspicions appear to have crossed the minds of the unsuspecting maidens that they were the subjects of a plot. At length, when the hour for departure came, for some cause Cynthia Hastings had made sneh an impression on the minds of both of the strangers, that her com- pany seemed to be in double demand. In this juncture of affairs Mrs. West was called for, and was mutually, by the gentlemen, constituted referee in the case : who in making her decision very sagely and gravely argued. that Sophy Grout was admirably adapted to be the companion of a farmer (Mr. Stevens was a tiller of the soil) but as for Cynthia, it was much more suit- able that she should be attended by a professional man.
This decision, especially gratifying to Dr. Arnold, prevailed, and each of the ladies was attended to her abode according to Mrs. West's suggestion, by the person most suitable for her: where each of the gentlemen before separating from his companion for the night, made known the special ob- jeet of his visit to Charlestown. It does not appear that Sophy Grout, who was well acquainted with the Stevens family, was at all reluctant to accept the offer that was made her. But the difficulty which she had to surmount in connection with her family, was not small; for Stevens, during the war of the revolution, had espoused the cause of the mother country, and the Grout family could not bear that one of their number should become con- nected with a man who had not been a tried and true patriot. At length. when it was found that her determination had become too strong to be prop- erly resisted, she was finally told that if she would marry an old Tory she might, but that she should carry nothing from the paternal mansion but her- self and a cow. To this she agreed, and on the 4th of March, 1791, the af- flicted Grout family witnessed the departure of Sophy, with Stevens, for their home in Vermont.
That the match proved a happy one it is scarcely necessary to add, nor that the influence of Sophy through her descendants has become very wide- spread. Henry Stevens, late President of the Vermont Historical Society, was her son, than whom there have been few American Antiquarians, whose researches have been more extensive. Ilis son Henry, now in Lon- don, has followed his father in the same line of study, and has in his profes- sion, not only an American but a European reputation.
But what of Cynthia Hastings ? She was astonished that an entire stran- ger should presume to make such a proposal to her. But the Doctor who was both a scholar and a gentleman, had not much difficulty in convincing her that his intentions were honorable, and also of his need of a wife. But as his journey was to be extended to Rhode Island, he did not ask her to give him an answer then, but proposed to leave the matter for her con-id- eration till his return, when he hoped that her decision might be favorable. He was absent on his journey three weeks, and to Cynthia Hastings they were weeks of anxiety and trial. The subject was continually on her mind, but still she could come to no conclusion. How could she marry an entire stranger? And then again, as her mother had just died, and the care of the
.
690
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
household had devolved on her on account of her being the eldest, how could she leave her brothers and sisters to go to take care of the home of a stranger? At length, when she could sustain the burden of her thoughts alone no longer, she applied to a friend, whom she thought she could trust, for advice. He said to her, " True Dr. Arnold is personally a stranger, but his reputation is well known to you. He was, while in Rhode Island, for several years a member of the Continental Congress, and served as a sur- geon in the army of the Revolution not without honor. He is also a man of property. The match for you, therefore said this friend, cannot be other than an elegible one, and my advice to yon is to accept his offer." Still she demurred a little, but at length all her objections were overcome, and when the Doctor returned she was ready to marry him.
Hasty preparations, on his return, were made for the wedding, as it was late in the season, and the Doctor was anxious to get home before the weather should become more inclement. The new wife, therefore, did not wait to gather together all her household goods before her departure, but relying on the promise of her husband that he would return with her and get them after the traveling should become settled in the following spring, with such of her things as she could readily pack in saddle bags she cheer- fully kissed her brothers and sisters a fond good-bye, and mounting on horseback started away for her new home in the wilderness.
Faithful to his promise, the Doctor appeared with his wife at Charlestown the following spring to gather up the remainder of her household goods, which having accomplished Cynthia once more sat upon her steed to bid good-bye to dear old Charlestown. It was a hard moment for her and she struggled with her feelings. But happily, just at that instant Dr. Oliver Hastings, her cousin, whose age differed from hers only about a year, step- ped up to her and in a mock heroic manner, which few knew better how to assume, presented her with a willow stick, at the same time saying, " Ma- dam, I here present you with a willow wand-take it and with it urge your steed when his spirits need quickening, and when you shall require it no more for this use please have it planted at the door of your second husband." Cynthia retained the stick till the end of the second day, when they arrived at Haverhill, N. H., where they spent the night at Samuel Ladd's, who kept a public house. In the morning Mr. Ladd presented her with a new stick, and they proceeded on their journey. They reached St. Johnsbury on the evening of the third day, having passed a hundred miles through what was then a wilderness with only occasional openings. At her home in St. Johns- bury, she became the mother of Lemuel Hastings Arnold, who was educat- ed at Brown University, and became Governor of Rhode Island in 1841-42. He was also a member of the Governor's Council during the Dorr Rebel- lion, and Member of Congress in 1845-47. He continued to be regarded as an accomplished scholar and ripe statesman till his death which occured at Kingston, June 27th, 1852.
Cynthia Hastings was very happy in her life with Dr. Arnold, but the season of that happiness was brief, for he died in a little over two years af- ter their marriage, Feb. Ist, 1793, aged 52.
But, the reader will ask. what became of the willow wand? It was not
691
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
lost nor left to dry up, but was planted, took root and grew rapidly, and, af- ter the death of Dr. Arnold, his widow, on her way from St. Johnsbury to visit her friends in Charlestown, was a welcome guest at the Inn of Sam- uel Ladd, of Haverhill, by whose hand, and before whose door the willow had been planted : and being invited by Mr. Ladd, in 1795, to make his house thenceforward her home, she married him and thus turned the part- ing words of Dr. Oliver Hastings, addressed to her in sport, into a prophecy. In her home in Haverhill she saw the willow grow to a large tree, and her six children often played beneath its shade. It has now been dead for many years, yet cuttings from the parent stock have grown to be trees of immense size, and passers-by often pause to rest themselves in their cooling shade and to admire their beautiful, waving branches. And those with whose lives was connected such romantic interest are also dead. Mr. Ladd died Sept. 22nd, 1815, and Mrs. Cynthia Hastings (Arnold) Ladd, Jan. 6th, -1838. Yet three of the offspring of Cynthia Hastings still live (1876), Mrs. Mer- tha H. Goss, of Lyndon, Vt., Mrs. Eliza Swan, now resident in Ohio, and Capt. J. A. Ladd, of Wisconsin.
The writer is happy to acknowledge his obligations to Mrs. Goss for many of the above facts and also to Mr. S. L. Farman, a grandson of Cynthia Hastings, known to many of the citizens of Charlestown fron his business connection with the Claremont Manufacturing Company.
BEARS AND BEAR STORIES.
As bears were formerly numerous in New-England, every settlement in the early times, had its bear stories, which for the first and second genera- tion, furnished subjects of great interest for fireside conversation, and neighborhood gatherings. Charlestown is not without its well anthentica- ted .tales of this kind, though a less number of them proportionally, have probably been preserved, than in places in whose history, there are fewer important events. The following will be enough to show, that though the great conflicts of the inhabitants of No. 4, and early Charlestown, were with men, they still did not shrink from contending with wild beasts which were scarcely more savage, when opportunity was offered.
As Samuel and Stephen Farnsworth were at work in the meadow, a short distance apart, yet not in sight of each other, a large bear came out of the bushes, only a few feet from the former, who deeming himself single hand- ed sufficient for an encounter with his bear-ship, drew from his pocket his large jacknife, which was his only available weapon, and proceeded to at- taek him. Ile succeeded with this in giving him a few most telling thrusts, when the blade broke, and left him entirely defenceless. By this time the bear, wounded and bleeding from the blows of his assailant, was ready in his turn to become the aggressor, and rushed furiously at Farns- worth with flashing eyes and open mouth-who either involuntarily or not knowing anything better to do, thrust his hand deep down into the creat- ures throat, calling at the same time to his brother, "run Stephen for the bear has got me." Stephen of course ran, and having a pitchfork with which he had been turning hay, the bear was soon dispatched. But Su- uel though no part of his hand or arm was broken, carried remembrances
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.