USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 > Part 73
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
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater Hlad a wife, but couldn't keep her Till he put her in a pumpkin shell, And there he kept her very well.
This was the shell of the baked pumpkin after the meat had been taken out.
Pumpkins in the carly settlements were very much preferred to squashes, and few of the latter were raised. Turnips and parsnips were the most common vegetables, of which considerable quantities were raised and eaten. Our fathers had no sweet corn, but when they wanted corn to boil or roast in the green state, used the old yellow corn.
Of the edible grains, wheat was not much used, but, in families that were well off, company was usually entertained on wheaten bread; but more wheat was raised and used in the region of the Connecticut river, than far-
STORE
-
TOWN HALL.
717
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
ther down in the State. Buckwheat was thought little or nothing of-but barley eakes were frequently made and caten with relish. The bread every- where used, was the rye and indian. This was eaten morning, noon and night. Many families also used bread made from rye flour, in the manner which wheat bread is made now. The yeast by which it was raised was called." Emptyings," because it was made from the settlings of their beer barrels. Indian puddings were also in great vogue, both boiled and baked. Judd says, in his history of Old Hadley, that some families had 365 of these hard boiled Indian puddings a year. It was thought that it added greatly to their quality by putting into them a quantity of beef suet, and by giving them, also, a small admixture of sweet apple.
Of meats great quantities were eaten. These consisted of beef and pork, salted and fresh, and the wild meats generally, which the forest yielded, such as deer, bear, moose, wild turkeys, pigeons, partridges, &c. Large quantities of fish, which were abundant in the river and all the streams, were also eaten by many families.
WHAT DID OUR GRANDFATHERS DRINK?
By referring to the daybooks of Col. Abel Walker, Innkeeper, we find that liquors were drank very plentifully. Punch constituted one of the most common drinks, which was made and drank in bowls, being passed round to the company. Flip was another liquor made, and drank in mugs. Toddy and egg drink, or Egg Nog, were also made in mugs. Wines were only used by the gentry. Black Strap was sometimes used, but does not appear to have been common. Large quantities of Cider were drank, as soon as the people obtained orchards, this was also drank in mugs. Al. drinking of the common people seems to have been social, all drinking from the same mug or bowl. Hop beer was also brewed, and drank in large quantities.
TOWN HALL.
The present Town Hall was built in 1822, at an expense of a little short of $ 20,000. It is 90 feet in length, two stories in: height, 42 feet in width. The upper story contains a beautiful hall, and which fully furnished will seat about seven hundred. It has a stage with si le rooms, also a room at the head of the stairs. often used as a ticket-office for exhibitions, or as a depos- itory for gentlemen's hats, overcoats &c., on other public occasions. There is also a hall on the first floor, where town meetings are held and all the us- nal business of the town is transacted. On the same floor is also a Town Clerk's room, Selectmen's room, and a room originally intended for a ticket- office, but used for various purposes. There is also a room on the south- west corner, at present occupied as a Grocery Store. (See illustration.)
POST RIDER.
Friday, July 27, 1781, appointed Mr. JJohn Balch a post rider for the term of three months, and agreed with said Balch to set out from Portsmouth on Saturday-morning and ride to Haverhill by way of Conway, Plymouth, thence down the river to Charlestown, Keene and to Portsmouth again, ev- ery fourteen days during the term, for which service he shall receive the sum of seventy liard dollars, or paper money equivalent .- Page 263 Records of com. safety.
718
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
CORRECTIONS AND EMENDATIONS.
Page 247 for Katherine May, b. March 26, 1828, read 1868.
Page 303 for dantiest read daintiest.
Simeon Heywood's record on page 409, belongs under III, page 408.
Page 556 for Forborshire read Forfarshire.
To the list of Lawyers who have practised in Charlestown, page 651. The name of William Gordon should be added.
Horace Metcalf's marriage is put down by the printer 1834, it should have been 1824.
In quite a number of instances in this work Bezaleel Woodward is printed Bazaleel Woodard.
The following by the author of this work is inserted by request. It was published in " The People " August 19th, 1875, under the title of " A Rem- iniscence " which was added by the editor. It is inserted without change under the original title.
THEN AND NOW.
To-day upon old Breakneck, (1) As I stood and looked below, And beheld the pleasant landscape, And the river in its flow, And many a home of beauty 'Mid sweet embowering trees,
I said to my companion, " What blessed times are these ;
Just look upon those meadows, And yonder mountains green :
Could there be a sight more lovely, Or more peaceful and serene?
And look northward and look southward, O'er all the vale afar, And there is not a sight or sound Its peacefulness to mar. In all that meets our vision, There is not a lurking foe ;
But the fathers oft have told us That it was not always so. (2) But that where now peace seems brooding There once were wild alarms, And hot haste among the people As they heard the cry " To arms!" For there was no delaying When our fathers heard the shout
Of the wildly riding courier,- " Turn out, my boys, turn out ! The enemy are on us ! But, leaving every tie,
719
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
They hastened to the rescue, To conquer or to die. For our fathers loved their country, And were noble-souled and brave ; And the hate they had for tyrants Was relentless as the grave. So, when summoned to the conflict, They did not even wait To kiss their wives and daughters, Lest their help might come too late. But, seizing their old flint-locks And powder-horns, they sped, To come home among the victors, Or to lie among the dead. And yonder street, so peaceful, I have heard the fathers say, Has been the path of thousands As they rushed to battle fray. And it may have oft been told you By brave old Lemuel Royce, (3) While his frame shook with emotion Which trembled in his voice. What a stir there was in Charlestown As a Conrier once dashed by, Crying " Arm, for all the Britons Are marching upon Ti -! "' And how the boys were ready, And at the signal gun, Without waiting further warning Came in upon the run ; And how that noble Captain. Abel Walker, (4) would not stay For the coming of his Colonel (5) Who lived ten miles away ; And how the gallant Colonel, As he rode to town that night, Praised the promptness of the Captain And then hastened for the fight. And perchance you may have heard too, Ilow all the towns below, Soon as swift couriers reached them Were in readiness to go; And how Litchfield, (6) and old Dunstable And Nottingham, the West, (7) And Merrimac, and Amherst, And New Ipswich sent their best; And Bedford, and old Derryfield, (8) And Hollis (9) were on hand,
720
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
As they always were, whene'er a foe Came threatening the land; And there were men from Wilton, And from Plymouth and from Weare, And from the Peterborough hills, And almost everywhere; From Walpole and from Westmoreland, From Chesterfield and Keene, And from Concord and from Francestown And all the towns between ; And Meredith, and Henniker, And Goffstown heard the shout Of the flying couriers as they passed, And turned their noblest out; And from Lempster, Newport, Claremont, And all the country o'er, Came the bravest of New Hampshire Dashing into "Number Four." (10)
But this was merely nothing, Good old Lemuel would say, To what took place in Charlestown When John Stark came up this way. O, there were wild huzzaings, When old John came riding in, And I ne'er again expect to hear Another such a din. And when we would have fired salute The General, riding nigh, Gried, "Hold boys ! save your powder ; We may need it by and by. Let us save it for the Red-coats, For it would work us ill If it should chance to be with us As it was at Bunker Hill." And then there was another shout, And the drums they wildly beat, While every moment fresh recruits Came thronging up the street ; For all New-Hampshire was awake, And from hillside and from glen Came answering to the call of Stark As had ne'er been seen till then. And Nichols' men, (11) and Stickney's men, (2) And gallant Hobart's, (13) too, (Hobart and Stickney were the same Who fought the tory crew.) (14), On double quick came marching up
721
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
And into Charlestown eame; Brave men were they upon a hunt In search of Hessian game. And Heywood, Hobart's Major, Rode out to meet each band,- (A truer or a braver man There was not in the land)- And led them up the ancient street To where Elijah Grout (15) With his fair daughters stood to deal Their balls and powder out; And Colonel Hunt (16) seemed everywhere To see that all were fed; And every girl made cartridges Who was not making bread. And O, to see that gathering, It was a goodly sight, And to see them start for Bennington To fight the glorious fight. * * * * *
Those days have long been over, And thank God that it is so ; And we would not have our land again Invaded by a foe. Yet would we still recall the deeds Which by our sires were done ; Their readiness to meet the foe, The fields their valor won. So would we let our thoughts go back O'er all the years that lie Between us and those stirring days, When they marehed to fight at Ti -. (17) And we would, as a saered trust, Keep ever bright their fame; And we would not let a laurel fade That twines around their name; But as we stand on Breakneek, And look on scenes below, And behold the pleasant landscape, And the river in its flow, And our homes of love and beauty, 'Mid sweet embowering trees, We would feel within our heart of hearts Our fathers gave us these ; And we would not forget the days Till life itself is done, When they marched to meet the foe at Ti-, And fought at Bennington.
722
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
(1) Breakneck-A very wild and picturesque hill, lying on the east of the village of Charlestown, from which there is a fine view of the meadows on the Connecticut, and the mountains of Vermont beyond that beautiful river.
(2) Charlestown was for twenty years a frontier town, there being no set- tlement to the north or west of it. It was often most fiercely assaulted by the French and Indians during the old French and Indian wars, but was always most bravely defended by its citizens, whose courage was equal to every emergency. It became the war path of the Provincial and British armies in the subjugation of the Canadas, and again in the Revolution for the soldiers of New England, as they marched to Crown Point, Ticonderoga and Quebec; and the battles of Bennington, Saratoga and Stillwater.
(3) Lemuel Royce was the last surviving Revolutionary soldier, originally belonging to Charlestown.
(4) Capt. Abel Walker, afterwards Colonel Walker, was a prompt and energetic officer. He marched to Quebec in 1776, in command of a com- pany from Charlestown. He marched four times to the defence of Ticon- deroga, and was with his company in Colonel Hobart's regiment at the bat- tle of Bennington.
(5) Colonel Bellows, son of the founder of Walpole, a brave officer and sterling patriot.
(6) All the towns here mentioned turned out companies of volunteers to go to Ticonderoga.
(7) Nottingham West is now Hudson.
(8) Old Derryfield is now Manchester.
(9) Hollis sent a company of 58, under Captain Daniel Emerson.
(10) A portion of the Companies of most of these towns were citizens of neighboring or adjoining towns which were too small to send full compan- ies, and therefore added their volunteers to those of the larger towns.
(11) Col. Moses Nichols was from Amherst.
(12) Col. Thomas Stickney was of Concord.
(13) Col. David Hobart was originally of Hollis, but at this time .of Plymouth.
(14) Hobart and Stickney were detached by Stark with their regiments, to force the Tory breastwork at the battle of Bennington, which they did in gallant style. Capt. Abel Walker was in Hobart's regiment, as was also Major William Heywood.
(15) Elijah Grout was the old Commissary at Charlestown, during the war of the Revolution.
(16) Col. Samuel Hunt was custodian of the military stores at Charles- town, and was Lieutenant Colonel of Col. Benjamin Bellows' regiment, at the battles of Saratoga and Stillwater.
(17) " Ti" was the abbreviation universally given by the old soldiers to Ticonderoga.
-
INDEX
Of some of the important subjects and names of persons contained in the first 207 pages.
A.
Abercrombie, Gen., 80. Alexander, Reuben, 150. Allen, Ethan, 198. Allen, Col. Ira, 131, 139, 150, 151, 162, 164, 167, 178, 186, 187. Avery, John, 17. B.
Ambush hill, 29. Amherst, Gen., 79, 85, 86. Ashley, Oliver, 150.
Ashley. Samuel, 150. Atkinson, Col. Theodore, 61.
Bailey, Gen. 129, 131, 132. Bailey, Jacob, letter of, 111.
Bartlett, Josiah, 133, 183, 186, 187.
Bartlett. Col. Thomas, 192. Bedell, Col. Timothy, 108, 145.
Bellows, Col. Benjamin, 59, 60, 112, 142, 143, 144, 145, 150, 172, 173, 174, 176, 185, 186, 188, 193. Bingham, Elijah, 172. Bingham, Nathaniel, 169, 172. Blanchard, Col. Joseph, 61, 71.
Block house, 57. Blood, Francis, 174.
Boudinot, Mr. 162. Bowker, Joseph, 201. Bradley, Stephen R., 139, 154.
Bridgman, John, 149. Brown, Capt. Ephraim, 28. Brownson, Mr. 166. Bundy, Lieut. 175. Burgoyne, Gen. 118, 119. Burt, Joseph 182.
Butterfield, Capt. 175.
C.
Caldwell, Joseph, 164. Caldwell, Samuel, 192. Carlisle, Capt. 184. Carroll, Mr. 162. Capron, Oliver, 150. Chamberlain, Col. 175. Chandler, Jr. Maj. Thomas, 199. Charlestown named, 58. Chase, Samuel, 145. Chase, Col. 175.
Davis, Capt. 184. Davis, Samuel. 169. Day, Major. 150.
Child, Major, 129, 175. Chittenden, Gov. Thomas, 121, 130, 139, 163, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 194, 195, 197. Cilley, Capt. JJoseph, 108.
Clinton, Gov. George, 120.
Colden, Lieut. Gov. 121. Cole, Capt. 175. Cruikshanks, Capt. 80. Curtiss, Capt. 145.
D.
Debeline, Gen. 35. De Neverville, Ensign, 26. Dwight, Brig. Gen. Joseph, 19.
724
INDEX.
Ely, Isaac H. 171, 172. Ellis, Timothy, 150.
E. Enos, Gen. Roger, 166, 167, 179, 186, 187, 188.
F.
Fort, Massachusetts, 23. Fort, Pelham, 23.
Fort, Josiah Sartwells, 23.
Fort, Shattucks, 31.
Fitch, Gov. 78.
Fort, Shirley. 23.
Fort, Willards, 31.
Folsom, Col. Samuel, 115.
Folsom, Maj. Gen. 186.
Franklin Capt. 175.
Frink, Elijah, 149.
G.
Gilman, Col. Peter, 71. Goffe, Lieut. Col. John, 75. Grant, Lieut. 85. Griswold, Isaac, 172, 173, 184. Grout, Elijah, 105, 106, 107, 117.
Grundy, John, Jr., 169, 172.
H.
Hale, Col. Enoch, 171, 172, 173, 175, Hobbs, Capt. Humphrey, 41, 45, 46, 176, 182, 186, 189, 190, 191. 47.
Hall, Hon. Hiland, 158.
Hart, Col. John, 79.
Harvey, Capt. 184.
Hooper, Capt. 175.
Hathaway, Mr. 166.
Howe, Jemima, 71.
Haveland, Col. 86. 87, 88.
How, Capt. Joseph, 30.
Hawks, Lieut. John, 28.
Hawks, Lieut. Col. Zadock, 87,
Hubbard, John, 202.
Hunt, Col. Samuel, 105, 113, 117, 142, 143, 144, 145, 150, 165, 192.
Hutchins, Capt. Phineas, 175, 176. Hlurd, Col. John, 110.
I.
Indians, Abenaqui, 91. Indians, Algonquins, 92. Indians, Iroquois, 92.
Indians, Penobscot, 54. Indians, Scaticook, 65. Indians, St. Francis, 16.
J.
Jones, Daniel, 142, 143, 144, 145, Johnson family. capture of, 61. 149, 164.
Johnson, Gen, 86.
Kelly, Col. Moses, 186. King, Col. Samuel, 169, 174, 175, 183, 184.
K. Knowles, Commodore, Sir Charles, 38, 58. Knowlton, Luke, 145, 149.
Fairbanks, Capt. 184. Fassett, John, Jr. 198. Fassett, Mr. 166. Fay, Jonas, 130, 162, 164.
Fletcher, Col. 166, 167, 177, 180.
Fort, William Henry, 76.
Fort, description of, 19.
Gardner, Rev. Andrew, 49, Gates, Gen. 117. Giles, Benjamin, 150, 172, 186, 189, 202. Gilman, Nicholas, 183.
Holden, Capt. William, 108.
Holmes, Capt. L., 142, 143, 144.
Hubbard, Jonathan, 71.
Heywood, William, 98, 105, 106, 107, 175, 176. Hibbert, Ithamir, 130. Hinsdale, Col. 61, 64.
725
INDEX.
L.
Langdon, John, 133, 182, 183. Langdon, Wm. J. 182. Langdon, Woodbury, 188. Laurens, Henry, 119.
Leeds, Capt. 48. Lincoln, Gen. 117. Loudoun, Lord, 72, 75, 77, 78. Lovell, Mr. 150. Lyon, Matthew, 154, 198.
M.
Madison, James, 160, 161, 162.
Marquis de Vaudreuil, 86.
Marsh, Gov. 129. Marsh, J. 129.
Mason, John, 123.
Matthews, Joel, 109.
Montgomery, Mr. 162.
Mc Clarey, John, 192.
Monkton, Gen. 121. Morey, Col. 129.
Murray, Gen. 86.
N.
Names & facts from Charlestown Neal, Capt. James, 69. town records from page 203 to 207. Newcomb, Daniel, 144, 150. Nichols, Col. Moses, 108, 171, 186.
Olcott, Rev. Bulkley, 158.
0. Olcott, Col. Peter, 129, 145, 149, 164, 179.
Page, Capt. David, 97. Page, Capt. Peter, 108. Page, Dr. William, 142, 143, 144, 145, 149, 172, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 182, 186, 187, 188. Paine, Capt. Daniel, 27. Payne, Col. Elisha, 129, 145, 149, 152, 163, 164, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 187, 188, 197.
P.
Pendleton, Edmund, 160. Pepperell, Sir William, 25. Phelps, Davenport, 131, 132, 149. Pomroy, Capt. 184. Porter, Capt. Eleazer, 48.
Pownal, Gen. 86.
Pratt, Capt. 184. Prentice, Nathaniel S. 150, 172, 183, 202. Putnam, Thomas, 99.
Q. Quincy, Edmund, 3
Randolph, Mr. 162. Rangers, 89. Raynolds, Lieut. Col. Daniel, 165, 166, 167. Raynolds, Col. David, 192. Reed, Lieut. Col. George, 108.
R.
Representatives from N. H. in Ver- mont assembly, 154, 155, 159. Roberson, Lieut. 184. Robinson, Hon. Moses, 199. Rogers, Major Robert, 81, 92. Routes from Canada, 23.
Mc Connell, Maj. Samuel, 192.
Mc Millen, Lieut. 82. Melvin, Capt. Eleazer, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. Meserve, Col. Nathaniel, 73, 75. Montcalm, Gen. 76.
726
INDEX.
S.
Sackett, 45, 46. Schuyler, Gen. 197.
Shirley, Gov. 25.
Smith, Capt. Elijah, 80.
Smith, Maj. Francis. 110. Smith, Moses, 169, 183, 184.
Smith, Robert, 183.
Spafford, Capt. John, 26, 97.
Stark, Gen. John, 87, 115, 116, 117.
Stevens, Capt. Phineas, 14, 17, 19, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 60, 62, 64, 73, 91. Stevens, Samuel, 105.
Stiles, Ezra, 164, 201.
St. Leger, Gen. 166.
Stoddard, Col. John, 19,
Stone, Matthias, 150.
Strong, Capt. 149.
Thomson, Charles 120. Thomson, E. 133, 182, 183.
Townsend, Micah, 145, 149, 150. Tupper, Sergeant, 166, 167.
V. Vandyke Mr. 162. W.
Walbridge, Col. Ebenezer, 154, 166. Wetherbe, Capt. Samuel, 108, 145, Walcott, Gen. 199. 176.
Walker, Capt. Abel, 105, 107, 186.
Wheelock, John, 160.
Warner, Col. 114.
Warren Commodore, 25.
Warren, Gideon, 164.
Washington, Gen. 194, 195, 197, 199. White, Noah, 149.
Weare, Meshech, 118, 119, 124, 130, 171, 178, 178, 179, 180, 184, 185, 188, 189, 190, 191.
Webb, Gen. 76.
Wells, Thomas, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13.
Wells, Hubbell, 130, 145.
Wentworth, Gov. Benning, 57, 59, 93, 100, 121, 122, 131.
Wentworth, John, 131.
Whipple, Brig. Gen. William, 113, 118. White, Maj. Jotham, 117.
Whiteside, Phineas, 164.
Willard, Joseph, 88.
Willard, Maj. Josiah, 49.
Willard, Capt. Oliver, 63.
Williams, Col. Israel, 72.
Winchester, Capt. 31.
Wolf, Capt. James, 80.
Woodward, Bezaleel, 110, 129, 145, 149, 150, 162, 163, 198.
T.
Durham Library Association.
No. .. ... Borrowers finding this book mutilated or un-
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.