USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of Hudson, N.H., formerly a part of Dunstable, Mass., 1673-1733, Nottingham, Mass., 1733-1741, District of Nottingham, 1741-1746, Nottingham West, N.H., 1746-1830, Hudson, N.H., 1830-1912 > Part 26
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THE OPEN WELL
Naturally the first supplies of water for the settlers were procured from some spring or clear-running brook. The favorite place was carefully cleared of all rubbish, such as broken-down branches of trees and dead leaves, when pure, limpid water was easily secured. But these fountains were not always convenient to the housewife, who had usually to bring the supply of water, and again they would become more or less contaminated as the settlements in- creased. No one had thought of arranging to have water running into their sinks. In order to save much of the labor in bringing the water from long distances, in some cases, it became the custom to dig wells near the house. This was a decided improvement over the old way, and as the water could not be dipped from wells, that were frequently of considerable depth, a contrivance known as the well- sweep was devised. This consisted of a large post with a crotch at the upper end, to receive a long, stout pole fas- tened with a sort of hinge about midway in its length. The post was firmly set in the ground about fifteen or eighteen feet from the well, and it was the rule that this should stand above the ground to a height two-thirds as great as the depth of the well. The arm or well-sweep was nicely balanced and held in place by an iron or wooden pin secur-
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ing it at the top of the post. Then the heavy end was loaded with rocks sufficient to lift the bucket attached to the opposite end, when the vessel, filled with the sparkling water, should be raised from the well. This bucket was fastened to a slender pole, long enough to reach from the curb to the surface or even bottom of the water in the well. Of course the upper end of this small pole was attached to the small end of the sweep. Though apparently a primitive affair, this old-fashioned well-sweep worked very nicely, and it was a comparatively easy task to raise the large wooden vessel made by the local cooper from the innermost recess of the well to the top of the rude curbing. The poet saw the rare exhilaration of this scene and immortalized it in his song, "The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, the moss-covered bucket," as it rose brimming and tempting from the well. Had he chosen to picture to us some rustic maid at her morning task of bringing the water for the breakfast table, he might have outrivaled Whittier's delineation of Maud Muller "raking the meadow sweet with hay."
Eventually pumps made from white pine logs cut upon the farm, and drilled with huge augers so as to form a hol- low stem, were utilized for the purpose of drawing water. Ready made pumps are too modern to need description, having been sold upon the market since about 1850. Some farmers installed what was known as "the chain pump." This was worked by a crank and windlass, over which an endless chain passed. This chain, with metal buckets at- tached within eighteen inches of each other, worked through a wooden tube which rested upon a support near the bottom of the well, where the chain passed beneath a small pulley. By means of the crank being turned and the chain put in motion water was forced up through the tube to the surface. Chain pumps were common soon after 1850.
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SUGAR MAKING
Sugar was not used in such large quantities as it is to- day, and it cost much more than at the present time. A. pound of sugar was worth about the same as a pound of butter, and was often bartered one for the other at the country store. Brown sugars of different shades were gen- erally used on the table and also for cooking. But the common sweetening was West India molasses.
In some localities sugar from the rock maple sap was made to a considerable extent, but in this town there were but a few sugar maples.
Light-brown sugar was supposed to contain the least dirt and was in the greatest favor. The Havana, which came in large boxes containing about five hundred pounds, was called the sweetest. White sugar was but little used, and that came in cone-shaped loaves weighing twenty-five pounds each. These were wrapped in strong paper of a dark-blue color. The loaf was crushed and prepared for use by means of a hammer and a large, strong knife. La- ter this sugar came crushed into irregular shapes and small pieces before offered for trade, and was known as "crushed sugar."
Refined and granulated sugar began to be used soon after 1850, but did not come into general use for a decade later. The retail price of white sugar was about ten cents a pound, and brown sugar sold for from six to eight cents a pound, the lightest colored being the highest in price. During the Civil War sugar was very high, sometimes sell- ing three pounds for a dollar.
WHEAT FLOUR
Wheat flour was not sold much in barrels until after the beginning of the 19th century, and was not much used in most families until many years later. The majority of farmers raised more or less wheat, which they had ground
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and bolted at some grist-mill. This made a sweet, but dark-colored bread. Rye was also treated in this way and made into flour. Still very little bread was made from flour for many years. It was made from rye and Indian meal mixed and called "brown bread." Bread was also made from rye, wheat, and Indian meal, and sometimes barley. The miller was paid for grinding these grains by taking "toll," as it was called, from the grist. This amount was fixed by law or custom, and he was entitled to one- sixteenth, or two quarts from every bushel.
Finally, when Central New York state had become developed by the settlers, wheat was brought here in bar- rels from Western New York, and called Genesee flour. These barrels were easily distinguished from those that came later from Ohio by being hooped with flat hoops, while the latter were round, being really half round, having been made from small poles split in twain. As the inhabi- tants pushed westward, flour for New England came far- ther and farther from that direction, until St. Louis flour became common here. Flour in those days was in some re- spects much inferior to that of the present time, when the roller process and other improved methods are employed in its preparation.
SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS
During the first settlements and for many years after- wards the use of spirituous liquors was almost universal by all classes of people. Occasions on which people assem- bled in numbers were not considered fully satisfactory un- less liberal quantities of liquor were provided. It was so at raisings, ordinations, funerals, weddings, log-rollings, and so on, without distinction as to the class; a good supply of New England rum, or some other strong drink, was always supplied and expected. Even the devout minister, who was supposed to be very near perfection, when he made his pas- toral calls upon his parishioners, would have felt slighted if
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something of that nature had not been placed before him, as he seldom refused to partake.
Temperance societies on the total abstinence plan were organized in the early part of the 19th century, and as early as 1840 the Washingtonian movement swept over New England. It required the signing of a pledge to abstain from the use of all intoxicating beverages. This created considerable excitement at the time, and earnest workers entered the field.
TRAMPS
In recent years we have come to know something of the tramp, the idler who goes about the country seeking to get his living without working, and frequently making him- self an object of dislike and dread. Before these appeared on the stage of action, there was an aimless class of strag- glers wandering up and down the country, seldom begging yet ever expecting enough of food to satisfy the inner man, and, when their clothes became too ragged, an old coat or other garment with which to replace their own, which at some time had been given them by another pitying person.
These outcasts were often old men, who, in some cases, had been too shiftless to lay by money for future use, or unfortunate, and thus had become footballs of for- tune, who wandered from one town to another, seeking alms at the houses they passed, and sleeping at night in barns or outbuildings. Most of them were fond of cider, and this in some cases explained their pitiable condition. Though generally harmless, occasionally they frightened the women and children on account of their uncouth ap- pearance. In fact, some of them were mildly insane. The majority of them were paupers who would remain at the almshouse during the winter, but when warm weather came on would start on their periodical trips over the country, trusting to the generosity of the farmers to get their living. Usually, older men than the modern tramp, they were more
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deserving of pity and help. Among these homeless wan- derers was occasionally a woman, who had seen brighter and better days.
SOCIAL WAYS
In the days of our forefathers, a century or more ago, the people were much more social than are neighbors at the present time. This may have been due partly to the fact that they were more dependent upon each other. At that time books and magazines and even newspapers were scarce, so local topics became the news of the day. In the absence of reading matter and other means of amusement so common to-day, the neighbors, at the close of the day's work, would visit each other's homes, where all of the latest gossip would be threshed out over a mug of cider and a dish of apples. Here the prospect of the crops was dis- cussed and the plans for the next quilting bee talked over by the older members, while the younger ones played check- ers and other games, cracked nuts and laughed in merry glee over some joke or good story. Altogether these occa- sions were pleasant and served to bind the people in closer ties of friendliness.
Afternoon visits were of frequent occurrence, when the women would take their sewing or knitting work with them, and perhaps accomplish nearly as much as they would if they had stayed at home, besides having a pleas- ant chat. The inhabitants of the rural districts are much better educated than in those days, but are less hospitable and neighborly.
BREAKING ROADS
Always after a heavy snowstorm, which would block the roads with drifted snow, so as to make traveling by single teams difficult, if not impossible, the roads were broken out and made passable. On these occasions the farmers would get together with their ox-teams, improving
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the opportunity to yoke up whatever unbroken steers they might have as a good time to "break them in," with their first lesson in work. Sometimes as many as ten or more yoke of cattle would thus be hitched to a sled. A log would sometimes be fastened crosswise under the forward end of the sled, or a plow or log to the side-perhaps both-a doz- en or more of the old men would stand upon the sled, the younger men and boys would start the long team and away the whole string would go, at times hidden by the snow- clouds they would send into the air as they plowed their way through great masses of snow. It was jolly fun for the boys, but men, oxen, boys and steers would come home tired and glad it was over, though just as eager for the merry work when another old-fashioned snowstorm would follow.
Sometimes the drifts were too solid for the cattle to trample down and too steep to climb over, when men with shovels would cut a channel through those places. It has happened that the snow would be piled so high and solid that a pathway would be tunneled through like an under- ground railway. But if the big snowstorms were more fre- quent and severe in those days, requiring a greater effort to keep the roads passable, there were no "snow bills" for the town to pay, as each and every farmer turned out will- ingly and gladly to the task of "breaking roads."
BEARDS OR SMOOTH FACES
The frequent change of fashion, in one form or anoth- er, is shown in the matter of beards. It was almost the universal custom for men to have clean-shaven faces, or at least shaven once a week. This was usually done on Sun- day morning at home, so they would appear at church properly barbered. A few men, with very heavy, dark beards, and with more than common pride in their personal looks, shaved twice a week, but always at home.
The hair, by men and boys, was worn longer than at the present time. It is doubtful if any one in Hudson ever
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wore the powdered wigs that were such a feature among the gentry of colonial days. The hair was usually cut by some one in the family.
Long, full beards were worn by very few until after the days of the "'49er." The California pioneers of that year, when the gold craze was attracting thousands to the Pacific slope, during their five or six months' journey across the continent to the mines of the Golden West, were forced to allow their beards to grow long and unkempt. Months in the mines restricted them from returning to the old home custom, so full beards became the fashion. Upon return- ing to the East these gold-diggers seemed to have set the fashion this way, though it was some time before full beards were looked upon with favor. Some took to shaving a part of the face, and in this way, side-whiskers, chin whiskers and the mustache came into vogue. At the present time there seems to be an inclination to return to the smooth face. And so the pendulum moves to and fro, continually changing the customs and fashions.
TITLE OF MISTER
Many years ago the title of Mister, commonly ex- pressed "Mr.," was not applied to all men as at present. It was then intended as a title of honor to the few rather than of respect to all. It was almost always placed before the name of the minister. The term "Goodman" was fre- quently used in referring to an average person.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
In early times more honor and dignity was attached to the office of Justice of the Peace, or Quorum, and these officers had larger jurisdictions than at present. There was generally but one in the smaller towns, and he, in most cases, really exercised the powers and duties of an attorney in the fullest sense. Ezekiel Chase, Esq., seems to have been the first justice resident in this town, and he received
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his commission as early as 1747, soon after the incorpora- tion of the town as Nottingham West. He held the office for many years.
His son, Ezekiel Chase, Jr., received a commission about 1760, and held it until his death July 12, 1767, in his 39th year.
Asa Davis was commissioned about 1776, and contin- ued to hold the office for thirty years. Samuel Marsh was commissioned about 1786, and continued as an acting jus- tice for many years.
PUBLISHING THE BANNS
When a couple had concluded to marry they made known their intentions to the town clerk, who posted a no- tice of their intended marriage in one or more of the churches. This was called "being published." This notice was required by law three Sabbaths before the marriage ceremony was performed, so that if any one knew of any reason why the couple should not be united in wedlock they could appear and make it known. This custom was abol- ished before the middle of the last century.
HIGHWAY FENCES
Horses and cattle, and sometimes hogs, were allowed on the highway, which was therefore called "the poor man's pasture." To protect their fields and crops from such animals, fences were built and maintained along the roads by all farmers.
The presence of these creatures feeding upon the high- ways was very annoying and troublesome, and frequently the cause of much ill-feeling in the neighborhood. This practice went out of vogue towards the middle of the 19th century, and gradually the highway fences have been al- lowed to go the way of other oldtime customs.
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FARM METHODS
The methods of securing the hay crop have undergone great changes since the middle of the last century. Much of the heavy labor done then has been transferred to horses working with machines. At that time all grass was cut with hand scythes. It was the custom for the farmer to rise between daylight and sunrise. The scythes had been sharpened the evening before, and the mower was ex- pected to be in the field and ready to start on his first swath just as the sun would peep above the eastern hori- zon. In this way the mowing would be done mostly in the cool part of the day. It was considered also that the grass cut easier when the dew was on it. About nine o'clock the boys and old men who did not feel equal to swinging the scythe spread out the hay to dry. When the sun had got up so that the ground was thoroughly dry the hay that had been raked the day before and left in cocks was "shak- en out," so it would be ready to draw into the barn im- mediately after dinner.
The grass cut upon that day was raked later in the afternoon, and left in windrows, or cocks, to be dried more completely the next day. The day's work in the hayfield was seldom completed until after sunset, and cases have been known where it was kept up until after dark.
Grain was all reaped by hand with sickles. Grain cra- dles did not come into general use until after the first quar- ter of the 19th century. "Reaping time" varied somewhat in different seasons, but rye and wheat were usually cut between the time of cutting the English grass and the meadow crop. The grain, after it was reaped, was bound into small bundles and put into stooks, where it was left to stand for several weeks until thoroughly cured.
Oats were reaped later, usually before the meadow had all been harvested, for the products of the lowlands, though of an inferior quality, was an important portion of the fod-
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der for the young cattle. These meadows were often situ- ated two or three miles away from home. One advantage of these tracts, of which there were several of considerable size in this town, was the fact that they did not require any fertilization except what they got from the flowages of the streams that ran through them. Very few of the meadows are now mowed, and most of them have been left to be covered with a growth.
"Hills' meadow," of which mention has already been made, consisted of one hundred and fifty acres, and was divided into sections of from five to ten acres each, owned by different farmers. This was situated about two miles south-east of Taylor's Falls. Another extensive tract of this kind called "The Fine meadow," was located mostly in Litchfield, but accommodated many farmers at the north end of this town, who owned a few acres each in it. About a mile south of the Hills meadow was the Gerrish meadow, and the Davenport meadow was not far from this last. Still farther south was "Musquash meadow," and in the east part of the town near the Pelham line was "The New- found meadow," which was one of the largest in town. Like the Hills meadow, they were all divided and subdivid- ed into lots, so probably every farmer in town owned a tract of these lowlands, unless he was fortunate enough to own a smaller meadow on his home farm. These last pro- duced a better quality of fodder than the larger ones, which were known as "bog meadows."
These tracts were cut late in the season, after all of the highlands at home had been harvested, and the day in the meadow, while it meant long hours and hard work, was usually the scene of considerable merriment and sometimes of rough sport. There was the early breakfast, the long drive in a hayrick in the morning, the long swaths to be cut, and the frequent potations from the jug filled with hard cider or something more stimulating. Sometimes the din- ner would be taken along, at others the boy would go home to get it, or it might be the farmer's daughter would bring
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it into the field. In either case it was not missed, and hard work made good appetites, so it took a good sized pail or basket to feed these hungry half-dozen toilers in the mead- ows. In the afternoon there was the raking and pitching, and what was known in meadow parlance "poling out." This consisted of carrying on two stout poles great tumbles of hay where the bog was too soft to admit of the team coming to them. It took two men, one at each end of the poles, which had been placed under the cock to be moved, and it was considered the hardest part of the day's work. He who had the forward end generally bore the heavier portion of the load, but the man at the other end had the disadvantage of not being able to see just where he was going. So it was not infrequent for him to fall over some hummock or hassock in the pathway. It seemed some- times, though of course it was not so, that he who led sought the roughest course he could find, instead of follow- ing the smoothest path. But the height of hilarity and enthusiasm was reached when the last load was being drawn out of the meadow. Not infrequently this was the largest one of the season, and usually the cargo was not in readiness to be started homeward until long shadows were creeping across the landscape. To insure its safety it was usually bound with a stout pole running the length of the load. As the oxen were started and the great bulky load was seen to move at last, the welkin would ring with the shouts of the workmen, who were never too tired to ex- press their pleasure at that time. Often, in the large mead- ows, several gangs of hands would be at work at the same time, in which case there would be an earnest rivalry to see who should get his tract finished first.
Haying in those days was usually begun the first Mon- day after the Fourth, and including hay and grain, upland and meadow, with all hand labor, was not completed until the last of August or the first of September.
All of the tools used in haying were made by the local blacksmith and of course were clumsy and heavy. The
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light steel forks, similar to those in use now, were not in- troduced until about 1840. The horse rake was used by a very few about 1845, but did not come into general use until several years later. These rakes had steel spring teeth without wheels or guides and scratched up so much dirt and rubbish that they did not find much favor with the farmers. It required a boy to ride the horse and a strong man to operate the rake. Another rake that came into more or less use at that time had wooden teeth, and was known as the "revolver," which required a man, a boy and a horse to operate it, though it did more satisfactory work than the other.
The first wheel rake was made of wood, and was hard to operate, both for horse and man. This was succeeded by the spring-tooth rake, which has been greatly improved since it was introduced nearly fifty years ago.
The first mowing machine used in town was owned by James Pierce, Esq., about 1863. It had but one driving wheel, and was very imperfect, as well as hard to operate. It had a four-foot cutter bar, and did quite good work. A little later mowing machines were improved and came into general use.
"OLD" AND "NEW TENOR"
The following terms occur frequently in the old records and histories, when money matters are spoken of: "Old Tenor," "New Tenor," sometimes "Middle Tenor," "Ster- ling," "Lawful money," "Continental money," and "Bills of Credit." They occur in this history, and a little expla- nation may not be out of place.
"Old tenor" was paper issued by Massachusetts about 1737, and by Rhode Island three years later. Each note bore the statement that its value was equal to gold or silver coin. "New tenor" was an issue made by Massachusetts in 1741. Between these dates the province had issued what became known as "Middle issue, or tenor." All of
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these became very much depreciated after a few years. So in reckoning it was usual to distinguish between the differ- ent issues. "Lawful money" was money which by law was a legal tender for debts and dues.
"Sterling" was an English term, and was gold and sil- ver coin of standard weight and fineness, so that at all times it was worth its face value. "Bills of Credit" was paper issued by authority of the state to circulate as money.
"Continental money" was issued by Congress to bridge over the financial situation during the Revolutionary War, and soon became entirely worthless. Hence the ex- pression, "Not worth a continental."
After the Revolution and previous to 1850, prices were more generally spoken of in English currency than in that of the United States. Some of the more common terms of value then in vogue were "four pence ha' penny," which was six and one-fourth cents, and "nine pence," or twelve and one-half cents. There were silver coins, principally Spanish pieces, which represented these values. When these coins became worn so that the inscription could not be read, a cross was made upon each side, after which they were passed for five and ten cents respectively.
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