USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 110
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 110
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" Voted That the Selectmen may Hire 2 or 3 chaio men, if need be, & that they Du it as soon as Possible.
" Town meeting ended.
"JOTHAM OGIORNE, Mod."
FIRST SURVEY OF THE TOWN.
"We whose names are under writen, being appointed and hired by the Selectmen of Epsom town to Lay out the sd township of Epsom ac- cording to the Charter, have Laid it out & Bounded it as follows, viz., Beginning at Notingham head Line four miles nor westward from Chester Line, at a maple tree marked with Letter N, on the est side for Notiogham and Eps., on the west side for Epaom ; from thence Runing West North West four miles to a Pitch pine tree, which is one mile west from Sun Cook River ; from thence Runing North Est & By North six miles to a tree westward of Sun Cook River ; from thence runing east South east four milea to a Hemlock tree standing by Notiogham head Line by a pond called Epsom Pond, with several trees marked by it; from thence Runing South West aud by South by Notingham head Line six miles to the Maple tree first mentioned.
"Laid out and bounded this first and Second day of May, one thousand Seven hundred & twenty nine, hy us,-
" JOSHUA Foss,
"DANIEL LUNT,
Committee.
"JEDIATH WEEKS, J
"EDWARD HALL, Surveyor."
A meeting notified to meet at the ferry-house in New Castle on May 26, 1729, met, and because the proprietors of Epsom who lived in the parish of New Castle had not been properly notified of the meeting, it was adjourned to the court-house in Portsmouth, June 3d following, at eight o'clock in the forenoon.
" Voted Jotham Odiorne, Moderator.
" Voted Joseph Simpson, Selectman for New Castle ; Jotham Odiorne, Esq., for Rye ; Joshua Brackett for Greenland.
" Upou consideration that sundry persons concerned in the ad town of Epsom hath Refused to pay his Proportion to the Charges a Rising in Giting the Charter and the sd town surveyed & Layd out for preven- tion whereof, Voted, that any persons that shall Refuse or Neglect to pay their proportion to the charge already due, or that shall, Hereafter, be allowed by the Selectmen and committee to the collectors for the time being, Every such Person shall forfeit his or their Rights, which, when . forfeited, shall he exposed to Sail by publick Vandue, after stoping the charges & the sum which ought to be paid by the Parson to the col- lector according to his List, then the over Plush shall be returned to the Origenell Proprietor.
" T'oted That the Selectmen chosen at this meeting be Powered & Directed to call the Last Selectmen to acct, and to settle the same.
" Voted That the Selectmen procure some Idustrua Person to View the sd Laud, and to see whare and in what method to lay out their Lots, and whare to settle the town, and to du what they shall think proper for the advancing the settling of the towo aforesaid, and to raise money Sufficient to Defray the Charges thereof upon the Proprat.
"Town meeting ended.
" JOTHAM OMIORNE, Modrat."
At a meeting held at Rye on the 21st of January, 1729, the proprietors
" Voted, That James Randall, Thomas Berry and Lt. Sam1. Wallis be a committee to view and make choice of a place for the senter of the town, and to lay out high waya and the Lotts according to the Rates that the Proprietors paid, conformable to the charter."
May 22, 1732, at the court-house, Portsmouth,-
" Voted, That there be laid out, at some convenient place io the towa suitable for Building a Meeting house & for settling the twenty fam- ilies accordingly, one thousand acres in fifty-acre Lotts, one Lott to be given to any Person that will settle & will fulfill the Charter so far as re- lates to building a house and clearing three acres of Land; and Lt. Sam1. Wallis, Daniel Lunt, Thomas Berry, Richd. Goss and Willm. Haines be a committee to a Gree with such Parsona as they shall think Proper, to settle on the said Lotts. Aod 'tis hereby determined & voted in the Meeting that the Propriat shall have the Refusall of those Lotts; and if there is not twenty of them appears to take up with those Lotts, on the consideration above, then to be offered and Laid out to any other person that will except the same on the sd consideration.
" Voted, That thirty acres be added to each of the twenty meo meo- tioned in the above vote, to be Laid out in some other part of the town, as the Proprietors shall think best, beside the fifty acres above men- tioned, to make up each man eighty acres.
" l'oted, That each Propriat. pay, at the drawing his Lott, five shillings and what he is behind in his a Rearages in the Rates formerly Raised."
At a proprietors' meeting, held June 12, 1732, at the house of Daniel Lunt, in Greenland, it was
" Voted, James Marden one of the committee in the Room of Daniel Lunt, who Rufuseth to serve.
" Voted, That the selectmen purches a town Book to enter the Rec- orda iu.
" Voted, that the twenty men draw the 20 fifty-acre Lotts. Now, at this meeting, the twenty men diew accordingly,-James Sevey, No. 1 ;
-
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EPSOM.
Richd. Goss, 2; Thos. Berry, 3 ; Daniel Lunt, 4 ; Noah Sevey, 5 ; Will". Lock, 6; Sam1. Dowat, 7 ; Zach. Berry, 8 ; Eben. Berry, 9 ; Solo. Dowst, 10; Sam1. Wallis, 11; Willm, Wallis, 12 ; John Black, 13 ; Josiah Foss, 14 ; Simon Knowles, 15 ; Paul Chapman, 16 ; Joseph Lock, 17; Jotham Fuss, 18 ; Jediah Weeks, 19 ; James Marden, 20."
The above-mentioned lots are what were for many years known as the " home-lots," upon the road leading from Deerfield to Epsom Station, by way of the old Centre. The lots were upon either side of the road, and were one hundred and sixty rods iu length and fifty rods wide, containing fifty acres.
It is noticeable that none of that land is owned at this time by any of the same name as the original proprietors ; neither is it by any of their descendants.
At a proprietors' meeting, at the house of Christo- pher Fredericks, in New Castle, July 4, 1732, it was
" Voted, That there be a committee chosen to Goe to Hampton to see how their Charter is, and to Discorse them about the same.
" J'oted, Capt. Odiorne and Willm, Ilaines the committee to goe to Hampton & Discorse with Chichester Propriat. & see their charter & to make a Return, and to call on the Secty to know the Date of our Grant of our Charter."
At a proprietors' meeting, at the court-house, Portsmouth, October 16, 1832, it was
" Voted, That there be Reserved for the use of the Propriators, to be Divided and Disposed of as the Propria' shall hereafter think proper, viz. : all the Land on the North-West side of Suncook River.
" Voted, That the sd town shall be first Laid out in to four Ranges, each one mile deep, Reserving a Road of Four Rods wide between the first and second Range, & between the third and fourth, the Ranges to run the whole Length of the town, the first Range to begin at the south corner.
" l'oted, That all the Land not before Reserved and Grauted be Laid out on the account of the Propria, and that they Draw Lotts therefor, the method for the same thus, viz. : Number one to begin at the South end of the first Range, & to be be numbered and Laid out to the North- ward till the whole Range be finished ; and then to begio at the North end of the Second Range, & to be numbered to the Southward till the Second Range is finished ; and then to begin at the 3d Range at the South end & Run toward the North till that Range be finished ; and then to begin at the North of the fourth Range and Run to the South- ward, still Reserving Roads between as many of the Lotts as may be tliot convenient.
" Voted, That there be a meeting-house of thirty foot Long and twenty-four feet wide, Immediately Built at the charge of the Propriat, & that Mr. Joshua Brackett, Mr. Willm Lock & Theod. Atkinson, Esq., be a committee to a Gree for the same with any Person or Parsons shall du it soonest and cheapest.
" Voted, Each Propria', before he Draws his Lott, pay into the Select- men as much money ao their several kates are, by which the town is to be Divided, & likewise to pay all their arearages; other ways they shall not be allowed to Draw.
" Town-meeting ended.
" J. SIMPSON, Clerk."
In 1732 the selectmen of Epsom received a notice from the selectmen of Nottingham of a desire to " perambulate the bounds." Accordingly, Lieutenant Samuel Wallis, Mr. Richard Goss and Mr. Samuel Weeks were appointed a committee to act with the committee from Nottingham.
COMMITTEE'S RETURN.
" We, whose names are under writeo, being appointed and hired by the selectmen of the town of Epsom to perambulate the line, according to bounds, viz. : Begining at Notinghem head Line, four miles North east ward from Chester Line, at a maple tree marked with the letter N, on the East side for Notingham, & Ep. on the West side for Epsom ; from thence runing West, North West four miles, to a large pine tree, which is one mile Westward from Suncook River ; from thence Runing North
East & by North six miles to a tree westward of Suncouk River ; from thence Runing East, South East four miles, to a Hemlock tree, standing by Notingham head Line, by a pond called Epsom pond, with several trees marked by it ; from tbence Runing South west & by South, by Notingham head Lino, six miles, to the maple tree first mentioned. Perambulated this twenty-third day of Septeber, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two.
" By us,
" SAMUEL, WALLIS, - Committee.
" RICH'D GOSS,
" SAMIL. WEEKS, " WALTER BRYANT, Surecyor."
At a proprietors' meeting, held the 6th of Novem- ber, 1732, a committee was chosen to take a list of the proprietors of Epsom, then living in New Castle, Rye and Greenland, the committee consisting of three persons, one in each of the above places.
Upon the 9th of the same month the above com- mittee reported forty-seven proprietors in New Cas- tle, thirty-three in Rye and sixty-three in Greenland ; in all, one hundred and forty-three.
The proprietors then proceeded to draw their sey- eral lots, as follows :
No. 1, Nathaniel White ; 2, James Seavey ; 3, John Odiorne ; 4, Ben- jamin Ball ; 5, Israel Mark ; 6, Samuel Haines ; 7, John Foss; 8, Joshua Brackett ; 9, Zachariah Foss ; 10, Jonathan Dockam ; 11, Richard Jur- dun ; 12, Samuel Weeks; 13, John Underwood ; 14, Robert Avery ; 15, John Rindge ; 16, Richard Tarleton ; 17, Henry Trefethen ; 18, Thomas Manneren ; 19, John Wilson ; 20, James Marden ; 21, John Othow ; 22, Samuel Seavey ; 23, John Johnson; 24, John Brackett ; 25, Thoolas Rand; 26, Alse Clark ; 27, Walter Philbrook ; 28, Joseph Weeks; 29, Robert Coats ; 30, George Wallis ; 31, Samuel Haines ; 32, Joshua Foss ; 33, Mary Rendall ; 34, Joshua Berry ; 35, William Berry ; 36, Jeremiah Walford ; 37, Samuel Chapman, Samuel Neale, Jubn Hinckson, Samuel Ring ; 38, John Card; 39, John Tuckerman; 40, James Berry ; 41, Christopher Amazeen ; 42, Samuel Berry ; 43, William Haines ; 44, Reuben Mace; 45, John Leech ; 46, Nathaniel Berry ; 47, Samuel Rand ; 48, John Blake; 49, John Philbrook ; 50, James Jobnson, Ebenezer Johnsoo ; 51, John Yeaton ; 52, Elias Philbrook ; 53, George Keneston ; 54, Joseph Jackson; 55, John Truody ; 50, John Bryant ; 57, Jonathan l'bilbrook ; 58, William Wellis, Jun. ; 59, Edward Martin ; 60, Daniel Lunt; 61, Sampson Shiefe; 62, William Seavey, Jun. ; 63, Joseph simpson, Robert Lear, Thomas Marshall ; 64, Nebemiuh Berry ; 65, Joshua Seavey ; 66, Samuel Brackett; 67, Robert Goss, Robert Goss, Jun. ; 68, Samuel Wallis; 69, Samuel Doust ; 70, John Johnson ; 71, James Chadwick ; 72, Christopher Treadwick ; 73, Richard Goss ; 74, Joshua Weeks ; 75, John Frost ; 76, Solomon Doust ; 77, Barnaby Cruse ; 78, James Whiden ; 79, James Philpot ; 80, Joseph Malvon ; 81, John Stevens ; 82, Widow Hitches ; 83, Nathaniel Rand ; 84, Benjamin Parker ; 85, Philip Pane; 86, William Kelly ; 87, Richard Neale; 88, William Bocknell, Thomas Berry, Isaac Foss; 89, William Perkins, John Berry ; 90, Thomas Rand, Jr. ; 91, John Youren ; 92, Sumuel Huggins, Nathunie! Huggins ; 93, Foster Trofethen ; 94, Colonel Shadrach Walton ; 95, Nathan- iel Johnson ; 96, Benjamin Seavey, Jr. ; 97, Joseph Youren ; 98, Mathias Haines ; 99, Samuel Frost ; 100, Deecon John Cute, William Cate ; 101, William Seavey ; 102, Ebenezer Berry ; 103, Mathias Haines; 104, Benjamin Muserve ; 105, John Whiden ; 106, Henry Pain ; 107, Jonathan Odiorne, Esq .; 108, Walter Abbot ; 109, Jolm'Sherborn ; 110, Joseph Ilill ; 111, William: Wallis; 112, Jonathan Weeks; 113, Johu Brackett; 114, William Jones; 115, Widow Folsom ; 110, William Marden ; 117, Na_ thaniel Watson ; 118, Samuel Davis ; 119, Daniel Greenough ; 120, Joshua Huines ; 121, Samuel Seavey ; 122, Hugh Reed ; 123, Benjamin Seavey ; 124, Captain Samnel Weeks ; 125, Theodore Atkinson; 126, James Ran- dall ; 127, John Neale ; 128, Nathaniel Morrell.
The lots numbered 1 to 41, inclusive, are in the first range upon the easterly side of the town, beginning at Allenstown line; Nos. 42 to 73 are in the second range, beginning at Northwood line; 74 to 107 are in the third range, beginning at the southerly end of the town, and the remainder in the fourth range, num- bering from the north.
446
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
It appears that there was left after the above lots were laid out two thousand acres in the southerly end of the fourth range, which, with some smaller lots at either end of the twenty lots that were first laid out and known as the "home-lots," were known as common lands.
In response to a petition of the inhabitants of the town, the General Assembly of the province of New Hampshire, in the year 1765, by a special enactment made, gave the town the privilege to sell all the com- mon or undivided land in the town, and the money arising from such sale was to be applied to the build- ing of the meeting-house, and John McClary, George Wallis and Ephraim Locke were appointed by said Assembly to advertise and sell the same at public auction, which was done Monday, August 19, 1783.
This common land at the southwestern part of the town was laid out differently from the original lots, being only one-half as long and wide enough to con- tain one hundred acres. Lot No. 1, in the south- west corner, was sold to John Follensbee; No. 2, the next north, to John Blake; No. 3, Reuben Sanborn ; No. 4, Reuben Sanborn ; No. 5, John Hubbard; No. 6, Ephraim Locke; No. 7, Andrew McGaffey ; No. 8, Andrew McClary; No. 9, Andrew McClary; No. 10, Amos Morrill.
No. 1, in the second range of common lands, being the most southerly lot, was sold to John Follenshee; No. 2, John Follensbee; No. 3, Thomas Bickford ; No. 4, Abraham Wallis; No. 5, Nathan Marden; No. 6, Nathan Marden; No. 7, Israel Gilman; No. 8, John McGaffey; No. 9 and No. 10, Amos Morrill; but I find no account of the amount that was received by the town from such sales.
V
"Voted, January 17. 1733, that the name of the Street from the Meet- ing-House upward West Street & Down ward to Notingham from sd Meeting-house East Street.
"July ye 16th, 1733, The Propriator meet acording to Notification.
" Voted Theodore Atkinson, Esq., Moderator.
" Voted Joseph Simpson, Esq., Messrs. Charles Frost, Richª Goss, Sam! Wallta, Joshua Brackett, Willm Haines a Committee to Lay out to each Propriar his Lott or Shier of Land in the town of Epsom according to the Rate he paid in the year 1723, and if one or more of the sd committee fail, the selectmen to appoint others in their Room.
" Voted that the committee Doe the Besiness above sd by the first Novenir and make Return by that time.
" Voted that the committee afore sd be Directed & Impowered to Re- serve out of the sd township as much Land as will be sufficient for the twenty settlers acording to the Vote of the Propriators & to Lay the same out in thirty acre Lotts, Viz., Each of the twenty Settlers thirty acres. Such Reservation to be made where the said Committee shall think proper.
· " Voted that the Propriar of Canterbury be allowed a Road according to the Request of the sd Propriatore made to the meeting by Mr Walter Bryant in behalf of the propristors, which Road is to be Laid out four Rods wide thro the ad town of Epsom as near West North West as con- veniently as may be to avoid unpasable places, the Propriat of Sd Canter- bury to be at the Charge of Laying out said Way.
"December 18, 1733: Voted that the Return of the committee for Lay- ing out the Said Town be axcepted, aod that the Town Remain Laid out according to said Direction.
" Voted that the above Committee be allowed and paid the sum of ten shillings p. Day for the time they were Laying out the said town, and the surveyor twelve shillings pr. day for his plot.
"Dec. 19, 1734: Voted that where as Sundry Persons, without the Leave or License, got iu upon Sundry tracta of Land within this town
ship, and have committed Suodry Tresspases upon Suudry of the Pro- priat perticular shears, which may, if not Prosecuted, prove Detrymen- tell to the said town ; and whereas it will be atteoded with some consid- erable charge to Prosecute on any one of them, which at Present would be to great Burthen for the Prosecutors ; therefore voted that in case any of the Propts in whose Shear any trespass is committed will prosecute such trespassers in an action of trespass that it shall be at the charge of the Propria's in proportion to the Land or Shier each Propritor hath in sd town & the Select men for the time being are hereby impowered and Disired to furnish the prosecutor with money for that end.
" Voted, May 26, 1736, That Mr. Joshua Brackett, Willu Haines, Willm Wallis and Eliaª Philbrook a committee to agree with one or more per- sons to build a saw mill at Epsom, the undertakers to have the privi- ledge of supplying the town's people with boards for ten years, who are not to buy of any others till the ten years are expired, and the owners of the mill are to sell the boards at the price they are sold at in other new towns, provided they keep boards to supply the towo's people."
The following is a full copy of the record of the only meeting of the proprietors for the year 1749:
"The Selectmeo having notified the propritors And free Holders of the Town of Epsom In the Sd Province of Newhampshire, to meet at the Corthouse, In Porsmouth, in Sd province, on Wednesday, the third Day of May, 1749.
"The Proprieters mett according to notifycation and Thare ' Voted Isaac Libbe, moderator; Joseph Haioes, Clark ; francis Lock, John . Weeks, Samuel Libbe, Selectmen ; William Berry, Surver of Hywaes.
"Towu meeting ended.
".JOSEPH HAINES, Clark. " ISAAC LIEBE, Modera'r.
" Ang. 30, 1750: Voted That Doct. John Weeks And Francis Lock. Bee a Committe To See whather The men That had the Twenty Aml 30 Akers Lotes Have Fulfiled Acording to Charter and agreement."
The following is from the "Historical Sketch of Ep- som," hy Rev. Jonathan Curtis, published in 1823 :
"INCURSIONS OF THE INDIANS .- In the early days of the town the io- habitants were kept in a state of almost continual alarm by the incur- sions of the Indians. For a considerable time after this settlement was commenced only the men ventured to remain in the place during the summer season, and then they must keep their arms by them while they labored on their lands. During the winter there was much less danger from the Indians. Even long after the men had removed their families into the place, so feeble was their defense against the attacks of their savage neighbors, that, whenever any immediate danger was appre- hended, they either sent their families away or fled with them to the garrison at Nottingbam. At length a house was erected by Captain Aodrew McClary within the limita of the town, and near the present residence of Mr. Joseph Lawrence, which was made proof against the assaults of the Indians, being surrounded by a high, wooden wall, en- tered by a heavy, well-secured gate. Thither the inhabitants fied st night, whenever danger was apprehended.
"CAPTIVITY OF Mns. McCoy .- The Indiana were first attracted to the new settlements in the town by discovering McCoy at Suncook (oow Pembroke). This, as nearly as can be ascertained, was in the year 1747. Reports were spread of the depredations of the Indians in various places, and McCoy had heard that they had been seen lurking about the woods at Penacook, (now Concord). He went as far as Pembroke : sscertained that they were in the vicinity ; was somewhere discovered by them and followed home. They told his wife, whom they afterwards made prison- er, that they looked through cracka around the house and saw what they had for supper that night. They, however, did not discover them- selves till the second day after. They probably wished to take a little time to learn the strength and preparation of the inhabitants. The next day Mrs. McCoy, attended by their two dogs, went down to see if any of the other families had returned from the garrison. She found no one. On her return, as she was passing the block-house, which stood near the present site of the meeting-house, the dogs, which had passed around it, came running back growling and very much excited, Their appearaoce induced her to make the best of her way home. The Indians afterwards told her that they then lay concealed there and saw the dogs when the y came round.
"McCoy, being now strongly suspicious that the Indians were actually in town, determined to set off the next day with his family for the gar- rison at Nottingham. His family now consisted of himself, his wife and
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EPSOM.
sol John. The younger children were still at the garrison. They ac- cordiugly secured their house as well as they could and all set off next morning-Mel'oy aud his son with their guns, though without ammu- vitiou, having fired away what they brought with them in hunting.
" As they were traveling a little distance east of the place where the meeting-house now stauds, Mrs. Med'oy fell a little in the rear of the others. This circumstance gave the Indians a favorable opportunity for separating her from her husband and son, The Indians-three men and a boy-lay in ambush near the foot of Marden's hill, not far from the junction of the mountain road with the main road. Here they suf- fered McCoy and his son to pass, but as his wife was passing them they reached from the bushes and took hold of her, charging her to make no noise, and covering her mouth with their hands, as she cried to her hus- band for assistance. Her husband, hearing ber cries, turned, and was ahout coming to her relief, but he no sooner began to advance than the Indians, expecting probably that he would fire upon them, began to raise their pieces, which she pushed one side and motioned to her friends to make their escape, knowing that their guns were not loaded, and that they would doubtless be killed if they approached. They accordingly ran into the woods and made their escape to the garrison. This touk place August 21, 1747.
" The Iodians theu collected together what booty they could obtain, which consisted of an iron trammel, from Mr. George Wallace's, the apples of the only tree which bore in town, which was in the orchard now owned by Mr. David Grithin, and some other trifling articles, und prepared to set off with their prisoner for Canada,
" Before 'they took their departure they conveyed Mrs. McCoy to a place near the little Suncook River, where they left her in the care of the young Indian, while the three men, whose names were afterwards ascertained to be Plansawa,1 Sabatis and Christi, went away, and were for some time absent. During their absence Mrs. MeCoy thought of attempting to make her escape, She saw opportunities when she thought she might dispatch the young Indian with the trammel, which, with other things, was left with them, and thus perhaps avoid some strange and barbarous death or a long and distressing captivity. But, Ju the other hand, she knew not at what distance the others were. If she at- tempted to kill her young keeper she foight fail. If sho effected her purpose in this she might be pursued and overtaken by a cruel and re- vengeful foe, and then some dreadful death would be her certain portion. On the whole, she thought best to endeavor to prepare her mind to bear what might be no more than a period of savage captivity. Suon, how- ever, the Indians retured and put an end, for the present, to all thoughts of escape. From the direction in which they went and returned, and from their stumtty appearance, she suspected what their business had been. She told them 'she guessed they had been burning her house.' Plausawa, who could speak some broken English, informed her they had.
" They now commenced their long and tedions journey to Canada, in which the poor captive might well expect that great and complicated suffering would be her lot. She did, indeed, find the journey fatiguing, and her fare scant and precarious. But, in her treatment from the Indians, she experienced a very agreeable disappointment. The 'kind- nens she received from them was far greater than she luul expected from those who were so often distinguished for their cruelties. The apples they had gathered they sted for her, giving her one every day. In this way they lasted her as far on the way as Lake Champlain. They gave her the last as they were crossing that lake in their canves. Thiscircum- stance gave to the tree on which the apples grew the name of 'Isabella's tree," her name being Isabella. In many ways did they appear desirons of mitigating the distresses of their prisoner while on their tedious jour- ney. When night came on, and they halted to reposo themselves in the dark wilderness, Plansawa, tho head man, would make a little conch in the leaves a little way from theirs, cover her up with his own blanket, and there she was suffered to sleep undisturbed till morning. When they came to a river which must be forded one of them wonkl carry her over on his back. Nothing like insult or indecency did they ever offer her during the whole time she was with them. They carried her to Camaula and soll her as a servant to a French family, whence, at the cluse of that war, she returned home. But so comfortable was her condition there, and her husband being a man of rather a rough and violent tem- per, she declared she never should have thought of attempting the jour- ney home were it not for the sake of her children.
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