USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Sanbornton > History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Vol. I - Annals > Part 9
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56
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
Very touching are the expressions of sympathy which the needy settlers mutually expressed for each other from time to time. There were signals to catch the eye : and when the neighbors became sufficiently numerous or close together, watchwords were agreed upon, to be shouted in case of danger. The W'm. Smith family, east of the Prescott place, on the mountain ( New State), used to have a pole erected on which to hang a bienaln of dietrees. signal, to indicate to their nearest neighbors, the Osgoods,
a mile or more distant, that they were needing help. The Mrs. Benjamin Sanborn already alluded to was once befriemled by her neighbor, Mrs. Danforth, who, hearing in Mr. Sauboru's absence that his wife was short of bread for her children, baked some ludian cakes by the fire, and carried them up to her !
The families of James Cate and Nathaniel Burley ( as before related) had moved to town nearly together, in the early spring of 1767. A gifted great-granddaughter of the former, Miss Eliza J Cate, has feelingly described from her father's lips the loneliness and the rela-
tions of the two families on their first winter's sojourn in town : how that
Quotation from Slies E. J. Cale.
" No roads or even paths or even openings led to either house.
All winter, therefore, -and the winters were long lu that new region, - Mrs. Burley saw the inside of her poor little house of logs ; saw the snow falling almost like a sheet ; saw her husband go out and come In with a sinking heart; saw him sometimes disappear on his snow-shoes at the edge of the clearing, where the dreary woods set in. This was when he went away for necessities, or to see the face of a fellow, which itself might be reckoned us a necessity ; and when he came back, that was a pleasure. . When spring emme' (I use my father's words now ), ' grandfather took down his show -shoes, and told grandmother that he believed he must go over and see Effect of the winter's lune. how the Burley's were getting along ; and when Mrs. Burley saw liness. him coming out of the woods and drawing towards the house on the show, she cried out, poor woman, she was so glad ! She hur- ried out through the deep show to meet him, tumbling, and crying as if her heart was broke!' And perhaps it was partly broken. Perhaps no young woman goes through a season of such dreariness and privation without her heart's receiving some strains or hurts it never quite gets over. It may be as serene, as happy, perhaps happier afterwards for such experience; but not so clastic and strong a heart."
Some of the later settlers, like Elisha Smith at the Bay and the Philbrick brothers, were acenstomed to come to town for the purpose of clearing their land and " commencing " a home before "Clearing "
expeditions of the later bet. tlers.
moving their families. Daniel Tilton, who first located on
the present Charles Cawley place, was one of these IIe walked up from Exeter at least four or five different times, bringing a bag of breadstuff and pork on his back, which, with fish
INCIDENTS AND SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SETELERS. 57
caught from Salmon Brook, would suffice him for a time ; when, pro- visions failing, he would return. Mr. Tiltou used also to put pitch- pine knots into the mouth of his oven and work at shoemaking by their light ; which circumstance reminds us of the fact that Several occu- tanning and shoemaking, besides farming, were the joint pationa com- Lined. occupations of several of the early settlers : instance. thirce of the Sauborn brothers, - John, Josiah, and William ; also Capt. Aaron Sanborn, and at least two of the Lanes, - Deacon Samuel and " Master" Joshua : the latter also, during his first years in town, being, with great versatility, a noted surveyor and teacher of singing schools.
The religious element was largely cultivated in the minds and hearts of these carly settlers, as will duly appear under the chapter on " Ecclesistical Ilistory." It was not uncommon in the opening years of the present century to see fifty horses at the meeting-house on the Sabbath, with saddles and pillions used for the accommo-
Families at- feuding meet- dation of the ladies, for riding to and from meeting on ing on horse. back. horseback behind their husbands! Or, to cite a single instance ont of many : from one of the distant corners of the old township, Capt. James Prescott used to walk six and oue half miles every Sabbath to the old town meeting-house at the Square. llis father and mother would ride on oue horse, his older brother and sister on another, the smaller children riding with either, as more cou- venient, while he depended on his own feet ! No carriages then !
The first chaise was driven to town in 1800 by Israel Adams, and this was the only one in 1803. Prior to 1818 no more than seven others are believed to have been owned here ;
The first
elmises in
towil. and these, as vividly remembered by the late Benaiah S. Crockett, were Peter Hersey's, Audrew Lovejoy's, Nathan Taylor's, Moses March's, Thomas Kimball's Nathaniel Piper's, and Stuart Hoyt's. As to the priority of four-wheeled vehicles, a difference of statement has appeared. It lies between the wagon made at Hamp- stead by David Fogg, in 1806, afterwards sold to Page Philbrook, and by him driven to town. and that introduced by Clark Gordon. the clothier on Salmon Brook. The former was more probably the first, the latter more striking and better remembered. Its body was capa- cious, holding ten bushels. It was painted gaudily, in large checks, and set on the axle-tree with big springs only under the seat. T'In two first It was popular, and was " let " continually for two or three and antine- years, paying its original cost, $70, several times over ! quent wagons. This must have been prior to 1814, soon after which wagons began to multiply in town from the shop of Joseph W. Clement, at the Tin Corner. Their cost at first was abont $30,
58
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
being set on wooden axle-trees, with a hole for the tongne, and linch- pins instead of nuts. Iron axle-trees next came into use ; then leather thoroughbraces ; and finally elliptical springs.
Of the houses, furniture, and surroundings of the earlier residents in Sanbornton, together with their domestic customs and employments, the same might be said as of scores of other towns in New Hampshire
Quotations and New England. We cannot do better, therefore, than from P'rot sun- enrich these pages by a few graphic pen pictures from boru's " ilis- tory of New Chap. LXVII. of Prof. Edwin D. Sanborn's excellent Hampshire." " Ilistory of New Hampshire " : -
"The prhultive log-house, dark, dirty, and dismal, rarely outlived its first ocenpant. With the progress of society In a new town, It would look like premeditated poverty for the sou to be content with the first shelter that his father reured lu the wilderness. The first framed houses were usually small, low, and cold. The half-house, about twenty feet square, satisfied the mmmmbl- tlous. The double house, forty by twenty feet In dimensions, Indicated prog- ress and wealth. It was designed for shelter, not for comfort or elegance. The windows were small, without blinds or shutters. The fireplace was sutil- clently spacious to receive logs of three or four feet In dimmueter, with an oven In the back [or on the side], and a due nearly large enough to allow the ascent of a balloon. A person might literally sit In the chimney-corner and study astronomy. All the cooking was done by this fre. Around It, also, gathered the family at evening, often numbering six to twelve children, and the cricket in the hearth kept company to their prattle. Thus, with the hardships came the comforts of life in the days 'lang syne.'
"The furniture was simple and useful, all made of the wood of the native forest trees. Pine, birch, cherry, walnut, and the curled maple were most frequently chosen by the cabinet-maker. Vessels
Hours and furniture of of iron, copper, and tin were used In cooking. The dressers, the earlier in. habitants. extending from floor to celling In the kitchen, contained the mugs, basins, and plates of pewter, which shone on the farmer's board at the the of queals.
"The post of the housewife was no sinecure. She had charge both of the dairy and kitchen, besides spinning and weaving, sewing und The house- knitting, washing and mending for the ' men folks.' The best Wife's dutice. room, often called the ' square room,' contained a bed, a bureau or desk or a chest of drawers, a clock, and possibly a brass fire set. Its walls were as naked of ornaments as the cave of Machpelah. We are describing a period which antedates the advent of pictures, pianos, carpets, lace cur- tains, and Venetian blinds. It was an age of simple manners, industrious habits, and untarnished morals. Contentment, enjoyment, and longevity were prominent characteristics of that age."
As in part confirming the above, the following sketch of the early domestic life, chimneys. houses, etc., of Sanbornton in particular, as taken from the lips of the venerable John B. Perkins, will be appro- priate : -
59
INCIDENTS AND SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
"They used to raise potatoes, corn, rye, and a little wheat, living princi-
Mr. Perkins's pally on Indian and rye, with wheat bread occasionally . for com- sketch. pany.' While clearing the land a good deal of rye was raised.
Benn porridge, milk porridge, and milk, In warm weather, were common articles of food ; especially for the children, who never thought of con- ing to the table with their elders, but sat in the corners with their
Domestic ille
In Sanbornton. porridge or mullk. The fireplaces were elght feet long, and the boys had thelr blocks in each corner, from which they could look up and watch the stars or see if the ' lug-pole' was all safe. This lug-pole was a green stlek across the chimney, high above the ordinary fame, from which the 'trammels' were hung : these latter being long, straight pleces of iron, punched with holes at convenient distances to let the 'small piece' up or down, -at ' hook' on lower end of which the pot or kettle was hung ; hence the familiar expression . pothooks and trammels.' The ' crane' was a modern invention. The red-oak mantel-piece would occasionally take fre, the tire- places and chhinney's (up to the first celllng) being built of stone; but above that the 'cat chimney' was usually found to be safe, though made of sticks piled up cob-house fashion, with interstices filled, and surface within and without plastered over, with clay mortar mixed with straw.
"Among the first two-story houses erected In town were those of Parson Chimneys and Woodquan, Sergeant Jolm Sauborn, and Daniel Sanborn, Esq. ; two-story and around the llrst of these the magnificent ehus were set out houses. by Philip Hunt, under Mr. Woodman's directlou."
Adding yet a few facts, incidents, and memories, which are pecul- iur to our town : It is certain that wooden plates for table use were here earliest in vogue, preceding the pewter in many fami- Wooden plates lies. Specimens are still to be seen among the descend-
earliest in
vugue. ants of some of our oldest families, in some cases elab- orately " turned." Dea David Philbrook, it is said, never would use any other than a wooden plate till the end of his life. The long rows of pewter dishes. all nicely scoured, upon the " dressers," were to some an extravagant innovation ; while earthen dishes could never for an hour be tolerated. because they dulled the knives ! The music of certain sounds, now seldom or never heard, still The almost for- lingers in the memory of a few : the time-beating ilails,
golten sounds. the hum of the busy spinning-wheels, the clatter of the looms, and the noise of that machine, almost of forgotten name, which was used in " swingling " the tax ! All articles of clothing before the present century, both for men's and women's wear, Chiutz os. were of home manufacture. When the Kimballs first hotuespun. came to Sanbornton Square, in 1803, calico was an un- known commodity, and one of the children of that family excited great curiosity among the " natives" by wearing a chintz dress to meeting !
A table-eloth used at the sixty-third anniversary of the marriage of Capt. John B. Perkins and his wife, Comfort Sanborn (May 9, 1872),
60
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
was the same as that used at their marriage proper, in 1809. The fax was grown on her father's, Dr. B Sanborn's, land
An ancient (now Brown place), at the Square, spun very delicately in
rauborntou
table cloth. Dr. Sauborn's house, and manufactured into a fine quality of so-called " diaper cloth," by Elijah True, a weaver, who lived where now Jona. S. Taylor, First Baptist Parish. The cloth is at least ninety years old, and in a state of excellent preservation.
The first apple-tree in town was planted by the Danforths, on the Plaius, and was said in 1870 to have been " quite recently The dret apple- tree and hlaca. standing." To Mrs. Daniel Sanborn might have been accorded the honor of introducing the first lilacs aud burdocks !
What the '. Forefathers' Song," at the head of this chapter, says of the grasses of a new township reminds ns of the tradition that the first English grass ever seen in Sanboruton was the conunon Earliest Eug- red clover, which was brought by the Copp girls from lista grann. Canterbury, and set out, watered, and watched by them with great interest till it bloomed ! And apropos of pumpkins, it is related that Aunt Moses Thompson, on the occasion of an annual Thanksgiving, found she had neither sugar nor molasses in the house, and no chance of obtaining cither ; so she boiled away l'umpkins for sweeteting. several pumpkins, and thus extracted the "sweetening " with which to make her mince pies, since the latter must not fail, at Thanksgiving, in any emergency !
The first framed barn was erected by Josiah Sanborn, in the valley of Thomas's Brook, east of the Square. The first cows in town fared hard in winter from the lack of good hay, and went farrow First huproved
stuck in town. for three years or more. To a Mr. Pease, who came to Steele's Ilill from Newmarket after 1768, and made ouly a short stay in town, is yet aseribed the introduction of the first improved stock into the town of Sanbornton !
Even after grist mills were built in Sanbornton, and the settlers had ceased to bring their meal from distant towns on their backs, yet the Smith brothers, one or both, on the mountain, continned to pulverize their corn on a large flat or hollowed rock, as the Indians
Primitive had done before them (witness a stone used for that pur- Iumde of' grind- ing corn. pose, as supposed, near the Esq. Clark place, in Franklin) ; while in the east part of the town it was still easier for certain families to boat their grists across the Great Bay to Meredith Bridge, and even across the second bay to Lake Village. Mr. Elisha Smith, in particular, had an old-fashioned boat made of An original beat upon the Bay. two large pine logs, ench hollowed out on one side and mortised together. This boat would carry sixteen persons ;
6;1
INCIDENTS AND SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
and Mr. Smith was accustomed to cross the Bay with each of his boys who was large enough to carry a peek of grain (himself one and a half bushels) over the neck of land in Laconia, from Going to mill Danforth Rock by the present County Fann to the Lake by water. Village miller's boat, ou the shore of Round Bay !
To illustrate the conscientiousness of one of the early settlers, Stephen Gale, Sen., when measuring the corn he was selling ou one of
"Cheating " the scarce years, would impulsively put in two additional
the Evil One. quarts after the bargained bushel. He explained it by say-
ing he was tempted by the devil to take two quarts out of each bushel ; but he was rather determined to " resist," and " cheat" the Evil One by adding two quarts instead !
The dry wit of another prominent man among the earliest citizens of town, Esq. William Harper, was shown one day when his neighbor. Parson Woodman, sent his boy to him with the message, " Sir wants to borrow your rule." The Squire sent his Bible, which was promptly returned with a graceful acknowledgment of the joke. .. But," said the Squire, " that's the rule I always go by !"
Sports and Wrestling was a favorite amusement on all great days,
pleasantry.
like raisings, military reviews, and even at the ordination of ministers ! There was a match on the day of Mr. Bodwell's ordi- uation, and two men came from Hill or Bridgewater on purpose to enter the lists.
Fast days were generally regarded, and kept as sacredly as the Sabbath ; but Mr. Ebenezer Sanborn proved a slight exception to the rule, for being detected sawing his boards on that day, at the old Sanborn mill, Gulf Brook (as that mill was owned by the Observance of neighbors and used by turns, and his turn came upon the Fast day.
day of the annual fast), he was complained of to Mr. Woodman, and brought before the church. However, by one of his very shrewd and caustie remarks, he completely squelched the pro- cecdings !
The administration of justice on one occasion during those first years of the town's settlement is thus described : An axe had been stolen, and the thief was taken up, lynch-law fashion, and carried before John Sanborn, as the principal citizeu in that part of the town, for trial. Ile was sentenced to have a dozen lashes with a beech withe ; but no one was found willing to excente the sentence. The judge asked him whom he would choose to lay ou the stick. Ile Administration chose the judge (Mr. Sanborn) himself, who accordingly of justice : a directed that the culprit should be tied up at the north- peculiar cuoc.
west corner of his own (Mr. Sanborn's) house. Quite a umaber had assembled from all directions, and Mr. Sanborn was
62
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
inclined to make it an occasion fully as much of sport as of justice, designing chiefly to frighten the man, and yet satisfy those who arraigned him. He accordingly stood and inflicted the punishment very lightly at first, the victim scarcely feeling it at all, till he came to the last blow, which was dealt with considerable severity.
Another unique personage of those primitive times in Sanbornton, who shall here be nameless, is said to have called upon a wealthy man in Newburyport, offering to sell him a valuable tract of land, of about one hundred aeres, very cheaply, giving the detinite bounds A sharp bar- Kalu. -so many rods cast, south, cte. - from established points ;
but when the purchaser came to identify and take posses- sion of his land some years after, he found it mostly occupied, accord- iug to the designated bounds, by the waters of the Bay !
This same individual was the only one in Sanbornton of whom we have any detinite tradition as having thought himself to have suffered from the delusion of witchcraft. The witch, as he claimed, was Mrs. Mehitable Danforth, on the Plains. IIe, Mr. - , was on a certain occasion bringing half a barrel of rum to town with an ox team. Mrs. Danforth, as he alleged, wished him to stop and tap the rum at her house ; and upon his declining to do so, bewitched one of his oxen. Mr. . - beat the ox severely. Pour Mrs. Danforth became very lame, and was compelled to keep her bed several days.
Witchcraft in
Sauborutou. Mr. - was pursued by the Evil Spirit, and used to show prints of the cloven foot on several rocks, which were made, as he said, in the chase across the pasture near Mr. John Per- kins's, and are still there to be seen ! The only strange thing now appearing is that such ludicrous stories were ever " credited by so many of the inhabitants of the town," as affirined by the annalist of 1841. The truth of the matter was doubtless this : that while the said Mr. - was crossing the Danforth Brook with his undesirable load, brought all the way from Concord, one of his cattle faltered ; and feel- ing thus vexed or "plagued," he charged his difficulty upon " the witch Ilitty," which he should more reasonably have done upon the weariness of the oxen and his own muddled brain. This same Mr. - , at another time, accounted for the curious marks on the rocks - one of a man's boot, and another of the cloven foot - in the following mauner : His Satanic Majesty appeared to him oue night, desiring to hold an argument ; aud when baffled in the discussion, retreated in great haste, leaving his footprints upon the solid rock !
Perhaps, in justice to the worthy people of this town, who are once said to have believed these stories, the remarks of our carlier annalist should be added : -
63
INCIDENTS AND SKETCHES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
"It will not appear strange that this delusion should have prevailed here,
Juni observa- when we consider the extent to which it was once carried in the
tions of' the sister colony. There it was not contined to any one class in formuer annatist. society ; but persons of rank aud respectability, men of talents, learning, and plety, believed in the actual existence of witcheratt. Doubts upon the subject were looked upon as superstition; and the delusion prevailed to such a degree, that these stories of mystery and wonder, sup- ported by the rehearsal of some midnight adventure, or nocturnal fright, were the theme of every village circle, until, heightened by imagination, they became facts, and a ghost appeared in every shadow and a witch in every sound. Nor was the prevalence of these opinions continued to this. country. Repeated trials for witcheraft were had in England; and even the learned Baxter pronounced the unbeliever in it an 'obdurate Sadducce.' When we look back upon those times of infatunted madness, and contemplate the amaz- ing extent to which the mischief might have been carried, had not reason interposed and put a check upon the prevailing malady, it should inspire ns with gratitude and thankfulness that we are free from such scenes, and that such delusions have ceased to exist among us."
-
CHAPTER IX.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
" Be this the chosen site ; the virgin sod, Moistened from age to age by dewy eve, Shall disappear, and grateful earth receive The corner-stone from hands that build to God." - WORDSwonru.
So early as Dec. 31, 1748, in the original graut of the Masouian proprietors, we find first provision made for the religious privileges of coming generations in the town. Two of the "shares " are designated as follows : " One for the first minister of the gospel who shall be set- tled on the said land and continue there for life, or till a regular dismis- sal, then to go to his heirs and assigns" ; the other share to be " for Religious pro- and toward the support of the gospel ministry there, for-
Visions in the ever," and the one-hundred-aere lots of each of these two
Masonian shares " shall be laid ont as near the place where the meet- grant. iug-house shall be built as may conveniently be done, and not to be drawn as y" other lots." Six acres of land were also left " within said boundaries" (probably of the two shares just mentioned) "for building a meeting-house upon, making a Training Field or Bury- ing Place, and for any other public use the inhabitants see cause to make of it." The meeting-house must be built " fit for the public worship of God" within ten years from bestowing the grant, and the preaching of the gospel must be maintained " contiuwally after twelve years from that time."
But the first recorded action on the part of the grantee proprietors " toward the supporte of a Gospel Minister in Sanborn First action of Town" is found " July 13, 1767," when it was voted that the grautees.
" they would raise a dollar on each right, liable to pay taxes, for to hire a minister this present year," and Josiah Sanborn, Capt. Joseph Hoit, and Ebenezer Sanborn were chosen a committee for that purpose. Whether a preacher was actually hired during the summer of 1767 is meertain ; but June 17, 1768, " fifty dolers " were voted " to be laid out in preaching this summer," and the two first of the former committee were chosen to carry it into effect. A similar vote was passed for each of the three following years. On the 29th of July, 1771, the proprietors began to afford more substantial aid, it
65
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
being voted that $10 be raised on each original " right," liable to be taxed, to assist and help the inhabitants of the town in supporting a gospel minister, if they settle one among them. Three dollars of each ten were to be paid the first year, within six months after
Assistance the minister is first settled, $3.00 more within twelve wisely offered months after the first payment, $2.00 the third year, $1.00 to the selllers. the fourth year, and $1.00 the fifth year, in case the inhab- itants settle one within two years from the passing of this vote, or other- wise to be of none effect. This was wisely arranged to stimulate the people to immediate effort, and aid them for a course of years accord- ing to their disposition and ability to help themselves. The same favorable regard of the proprietors for the settlers was Similar cucour-
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