USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Washington > History of Washington, New Hampshire, from the first settlement to the present time, 1768-1886 > Part 5
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
sented by the Hon. John H. Goodale of Nashua, which is selected from a paper written by him for the Granite Monthly, in the year 1878.
Mr. Goodale says, that Col. Moody D. Lovewell, then an aged man, informed him, that his grandfather the cel- ebrated scout, never had a fight with Indians in the vi- cinity of Lovewell's mountain, but that a kinsman of the Captain, when returning from an excursion into the Con- necticut valley, ascended the mountain to ascertain the points of the compass so as to find the direction of Duns- table, as Nashua was then called. "In the autumn of 1747, Nehemiah Lovewell and John Gibson starting from the present site of Nashua and following the Souhegan river as far as Milford and Wilton, turned to the north and crossed the height of land in the present limits of Stoddard; and on the fifth day arrived at Charlestown, the destined end of their journey. On the 16th of Nov., they started on their return, purposing to cross the highest point of land between the Connecticut and Merrimac, farther to the north than they had been before. On the fourth day, from a high ridge, they saw a high and naked summit, which they rightly judged was the height they were seek- ing. It was past mid-day when their dinner was finished. Walking with renewed strength they reached the base of the mountain, and while the sun was yet an hour high the two men reached the bald summit. Like all New Hamp- shire peaks, whose altitude approaches three thousand feet, the crest of the mountain was of solid granite. The two explorers had never looked on so wide and beautiful a panorama. Westward was the far distant outline of a range now known as the Green Mountains. To the north- west were the bald peaks of the Ascutney and Cardigan mountains. Further north Kearsarge was seen; and through the frosty atmosphere were revealed the snow white peaks of Franconia. Westward the highlands of Chester and Nottingham bounded the vision ; while nearer,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
reposed in quiet beauty the Uncannoonucs, then well known landmarks to every explorer.
Warned by the freezing atmosphere they hastened down to a dense growth of spruce trees, where they made their camp for the night. The woods seemed alive with squirrels, rabbits and partridges ; but the hunters were weary, and, as their sacks were still laden with coon's meat, these visitors were left unharmed. The manner in which these wild tenants of the wood lingered around, led the men to believe that they had never before ap- proached a camp-fire or seen a human form.
Just before day-break Lovewell, bidding his companion prepare breakfast, returned to the summit of the moun- tain. In after years he was wont to say, the stars had never seemed so near as when he stood alone on that mountain top. The loneliness of the scene suggested to him, what was probably the truth, that he and his compan- ion were the first white men who had set foot on the mountain." And the narrator further states, that it seems most likely that the name of Lovewell was given to the mountain at the time of this ascent, and by the explorer Lovewell, a relative of Capt. John Lovewell, who was killed by Indians in Fryeburg, Maine, in the year 1725.
CHAPTER IX.
-
FLORA AND FAUNA. .
F the evergreen trees we find here the spruce in three varieties-white, double and bald spruce ; hemlock in large quantities; also fir balsam. White pine was quite plentiful and of large size many years ago, but all that is of any value for timber has been cut away, and now there are found here only trees of small size, and worth but little.
The deciduous forest trees are more numerous, and consist of maple-white, red, and rock or sugar maple, from which sugar is made in large quantities each spring. The beech is a common tree though not as extensively found as the maple. The birch-white, black and yellow ; also three kinds of ash-the white and black or water ash and the mountain ash, which is occasionally seen and valued for its graceful foliage, and the beauty of its fruit in autumn. The American elm is found in the meadows along the streams, beautiful with its spreading branches, and is fre quently seen "rearing its stately form, and casting its deep shade over our pleasant homes." The red oak for- merly grew on Oak hill in abundance, but it is not as plentiful now. The poplar is quite common, the bass- wood found to some extent ; the cherry in three varieties- the wild red, the choke and the wild black cherry ; also
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
the hornbeam, lever-wood, willow, mulberry and locust trees, and the sumach, besides other specimens that have been planted for ornament or use.
The list of herbs includes the mints, pennyroyal, spike- nard (Aralia Racemoso), sarsaparilla (Aralia Nudicaulis), lobelia, cohosh or papoose root, elecampane, and doubtless others which have escaped our notice.
Nature has bestowed the charm of the wild flower on our hills and through our valleys in as great a degree as is usual in a cold climate.
"Everywhere about us they are glowing, Some like stars to tell us spring is born ; Others their blue eyes with tears o'erflowing, Stand like Ruth amid the golden corn."
In the early spring, even before the snow has gone from the shady places on the north hillsides, and the shade of the woods, the liverwort or Hepatica shows its modest flower, varying in shade from blue to white; about the same time the trailing arbutus (Epigasa Repeus) begins to put forth its pink buds, followed by the fragrant blossom; then the violets come and deck the fields with a beauty all their own-blue, white and yellow, but mostly blue. The wake-robin (Trillium) is an early flower. The dogs-tooth violet (yellow Erythronium) is rarely seen in this vicinity. The anemone or wind flower on the hills, and the strawberry, with its pretty blossom giving promise of luscious fruit in due season. The checkerberry, with its thick, shining leaves and scarlet fruit. The side-sad- dle flower (Cypripedium Acaule), the columbine (Aqui- legia Canadensis), are all early visitants. June brings the swamp pink (Azalea Vicosa), fragrant and beautiful; and later on in the season the pond lily and the cardinal flower (Cardinalis Lobelia) and arrowhead (Sagitaria), the iris, also called blue flag, and, until the severe frosts of
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
autumn, our hedges and roadsides are gay with the bloom of golden rod and asters.
"Of plants that you call weeds : Sedge, hardhack, mullien, yarrow, They knit their roots and sift their seeds, Where any grassy wheel-track leads Through country by-ways narrow."
When our ancestors came to Washington, and the hills were almost entirely covered with forests, there were many wild animals here that have now left this part of the state, and retreated north to the mountainous regions and large tracts of woodland. Bears were so common that they caused much trouble to the owners of cattle and sheep. They often descended from Lovewell's, into the valley where the village of East Washington is now situated, and visited the farmer's cattle-yard or hog-pen. In the south-western part of the town a citizen, who had gained the rank of major, was once confronted by a bear which rose on its hind feet before him, whereupon he killed him with his gun, at the same time saying, "I'll teach you to look a major in the face."
In 1803 a bounty of twenty dollars was given to S. Willard and others for killing a wolf. The wild-cat was very troublesome even as late as 1831. In that year, through the influence of Nehemiah Jones, a club was formed to encourage the destruction of these animals, each member paying a certain sum yearly, and it reached the amount of twenty-four dollars for each animal killed.
The lynx was not as common as the wild-cat, but was occasionally seen. One was killed by Capt. Dinsmore about the year 1830. Jonathan Kendall caught one in a trap a few years later, and H. B. Millen another in 1860.
Moose were found here in good numbers, and the flesh was highly esteemed for food. The skin and horns were also sold for a good sum.
The beaver and otter were found by our streams and
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ponds to some extent ; the former is never scen now, the latter but rarely. Traces of the beaver have been seen on the Ashuelot, and the enlargement of that strcam into small ponds is supposed by some to have been caused by the building of their curiously constructed dams. The mink and muskrat frequent our streams, and the fox is still followed by the hunter on the hills. The raccoon, woodchuck, gray, red, striped and flying squirrels, and rabbits abound ; the hedgehog is seen occasionally.
The hawk and owl are plentiful enough to cause some trouble to those who raise poultry-their visitations to the yard and roost being not an unusual occurrence. The crow, blue jay, chickadee and snow-bird remain here dur- ing the winter ; but, like the dwellers in the cities, who come to our hills and villages in summer, the robin, spar- row, bobolink, thrush, oriole, blackbird, swallow, bluebird, and many other kinds, make their annual visits to our fields and woods. Ducks swim our ponds, though not in so large numbers as in former years. The loon also finds its way from the sea to our inland bodies of water, and its shrill cry is sometimes heard as it flies swiftly along from one pond to another. The whippoorwill's plaintive note can be heard in the summer evenings. Partridges are plentiful, the quail pipes its note at harvest time, and the woodcock, in one locality where the alders fringe a stream, make their annual visits. The cat-bird, the king fisher, the woodpecker and other feathered songsters,
"Blackbirds, and blue and brown, And all the tribe of noisy things, With linings in their ashen wings, Soft as the thistle's down,"
charm us with their beauty, or delight us with their tune- ful melcdy.
CHAPTER X.
POPULATION AND MAPS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Population of Washington at the time of each census. Maps of New Hampshire. Buildings burned. Fire of 1830. Baptist church burned.
HE first census of which we find a record was taken by Isaac Temple of Limerick, now Stod- dard, in the year 1773. It gives the population of the township as one hundred and thirty-two.
In 1775 the population was given as follows :
Males under 16 years of age, 47
from 16 to 50, not in army, 29
All males above 50 years of age, 4
in the army, 6
All females in the township, 77
Negroes, slaves for life, O
Guns, 13
Powder, 6
A true and exact account of the several degrees of per- sons in Camden from us.
ARCHIBALD WHITE, SIMEON FARNSWORTH.
What relation the last two items had to the town cen- sus, each reader may determine for himself.
In 1786 the number of inhabitants was 474.
The following returns were made as each census was taken :
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IIISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
1790, number of inhabitants in Washington,
545
1 800,
819
1810,
820
1820,
992
1830,
1135
1840,
1IO3
1850,
1053
1860,
897
1870,
839
1880,
682
These statistics speak no more plainly of decreasing numbers, than does the deserted farm so often seen, once productive fields given over to the flocks and herds, the dwelling left vacant or torn down, nothing remaining of the worn threshold over which busy feet once trod, and the school-houses with but few children to occupy them. These facts tell us as surely that our population is de- creasing. That the sons prefer the town to the country, and are leaving the homes of their fathers for what they imagine to be fairer scenes, and easier paths. Happy will it be for them if in after years they turn not sadly back and say regretfully,
"Oh, if I could only trace once more The field path to the farm-house door, The old green meadow could I see, How happy I would be."
The first map of New Hampshire that recognized the town of Washington as a township, bears the date of 1750 ; another, and a better one, is from a survey made in 1755, styled a map of New England; it represents the line of towns in which No. 8 is included. North of this line is an almost unbroken wilderness ; south of it there appears to be no settlement until Keene is reached. This map was published by act of Parliament, by Thomas Jeffries, Geographer to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, in Nov., 1755.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
A later map, from surveys made in 1761, gives the Monadnock range of towns, and designates No. 8 as New Concord; Lempster is called Duppliss ; Acworth, Burnet ; and Marlow, Addison. It is stated on the face of the map that the "White Hills appear many leagues at sea like a great bright cloud above the horizon, and are a noted landmark to seamen."
A map, dated 1784, gives our town as Camden, and in the form of the first grant, with the angle which the north- west corner of Hillsborough makes by extending into it. This map seems far from accurate. The next state map, of 1815, gives Washington with about the same boundaries as at present, and the roads running through the town as they do at this time-one to Concord through Hills- borough, of a distance of 33 miles, one to Charlestown, of 20 miles, one to Dartmouth College, 37 miles.
Two houses were burned in the Dinsmore district, west of the mountain, previous to the year 1830. One was owned by William Mann, and the other was known as the White place.
In the summer of 1830 occurred the great fire which inflicted a severe loss upon the centre of the town. We copy from the New Hampshire Spectator an account of the fire, which is essentially correct.
"We regret to learn that the flourishing village of Wash- ington, in this county, was nearly half destroyed on Friday evening, the 23rd inst. The fire was discovered in the stable of Mr. Edmund Lawrence, which had not been in use for more than a week, and circumstances warrant the belief that it was the work of an incendiary. The build- ings burned were in all seventeen. The tavern house, occupied by Mr. Lawrence, stables and out buildings, dwelling house, occupied by William and Ephraim Davis, a stone-cutter's shop, the dwelling house of Nathan Brain- ard, Jr. At one time the roofs of six buildings were on fire, which were by great exertions saved. Among them
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
was the meeting house, from the belfry of which a young man by the name of Weston leaped on the roof and extin- guished the flames. The store of Brainard and Boutwell was saved by the individual exertions of Mr. Thomas Far- well. Three horses In the upper stable of Mr. Lawrence were burned to death; one escaped. By this distressing occurrence a number of individuals have lost nearly all their property. The principal sufferers are Henry and Samuel Mather, sons of the late Dr. Mather, owners of the tavern house occupied by Mr. Lawrence; and Nathan Brainard, Jr .; and Brainard and Boutwell, goods damaged by removal from the store; William Davis, Ephraim Davis and David Farnsworth, Jr. The whole loss is esti- mated at seven thousand dollars,-insured for three thou- sand, in the New Hampshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company."
The spot, where had stood the house occupied by Wil- liam and Ephraim Davis, was soon covered by a new house, built by David Farnsworth, Jr. The remaining space was vacant for some years. Many years ago the house built by Dr. Thayer, on the turnpike, about a third of a mile from the angle of the Marlow road, was burned while in the possession of the Jefts family, and where Jabez Fisher built a second house.
The brick house, owned by Weld D. Proctor, a mile west from the village of East Washington, was destroyed by fire in 1879. A valuable horse was lost with the barn.
In the summer of 1881, some buildings at Dickey's Mills were struck by lightning and entirely consumed during a severe thunder storm that passed over a large portion of New Hampshire.
A saw-mill at East Washington, originally owned by Mr. John Farrar, was burned in 1881. Many years ago a mill was burned, on the site now occupied by the rake shop, in the same village.
The church property, belonging to the Baptist society
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
of East Washington, has been twice destroyed by fire within thirty-six years. The first meeting house was burned on the morning of Dec. 1, 1841. There had been a gathering of some kind within the building the evening previous, which is supposed to account for the origin of the calamity. The following summer the society set about the work of building another house, which was fin- ished in the autumn of 1842. At the raising of the frame of that house a very serious accident occurred. A heavy chain fell from the roof and struck on the head of Mr. Robert Carr, of Hillsborough, who was taken home in- sensible and his life despaired of for some weeks, but he finally recovered and lived many years afterwards.
Many persons who were living at that time witnessed the destruction of this edifice by fire in April, 1877. A fine toned bell shared the fate of the building, and the church furniture, together with a valuable communion service, was also consumed. The fire was supposed to be the work of an incendiary, the author of the deed not being known.
The evening was dark and misty, and the lurid glare of the flames lighted up the hills and reflected on the cot- tages in the village below, and on the white headstones that mark the dwellings in "that other village on the hill," where, life's fitful fever over, and human passions hushed, they rest, far from the "crowd's ignoble strife." The scene was impressive and never to be forgotten. In the summer of 1885, the Cherry Valley Mills were destroyed by fire.
CHAPTER XI.
PRIMITIVE HABITS AND MANNER OF LIVING.
HE first officers chosen by the town received no pay for their services, but, in 1790, the records show that the selectmen were paid and other officers also. Persons who were liable to become a town charge were warned to leave the town within fourteen days, such notice releasing the town from the responsibil- ity of their support. Those who became paupers were set up at public vendue, and were boarded by the one who made the lowest bid. In 1788, Rebecca Maxwell was supported in the family of Capt. William Proctor for the sum of 2s. 6d. per week.
Tithing-men, fence-viewers, hog-reeves and deer-reeves were chosen at the first town meeting. Tithing-men were expected to preserve order in public meetings and to pre- vent the desecration of the Sabbath. Deer-reeves were essential one hundred years ago to protect the moose from unmerciful slaughter. A bounty of 4d. was given for each black bird's head, a larger amount for that of a crow, or the tail of a squirrel. The present generation of law- makers has not wholly repudiated the wisdom of the fathers in making war upon the denizens of wood and field. Could the birds present their account of services rendered, the balance would, I doubt not, be largely in their favor.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
As an example of special legislation we copy the follow- ing by-law, passed March, 1782. "That all the sleds for the present year shall be made four feet and six inches wide on penalty of being destroyed by a committee chosen for that purpose."
A pound was built in 1777 in which to confine such cattle as strayed from their owner's enclosure ; its dimen- sions were thirty feet square.
Until June, 1796 the town accounts were reckoned by the £ sterling-after that date the decimal currency came into use.
The first residents of Washington were mostly en- gaged in farming, and even those who followed other avocations were sometimes tillers of the soil as well as owners of mills, and it has been said that a more independ- ent community does not often exist than that of the new town of Washington. The provisions on which they lived were raised on the land which they cultivated, and their « harvests were usually bountiful, although when a poor crop of corn was raised it caused hard times for the farm- er, and indirectly for all others.
Their tables were bountifully supplied with plain food, but fortunately for the housewife she was not expected to provide so great a variety of food as is customary at the present day ; for, in addition to the cooking for her family, she also had to manufacture both woolen and linen cloth for their garments, and other domestic uses. Corned beef with its accompaniment of vegetables was constantly kept on hand, and the broth was utilized, with the addition of beans, in making bean porridge, which has the reputation of being good either hot or cold and especially so "when nine day's old." Pumpkin pies, brown bread and beans baked in a brick oven, were common articles of food, and the sight of such a goodly array of substantial food might tempt an epicure to turn from the various dainties of the modern table. Rye was used instead of wheat, and a rye
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
cake baked before the coals of an open fire-place and eaten with maple syrup was good enough for the king to eat. Hasty pudding also came in for a share of attention. It is related that one hearty old gentleman who lived on the Lempster road, required a peck of meal to make a pudding of a size adapted to his appetite, and that his wife devoted a large share of her time to the making of johnny-cake for his benefit, an article of food that she had much skill in preparing.
Our town in those distant days, had its men of eccen- tric character, its story teller, one who was especially gift- ed in the power to entertain by the recital of scenes and adventures which it was not essential for the hearer to believe in order to enjoy. The elder Farnsworth, who had a family of sixteen children, was an inveterate taker of snuff, and could likewise tell a good story,
"Such as of Salmon in his boots, Full sixty pounds he drew,"
and once in an encounter with a bear, after fighting for two hours on a large stump of a tree, he-not the bear- came off conqueror and killed a bear and cub. We also can claim as a townsman the celebrated man, who when he thought to take a wife, paid the minister who perform- ed the marriage ceremony in beans, and his descendants to this day,
"So lavish of their means, Do bless in heart with honest pride The bushel of white beans."
We do not know that our ancestors in Washington were of an especially superstitious character. There are no tales of witchcraft or wonder-working handed down to us from those times, and we have no veritable account of the traditional haunted house, and do not think that these rugged hills have ever been the favorite resort of super- natural visitants.
The varied amusements of these days were unknown
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
a century ago, and the men then found recreation and sport in working bees, raisings, wrestling matches, and corn huskings, when
"From many a brown old farm-house and hamlet without name,
Their milking and their home-tasks done, the merry huskers came."
The women made afternoon visits on neighbors near and more distant, and as the spinning of flax or wool was the work with which they employed their leisure time we may conclude that as has been stated of the women of a neigh- boring town "the good mother took the baby under one arm, and the flax wheel under the other, and walked a mile to visit a neighbor." Apple parings, quilting and carding bees were among the social enjoyments of those hard-working women and after the work was ended the young people of both sexes came in for a jolly good time, and these gatherings often ended with a dance in the large kitchen.
Books and newspapers were very scarce, the Bible and Almanac were the only books that were generally found in their homes : and they could hardly have realized had they been foretold of the great quantities of reading mat- ter with which the country is supplied at the present time, and more than all the well stored Library with which the town is now favored.
The marriage outfit in those hard-working times con- sisted of spinning wheel and loom, and a few pots and · kettles and other indispensable articles for housekeeping. There were but few ornaments on the walls or shelves; the day of profuse decoration of our rooms, and collection of bric-a-brac had not arrived.
The old-time bride was expected to have a good supply of linen and woolen sheets, and table-linen and towels, and store of linen for all household uses. Some few samples of the old stock of linen, and an occasional cov- erlid woven of blue and white of intricate pattern are still kept in some families. The spinning, weaving and color-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
ing was generally done at home by the women of the household, and every young lady was expected to number a knowledge of these arts among her accomplishments. There were, doubtless, exceptions to the style of setting up housekeeping, which we have described-some of the richer people furnishing their houses more expensively, but the tastes and habits of the people were more simple and natural than those of the present generation.
Many invitations were given to their weddings, and a large number of guests were usually assembled. On fu- neral occasions work was generally suspended and nearly all attended the services over the dead. The village bell was tollèd on the occurrence of a death, a custom which is almost entirely discontinued. The extravagant display which has become so common in later years was not prac- ticed. The town paid the funeral expenses of the Rev. Mr. Leslie as a mark of respect shown to the memory of that good man, and we find the following order in the town accounts. "Sept. 22, 1780, one order to Levi Far- well of one dollar and fifty cents for a coffin for the Rev. Mr. Leslie."
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