USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Cornish > History of the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with genealogical record, 1763-1910, Vol. I > Part 18
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1823. February 5, Lucy (Hilliard) York, wife of William York, went on foot visiting a neighbor. A heavy snowstorm came on. Not returning at a seasonable hour her fam- ily started for her and found her dead and partially buried in the snow. She was sixty years of age.
1837. March 4, Rebecca M. Tasker, aged thirty-four, was drowned in Cold River on her way to town, by the up- setting of the stage while crossing the river at Walpole. A sister, Hannah (Tasker) Chesley, was drowned at the same time and place.
1842.
June 25, Edwin H. Lothrop, aged eighteen, son of Francis and Sarah (Huggins) Lothrop, fell from the roof of Dea. Ripley Wellman's house, striking on his head, killing him instantly.
1846. June 25, Henry - -, a colored boy, aged seventeen, in the employ of Dea. Benjamin Comings, was killed on the highway by being run over by a team he was driving.
1847. Savory Gile, living at the "Hempyard," fell upon his scythe, cutting his knee so badly that he soon after died of blood poisoning. Age not known.
1848. July 27, four members of the family of Dea. Andrew Dodge were killed by the blowing down of a house during a fearful storm of wind and rain. (For further particulars see Dodge Gen.) It was the greatest calam- ity that ever happened in town.
1853. December 11, Hiram Coburn of Cornish was drowned in New York, aged twenty-nine.
1854. March 26, Jonathan E. Tasker, aged thirty, fell from a building near Windsor bridge, receiving injuries ter- minating fatally.
1856. July 4, Edna L. Weld, aged three, daughter of John and Anna (Bartlett) Weld, fell through a hole in a bridge in the "City," striking on the rocks below, fracturing 1 er skull. She died on the following day.
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1856. July 26, Carter O. Strong, aged nineteen, was drowned while bathing in mill-pond at the "City" in the even- ing; probably was taken with the cramps. Was a mem- ber of the family of the Kenyon brothers.
1857. July 19, a little daughter of Israel Foster Weld, aged two years, was killed by a cart body falling upon and crush- ing her.
1858. February 5, Arthur M. Wyman, aged thirteen, son of Milton Wyman, was sliding in the field near his school- house, when his sled struck a pile of frozen manure, breaking it, and a portion of it was driven into his body several inches. From the effects of this he died after a few hours of extreme suffering.
1865. March 18, John C. Shedd, a boy of fourteen years, was drowned in a freshet.
1866.
October 22, Mary Treat, only child of Edward Kimball, aged two years and six months, fell into a pail of scald- ing water, from the effects of which she soon died. Sorrow stricken, the parents left town.
1869. December 16, Lizzie M. Deming, aged two years, only child of Marvin J. Deming, inhaled a beechnut into her lungs, causing instant death.
1870. February 17, Willie H. Chase, aged eight years, son of Henry S. Chase, while at play in the barnyard, was accidentally hit on the head by a piece of frozen manure, which soon caused his death.
1871. April 11, a little daughter of Martin M. and Sarah A. (Bugbee) Williams, aged three years, fell backward into a pail of hot water, soon causing death.
1872. August 31, Henry W. Sturtevant of this town, aged twenty-one, son of Nahum C., was killed on the Boston and Albany Railroad.
1872. October 7, the house of Abner Lull was burned to the ground, and Mrs. Lull, aged seventy-eight, perished in the flames. Mr. and Mrs. Lull came to town in 1860, settled on the Gilman Chase farm, where they remained until her death.
1874. February 21, Mrs. Jennie E. (Sisson) Raymond, aged twenty-one, daughter of John F. and Emily A. (Smithi) Sisson, accidentally shot herself fatally, while toying
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with a loaded pistol, while on a visit to South Wood- stock, Vt. Some have entertained suspicions of suicide, but proof is wanted to establish it.
1874. August 5, Frederic L. Wood, aged nearly seven, son of Lyman D. and Susan A. (Flowers) Wood, fell from a loft in the barn, striking on his head, breaking his neck.
1875. March 23, Peter Coult, aged twenty-six years, a wood- chopper in the employ of George Jackson, was killed by a falling tree.
1875. September 4, Bertie E. Shedd, aged five years, son of Reed and Electa Shedd, was drowned in the Connec- ticut River.
1875. December 15, Jedediah Huntington, aged fifty-six, while drawing wood, was instantly killed by falling in front of his load of wood, the sled passing over him.
1878. January 27, George F. Badger, aged twenty-five, son of Rufus and Clarissa Badger, having frozen his feet a day or two previously, died of lockjaw.
1878. April 18, Asa Jenney of Meriden, aged sixty-eight, was instantly killed on Cornish Flat by being thrown from his carriage, his head striking a stone. The horse had become frightened and suddenly turned around.
1878. May 8, Nettie H. Read, aged thirteen, daughter of Har- vey S. Read, was terribly burned by her clothes taking fire, so that she died in a few hours. She was looking over the ruins of a building just burned.
1879. November 28, Levi F. Stone, aged fifty-one, a painter, died. He was previously found in his barn partially uncon- scious with a broken skull, from the effects of which he died. Foul play suspected, but nothing conclusive has ever been obtained.
1882. September 20, Henry Allen Bugbee, son of Benjamin Franklin and Almira (Williams) Bugbee of Cornish, was killed at Lebanon on the railroad.
1885. April 25, Orville B. Williams, aged fifty-four, while plow- ing in his field, was kicked in the head by a horse. He lived but a few hours.
1885. September 10, Caleb B. Williamson, aged sixty-seven, was instantly killed by being thrown from his carriage
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against a wall just north of the residence of Dea. P. C. Hardy, formerly the Daniel Chase, Esq., residence.
1887. March 22, Lyman H. Hunter, formerly of Cornish, aged thirty-four, died from injuries received in Claremont from a stiek of wood hurled by a circular saw. Was then living in Claremont.
1888. June 23, Franklin H. Curtis, aged ten years, son of Hart- ley K. Curtis, was fatally kicked by a horse that he was attempting to feed in the stall. He lived but a short time after the injury.
1891. June 26, Alfred C. Chadbourne, aged fifty-nine, died from the effects of a severe cut from a scythe received a few days previous, terminating in blood poisoning.
1897. April 13, Peter Emery, aged sixty-nine, died from the effects of a severe eut in the foot received March 25, followed by blood poisoning. He lived on the Stearns place south of George Jackson's.
1905. December 3, William Harvey Harlow, aged fifty-two, died from the effects of a fearful fall the day previous. The buildings of Wilbur Quimby being on fire, efforts were made to arrest the fire by tearing one building away. Mr. Harlow, with axe in hand, aseended a ladder to mount the roof, and when about fifteen feet from the ground the ladder broke, precipitating him backward to the frozen ground. He struck upon his head and shoulders breaking his back, while the axe followed cutting him severely in the face. Injured beyond all medieal aid, he sank away and died early in the follow- ing morning. His loss was deeply deplored.
1910. July 24, Leonard Smith of Cornish was drowned in the Connecticut River, while bathing.
While no murder has ever stained the records of the town, events have transpired that have given rise to divisions of opin- ion regarding the possibility of such guilt. The case of Levi F. Stone, November 28, 1879, affords one of these.
Another is concerning the tradition of a traveling man with a grip-saek of unknown contents and value, who spent a few days in the home of John Morse. On a certain night, it is said, he left the Morse home, intending going to the home of Antipas Marble.
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Afterwards it was learned that he never arrived at the Marble home, and that he had entirely disappeared from among men. The facts becoming known, aroused suspicions, and gave rise to much unhappy conjecture and excitement among the good people of Cornish. A public hearing on the case was held, but no further facts were brought to light than above stated, and so the case was dismissed. The public, however, was hardly willing to abandon its suspicions. So it is said that buildings were searched, ground dug over, etc., but nothing further was found implicating any one in the case. The traveler was never seen again and his disappearance has ever been shrouded in mystery. The above comes to the writer from various sources as a dateless tradition, except that it occurred during the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
CHAPTER XV. PAUPERISM-COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Pauperism.
"For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in thy land."-Deut. 15: 11.
THE settlements upon the frontiers of New England towns were peopled by rugged, self-supporting families. The prevail- ing conditions did not invite the aged and infirm, therefore, these at first, seldom removed from the older towns unless attended by relatives who were able to provide for them a com- fortable support. For these reasons, with few exceptions, only the industrious, able-bodied husbandman, the mechanic and a few professional and business men were found among these early settlers. A commendable sentiment of good fellowship prevailed in all the towns and between the families. The interest of each family was the interest of the whole community, and the interest of the whole community seemed to embrace the welfare and comfort of every family, so that the people con- sidered any poor or unfortunate individual among them as one of themselves, and therefore were inspired to alleviate their wants. Every misfortune or accident was followed by some substantial expression of sympathy. If a farmer was sick at seed-time, his fields were prepared and planted by generous hands, and if he failed to recover until the close of harvest, he found his crops secured and his granaries rejoicing with the products of willing labor. These neighborly offerings were a school of charity. Under this beautiful system, few public laws were needed to regulate the expressions of charity to the needy, and in such a community there were but few, if any, who were reckoned as paupers.
This state of affairs could not and did not continue unchanged a great many years. As the population increased the number of
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those needing help increased in a somewhat larger ratio, and consequently methods of rendering aid have undergone some change. The private, humane methods of the earlier years, to some extent, gave place to those of public expression through the select- men. These, however, at the first, generally treated each case considerately according to the circumstances and necessities of the needy. The methods of relief were as numerous as were the poor. Sometimes their taxes were abated; sometimes their rent was paid by the town; sometimes a cow was bought by the town and loaned to the needy family; sometimes the firewood, or a stipulated amount of clothing or provision were provided.
While private charities were not debarred, the town was careful each year to adopt some system and to make appropria- tions for the support of its poor. In some cases the town would render a partial support to some not wholly dependent. Con- tracts were often made with families to keep certain of the poor at a stipulated price. This method soon degenerated into the inhuman practice of "selling the poor at auction," or consigning them to homes at the lowest possible price; in this way, some of the poor might fare well, while in other cases it might be otherwise.
Cornish has passed through the experience of each of the fore- named methods. Tradition is replete with praises of the "good old times" when neighbors loved each other, but times have changed. It might seem to some that charity had lost its hold upon the human affections, and that individuals and communi- ties were more selfish than formerly and not as regardful of the needs of the unfortunate. Then, too, it is not easy to dis- possess the mind that poverty in itself is in a greater or less degree criminal. Those entertaining this impression seem to be forgetful of the words of the Master, who said: "Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good." It is often unfortunately the case that the friends and near relatives of dependent ones are removed by death and then those who have been lovingly and tenderly cared for are left to the care of those who have little interest in them. All these things have had weight in the molding of methods for providing for those needing help. Instead of their receiving the kindly ministra- tions at home as in the early years, many of the poor are collected
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in homes with overseers employed over them whose duties are to provide for their chief necessities and furnish employment for such as are able to work.
On April 11, 1780, is a record of the selectmen furnishing homes for certain poor persons. This is the first recorded action of the town upon the subject.
The next record speaks of the town voting to "sink" all taxes against certain poor persons; and also provided for the care of Miriam Roberts, a poor woman. On March 8, 1791, the town voted to "abait" the town tax of sundry individuals who were unable to pay them. August 25, 1794, the case of poor Miriam Roberts again came before the town, when it was voted that "the selectmen take care of her till winter, and then convey her Killingly" the cheapest way they can! What was meant by this vote is not clear. Perhaps the recorder intended to write Killingly, Conn., but the record is as here given. At any rate her case does not appear again in the records.
October 10, 1805, the town voted that the selectmen provide a "house of correction" for the poor of the town. We can hardly believe the town intended to provide a home of the character as implied by the modern interpretation of the above term. But if so intended, one may infer that the class of paupers alluded to were a set of "toughs" that needed "correction."
March 10, 1807, the town voted the selectmen take care of the poor of the town "to the best advantage." Inasmuch as this had been their duty, it would imply that they provide homes for the poor chiefly with reference to its cheapness.
The town also voted March 14, 1809, that the selectmen post notices on the several meeting houses of the town, regarding any pauper in order to receive proposals for their support.
March 11, 1817, the subject of building a house for the poor was considered and referred to a committee who were to report at the next annual meeting. There is no evidence on record of any report being made on the following year, and the records are silent upon the subject until March 12, 1822. Then it was voted "that the selectmen be a committee to enquire into the expediency of purchasing a farm for the support of the poor of the town and report at the next annual meeting." Again the town records are silent as to the action of the aforesaid com- mittee for a full decade, or until March 13, 1832. At this time
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the town accepted a report of a committee respecting purchasing the real estate then occupied by Rebecca Tasker and Betsey Huggins, for such purpose. This plan for some reason not given failed to materialize.
The example of many neighboring towns had in the meantime been adopted by Cornish: That of constituting and denominating the selectmen as "overseers of the poor."
On March 11, 1834, it was voted that the overseers of the poor contract with one or more persons on such terms as might
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RESIDENCE OF FREEMAN A. JOHNSON.
Formerly the Home of the Town's Poor.
be consistent with the interests of the town and humane treat- ment, and requiring bonds as to the latter clause ensuring humane treatment. A selectman moved a recommittal of plan to a special committee for later report, which was accordingly done.
The following year, March 10, 1835, the committee on pauper- ism reported that the selectmen take into their special consider- ation the subject of the support of the town's poor; and that in their judgment a farm be purchased for the caring of said poor.
On March 8, 1836, the town voted to choose a special com- mittee to look out for a farm and buildings suitable for the care of the poor of the town. John L. Putnam, William S. Deming
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
and Joseph B. Comings were chosen as said committee. During this year, it is gratifying to notice these benefactions of the town, viz: (1) Voted the town furnish Thomas Lewis with a cow or its equivalent in money. (2) Voted the town loan twenty-five dollars to Peletiah Martindale to enable him to visit the eye infirmary in New York.
There is no record of any action of this special committee during this, or the following year, but doubtless their efforts resulted in the action of the town the next year. On March 13, 1838, an agent was chosen to contract for a suitable farm and buildings for the purpose, and Benjamin Comings was chosen as said agent. He contracted for and purchased the farm and buildings of the Dea. John Weld estate, more recently owned and occupied by his son, Horace Weld. Mr. Comings reported the expense of the farm, terms of payment and the town fully endorsed the action of its agent in this purchase, and then voted to choose a committee to prepare a code of rules, rates and regu- lations for the management of the town farm and its occupants. Said committee were Benjamin Comings, Benjamin Chapman and Simon Coburn. This committee on the following year (1839) submitted an exhaustive and elaborate code consisting of eighteen articles. These were readily adopted by the town, and the name of "Cornish Alms House" was given to the paupers' new home. Jonathan Wakefield and wife were the first superin- tendents chosen by the town to have charge of it. They were succeeded by others who served in the care of the unfortunate poor of Cornish. They were required annually to report their doings in full to the town, even the daily condition of each inmate, amount of labor performed by them, etc. This excellent and careful supervision was a source of mutual gratification both to the citizens of the town and to its unfortunate poor.
This method of management continued for nearly thirty years when a change of the pauper laws of New Hampshire took place, enabling towns, so choosing, to place the burden of pauper support upon the counties to which they belonged. Accordingly a test vote was called for in Cornish on March 12, 1867. The question was, "Is it expedient to abolish pauper settlements in town and throw their entire support upon counties?" The result of the vote in Cornish, as elsewhere, was in favor of this measure.
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A county farm for Sullivan County was established at Unity and most of the paupers of Cornish were removed to it during the year. This institution, under the care and management of the county commissioners, provides a home for the county paupers similar to that the towns afforded. The town continues a temporary or partial support to those who need assistance for a season, but those whose necessities demand permanent assistance are humanely supported at the county farm.
The abandonment of the town farm property for pauper use necessitated its sale. This took place on December 1, 1868. The proceeds of this sale amounted to $6,358.26, which was reported to the town on the following March.
A fund of two thousand dollars for the worthy poor of Cornish was left by the will of Jacob Foss of Charlestown, Mass., who died June 22, 1866. (See sketch.) The town received the legacy on the following September, less a revenue tax. This fund is to be securely invested and its income to be annually devoted to the partial support of any worthy poor in town.
On June 14, 1889, Edward D. Kimball of Mt. Auburn, Mass., a native of Cornish, gave the town the sum of three thousand dollars for the same object and on the same terms as did Jacob Foss. The interest from these two funds has proved a great blessing in ameliorating the condition and circumstances of many worthy individuals and families at home, who might otherwise have been conveyed to the county farm.
The following is a list of paupers from Cornish who have died at the county farm since its establishment: Benjamin Edminister, 73 years old, died January 8, 1862; Charles Luey, 45 years old, died November 3, 1877; John Bell, 69 years old, died May 5, 1877; William Lane, 78 years old, died December 25, 1878; Eliza Forehand, 57 years old, died May 15, 1883; George Babcock, 72 years old, died June 1, 1884; Cath- erine Chase, 73 years old, died June 13, 1896; Caroline Jackson, 68 years old, died March 20, 1897; Elihu Russell, 87 years old, died March 22, 1897; Albert Kelley, 79 years old, died March 22, 1899; Frank Newman, 84 years old, died January 28, 1900; Albert Spaulding, 45 years old, died July 22, 1901; Edgar Geer, 27 years old, died September 8, 1907.
A peculiar, though rare type of pauperism, that once existed was the traveling mendicant. Their sustenance they begged
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from door to door. No laws, as now, at that time restrained them. They were dependent wayfarers, not from choice but from accident. Not tramps, in our modern sense of the word, neither thiefs, "hobos" nor "yeggs," but creatures of fortune, or rather of misfortune. To perpetuate the memory of one of this type, we would refer to a familiar personage called "Old Haines," or "Crazy Haines," who from the twenties to the seven- ties of the last century, wandered through many of the towns of New England, and always included Cornish in his trips. Some, doubtless today, will remember his tall, grim figure, clothed in tattered black garments, originally shaped for judicial or eccle- siastical dignitaries, with corresponding stove-pipe hat, or hats telescoped together. In memory of this man, Prof. David H. Lamberton of Morrisville, Vt., has inscribed the following touching memorial :
"Old Haines."
'Tis not of a Cornish man at all, these words of remembrance bear, That is, he neither was born nor bred, around here anywhere. He only straggled through the town, as seasons came and went, If not in spring, why then in fall, while fifty years were spent.
His name was "Haines," or just "Old Haines," as boys, now men, recall, And these same boys remember, too, that, when they were young and small, The mother's threat to have "Old Haines" carry them off in his pack-
Would bring more good from a mischief-brew, than a switch or slipper's whack.
He begged his way and clubbed the dogs, that barked up and down his path, Or angered sore by taunting gibe, he'd swear in a mighty wrath, Yet country folk along the roads, wherever his wanderings led, Rarely denied his spoken need for food or a shake-down bed.
"' Old Haines" in stature was tall and thin, and erect in the red man's mold And despite the mark of a vagabond, there was a hint of a lineage old- A sign of blood that never had begged, a glint of a spirit in strife-
And a remnant of youth that had promised more than a useless waste of life.
His story, however, no man can repeat, as his silence upon it was strict, But the older folk who had known him long, declared him a sad derelict On the Sea of Love, where a woman's guile had left him adrift and astray, A bourneless, masterless, rudderless craft, where currents unchartered have sway.
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Full many a year since the vagrant "Haines" roamed over these Cornish hills
Has sped its way down the flight of time, leaving measure of good and of ills, And not only he, but his class, no more begs at doors of the dwellings of men, For Charity's kinder to playthings of Fate nowadays than her habit was then.
Somewhere in a mendicant's grave his frame has crumbled away into dust The same as others 'neath marble shafts, who in life only threw him a crust, But the Reaper of all has garnered his soul, however benighted it trod
Companionless ways in an unfriendly world, unwelcomed till lastly with God.
A vagrant was "Haines," yet alas, it is true, he was scarcely more vagrant than we,
Who chase our own phantoms and dream our own dreams, of successes that never can be,
The difference is really far less than it seems, when gauged by Eternity's span, For of all that is gained and of all that is lost, there's a balance Divine in the plan.
County Affairs.
Previous to March 8, 1769, there were no county divisions in New Hampshire. The sessions of the Legislature and the courts for the adjustment of all legal matters were held at Portsmouth. At that time the state or province was divided by act of the Legislature, into five counties, that were named by the governor: Rockingham, Hillsborough, Cheshire, Strafford and Grafton. The three counties first named were organized in 1771 and their officers appointed. The organization of Strafford and Grafton counties was not long delayed. A message from the governor under date of May 28, 1772, to the council and assembly, recom- mended the establishing and organizing of these two counties, which took place about eight months later. These five counties embraced the entire limits of the state. Subsequently, from time to time, other counties were created and their boundaries defined by the Legislature. Cheshire County extended north from the line of the state of Massachusetts about sixty-five miles to the south line of Grafton County, and east from the west bank of the Connecticut River about twenty miles to the west lines of Hillsborough and Merrimack Counties, making an area three times as long as it was broad. It contained thirty-eight towns. The county courts were held alternately at Keene and Charlestown. At each of these places a jail and other necessary buildings were erected.
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