USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New-Hampshire, from the grant by Mason's assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860 > Part 18
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* Capt. Nathan Burnham was the son of Lieut. Nathan Burnham, who was killed at Ticonderoga in 1758. He was a brother of Asa Burnham.
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On account of his decease a special meeting was warned on the 18th of July, 1814, which assembled on the 3d of August, when John Gould was chosen clerk, and John Stinson selectman, to fill the vacancies occa- sioned by his death.
Family Record .- Daniel Jameson and Hannah Burnham were married October 7, 1788. Betsey Burnham Jame- son, b. August 1, 1789 ; Peggy, b. March 17, 1791; died February 25, 1792; Abraham B., b. March 21, 1793 ; Daniel, b. April 29, 1795; Molly, b. October 20, 1796; Thankful Caldwell, b. July 26, 1798; Hannah, b. June 22, 1800; Jonas Hastings, b. May 25, 1804; Jemima Harris, b. November 19, 1806; Jane, b. October 30, 1808 ; Hugh, b. August 4, 1811.
SAMUEL KIMBALL is one of the best master carpenters in the vicinity, and a very intelligent, respectable man. His son CHARLES is now town-clerk, and we are under obligations to him for the free access he has afforded to the town records, in furtherance of our present under- taking.
JARED FULLER, lately deceased, was an ingenious black- smith, as well as an esteemed townsman. He resided on the place formerly owned by Samuel Perkins.
Not far from Mr. Fuller once lived Dea. JOHN WILSON. If an honest man ever lived in this world, he was one. His descendants are also honest and upright people.
Children of John and Anna Wilson : Polly, b. July 29, 1796 ; John, b. February 24, 1799; Eliza, b. May 6, 1809 ; Abby, b. May 2, 1803; Thomas, b. October 19, 1805 ; Abel Kimball, b. January 11, 1808; Anna, b. February 14, 1811; Lewis, b. June 17, 1813; Walter Harris, b. February 17, 1817; Leonard, b. March 11, 1819; Louisa Maria, b. January 16, 1822.
Lieut. TIMOTHY LADD was a worthy man, but unfortu- nate in the circumstance of having several of his family
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deranged. He died March 16, 1808, aged 57. His children were : Polly, b. January 13, 1777 (at Windham) ; Heman, b. November 24, 1778 (at Windham) ; Rachel, b. June 9, 1780 (at Windham); John, b. August 9, 1783 (at Wind- ham) ; Hannah, b. May 7, 1787; James, b. March 1, 1789 ; Bill Ladd, b. July 13, 1791; Fanny, b. May 27, 1795 ; Sally, b. June 7, 1797.
JAMES CLEMENT was one of the five surveyors of high- ways chosen at the first meeting held under the charter, September 3, 1765. In 1774 he was chosen town-clerk, and at different periods selectman, treasurer and repre- sentative. His son James pacticed as a physician. Luther and Ephraim S., sons of the Doctor, are still residents of this town. The latter lost a son in the Mexican war.
Family Record .- James Clement, b. April ye 2, 1737 ; Elizabeth Little, b. March ye 1, 1744; married May 4, 1762. Children : Jonathan, b. March 13, 1763 ; died March 20, 1765; Thomas, b. Nov. 5, 1764 ; James (Dr.), b. May 11, 1768; Molly, b. July 1, 1771; Margaret, b. December 7, 1773 ; Alice, b. April -, 1776 ; Tristram, b. August 30, 1778; Walter, b. March 8, 1781; Betty, b. July 18, 1784; Fanny, b. May 11, 1787. James Clement, senior (deacon), died February 3, 1812, aged 75.
JOHN HOLMES was chosen tythingman, the only one, at the first meeting held under the charter, and served after- ward in other capacities. His son Charles became a wealthy merchant in Boston. Robert served in several town offices. He was in 1811 colonel of the ninth regi- ment N. H. Militia, and was a good officer. His son, Capt. Charles Holmes, now resides upon the homestead.
Record. - John Holmes and Mary McCalley married October 31, 1759. Children : William, b. (at Goffstown) July 28, 1760 ; Mary, b. June 17, 1762 ; Robert, b. March 5, 1766,; Charles McCalley, b. August 30, 1767 ; Betty, b. April 15, 1769 ; John, b. November 8, 1771 ; Abram, b. May 15, 1772 ; Alexander, b. February 17, 1774 ; Peggy,
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b. January 4, 1776; Martha, b. November 24, 1777 ; Anna, b. November 24, 1777. John Holmes, senior, died May 1, 1804, aged 73. Col. Robert Holmes died Febru- ary 28, 1850, in the 84th year of his age.
Capt. OLIVER BAILEY, son of Oliver Bailey, from Eng- land, was a shrewd, hard-working, mind-his-own-business sort of a man, who considered the cultivation of his acres, the care of his flocks, herds, and loans, of more importance than offices. He acquired a large estate, and died at the age of 82.
His son, OLIVER BAILEY, Jr., is a thriving farmer, and possessed of a handsome estate. He has, within two years, removed to Bow. His sons, Oliver and James, occupy his former estate in Dunbarton. They are enterprising men .* His son Mark was educated at Dartmouth, and is now professor of rhetoric at Yale College.
JOSIAH BAILEY, brother of the above, and also a farmer, died a few years ago. His children were two sons and one daughter. The latter is the wife of Henry L. Burn- ham, Esq. His sons were Ebenezer and Daniel. The former, a young man of much promise, one of the most ingenious and industrious of our townsmen, was struck down, in the morning of life, by one of those terrible accidents, which, since the introduction of railroads, are common occurrences in this country. In the disaster on the Boston and Maine Railroad, in which the only son of the President elect of the United States, with other indi- viduals, lost their lives, Mr. Bailey was so severely injured that he survived but a short time. His enterprise, useful- ness, and amiable qualities, caused his untimely fate to be deeply deplored by all who knew him.
* On their estate are still to be seen several cellars of the houses erected by the carly settlers,-Putney, Rogers, and those who joined their settle- ment. On part of the ground they cleared a considerable forest of timber is now growing, and the apple-trees which were by them planted, after the year 1746, are also to be seen among the forest trees which have grown up since they were set there. One of the pines on the lot is three feet in diameter.
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EZEKIEL and SAMUEL RYDER, sons of Ebenezer Ryder, have ever been considered thrifty farmers and respectable citizens. Ezekiel is still living. His son Charles has filled responsible offices in town. Another son is a re- spectable physician at Portsmouth, N. H.
Family Record .- Children of Ebenezer and Abigail Ry- der : Polly, b. Dec. 10, 1776; Mary, b. March 21, 1778; John, b. Nov. 21, 1779; Hannah, b. June 9, 1782; Eze- kiel, b. Feb. 25, 1785; Ebenezer, jr., b. Nov. 9, 1786; Jotham, b. Sept. 9, 1788; Isaiah, b. Oct. 25, 1790; Sam- uel, b. Sept. 16, 1792; Nabby, b. July 11, 1794; Thank- ful, b. April 15, 1796.
Mr. CHALLIS FITZ occupies and owns the farm on the Page road, once the property of John Leach. He is a worthy, industrious man, who attends to his own affairs without interfering with those of others, or troubling him- self with that most unprofitable of all employments-office seeking-but is a man of firm principles and a good citizen.
GEORGE CUNNINGHAM, although a resident of Goffstown, was, with his wife, a member of Mr. Harris's church, and were, with several of their children, buried in the grave- yard near Dunbarton "old meeting-house." The first stone in the yard, with an inscription, is to the youngest son of Mr. Cunningham, in 1794.
Family Record .- George Cunningham, b. June 11, 1738 ; d. Nov. 14, 1820, aged 82; Martha, his wife, b. July 14, 1740; d. June 16, 1830, aged 90. Children : Alexander, b. Oct. 31, 1763; d. Feb. 19, 1828, aged 65; James, b. Sept. 3, 1765; Robert McCalley, b. Feb. 21, 1768; d. Dec., 1811; George, jr., b. May 25, 1770; d. March, 1771 ; George, 3d, b. March 8, 1772; Anna, b. July 2, 1774 ; Mary, b. June 4, 1776 ; d. August 11, 1836, aged 59 ; Mar- tha, b. March 15, 1779; d. March 30, 1854, aged 75; Bet- sey, b. Jan. 14, 1781 ; d. Jan. 25, 1786 ; Sarah, b. June 11, 1783 ; d. May 30, 1785 ; Samuel Foster, b. July 12, 1785 : d. July 28, 1794.
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DANIEL and JOHN MCCURDY settled in the south-eastern part of the town as early as 1752, being among the first grantees. On the 17th of October the proprietors held their first public meeting in the township upon their land.
John McCurdy was a second lieutenant of rangers in Rogers' company, in 1756, when John Stark was first lieu- tenant in the same corps. He was a good soldier,-a man of character and resolution. After holding several other town offices he was chosen one of the Committee of Safety in 1775. His son was in the battle of Bennington .*
MATTHEW S. MCCURDY, son of John, was frequently a town officer and deacon of the church. An accident hap- pened to him while fishing at Amoskeag falls, in which he might truly ascribe his preservation to a special interposi- tion of Providence. The plank upon which he stood gave way, and he was hurried down the whole extent of the falls. He was taken from the water senseless, and re- covered with much exertion.
Mr. DANIEL K. DAVIS now owns a portion of the McCurdy land. He is a respectable citizen, and although a recent resident in town, has been appointed several times to offices the duties of which have been creditably dis- charged.
Other names might be selected from the records of past years, deserving particular notice. By perusing the brief summary of the records herein contained, the descendants of the ancient occupants of this prosperous township may learn something of the parts they performed in the early days of its settlement.
MAJOR CALEB STARK was the eldest son of General John Stark, and born at Dunbarton December 3, 1759. At the age of fifteen and a half years, as a volunteer in the 1st
* Rogers, in his journal, November 4, 1775, states : To prevent this, I embarked with Lieutenant McCurdy, and fourteen men, in two boats, leaving the remainder of the party on shore under the command of Cap- tain Putnam (afterward General Putnam.)
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New-Hampshire regiment, he was present at the action of Bunker's Hill, and soon afterward an ensign in the com- pany of Captain George Reid. He served with his regi- ment in Canada, and after the retreat from that province in 1776 was appointed adjutant, in which capacity he acted at Trenton and Princeton, as also in the actions of September 19th and the 7th of October. In the latter engagement he was wounded in the left arm. He was also at the battle of Springfield, in 1780. He afterward became brigade major and aide-de-camp to General Stark, under whose command he served until the end of the war. In 1778 and 1781, in addition to his other duties, he performed those of Adjutant-General of the Northern Department.
After the close of the war he engaged in merchandize at Haverhill, Massachusetts, at Dunbarton, and subse- quently at Boston. In the course of his commercial pur- suits he visited the West-Indies and England. When the war of 1812 commenced he closed his affairs at Boston, and directed his attention to manufacturing at Pembroke, New-Hampshire.
Having disposed of his Pembroke estate, in 1830, he proceeded to Ohio, to prosecute his family's claim to lands granted for their military services in the Revolution, which he recovered in 1837. He died on his estate in Ohio, August 26, 1838, in the 79th year of his age.
He possessed a strong memory, read much, and by per- severance supplied the deficiencies of early education. Schooled in the stormy strife of the Revolution, he was well versed in the political and military history of his country, with also a general knowledge of that of other nations. He was a man of energy and decision of char- acter. His estate in Dunbarton is still possessed by his family. He opened the first store in this town at Page Corner, which he afterward removed to the Borough farm, where he continued in trade until 1806-7, when he com- menced business in Boston. He held the office of town treasurer from 1788 until 1791.
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He introduced the practice of grafting and budding fruit trees, in this region. With his own hands he set grafts and buds in his orchards, and those of his nearest townsmen who were sufficiently credulous to consider the strange experiment worth trying. In a few years a plen- tiful supply of superior fruit more than realized their ex- pectations. He visited every section of Massachusetts where he heard of choice fruit, and obtained scions for his own trees.
He was the youngest survivor of the action of Bunker's Hill who appeared there when the corner stone of the monument was laid by the Marquis de la Fayette, in 1825 ; and one of the twelve Revolutionary veterans who stood by General Jackson when he took his first official oath as President of the United States, March 4, 1829.
In company with Isaac Riddle, Esq., of Piscataquog, he started the first freight boat which ascended the Merri- mack river to that place. The boat was named "The Experiment," and its arrival created much sensation. A crowd of people assembled upon the occasion, and guns were fired, accompanied by other manifestations of aston- ishment and gratification on account of the success of " The Experiment."
Other particulars of the life of Major Stark may be found in a work containing a Memoir of General Stark and others, published by G. Parker Lyon, Esq., Concord : 1860.
TIMOTHY JOHNSON was an industrious farmer, a man of firm principles, and a respected member of the commu- nity. His son Thomas has served in several principal offices, and been three times returned to the Legislature. His son Henry now occupies the homestead. He is a spir- ited and worthy young man, as was also his brother Ste- phen, recently deceased.
NATHANIEL COLBY, son of Archelaus Colby, is a re- spectable, " well-to-do" farmer. He has several times
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been elected selectman, and in 1851 was returned to the Legislature.
SAMUEL ALLISON held offices of trust in former days.
JAMES ALLISON, his grandson, was many years a trader near the meeting-house. He was town-clerk as well as selectman several years, and twice elected representative.
SAMUEL ALLISON died August 27, 1800, aged 51. His children were : Janette, b. Dec. 9, 1770 ; (married to James Stinson) ; Samuel, b. June, 1768.
CAPT. BENJAMIN WHIPPLE was born at Hamilton, Mass., in 1785-6. He was formerly an excellent practical far- mer, and president of the county agricultural society, from which his family and himself obtained several pre- miums, as acknowledgments of their industrial perform- ances. He once commanded the cavalry, and was reputed a good officer. Having sold his well cultivated farm, he still resides in sight of it, enjoying a life of ease and com- fort, as does also his brother SAMUEL, at Page Corner.
His brother JOHN was educated at Dartmouth College, and practiced law at Hooksett, afterwards at Contoocook- ville, and lastly at Concord, where he died, August 28, 1857. He had been Clerk of the Senate, Deputy-Secre- tary of State, Register of Deeds, and Judge of the Police Court at Concord.
THOMAS HOYT was a soldier of the Revolution. £
His children were Timothy, b. Nov. 8, 1763; Elizabeth, b. March 10, 1766; Eunice, b. August 20, 1768; Micah, b. March 21, 1772; Betsey, b. August 30, 1774.
HON. RICHARD H. AYER, a native of Concord, settled at Isle of Hooksett Falls, within the limits of this town, in 1807. Accounts of his career as a legislator, his widely extended influence, and moral worth as a member of the community at large, have been written by abler pens than ours. We are well acquainted with and duly appreciate his important public services in by-gone days. It is there-
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fore only necessary here to notice briefly his connection with the affairs of this town. He was elected representa- tive for the years 1810, 1811, 1812, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817 -seven years ; moderator from 1812 to 1823-eleven years
successively. He was induced to serve as selectman once (1821). He ably discharged his duty in all positions in which he was placed by the votes of this town. He was the principal agent in organizing the town of Hook- sett and establishing the county of Merrimack. He was born at Concord, Jan. 12, 1778, and died at Manchester Feb. 5, 1853, aged 75 years and 23 days.
Offices held at different times by Hon. R. H. Ayer : Representative from Dunbarton 7 years ; from Hooksett 4 years ; Presidential Elector in 1816 and 1848; Council- lor from 1817, five years in succession ; Sheriff of Merri- mack county from 1823 to 1828; Naval Store-keeper at Portsmouth from 1829 to 1837; Delegate to the Conven- tion for amending the Constitution of New-Hampshire in 1850. His house was the abode of good cheer and hospi- tality. His wife-the daughter of Peter Green, Esq .- was a superior woman. A more particular notice of him may be found in the Farmers' Monthly Visitor.
SAMUEL LORD was a well known early inhabitant of this town, and died January, 1818, aged 65. One of his sons, Thomas, was a volunteer at Portsmouth during the war of 1812. Several grandsons of Samuel Lord are respect- able farmers in Dunbarton.
CAPTAIN JOHN FERGUSON, a soldier of the Revolution, more than fifty years ago was a manufacturer of spinning- wheels, which were then to be found in every household where wool or flax could be obtained, before their inmates had become ashamed or unwilling to wear the products of their own industry, in their preference for foreign fabrics.
THOMAS CALDWELL came from Litchfield here. Several of his relatives were distillers, and located themselves at
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Newburyport, Mass. He became a wealthy farmer and was an honored townsman. His descendants are all re- spectable members of society. His grandson, David S. Caldwell, is now settled at Newbury, Mass., while another, William Caldwell, resides in Dunbarton. Thomas Cald- well died Feb. 20, 1816, aged 83.
Family Record .- Thomas Caldwell was married to Eliz- abeth Holmes, Nov. 1, 1759. Children : Mary, b. August 14, 1760; Alexander, b. August 15, 1761; Margaret, b. Feb. 18, 1763; William, b. July 17, 1764 ; Thomas, jr., b. May 3, 1766; Agnes, b. April 25, 1768 ; Elizabeth, b. Oct. 9, 1769. A daughter, b. July, 1771, died in . twelve days. Agnes died June 7, 1770.
ISRAEL CLIFFORD settled at Page Corner in 1765. He was born in Kingston, N. H., in March, 1746, and died at Dunbarton, April 13, 1835, in the ninetieth year of his age. His house, and that of Capt. Page, were the first framed buildings erected in the vicinity of Page Corner. He voted for Jefferson electors in 1796. He was many years constable and collector. His son Jonathan, also one of the eight voters for Jefferson in 1796, has survived them all. He is now nearly eighty-five years old, having been born Sept. 23, 1775. His memory is clear, and he still supports the principles for which he voted in his youth. He was tax collector fourteen years.
Children of Israel and Achsah Clifford : Elizabeth, b. Jan. 27, 1774 ; Jonathan, b. Sept. 23, 1775; David, b. Au- gust 4, 1777 ; Samuel, b. June 11, 1779; Richard, b. Au- gust 21, 1783 ; Israel, b. Jan. 29, 1786; Isaac, b. Oct. 6, 1794; Sally, b. Jan. 23, 1788; John, b. Jan. 31, 1790 ; Hannah, b. May 31, 1792; William (not recorded).
Children of William and Thankful Caldwell : Mary, b. Nov. 12, 1792; William, jr., b. Oct. 30, 1794; Betty, b. Sept. 21, 1796.
PHINEHAS BAILEY was an early inhabitant, and acted some part in town affairs. He was, when in his prime,
17
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very expert in all farming operations, particularly in using the hoe. . He once assisted Mr. Harris in planting. The latter undertook to drop the seed corn, while Mr. Bailey followed with his hoe to cover it. The latter, however, so closely pressed upon his steps, that when he had dropped out two rows, he said : "Mr. Bailey, I have al- most broken my back. I must find a boy that can drop and keep out of your way." His son Charles was also an active farmer ; a tall, strong man, and exerted much po- litical influence. He was temperate, industrious, and his affairs unembarrassed-yet, strange to say, while in a state of mental despondency, he committed suicide.
Children of Phinehas and Esther Bailey : Charles, b. December 16, 1803; Patty Currier, b. May 18, 1809 ; Polly, born December 19, 1811.
WILLIAM TENNEY, architect of the meeting-house and many other buildings now standing, was the ablest master carpenter in this region. His work was expeditiously and well performed. He married a daughter of Judge Page. He died October 22, 1838.
Their children were: Jeremiah Page, b. November 28, 1782; Nancy, b. May 16, 1784; Achsah, b. June 28, 1786; David, b. February 26, 1791; John P., b. October 13, 1795. His daughters married Messrs. John Leach and Samuel Whipple.
CAPTAIN NATHAN GUTTERSON has resided in this town more than thirty-two years. He had charge of the Stark mills from 1830 to 1856-7. Since that time they have been managed by his son John. Captain Gutterson is a man of much intelligence and business capacity. He has been several years one of the selectmen, representative twice, and ten times moderator. He and his son, William W., purchased the farm of Robert Chase, Jr., part of which is land that was, during the Revolution, confiscated as the property of John Stinson.
Lieut. JAMES' HOGG erected a house on the place now owned by Barton Brown. His daughters were very well
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educated. After he left the place, Captain Joseph Leach resided there while his house was building, on the Page road. The house of Mr. Hogg was afterward owned by Perley P. Ray. It was burnt about 1830-1.
Mr. SAMUEL GUTTERSON, originally of Weare, but having for some twenty years been a resident of Lynn, came to Dunbarton in 1849. He is a worthy man, and in his family we have passed several pleasant winters.
Capt. SHUBAEL TENNEY was a pattern farmer and very respectable resident of this town. His farm is now wholly, or in part owned by Daniel H. Parker. His son, the Hon. John Tenney, graduated at Dartmouth College, read law with James H. Duncan, Esq., of Haverhill, Massachusetts, in which town he opened an office, and married a daughter of the Hon. Bailey Bartlett.
NATHANIEL T. SAFFORD, from Beverly, a few years since purchased the farm of Captain Benjamin Whipple, which he improves with good husbandry. He has been several years elected-town clerk, and is a respectable and valued citizen.
Capt. JONAS HASTINGS carried on a tan-yard in the southerly part of the town.
Mr. PAUL HEALEY was an ancient settler. He died at the age of 93. His second wife died at the age of 92. His son Joseph was a good teamster as well as farmer. Himself, Robert Holmes and Josiah Bailey were, long be- fore the date of railroads, a well known trio on the Boston road, as teamsters.
RICHARD CILLEY served a farmer's apprenticeship in this town, which he left in 1835. He has been several years a stage owner and driver ; as also an express agent. Having by his industry acquired a comfortable property, he purchased a farm on our town's western border, where he enjoys quietly the avails of his activity and providence in early life.
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ROBERT ALEXANDER removed from Bedford to this town. He purchased the Dunbarton farm of John Raymond, Esq., upon which he resided until his death, March 3, 1818, at the age of 93, when the farm was divided between his sons, David and William. The latter removed to the western part of New-York more than forty years ago. David was an exemplary husbandman and worthy citizen. He never sought office, and his affairs prospered. He was a good officer of militia, and deacon of the church. He led a reputable life and died respected, June -, 1852, aged 70. Mrs. Alexander died May 29, 1854.
Mr. HUGH JAMESON, son of late Daniel Jameson, Esq., married his daughter, and now owns the estate improved by Captain Alexander.
Children of David and Martha Cunningham Alexander : Betsey, b. February 28, 1805; Nancy, b. January 6, 1807 ; Polly, b. October 24, 1808 ; Harriet, b. November 22, 1812 ; Maria, b. December 25, 1815.
Major WILLIAM BROWN, from Beverly, Mass., settled in the south-eastern part of the town. He was an influential and respectable man, often elected to town offices, and major of the ninth regiment (New Hampshire Militia) .* When he came to this place he possessed but little property, but by his active labor as a good blacksmith, he purchased land, piece by piece, until he had obtained a considerable farm. He was, in his younger days, a hard worker. He left a good estate. He was born January 24, 1764, and died April 2, 1849, aged 85. His grandson, Paltiah, has frequently been chosen moderator and selectman. He was also elected Register of Deeds for Merrimack county, and now resides in Concord.
Major Brown's children were: William, b. May 30, 1790; Judith, b. September 19, 1794; Anna, Hannah,
*ANECDOTE OF MAJOR BROWN. When he commanded the militia company in this town, while with them, on parade, near the town-house, he observed a large black snake with head erect, steering across the com- mon, toward the house. Without a moment's hesitation he gave chase, and before the enemy could get under cover, killed him with his sword.
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