USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 29
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powerful blow with the knot, which broke his back, and he rolled down at her feet. She quickly dispatched him, dragged him to the house, and dressed him. When Mr. Huse and his companion returned, she was cooking some of it for their supper. They were of course much astonished at what she had done, and asked how she had killed him. She repeated the story substantially as here given, and added, "When he fell from the tree, I lammed on, I did; and I killed him, I did, I did!" It was a remarkable feat, and well represents the strength and courage of the women of those early days. This story was told by Mrs. Huse herself to Gould Harri- man, after he purchased the place, and who showed him the exact spot where the bear was killed.
The most desperate contest with a bear in this town, of which any authentic account can be furnished, was that of Elisha Barnes, son of Silas, who lived upon the south side of Craney hill, above the pond. One spring day, when the snow yet lay deep in the clearing and in the woods, Mr. Barnes stood looking out of the only door in his log house, when he spied a large bear coming through the snow in the clearing, making his way into the woods below. Barnes stepped into the house for his gun. He found it unfit for use, and saying, "My gun is always unfit for use when I want it!" he seized an axe and followed the bear. Soon coming up with him, Bruin turned and looked him in the face. Mr. Barnes immediately struck at him with the axe, which blow was parried with one paw, and, knocking the weapon from his hands, the animal jumped upon him, biting him severely in his leg and thigh. By this time Barnes be- gan to realize his dangerous position, alone in his fight with the bear, and with no weapon in his hands. As the beast attempted another bite, the unfortunate man ran his arm down the animal's throat, and seized its tongue by its roots. In the meantime, Mr. Barnes's family, fearing there would be difficulty with the bear, informed their nearest neighbor, Samuel Eastman, who arrived at an opportune moment.
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Barnes was partly down in the snow, with the blood flowing freely from his wounds. He requested Eastman to give the animal a blow on the head with the bit of the axe. Mr. East- man, fearing to do this without injury to the suffering man, dealt him a powerful blow upon the thigh, which caused him to disengage himself from Mr. Barnes, and to run down into the woods below. The helpless settler was taken to his home, where his wounds were dressed, but so severe were they that months elapsed before he was able to perform any labor. The next day the bear was tracked, by his blood, to his hiding-place, and killed.
Another heroic act was performed by Mrs. William Pe- ters, grandmother of the late John Peters. They resided on what is known as the "Jacob Peters place," in the east part of the town. Mr. Peters being absent one day in the autumn, his wife went into the corn-field near the house for some purpose, when she found that the bears were de- stroying the corn very badly. Returning to the house and loading the gun, she went back to the field, and, with the help of a small cord, placed the gun in such a position that any ani- mal coming near the trap which was set close by would be likely to get injured. She then returned to the house and said nothing. The evening following, several of the neigh- bors dropped in for a little chat. But little time had elapsed, however, before the sharp report of a gun was heard. " What's that ?" eagerly asked several. No one knew. Mr. Peters jokingly remarked, "I guess my wife's shot a bear !" Mrs. Peters then said, "Come out into the cornfield with me, and we will see if I have." They did so, and there lay a bear shot directly through the heart by the spring gun.
Mr. Peters soon after shot a large moose near his house, and the place has been known as "Moose hollow" ever since the occurrence.
Jonathan Ray, grandfather of John C. Ray, lived near Mr. Peters. He had two wives during his life, and raised a large family. He used to say that "Me and my wives, first
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and last woman, had fifteen children." His first wife was a heroic woman. Hearing a noise in their hog-pen one day, she ran out to ascertain the cause, and was just in season to see a large bear climbing over the pen with a pig in his mouth. She immediately struck him a powerful blow with a large stick of wood. The bear dropped the pig and made for the woods. Mrs. Ray picked up the pig, and placed him in the pen again : he lived, and made them a good piece of pork in the following autumn.
One day, in the absence of her husband, Mrs. Ray heard a great noise among the little flock of sheep that were in the yard near the house. On reaching them, she found wolves among them, who left at her approach. Eleven of the twelve sheep they possessed had been killed by the wolves, and the blood partially devoured by them. Mrs. Ray immediately went to work and dressed the whole number, took them into their house, and hung them up in the shed. When Mr. Ray came home at night, he opened the door directly upon them. He was of course much aston- ished, and after his wife had given him the explanation, the wolves, bears, and all other wild animals received their just condemnation.
Stephen Whitaker resided in the east part of the town, near where is now the northerly end of the covered bridge across the Contoocook, upon the road leading to Hopkin- ton. Two of his neighbors, Mr. Kezer and Mr. Smart, in going to his house one evening, heard a noise among his pigs. They gave the alarm, and, with Mr. Whitaker, soon discovered a large bear, who was quietly eating his supper from a nice little pig. After a sharp fight, during which several shots were fired at the bear, he was killed, and the party returned to Mr. Whitaker's house, happy in the thought that there was one bear less to make them disturb- ance.
These men used to catch many wolves. Their method of killing was, to dig a large hole in which they drove large
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HUSKING-BEES.
stakes ; the top ends of these stakes were then sharpened very pointed ; upon these points brush was lightly placed, and upon the brush bits of meat were laid. The wolves, scenting the meat, would jump upon the brush, and as quickly find themselves plunging down between the stakes. Once down, there was no escape. It is said that wolves caught in this manner used to look very " sheepish" at the plight they were found in.
Wolves were at one time very plenty throughout the town, especially in the northerly part. So numerous were they, that at one time Jacob Whitcomb and David Connor built a huge bonfire on the " Ammi brook," upon the ridge now owned by Harrison A. Rice, around which the wolves gathered in great numbers, and were slaughtered by the neighbors with their guns.
HUSKING-BEES.
One day, late in the autumn of one of the first years of the present century, Dyer Abbott and his mother-in-law, Widow Atkinson, who lived where Warren S. Childs now resides, having heaped their large barn floor with corn, ready to be husked, made a husking-bee. The neighbors from far and near were invited. The Gosses, the Pattersons, and the Bartletts came down from "Pork hill ;" the Childses, the Smiths, the Harthorns, the Whitcombs, the Rices, and the Woodses came down from the westerly side of the town, to- gether with quite a number from both sides of the river east- erly from them. The corn was rapidly cleared from its husks. The red ears were duly attended to, stories were told, and jokes bandied about at the expense of some of the mem- bers of the company. Rum flowed freely, and all went "merry as a marriage bell." About midnight the entire company were invited into the house, where all partook of a most substantial supper, consisting largely of baked beans, brown bread, and pumpkin pies. The supper well over, the old kitchen was cleared, the players upon the violins took
26
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their positions, and the remainder of the night was spent in merry dancing, as the lively notes of "Money Musk," " The Devil's Dream," " High Betty Martin," and other old tunes, rolled from the " slippery cat-gut" upon the violins. It is related that one young man refused to partake of the sup- per, and led out his horse preparatory to going up the hill to his home. He experienced a good deal of difficulty in mounting his horse, and when the supper was over he was found in the same place trying to mount, but was unable to do so alone, for he said, "The horse keeps going round and round, and don't never stop in the right place for me to get on his back."
About this same time, William Howe, who lived upon the farm formerly owned by his father, Peter, near the present residence of Asa P. Wiggin, made a husking-bee, which proved to be one of the very largest ever known in the town. A most sumptuous supper was partaken of, Shutha- leh Rice eating so much that he came near dying. Nahum Brown, father of Thomas, was present, and contributed much to the enjoyment of the entire company.
Husking-bees were of very common occurrence, and we only give these as a sample of the manner in which they were conducted. They were the occasion of a good deal of merriment and enjoyment.
LOG-ROLLING.
Of the same nature as the spinning-bees of the women, and the huskings of both men and women, were the log- rollings of olden times. One great trait in the old settlers was the desire to work in large numbers; and in the matter of clearing land they most certainly showed wisdom, for what alone was a hard and serious task, was, when under- taken by many, made a comparatively easy one. We give a little account of one, as showing the manner in which they were conducted, and the amount of labor performed. Thad-
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deus Gibson had at one time twenty acres of timber felled and burned over. It looking like a formidable task to clear this large amount, and make it ready to sow the grain, he set a day, and invited not only his neighbors, but strong and powerful men in other parts of the town. The day ap- pointed found his "burnt piece " alive with men and oxen. Among those who were present were Nahum Brown, Jacob Rice, then a boy, "Sandy" Patterson, the Harthorn broth- ers, Paul and Silas, and others as strong and resolute. When the day closed, it found nearly the whole of that twenty acres cleared into piles ready to be burned, and the ground unoccupied by these piles ready for the sowing of the rye. This large number of men were furnished with a dinner by Mr. Gibson, which was all the remuneration they expected, trusting to the time when they should severally need the services of Mr. Gibson in return.
TRAINING OF TROOPERS.
Nothing for a show ever so pleased the young people in those olden times as the " old troopers," who, decked in a showy but substantial uniform, and prancing about so gaily upon their horses, seemed like fairies dropped down from above. The first time they collected in any num- ber was near the close of the last century, near the resi- dence of Judge Wallace. In 1806 another collection met in the field near Judge Darling's. But a still larger number collected here in the fall of 1812, and paraded upon Dea. Connor's plain. Nearly the whole town was in attendance to witness their various evolutions. These troopers be- longed to the 26th Regiment, and a part of the company from Warner, and were finely drilled. This occasion is men- tioned, to this day, as one never to be forgotten. There was at this time no independent company in this town, though several belonged to the troopers.
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SPINNING-BEES.
These were indulged in largely by the women in the early settlement of the town. It was the custom to meet at the house of some neighbor, or some new-comer, and to assist in the spinning of the flax ready to be manufactured into cloth. These gatherings were the principal sources from which the women derived any social intercourse away from their own homes. As with the men, so with the wom- en : every minute had for them a duty, and that duty was work.
One of the most remarkable of these-spinning bees took place in the early settlement of the town, soon after Eph- raim Goss had married Ruth Campbell, daughter of Annas. Having a great many things to manufacture, the women of the neighborhood appointed a day to meet at her home to assist her. The wives of her brothers,-David, John, and Phinehas,-together with Mrs. Childs, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. New- ton, Mrs. Harthorn, Mrs. Patterson, and others, shouldered their spinning-wheels in the early morning, and went up the hill. How rapidly whirled those wheels all the day long ! resting only long enough to partake of an excellent dinner prepared by Mrs. Goss, who was then just commencing house-keeping. While the hands of the workers were busy, their tongues were not idle, as they discussed the merits and demerits of the different settlers of the township. Skein after skein was finished, and it was not until the sun began to sink, and the shadows of evening began to approach, that their work was brought to an end. It was then they gath- ered up the fruits of the day's labor. One enumerated hers, another one hers ; but when all had been counted, it was found that the three Campbell women were the champion spinners, for they together had spun eleven double skeins of linen thread. This was considered a great feat ; for the spinning of two, and, at the most, three double skeins, was considered a great day's work. The champion spinners
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were heartily congratulated. Together the women shoul- dered their wheels, went down the hill, and separated, each to her own home, highly pleased with the day's work and enjoyment. Mrs. Maj. David Campbell used often to tell her children, in after years, what "we three Campbell women" did that day.
FIRST CHECK-LIST.
The legislature in 1813 passed an act requiring towns to use a check-list in voting for state and county officers. Pre- vious to this every man voted upon his honor, and his name was noted down, and a list made up from these names for taxing purposes. This law was passed June 23, 1813. John T. Gilman was governor. Oliver Peabody was president of the senate, and Thomas W. Thompson, speaker of the house. It was used in this town the following spring. Hon. Joshua Darling was a member of the senate, and was quite influential in securing the passage of the act. As politics began to wax warmer, and the contests became more ani- mated, the check-list was used in electing town officers as well as state, and was found to be a necessary safeguard against the attempted frauds of either party. It was a most beneficial act, and has proved the best means yet devised to secure an honest and at the same time a complete vote. It is now used in most of the larger towns in all elections for state, county, and town officers.
MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN WARE.
Timothy Gillette, and his son Oliver, came to this town from Vermont in the early spring of 1813, and established the manufacture of wooden ware in the westerly part of the town, in a cider-mill belonging to Eli Wood, which stood near his dwelling-house. These articles consisted of bowls, plates, skimmers, cups, saucers, and various other articles, all quite useful, and much needed and used in those days. They were made mostly from ash timber, it being consid-
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ered the best material from which they could be manufac- tured. They were mostly turned in a lathe by the son, after which the father filled his two large leather "pouches" with the goods, placed them upon his horse's back, and dis- posed of them in the various parts of the country in the same manner that tin ware and other articles are disposed of in these days. Late in the fall of the same year they returned to Vermont, and the business ceased here. Many of these articles are still to be seen in some of the older families of the town, and have done long and very faithful service.
PUPPET SHOW.
It may interest the younger readers of these pages to know that the first puppet show ever exhibited in this town was upon the evening of March 12, 1814, in the house of William Bowman, who then lived where Wesley Felch now resides. Several images about two feet in height were arranged upon a stand for that purpose; in front of each one was placed a little bell; in each hand of the different images was a little hammer ; wires running from the arms down through the body, out of sight, were operated by a crank turned in the same manner as upon a hand-organ. As this crank was turned, one arm, and at other times both arms, of the images were raised, and the bell in front of them struck by the little hammers they held. In this man- ner quite a number of tunes were played. The images were also made to dance about the board in various ways. The whole was a very pleasing performance, much delight- ing the boys, who had gathered in large numbers, and paid their few cents to witness this, to them, most wonderful per- formance of making wooden images dance and play tunes.
FIRST ELEPHANT.
The first elephant exhibited in this town was in 1815. The show was in the barn of Widow Atkinson, who lived where Warren S. Childs now resides. It was crowded
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by the people of the town to see the huge animal, and to witness the various tricks he was made to perform by his keeper. William Bowman was present, and, as usual upon all gatherings, was the "funny man" for the occasion. His performances with the elephant are still remembered by some of the older people with much pleasure.
SHOOTING STARS.
The largest exhibition of falling or shooting stars ever witnessed in this town was on the morning of November 13, 1833. They were first observed about five o'clock in the morning, and continued to fall until daylight rendered them invisible. It was represented as a very brilliant dis- play, the stars shooting in all directions through the heav- ens, and finally disappearing in their flight towards the earth. Many displays have since been witnessed, but none to compare with this one.
COPY OF ANNAS CAMPBELL'S WILL.
The following is an exact copy of Annas Campbell's will, taken from the original copy now in the possession of his grandson, Harris Campbell:
In the name of God, Amen. In this year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one, I Annas Campbell of Henniker, in the province of New Hampshire in New England, yeoman, being at this time through the goodness of God, of good understanding and perfect mind and memory, do make & ordain this my last will and testament. Principally & first of all, I give my soul to God who gave it, hoping that the mer- cy of God & merits of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to ob- tain the redemption of all my sins & to inherit eternal life, my body I commit to the earth to be buried in a Christian like man- ner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named. And as touching such temporal estate as it hath pleased God in his providence to bless me with, I give, bequeath and dispose of the same in the following manner & form :
I give unto my well beloved wife Abigail, for her use & im- provements during the term of time that she shall remain my widow, to be provided yearly for her by my executor the fol- lowing particular, viz. : one horse & decent tackling for the same, two cows & four sheep & sixteen bushels of corn, eight
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of Indian, & eight of rye, two hundred weight of pork, & sixty weight of beef & a reasonable supply of sauce, one bushel of malt, and twenty pound of flax.
I also order and appoint that my said Executor build & keep in repair for the use and improvement of my well beloved wife during the aforesaid term, one half of my new house in said Henniker, from the bottom of the cellar to the roof. Also, to procure for her ten cords of wood yearly, three feet long, during said term. I also give unto my well beloved wife all my house- hold furniture for her use & to dispose of at her discretion, and as touching the horse, cows & sheep, they are to return to my said Executor at the expiration of the said term of time.
I give unto my son Annis all my lands that I own in Hop- kinton in said province, viz. : one lot of land containing eighty acres more or less, & an intervale lot on the north side of Con- toocook river in the great intervale.
I give unto my son David, whom I likewise constitute, make & ordain the sole Executor of this my last will and testament, all that part of my lands on the north side of Contoocook river in said Henniker, it being part of the Lots No. 11 & No. 12, containing about one hundred & thirty acres, be the same more or less, being the place I now live on in said Henniker, togeth- er with the buildings & one half of all my utensils & all the stock of cattle that I have on said place, in said town, except the horse, cows & sheep which my well beloved wife is to have the use of during the aforesaid term. I also give to my said Executor one hundred acres of land in said Henniker, which I purchased of John Johnson, lying side by side with a lot of Samuel Peasleys.
Also, I give unto my said Executor all my sheep I own in Hawke, in said province, and as touching my estate of lands in said Hawke, I hereby order and appoint that my said Executor make speedy sale of the same for the use hereafter mentioned.
I give unto my son Robert, one hundred acres of land, in said Henniker, which is No. 15 in the first Range. I give unto my son Alexander, one hundred acres of land in said Henniker, which is No. 16 in the first Range. I give unto my son John, one hundred acres of land in said Henniker, which is No. II in the Eleventh Range. I give unto my son Jesse, all my land on the south side of Contoocook river, which belongs to my first division Lots No. 11 & No. 12. I give unto my son Phenias, one hundred acres of land in said Henniker, which is No. 18 in the twelfth Range.
I give unto my daughter Abigail fifteen pound lawful money, to be paid to her by my said Executor out of the money that he shall receive for my farm, which I have ordered him to sell in
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Hawke aforesaid, on or before the expiration of twelve months from the day of my decease.
I give to my three younger daughters, viz. : Hannah, Sarath, & Ruth, to each fifteen pound lawful money to be paid to them by my said Executor, out of the money that my said Executor shall receive for my farm in Hawke aforesaid, on or before the expiration of twelve months from the day of my decease.
I do hereby order and appoint that my said executor call in, and deliver to my daughter Abigail, two of my cows that I have let out, on or before the expiration of twelve months from the day of my decease.
I also order & appoint him, my said executor, to call in and deliver to my three youngest daughters above named, the other six cows that I have let out, to each daughter two cows, on or before the expiration of twelve months from the day of my de- cease.
I also order and appoint, that my said executor pay to my son Phenias, the sum of three pound lawful money, on or be- fore the said Phenias shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
I also order & appoint him, my said executor, to deliver the other half of all my utensils to my three youngest sons, viz. : John, Jesse, & Phenias, each one equal portion in quantity and quality.
I give unto my son David, whom I likewise constitute, make & ordain the sole executor of this my last will & testament, my best coat & jackett, & breeches, and as touching such part of the money, if any there be which shall remain over and above what he, my said executor, is ordered to pay out of said money, said remainder I give in equal shares to my well beloved wife and to my said Executor.
I likewise order & appoint that he my said Executor, call in all my just debts, or dues, & pay out all lawful debts by me contracted, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, & disan- nul all and every other former testaments, wills, bargains, & bequeaths executed by me in any ways before named, written, bequeathed, ratifying & confirming this & no other, to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fifth day of June, in the eleventh year of his Majesty's reign, one thousand seven hundred & seventy-one.
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced & delivered by the said Annis Campbell, as his last Will & testament in the pres- ence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names.
Anais Camell. [L. s.]
Ebenezer Harthorn, Hezekiah Newton Ezekiel Eaton.
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Hillsborough ss., Feb'y the 7th A. D. 1772.
This will was proved by the oath of Ebenezer Harthorn & Ezekiel Eaton in common form.
John Goffe, J. Prob.
MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT.
It was the custom and the law, in the earlier days of the present century, when parties were to be married, that the intention of such a fact should be " cried " or announced by the town-clerk for three successive Sabbaths in the church, at the close of the service in the afternoon. At the close of the exercises one Sabbath, about the first of September, 1815, a sharp, shrill voice came ringing down from the west gallery of the Congregational church, announcing "that marriage was intended between Isaac Rice, of Henniker, and Betsey Sibley, of Hopkinton." Mr. Rice was town- clerk that year, and had announced his own intention of marriage.
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