USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Jaffrey > History of the town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, from the date of the Masonian charter to the present time, 1749-1880 : with a genealogical register of the Jaffrey families, and an appendix containing the proceedings of the centennial celebration in 1873 > Part 20
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176 177 178 179 I SO ISI IS2 IS3 IS4 IS5 I 86 IS7
IS8 IS9
280
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
190
III. Polly, b. Aug. 20, 1797 ; d. Aug. 14, 1800.
IV. John, b. April 29, 1800.+
192
v. Luke, b. April 6, 1So2 ; d. Sept. 12, 1802.
193
VI. Mary, b. March 2, 1803 ; m. Levi Biggelow, of Fitzwilliam, May 20, 1824 : r. Oakland Val- ley, Iowa.
194
I. Levi Spofford, b. May 31, 1825 ; m. Ann E. Purington, April 25, 1849; r. Shrewsbury, Mass.
2. Horace, b. Oct. 8, 1827; d. Sept 22, IS28.
3. Horace, b. July 15, 1830 ; d. June 18, 1848.
197
4. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 4, 1831 ; m. Eli A. Smith, June 25, 1858. Two children : (1) Minnie Rose, b. July 26, 1859 ; (2) Leslie Elroy, b. June 26, 1866.
198
5. Mary, b. Oct. 31, 1836; m. Willard Hartwell, March 19, 1855. Four chil- dren.
199 200 201 202
VII. Luke Hastings, b. April 28, 1805.+ VIII. Nathan. b. Dec. 22, 1807 ; d. same day.
Ix. Adonijah, b. Aug. 29, ISO8 ; m., Nov. 27, 1840, Maria Wilson, of Fitzwilliam.
x. Susan, b. Dec. 22, ISIO ; d. Dec. 23, 1810.
(189)
DAVID CUTTER, Jr., m., Ist, Jan. 5, 1824, Eliza, dau. of William and Mary (Brown) Tolman, of Winchen- don. She d. Oct. 14, 1825, a. 21. M., 2ª, Dolly, dau. of Rev. Levi and Sarah (Packard) Pillsbury, of Win- chendon.
He entered the U. S. Army, and served during the Mexican war. The time of his death is unknown. Children :
203
I. Morrill Tolman, b. Oct. 10. 1825 ; m., June 5. 1847, Mrs. Persis A. (Wyman) Munroe, of Northborough, Mass. ; r. in Akron, O. Is engaged in the boot and shoe business. He was in the Union army during the war.
204
II. Eliza Tolman, b. April 23, 1830; m. Woods.
205
III. Mary Sophia, went West and n.
195
196
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
(191) | JOHN CUTTER m. Eliza, dan. of Rev. Levi and Sarah (Packard) Pillsbury, March 17, IS25. He was a farm- er ; settled in Winchendon ; was a distinguished man in town and church affairs ; held offices of trust ; was selectman, overseer of the poor, deacon of the church, and captain of the militia. He d. .. Ch. :
206
I. Levi Pillsbury, b. Dec. 29, 1825 ; m. Abbie G., dau. of David and Susan (Gray) Biggelow, in 1854; re. West, and was killed by the cars at Harvard Junction, Ill., June 6, 1862. Two children : (1) Fred Oscar, b. Nov. 29, 1849 ; (2) John, b. Dec. 29, 1859.
207
II. John Calvin, b. Aug. 21, IS27; m. Aurilla Pierce, of Londonderry, Vt., Dec. 12, 1849. Ch .: (1) Nelson S., b. Sept. 13, 1850 ; d. Aug. 25, 1854 ; (2) John Morrill, b. Nov. 4, 1852 ; (3) Sarah A., b. Dec. 2, 1860.
209
IV. Sarah Pillsbury, b. Oct. 16, 1829; m. Dr. Wm. Lincoln, of Wabasha, Minn., Aug. 28, 1855 ; d. Oct. 19, 1859. One ch .: Willie H., b. June 2, 1857.
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LUKE HASTINGS CUTTER m., March 20, 1832, Abi- gail, dau. of T. K. Ames, of Mason ; re. to Peter- borough, and from thence to New Ipswich, where he d. in a snow-storm, March 8, IS45. His widow d. Feb. 11, IS54. Five ch. :
210 2II 212 213
I. Eliza.
II. William Hastings, m. and r. in St. Louis, Mo.
III. Henry P., a jeweller.
IV. Lucy, deceased.
214
v. Mary, m. - Putman, and d. at Brattleboro', Vt.
NATHAN CUTTER came from New Ipswich-where his father, Nathan, a grandson of Ephraim, d. March 6, 1778, a. 42-and settled on lot 20, range 6, now owned by Addison Pierce. The time of his settlement
215
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III. Eliza Ripley, twin, b. Aug. 21, 1827 ; m. John Chapman, April S, 1847 ; d. at Keene, July 2, 1865. Three ch. : (1) Ann Eliza, b. Jan. 29, IS49 ; m. Christopher Hathorn ; (2) Ella Maria, b. Nov. 4, 1851 ; (3) Frank Bailey, b. Feb. 22, IS65.
282
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
in Jaffrey is not precisely known, but some time previ- ous to 1785. He m. Polly, dau. of Capt. William Pope. About IS12 he re. to Shoreham, Vt., and d. about ISIS.
216 217
I. Polly, d. in Jaffrey, Dec. 29, 1798, a. 17.
218
III. Rhoana, b. in Jaffrey ; m. Nicanor Needham, of Shoreham, Vt., physician ; died.
219
220
IV. Orinda, m. Darius Cooper, farmer. v. Abdilla.
221
VI. Rosira, m. Leander Cass ; had a son and daugh- ter.
222
VII. Nathan.
(217)
WILLIAM POPE CUTTER (Dr.) m. Prudence Evans, March 24, ISOS; d. at Shoreham, Vt., July 8, 1815. Ch. :
223
I. Dorothy, b. Sept. 20, 1809 ; m. Daniel Abbot ; d. Nov. 19, 1842 ; had one daughter.
224
II. William Pope, b. Nov. 23, ISII ; d. IS22.
225
III. Rhoana N., b. Hartford, N. Y., Dec. 21, 1814 ; m. Walter Robbins, of Leicester, Vt., Dec. 31, 1838. Ch. :
226
I. Milo N., b. Dec. 9, 1840 ; m. Annie P. Whittier, Sept. 17, 1866 ; r. Boston ; one son, b. May 19, 1869.
227
2. Hannah M., b. April 15, 1843.
228
3. Emma R., b. Sept. 4, 1845 ; m. Edwin H. Hubbard, Feb. 24, 1864.
4. Thirza L., b. 7, 1849.
230
5. Mary J., b. Sept. 19, 1852.
231
6. Julia A., b. May 22, 1855.
232
JAMES CUTTER, a descendant of Gershom, son of Richard, the emigrant, was the son of Gershom, Jr., and Anna, dau. of John and Sarah Fillebrown, of Cambridge, b. March 27-28, 1742 ; m. Catherine, dau. of Samuel and Mary (Hammond) Benjamin, of Wal- tham, Mass., b. March 6, 1745. They re., first, to Rindge, and Oct. IS, 1778, were dismissed from the church in Waltham to the church in that place. In - he re. to Jaffrey, and settled in the village called
229
II. William Pope, b. in Jaffrey, June 13, 1785.+
[See College Graduates. ]
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
283
Squantum ; was a miller in that place, and d. there April 13, 1790, the first one by the name of Cutter who d. in Jaffrey. His widow d. Feb. 12, ISIS. Ch. :
I. Polly, b. May 3, 1772 ; d. Feb. 28, 1773.
II. James, b. March 23, 1774 ; d. unm. at Boston, I SOI.
III. Mary, b. April 14, 1776 ; d. April 24, 1778.
IV. Catherine, b. Sept. 16, 1778 ; m. - Ford ; d. IS39, Charlestown, Mass.
v. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 24, 1781 ; " Betsey Cutter " d. unm. in Jaffrey, Oct. 11, 1852. VI. Stephen, b. Nov. 3. 1782.+
VII. Samuel, b. Sept. 7, 1785 ; m. Susan Brown, of Groton ; r. West Cambridge, Woburn, Lan- caster, and Watertown ; was a miller, and d. in Woburn, Nov. 3, 1843. His widow d. May 6, 1861. Nine ch.
(238)
STEPHEN CUTTER m. Mehitable, dau. of Joseph and Lucy (Robinson) Kimball, of Jaffrey. He d. Aug. 15, 1852, at Cuba, N. Y. His widow d. at Jaffrey, July 26, 1879, a. 88.
240 241 242 243 244 245
I. Stephen Kimball, b. March 12, 1815.++
II. Harriet Eliza, b. Feb. 3, 1817.
III. Charles Americus, b. June 28, 1819.+
IV. Catherine Augusta, b. Jan. 21, 1821 ; d. July 19, 1842 ; unm.
v. George Franklin, b. Dec. 27, 1822 ; m. Mrs. Mary S. Scott, b. in Charleston, S. C., March 23, 1819.
VI. Gustavus A., b. April 16, 1825.+-
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STEPHEN KIMBALL CUTTER m. Eliza Daggett, July 15, 1838, b. at Westmoreland, Oct. 2, IS17 ; is a car- penter ; r. Cuba, N. Y. Ch. :
246 247 248
1. Frances Eveline, b. April 18, 1839 ; m. Veranus B. Colman, Sept. 14, 1859 ; re. in Belmont, N. Y. Three ch.
II. Judson Charles, b. Cuba, N. Y., July 30, 1842. III. Addison Adolphus, b. April 20, 1845 ; d. June 26, 1845.
IV. Addison Adolphus, b. Oct. 5, 1846.
249 250
v. Ella Eliza, b. March 30, 1849.
233 234 235 236 237 238 239
284
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
(242) CHARLES AMERICUS CUTTER m. Philena Loveland, of Londonderry, Vt., June 2, 1846; r. Jaffrey. He d. Dec. 8, 1873.
251 252 253
I. Gustavus Adolphus, b. Feb. 23, 1847, at Clare- mont.
II. Lucy Ann, b. July 13, 1851, at Marlow.
III. Willie Mark, b. Sept. 21, 1857, at Jaffrey.
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GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS CUTTER m. Mary Vinton Lar- abee, of Melrose, Mass., Jan. 1, IS51. She was b. Aug. 23, 1833. R. Newton, Ill. He was impressed into the rebel army. Ch. :
254 255 256
I. Mary Jane, b. at Melrose, Oct. 31, 1852 ; d. May 29, 1854.
II. William Channing, b. Oct. 28, 1854.
III. Daniel Webster, b. at Nashville, Tenn , May 15, 1857.
257
JOHN CUTTER was a descendant of Nathaniel, son of Richard, the emigrant, by his 2ª wife, Frances (Perri- man) Amsden, the widow of Isaac Amsden, or Emsden, of Cambridge. Nathaniel m. Mary, dau. of Thomas and Anne Fillebrown, of Charlestown, b. May 5, 1662. They had seven children. John, their fifth child, m. Hepzebah Brooks, dau. of Jabez and Hepzebah (Cutter) Brooks, of Woburn. They had two children-John and Nathaniel. Nathaniel m. Sarah, dau. of Benjamin and Esther (Richardson) Wyman. They had ten chil- dren-four sons and six daughters. John, the third son and fourth child, was b. at Woburn, March 16, 1765 ; m. Abigail, dau. of John and Rebecca (Corneille) Demary, of Rindge, N. H., b. Aug. 21, 1768, and d. March 4, 1866, a. 97. Mr. Cutter d. Sept. 14, 1835, a. 70. John Cutter came to Jaffrey in 1789, soon after his marriage, and commenced business as a tanner in the establishment afterwards occupied by his son, Ben- jamin Cutter, but since demolished. He was a person of singular energy of character, and by industry, frugal- ity, and strict honesty, acquired not only a comfortable subsistence, but a competency. He was among thie first who openly avowed faith in God's impartial grace and salvation, and for many years was considered the pillar of the Universalist society in Jaffrey. His house
-
Alberty! Forbes Co.
Jahr button
285
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
was always the home for the ministers who came into town, where they ever found a welcome, both by him and his excellent companion. Mrs. Cutter was one of the excellent of the earth ; her whole life, long and useful, was characterized by strict integrity, virtuous principle, and a Christian walk. She retained her physical and mental faculties in a remarkable degree up to the close of her earthly pilgrimage ; patient, trustful, and hopeful, she met her death with calmness. She was the mother of twelve children, fifty grandchildren, and a large number of great-grandchildren ; six of her children, and twenty-six of her grandchildren were living at the time of her death. Mr. Cutter was the first person in Jaffrey who kept accounts in Federal money.
Children :
258 259
I. John, b. at Rindge, Oct. 31, 1788. +
II. Jonas, b. at Jaffrey, March 6, 1791 ; d. in Sa- vannah, Ga., Oct. 7, 1820. He graduated at Dartmouth college, 1811. [See Coll. Gr.] III. Benjamin, b. Jan. 8, 1793 +
260 261 262
IV. Ethan, b. April 11, 1795.+
v. Ermina, b. Feb. 14, 1797 ; m. Levi Underwood, Sept. 7, 1819 ; d. in Goshen, Oct. 17, 1821. VI. Cyrus, b. May 17: 1798.+
263 264 265 266
VII. Nathaniel, b. March 2. 1800.++
VIII. Esther, b. Nov. 3, 1801 ; m. Laban Rice, q. v. Ix. Hepsy, b. Dec. 24, 1803 ; m., June 30, 1825, John Holmes ; and d. in Springfield, Vt., Sept. 5, 1854. He commenced business in company with his brother, Enos Holmes, at Springfield, manufacturing cotton fabrics ; and is largely concerned in the Black River Manufacturing Company. Children :
267
268 269 270
271
1. John Cutter, b. April 22, 1827 ; m. Ist, Marcia A. Kimball, June 4, 1850; and, 2ª, Rebecca Spofford, March 8, 1859. Is in a government office in Washington, D. C. Three Children : (1) Otto K. (2) Frank. (3) Harvey B.
2. Emeline Duncan, b. March 7, 1830 ; d. Sept., 1851.
3. Abigail Demary, b. Aug. 21, 1836 ; d. April 20, 1854.
286
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
272
x. Emeline, b. Sept. 16, 1806 ; m. Hiram Duncan, merchant, July 21, 1829; b. at Hancock, March 4, 1805 ; d. at Jaffrey, Dec. 24, 1840. His widow d. Feb. 28, 1876. One ch.
273 274
I. Sarah Miller, b. July 8, 1833 ; m. Peter Upton, q. v.
XI. Paulina, b. Aug. 2, 18OS ; m. Hiram Spofford, cotton manufacturer, Feb. IS, 1835, b. in Weathersfield, Vt., Nov. 3, 1801 ; d. Spring- field, Vt., July 16, 1846.
275 276
I. Abbie Louisa, b. Oct. 25, 1839.
2. Hiram Duncan, b. July 29, 1841 ; m. Georgiana Fowler, of Bellows Falls, Vt., June 4, 1867, b. Monroe township, Pa., Nov. 25, 1848.
277
XII. Abigail, b. March 20, ISI0; d. Feb. 7, 1849 ; unm.
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JOHN CUTTER m., Feb. 7, ISII, Betsy, dau. of Capt. Alpheus and Elizabeth (Gilmore) Crosby. He was a leather manufacturer, and re. from Jaffrey to Goshen, Feb. 25, 1829. He d. Feb. 5, 1829. His widow d. in Campton, N. H. Children :
278
I. John Telestus, b. Aug. 1, ISII; m. Elizabeth Hosley ; d. July 3, 1879.
279 280
II. Laura, b. Dec. 10, 1812 ; m. Lucius M. Howe, q. v.
III. Clarissa, b. Aug. 19, 1814; m. Hon. William Clark, March 22, 1836. Mr. Clark was a member of the New Hampshire senate in 1849-'50. He d. in Boston. Children :
2SI
I. Clarissa Cutter, b., Jaffrey, Oct. 8, 1838; m. Theodore Parsons, of Gloucester, Mass., April 13, 1869 ; r. Boston.
282
2. Emeline Duncan, b. in Campton, April 4, 1841 ; d. Jan. 31, 1843.
283
3. William Francis, b. Dec. 19, 1842 ; d. Dec. 20, 1862.
284 285
4. Charles Elmer, b. Dec. 12, 1844.
5. Emily Adams, b. Jan. 11, 1848.
286
6. Ermina Demary, b. Sept. 3, 1852.
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
287
IV. Emily, b. Feb. 24, 1816 ; m. Samuel Cunning- ham, of Peterborough, June 12, 1839; r. Rockford, Ill. Children :
I. Laura E., b. April 6, 1847; d. in infancy.
2. James Ethan, b. Nov. 27, 1848; d. Aug. 19, 1867.
3. John A., b. Aug. 27, 1851 ; m., and d. IS79.
v. Ermina, b. Jan. 28, ISIS; m. John Baldwin Tucker, May 5, 1841, at Burlington, Mich., b. in Griswold, Conn., 1811; r. Mich. ; en- gaged in an extensive flour and saw mill business in Union City, Mich. Three ch.
I. Minnie Theresa, b. March 13, 1842.
2. Frances Amelia, b. May 5, 1846.
3. Charles Cutter, b. Sept. 9, 1848.
VI. Elizabeth Crosby, b. March 3, 1820; m. Lucius M. Howe, q. v.
VII. Charles, b. Feb. 22, 1822 ; m., March 27, 1850, Sarah Lucretia, dau. of Joseph and Sarah D. (Parker) Joslin, of Jaffrey. He grad. Dart- mouth college in 1842. [See College Grad- uates. 7
VIII. Abigail, b. May 17, 1824; m. Charles Sabin, Nov. 24, 1846. He is an apothecary ; r. Fitzwilliam. . One child : May.
IX. Mary Woodbury, b. Aug. 13, 1826 ; m. John Clement, May 1, 1844, at Campton.
I. Lucius Howe, b. March 14, 1845 ; d. at Goldsboro', N. C., July 5, 1865 ; a soldier in the Union army.
x. Benjamin Franklin, b. Dec. 14, 1S28 ; m., Oct. 28, 1851, Emily Jane, dau. of Elijah and Eliza Pattee Mitchell, of Campton ; in 1863 re. to Malden, Mass., where he keeps a liv- ery-stable. Ch. :
I. Jennie, b. Campton, Oct. 10, 1854.
287 2SS 289 290 291
292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300
301
·
288
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
302 303
2. - , d. March 2, 1856 ; a. 14 days.
3. Fannie, b. Oct. 4, 1857.
304
4. Frank, b. Sept. 18, 1859.
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BENJAMIN CUTTER m., Sept. 9, 1819, Grata, dau. of Nathan and Abigail (Hale) Hunt, of Rindge. [See Hunt family. ] She d. Nov. 5, 1871, a. 78.
Benjamin Cutter has pursued the manufacture of leather in Jaffrey ; first, in the original establishment erected by his father, and afterwards in the building now occupied by his son Julius for the same purpose. He has been a prominent leading man in town affairs ; for many years town-clerk, justice of the peace, and is now (18So) president of Monadnock National Bank, East Jaffrey. For several years he has been engaged in antiquarian research, and has a more extensive knowl- edge of the history of his native town than any other man living. Success has marked his career in every undertaking, and he is now highly respected and great- ly honored by his fellow-citizens. Ch. :
305
I. Sarah Augusta, b. Aug. 10, 1820 ; m. William Johnson Campbell, M. D., at Jaffrey, May 28, 1844 ; d. in Francestown, Dec. 1, 1846. Dr. Campbell studied physic with Dr. J. C. Grow, of Boston, and received his degree of M. D. from Harvard University in 1842. He has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Francestown, Nashua, and Londonderry, N. H., where he now r. Ch. :
306 307
I. Sarah Frances, b. March 28, 1845 ; m. Henry Albert Shedd, of Sharon, Sept. 24, 1870.
2. Ermina Cutter, b. Aug. 12, 1846.
Mrs. Campbell left manuscripts, poetically written, that have never been published. She possessed a " philosophic mind, and though she wrote poetry it was with a philosophic expression." She had no educa- tional advantages beyond what the vicinity afforded. The following poems are selected by her friends as specimens of her composition :
Albertype - Forbes Co. Boston.
Benjamin Gutter,
289
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
MY MOUNTAIN HOME.
Oh ! how I love my mountain home- Each rock, each tree, each flower ! The bleak wind, with its wildest tone, Can soothe my saddest hour. I've gazed upon Monadnock's form, High-towering toward the sky,
Bathed in the rosy light of morn. In sunset's purple dye.
I've looked and looked, and wondered how One soul could view it there,
And yet refuse to humbly bow To the great God in prayer. When yet a tiny, tottering child I first the green earth scanned, Toward it I sprang with wonder wild, And stretched my infant hand,
Not knowing but its feeble grasp Could span the mountain wide, And bring it, with one childish clasp, A plaything to my side. In after days I learned to climb Its steep and rugged rock,
And wonder how it had sustained Time's devastating shock. The dear old Mount !- I love it well- The genius of my home !
How dear nor tongue nor pen may tell, Wherever I may roam.
'Tis the first sight that greets my eyes, Returning from afar ;
And as it looms up toward the skies, It is my guiding star.
It leads me to the sweet bright land Where my dear loved ones dwell, A laughing, joyous, happy band, Bound by a magic spell. Yes, 'tis a magic spell, that binds The heart to kindred heart ;
And where are severed kindred minds The scalding tear-drops start ;- The fount of life seems gushing up, And flowing fast away : We deeply drink the bitter cup, Nor wish on earth to stay. My childhood's home ! my mountain home ! Precious thou art to me ! And o'er the wide earth if I roam, My soul will yearn for thee.
February 18, 1844.
20
290
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
HAPPINESS.
Long as the wheels of time have rolled Their annual circuit round, So long has Happiness been sought, But sought and rarely found.
Once on a time, when gentle sleep Had closed my weary eyes, With spirit's wing unbound I soared To find the far-off prize.
First to a kingly court I went, Where all were glad and gay; And where, amid the festive mirth, They pass their lives away.
Amid the splendor, I had thought That Happiness dwelt there ; But soon indeed I learned the truth, 'Twas all as false as fair.
I saw a miser count his gold, And thought I'd find it there; But on his furrowed brow I traced The marks of wasting care.
Fame next allured, with syren tongue, And held the wished-for prize ; Thousands and thousands hurried on With wonder-gazing eyes.
But when they reached it, 'twas not there ; Still farther on it flew, 'Mid gathering darkness and 'mid clouds Receding from their view.
A beauty now had met my eye,- A being sylph-like fair : I thought my search was at an end ; But, ah ! it was not there.
The rose is beauteous to behold, Beneath the dews of morn,- Its perfume floating on the air ; But it conceals a thorn.
Once more I looked, ere hope had fled ;- My search was not in vain ! I found it in its only form : Religion was its name.
December 11, 1841.
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
II. Ermina, b. Nov. 17, 1821 ; m. David Chamber- lin, q. v.
III. Adaliza, b. Jan. 21, 1823 ; m. Gurley A. Phelps, M. D., April 11, 1851. She d. June 3, 1852, leaving one child,-Grace Mina, b. April 12, 1852.
Dr. Phelps is a native of Vermont, and graduated from the Castleton Medical Col- lege in 1848. He began practice in Han- cock, Vt. ; re. to Jaffrey in 1849, where he has since been successfully engaged in the business of his profession. Like her sister, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Phelps left poetical manuscripts, from which a published vol- ume was selected, forming a neat duodecimo of some 300 pages, embellished with her por- trait, and dedicated by the husband of the author to her parents, " in view of the great influence she ascribed to them in her educa- tion, and the formation of her general char- acter." The collection was published and offered to the public at the earnest request of friends after her decease. The introduc- tory sketch, from the pen of her husband, describes her as one whose nature " was im- pulsive, and being moved with a restless fire, she burst forth in the poet's song,-a simple expression of what she lived, she felt." She wrote not " to be admired, but to be loved." She was joyful and happy in the midst of friends, when no danger was near, but felt " with keenest anguish a frown, or unkind look or word." She lived in smiles or in tears, and her love of whatever was noble and pure and worthy was only equalled by her resentment and abhorrence of whatever was impure, low, mean, or de- grading." Her most considerable poem,- " The Life of Christ,"-is a work of much merit. Two of her fugitive pieces are here presented. The first is descriptive of her- self and sisters ; the other,-her last effort,- was written a few weeks previous to her early and lamented death.
308 309
292
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
THE THREE SISTERS.
Three little girls !- I see them still,
As when, in happy years ago, They bounded o'er the green, green hill,
Or by the silvery streamlet's flow. The eldest has a thoughtful mien, A deep, full, spiritual eye, That ofttimes earnestly is seen Turned upward to its native sky.
The next one is a gentle girl, Mild as the summer evening air,
With many a soft and golden curl Clustering around her forehead fair.
The youngest is a careless child, Mocking the birds upon the tree :
Birds that are not more gay and wild, Or bear more tender hearts, than she.
Three little maidens !- there they stand, Revealed unto my spirit's gaze ; Heart clasped to heart, hand linked in hand, As in those joyous bygone days. The eldest-we should know her well, The thoughtful child, the pensive maiden :
The classic brow, the bright eye, tell The wealth with which the soul is laden. The gentle girl who won the love Of all, with her sweet, winning grace, Is still the dearly cherished dove, With guileless heart and angel face. The youngest and the gayest one, Her merry laugh so silvery clear, From rising to the setting sun,
Rings out like music on the ear.
Three happy school-girls !- side by side I see them toiling upward now, Up where perennial waters glide, To lave their weary, burning brow. The eldest upward, upward still, Lured onward by some mystic finger, Tireless ascends the classic hill ; Below, below, she may not linger. While by her side that gentle creature Glides like a living thing of light ; With calm joy mirrored on each feature, She sips the bubbling waters bright. The youngest one is still all gladness ; Joy dances still in her blue eye. Oh ! it will need stern scenes of sadness To cause that bounding heart a sigh.
293
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Where are they now ? Alas ! they 're parted- Those happy, loving sisters three. The youngest has grown sadder-hearted, Alone beneath the household tree. She misses them, and oh, how sadly ! Her loved companions from her side : Vows that thrilled her soul so gladly, Like music on her ear have died. That middle star, so mildly gleaming, Has gone to light another hearth ; With eyes of love all gently beaming On one who knoweth well her worth. That pure, white brow is touched by sorrow, Which left a holy impress there ; And from the skies has seemed to borrow Looks which we dream the angels wear.
The eldest -- she, alas! is lying, A tenant of the peaceful tomb ; She heedeth not the wind's low sighing, Or flowers that round her bud and bloom. She heedeth not the young bird singing His wild and thrilling roundelay,- The tide of music round her ringing From every green and dewy spray. She heedeth not the heart's wild anguish Of those she left in sorrow here ; .She knoweth not how oft they languish, And shed the bitter, burning tear. At morn, and when the day is done ; She knoweth not how much they miss her Or how she longs to sleep beside her, The youngest and the saddest one.
MY CHILD.
Sweet little blossom of my heart, Born with the April birds and flowers ! Tears of delicious rapture start To think that thou indeed art ours.
Our own most precious gift from heaven, A living, breathing soul divine. A precious gem the Saviour's given, To fashion in his crown to shine.
I look into thy soul-lit eye Just opened to my earnest gaze ; Soft as the blue of yonder sky, And mild as summer evening rays.
294
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
I gaze upon thy velvet cheek, Upon thy pure and spotless brow ; And joy no human tongue can speak I feel to be a mother now.
A mother ! Oh! what holy ties Now bind this trembling, happy heart : Aid me, O Saviour, from the skies, And faith and hope and love impart.
O for a faith to lay my child, My precious treasure, at thy feet ; Pure as the snowdrop, undefiled, I feel she is an offering meet.
O for a hope thou wilt receive, And bless the gift to thee I bring ; My treasure on thy breast I leave, Round her thine arms, O Saviour, fling.
O for a love, a deathless love, To keep me ever by thy side; Hourly to look to thee above, For grace a mother's heart to guide.
Husband and wife and child, we come ; To thy kind, sheltering arms we flee : Our hearts, our altar, and our home- We dedicate our all to thee.
310 311
IV. Julius, b. Nov. 28, 1824.+
v. Benjamin French, b. March 17, 1827.++
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ETHAN CUTTER m. Feb. 5, 1824, Nancy, dau. of Timothy and Elizabeth (Stiles) Blodgett, of Fitzwill- iam. He r. in Jaffrey, where he has been keeper of a public house nearly forty years. Has been town treas- urer of Jaffrey several years ; was postmaster fifteen years, and has sustained other local offices with credit.
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