USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 25
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1864 .- Moderator, Nelson Converse; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- leetmen, Amos A. Mason, George A. Porter, Cyrus S. Moors. Representative, Amos A. Mason.
1865 .- Moderator, Nelson Converse; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- leetinen, Amos A. Mason, George A. Porter, Elias Hardy. Representative, William M. Nason.
1866 .- Moderator, Benjamin Whitney; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Selectmen, George A. Porter, Elias Hardy, George F. Mason. Representative, William M. Nason.
1867 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason ; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Amos A. Mason, Josialı L. Sargent, Solon W. Stone. Representative, Daniel W. Tenney.
1868 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason ; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward ; Se- leetmen, Amos A. Mason, Solon W. Stone, Elias Hardy. Rep- resentative, Daniel W. Tenney.
1869 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason ; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Jairus Collins, Levi A. Fuller, Josiah W. Lawrence. Representative, Jairus Collins.
* William Boyden died March 30, and at a legal meeting, held April 16, Jairus Collins was chosen Town Clerk aud first Selectman; and Nelson Converse, Represen- tative.
299
TOWN OFFICERS.
1870 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Jairus Collins, Levi A. Fuller, Josiah W. Lawrence. Representative, Jairus Collins.
1871 .- Moderator, Cyrus S. Moors ; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Select- men, Jairus Collins, Levi A. Fuller, Josiah W. Lawrence. Rep- resentative, Deming S. Dexter.
1872 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Levi A. Fuller, Josiah W. Lawrence, Amos A. Mason. Representative, Deming S. Dexter.
1873 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Amos A. Mason, Josiah W. Lawrence, Mowry A. Thompson. Representative, Levi A. Fuller.
1874 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, Elisha O. Woodward; Se- lectmen, Amos A. Mason, Josiah W. Lawrence, Mowry A. Thompson. Representative, Levi A. Fuller.
1875 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason ; Clerk, George G. Davis; Select- men, Amos A. Mason, Josiah W. Lawrence, Mowry A. Thomp- son. Representative, Jedediah T. Collins.
1876 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, George G. Davis; Select- men, Josiah W. Lawrence, Mowry A. Thompson, Levi A. Fuller. Representative, Jedediah T. Collins.
1877 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason ; Clerk, George G. Davis; Select- men, Levi A. Fuller, Luther Hemenway, Daniel W. Tenney. Representative, Franklin R. Thurston.
1878 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, George G. Davis; Select- men, Luther Hemenway, Daniel W. Tenney, Jedediah K. Southwick. Representative, Franklin R. Thurston.
1879 .- Moderator, Charles K. Mason; Clerk, George G. Davis ; Select- men, Amos A. Mason, Jedediah K. Southwick, Luther Hemen- way. Representative, George G. Davis.
Since the incorporation of the town, the following per- sons have served as treasurer : -
James Lewis, 1778. Silas Fife, 1779, 'S8, '89.
Oliver Wright, 1780. James Brewer, 1781, '82.
James Flood,
1783, '84, '85, '86, '87.
Abijah Tucker, Jedediah Tayntor,
1790, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95.
1796, '97, '98, '99, 1800.
Jonathan Frost, 1801, '02.
Amos Cummings, 1803.
Jonadab Baker, 1804, '05, '06, '07.
Hugh Mason, 1808.
300
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Levi Gates,
1809, '10, '15.
Daniel Cutting,
1811.
Benjamin Whitney,
1812, '13, '14, '19, '20, '21, '22.
Col. Joseph Frost,
1816, '17, '18.
Elijah Collins,
1823, '24, '25.
Joseph Frost, Jr., Jonah Davis,
1830, '36, '37, '38, '39.
Abner Boyden,
1831, '32, '34.
William Tenney,
1833.
Charles Holman,
1835.
Stillman Buss,
1840, '41, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46.
Amos B. Tenney, 1847.
Asa Maynard,
1848, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57.
Henry C. Tenney,
1858.
Elisha O. Woodward,
1859, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74.
George G. Davis,
1875, '76, '77, '78, '79.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
Governor. J'otes.
1784,
Meshech Weare, . . 21
1785, No record of the vote.
1787, John Langdon, .
50
1788, John Langdon, . 17
1789, John Sullivan, . 16
Oliver Peabody, 41
Timothy Farrar, 13
8
1791, Josiah Bartlett, 25
1792, Josiah Bartlett, 19
John Goddard, .
1
1793, Josiah Bartlett, 27
Jolın Taylor Gilman, . 14
1794, John Taylor Gilman, .
66
Jeremiah Smith, 21
John Goddard, .
1
1808, Jeremiah Smith, 35
John Langdon, . 27
1798,
John Taylor Gilman, . Scattering, 1
53
John Taylor Gilman. . 24
1809, Jeremialı Smith, 147
1799, John Taylor Gilman, .
43
John Langdon, . 10
John Goddard, 1
1810, Jeremiah Smith, 142
John Langdon, . 26
1811, Jeremiah Smith, 131
1803, Jolın Taylor Gilman, . 143
Governor. Votes.
1804, John "Taylor Gilman,. 141 John Langdon, . . . 10
1805, John Taylor Gilman, . 152
Jonn Sullivan, . 3
John Langdon, . 36
1806, John Langdon, . 54
Scattering, 5
1790, John Pickering,
26
John Taylor Gilman, . Jeremiah Smith,
3
41 1807, John Taylor Gilman, . John Langdon, 28
1795, John Taylor Gilman, . 49
1796, John Taylor Gilman, . . 46
1797, John Taylor Gilman, . 45
1800, Jolın Taylor Gilman, . -18
1801, John Taylor Gilman, . 140
1802, John Taylor Gilman, . 147
1826, '27, '28, '29.
301
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
Governor.
Votes.
Governor. T'otes.
1811, John Langdon, . . . 29
1831, Ichabod Bartlett, . 121
1812, John Taylor Gilman, . 136
Samuel Dinsmore, . 30
William Plumer, . . 31
Scattering, 2
1813, John Taylor Gilman, . 148
1832, Samuel Dinsmore, . 45
William l'lumer, . 13
Ichabod Bartlett, . 79
Scattering,
1
1814, John Taylor Gihnan, . William Plumer, . .
187 15
1833,
Samuel Dinsmore, . Scattering, .
1
1816, James Sheafe, .
118
1835, Joseph Healy,. 84
William I'lumer, 32
1817, Jeremiah Mason,
112
1836,
George Sullivan, 90
William Plumer, Josiah Bartlett,
2
1837,
Isaac Hill, 37
1818, Jeremiah Mason, William Plumer,
85
39
Isaac Hill,
41
1819, William IIale,
92
1839, James Willson, . 125
Samuel Bell, .
28
John Page, 57
1820, Samuel Bell, 94
1840,
Enos Stephens, . 121
Jeremialı Mason, 9
113
Scattering,
i
1821, Samuel Bell, . Jeremiahı Mason,
12
1841,
Enos Stevens, 102
1822, Samuel Bell, .
126
John l'age, .
55
Jeremiah Smitlı, 4
Daniel Hoit, . 14
Timothy Farrar,
1
1842, Daniel Hoit,
27
1823, Levi Woodbury,
133
John H. White,
31
Samuel Dinsmore, . 5
Henry Hubbard, 51
1824, Levi Woodbury,
112
1843, Anthony Colby,
81
Jeremiah Smith,
18
Henry Hubbard, 42
1825, David L. Morril,
121
Daniel Hoit,
15
Scattering, 2
1844, Anthony Colby,
80
1826,
David L. Morril, Benjamin Pierce, 18
Daniel Hoit, 21
Scattering, 1
Scattering,
1
1827, David L. Morril,
73
1845, Anthony Colby,
65
Benjamin Pierce, 25
John H. Steele, 29
Jeremiah Mason, 4
Daniel Hoit, 17
Scattering,
1
1828, John Bell, Benjamin Pierce,
2
1816, Anthony Colby, 69
1829, John Bell,
106
Jared W. Williams, .
44
Benjamin Pierce, 24
Nathaniel S. Berry, ·
28
1830, Timothy Upham, . 94
1847, Jared W. Williams, 44
Matthew Harvey, . 48
Nathaniel S. Berry, 28
Scattering,
2
Anthony Colby, · 88
50
1815, John Taylor Gilman, . 172 William Plumer, 24 1834, William Badger,
46
William Badger, 50
32
Isaac Hill, 49
1838, James Willson, Jr., 133
Jolın Page, 57
John H. Steele, 40
124
302
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Governor. Votes.
Governor.
Votes.
1848, Jared W. Williams. . 47
1862,
Nathaniel S. Berry, . 151
Nathaniel S. Berry, . 108
George Stark, 26
Anthony Colby, 8
1863, Joseph A. Gilmore, . 144 Ira A. Eastman, 38
1849, Levi Chamberlain. 71
Scattering,
1
Nathaniel S. Berry. .
42
1864,
Joseph A. Gilmore, . 162
1850,
Nathaniel S. Berry, Samuel Dinsmore, Levi Chamberlain, .
43 49
1865, Frederick Smith, . . 157 Edward W. Harrington, 27 1866, Frederick Smith, . . 166
John G. Sinclair, . 31
Thomas E. Sawyer, Scattering, 1
79
1867,
Walter Harriman, . . 163 John G. Sinclair, . 30
1
Thomas E. Sawyer, 83
John G. Sinclair, 37
1853, Noah Martin, 44
John H. White, 56
1870, Onslow Stearns, 186
John Bedel, . 28
Jared Perkins, 74
1871, James Pike, 211
James Bell, 52
James A. Weston, .
43
1855, James Bell,
2
1872, Ezekiel A. Straw, . . 237
Asa Fowler, . 7
James A. Weston, . .
45
Nathaniel B. Baker, Ralph Metcalf,
40
1873, Ezekiel A. Straw, .
210
John S. Wells, Scattering, 1
51
1874, Luther McCutchins, . James A. Weston, . . 54
222
1857,
William Haile, 161
1875, Person C. Cheney, . Hiram R. Roberts, Scattering,
59
Scattering, 1
1
1858, Asa P. Cate, . 38
1876, Person C. Cheney, . 252
William Haile, 168
Daniel Marcy, 49
1859, Ichabod Goodwin, . 160
Scattering, 2
Asa P. Cate, . 36 1877, Benjamin F. Prescott,
257
1860, Ichabod Goodwin, . 176
Daniel Marcy, 50
Asa P. Cate, . 38
Scattering, 1
1861, Nathaniel S. Berry, 152
1878, Benjamin F. Prescott, 233
George Stark, 32
Frank A. Mckean, . 52
3
1856,
Ralph Metcalf, .
152
. James A. Weston, . Scattering,
252
John S. Wells, 31
1869, Onslow Stearns, 186 John Bedel, 33
James Bell, . 72
1854, Nathaniel B. Baker, 35
1868, Walter Harriman, . 196
John Atwood, 60
87
1851, Samuel Dinsmore, 40 John Atwood, 66
1852, Noah Martin, 52
Scattering,
Edward W. Harrington, 34
Samuel Dinsmore, 42
The small number of votes cast for many years after the adoption of a State Constitution was probably owing to the fact that the polls were not kept open through the day
159
43
303
REMARKABLE EVENTS.
as at present, and those who were not present at the time the votes were called for had no opportunity to cast their ballot.
Mrs. Miriam Newton, wife of Luther Newton, kept for more than sixty years a diary in which she made a record of remarkable events,-the weather, births, marriages, and deatlıs of the town's people, or any noted persons she had read or heard of. This diary, which is now in the posses- sion of her daughter, Miss Nancy Newton of Troy, has been of great value to the compiler in the preparation of these pages. The following extracts from this manuscript may not prove uninteresting to the reader :-
" Uncommon darkness in New England, May 19, 1780,- so dark at mid-day candles were lighted, the night equally dark."
" A remarkable thunder-storm, Oct. 31, 1783."
" March 23, 1785, Rev. Mr. Packard was ordained at Marlborough, Mass. The snow was so deep and hard that people went with horses and sleighs over walls and fences, acrost lots anywhere. It did not thaw any all day."
" An uncommon whirlwind in Southborough, Mass., Aug. 15, 1787. And several others in diverse places. Some buildings burnt by lightning, while others were torn to pieces by the wind. A very remarkable day through almost all the New England States."
" A remarkable wind, Aug. 19, 1788, blowing from south- east, then from south-west. It turned up a great many trees, and killed cattle, damaged fields, etc."
" A great frost, May 17, 1794."
" A remarkable wind with snow, Oct. 9, 1804."
"A very extraordinary snow-storm and terrible wind. March 31, 1807."
" A remarkable north-west wind, and extreme cold day, Jan. 12, 1810."
"Sept. 23, 1815, a dreadful gale of wind throughout New England, in which many lives were lost, and the destruction of property in buildings, ships, merchandise, timber, and wood were beyond all calculation,"
301
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
"June, 1816, from the 5th to the 12th very cold, the ground froze every night, some snow fell the 6th day."
"Sept. 27, 1816, a hard frost that killed all the corn."
" Jan. 17, 1817, a remarkable thunder-storm and some snow. The meeting-house in Fitzwilliam burnt by light- ning."
"March 1 and 2, 1818, remarkable rainy days that caused a great freshet."
" Aug. 1, 1819, a severe thunder-storm, the 2d day very heavy showers with tremendous lightning, that struck a great many buildings."
" Aug. 28, 1826, a great freshet. It carried off almost all the bridges, broke dams, and damaged the roads greatly."
" Mareh 12, 1832, a severe thunder-storm, a barn burned by lightning in Jaffrey."
" Nov. 13, 1833, a remarkable streaming of the stars in all directions."
"Nov. 17, 1835, uncommon brilliant northern lights."
" Jan. 25, 1837, great northern lights, very red."
The dark day alluded to in Mrs. Newton's diary was one ever to be remembered in the history of New England. The morning was clear and bright. About nine o'clock, a thick, black eloud was seen rising in the west, which soon spread over the whole sky. The cows came from the past- ures, the fowls went to roost, and the birds flew to their nests the same as at night. At noon, the darkness was so great that lighted eandles were placed upon the dinner- tables. The night was much darker than the day, and is described as being like that of Egypt, "a darkness that could be felt." Elias Hemenway, who was ploughing on that day, was obliged to put up his cattle before noon, as the darkness was so intense that he could not see to plough a straight furrow. Thaddeus Hastings left home in the morning, and on his return got lost, and was obliged to lie in the woods all night. Others met with a similar experi- ence, and the "Dark Day " was ever a subject of frequent remark by the last generation.
305
PAUPERISM.
PAUPERISM.
The town has at times been subjected to great expense in assisting the needy. In the early days of its history, the custom of warning new-comers out of town, with a view to prevent their acquiring a legal settlement, was practised to a considerable extent. The following extract from the rec- ords will serve to illustrate the legal process by which this was accomplished : -
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, To Mr. RICHARD TOZAR,
CHESHIRE, SS. Constable of Marlborough.
You are hereby Required in the Name of the government and people of said State forthwith to notify and warn James Brook, and his wife Elizabeth Brook, Drucilla Brook, inary Brook, Hannah Brook, Sibel Brook, Esther Brook, Rebecca Brook, whose Last place of a Bode Sherly in the State of the masachusets Bay to Depart and leave this Town within the space of fourteen Days as the Law Directs.
Ilereof Fail not and make a Return of your Doings herein to us as soon as may Be, given under our hands and seal this third Day of March 1779.
LIEUT. OLIVER WRIGHT, -
MR. RICHARD ATWELL, DAVID WHEELER, 1
Selectmen of Marlborough.
In obedience to the within warrant I notified and warned all the within named to Depart and Leave this town as the Law Directs.
MR. RICHARD TOZAR, Constable.
Warrants like this were served at first on all indiscrimi- nately, without regard to their condition in life or their abil- ity to support themselves. Thus we find on the list several who subsequently became men of influence, and were found among the heaviest tax-payers. Even Dr. David Carter who settled here in 1795, received this inhospitable welcome from the hands of Shubael Stone, constable, costing the town the sum of twenty-three cents. The vote in 1780, to " warn all out of the town for the futer who are not inhabitants," seems to have been complied with to the letter, if we are to take as evidence the great multiplicity of these warrants in this and the following years. These have not been without
41
306
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
use to the compiler, as the dates have been the means of ascertaining the progress of the settlements in town, and generally contain the names of the towns from which these persons removed.
Previous to 1778, we have no evidence that the authori- ties were called upon to render aid to any individual. If there were any needy persons prior to this, they were either provided for at private expense or conveyed back to the towns from whence they came.
In the warrant for the annual meeting in March of that year, there was an article which reads as follows : -
" to see if the town Will make provision for support Mrs. Rebecca Webber, according to the request of Mr. Benne- dick Webber." The town voted, "not to maintain Mr. Bennedick Webber's Mother as one of the Poor of this town at present."
In 1789, Oliver Wright presented an account of two shillings and sixpence for "time spent about Bethiah New- ton and mother being brought and flung on the town." For the next two years, the name of Bethiah Newton figures conspicuously on the records. The accounts of several different physicians for visits and medicine show her to have been during this time an invalid; and those of Daniel Lawrence and others for wood and provisions seem to indi- cate that she lived by herself instead of being let to the lowest bidder, as was not unfrequently the case in such instances, in the early history of New England townships. The last we hear of her was in August, 1791, when the town voted to allow Ebenezer Rhodes four shillings and sixpence " for a petticoat that he let Bethiah Newton have when she left town."
For many years, the support of the poor was let to the lowest bidder. Subsequently, all the poor were supported by one person, in accordance with a contract made with the town. But, as the number of paupers increased, it was thought best for the town to purchase a farm, which was carried into effect in 1838.
The farm purchased was the Barker place, adjoining the
307
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
farm of George A. Nutting. It was previously owned by Asa Baker, and was purchased of him for the sum of twelve hundred dollars. Here, under the direction of an agent employed by the town, the poor were well cared for; but, after a trial of some seven years, it proved to be an unprofi- table investment for the town, and the farm was sold. Since that, those persons claiming assistance from the town have been boarded in private families, or at the County Alms-house.
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Previous to the commencement of the present century, laws were enacted giving towns the right to abate the taxes of any person who should request it, provided sufficient reason for such abatement be given. Consequently, in the warrant for the annual meeting of each year, there was an article, "to see if the town will abate any person's rates." Then, as well as now, there were many transient people in town, who would remain only long enough to have their names placed on the tax-list, and then leave without paying their respective rates ; and the collectors, despairing of ever collecting the same, would petition for their abatement, and, this being brought before the town, they would generally comply with their request, and the collectors would no longer be responsible for the same.
There were many poor men, the income of whose land . was hardly sufficient to support the large family dependent on them, and, money being very scarce, would find it at the year's end impossible to pay the tax assessed against them. Such men would avail themselves of the privilege proffered, and ask for an abatement of their taxes; and, in justice to those belonging to the more wealthy class of that day, we would say that the prayer of such petitioners was generally granted.
There was also another class of individuals who sought to avail themselves of this privilege, who were not always so successful. They were those who did not make hard work a specialty, and who, had they been industrious like their
308
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
neighbors, would have been abundantly able to pay their taxes. To this class, if we may believe tradition, belonged Asa Metcalf. Being naturally an indolent fellow,* and choosing to hunt and fish rather than till the soil, or work for such of his neighbors as would have been willing to give him employment, he sought to pay his taxes in this way. At length, the town, having complied several times with his request, and thinking perhaps to rid themselves of all such petitions from him in the future, passed the following vote : "Voted to Abate mr. Asa Metcalf's Rates upon con- dition he will Leave this town and Not truble it any more ; also, voted not to Rate him this year." As he did not leave the town, but continued to reside therein until his death, more than thirty years thereafter, is sufficient proof that his taxes were not abated.
WILD ANIMALS.
The early settlers of Marlborough were much troubled by the invasion of wild animals; the most troublesome of which were the bear, wolf, and catamount. Many anec- dotes of the warfare carried on with these ferocious beasts have been handed down to us; some of which we will nar- rate. In many instances, these animals were taken in traps, the most of which were made of wood, and called log traps, being constructed similar to the modern mink-trap now in use. Steel traps were, however, sometimes used, being more easily set than the former.
It is related that at one time Joel Porter was much troubled by the depredations of a large bear. He tried various ways to get rid of the animal, but without success. Not knowing how to make a log trap, he applied to Mr. Jonathan Bemis for assistance, at the same time offering to give him five coppers, if he would go and help set a log trap.
* The writer has seen a copy of a return made to the State of the number of paupers in town, and the reason why they could not support themselves. Among the number is mentioned " Mr. Asa Metcalf, the reason why he cannot support him_ self is that he has always been an idle and indolent fellow."
309
WILD ANIMALS.
Mr. Bemis accepted the offer, and set the trap, baiting it with a large piece of meat. Having with them more meat than was necessary for bait, the remainder they hung in a tree near by. The next morning Mr. Porter visited the trap, and found it sprung, the bait gone, as was also that which was hung in the tree. Finding that bruin had once more eluded his efforts, Mr. Porter, not easily discouraged, again baited the trap, and on a second visit found he was rewarded by a large bear, which weighed four hundred pounds, when dressed.
About 1794, a couple of hunters started a large bear in the town of Swanzey. Their dogs following him at a brisk rate into Marlborough ; he finally turned his course toward the Monadnock, and, getting tired, stopped and set himself down with his back against a tree ; so that the dogs, when they should come up, could not get in his rear. When the dogs came up, a severe fight followed, in which one was killed before the hunters reached them. On their appear- ance, the bear darted off before they could despatch him ; and, night coming on, they called off their dogs, and put up for the night at Bezaleel Baker's. Benjamin Dole who then lived on the Phinehas Farrar place, near the foot of the mountain,-and who, by the way, was quite a noted hunter,- found that night what course the bear had taken, went home and made preparations for an early start the next morning, hoping to secure the bear before the hunters should get upon his track. He charged his gun for the pur- pose, and, soon as he could see in the morning, started off into the forest toward the place where he supposed bruin had hid himself from his pursuers. Some three inches of light snow had fallen during the night. As he was jogging along, and before he had begun to look for his game, he of a sudden came upon him. The bear was completely covered with snow, and the man was almost upon him before he knew it. Bruin, thus suddenly disturbed, sprang up, shook off the snow, and hastily pressed his way toward the moun- tain. His enemy was too much frightened to level and dis- charge his gun, and the bear escaped. Mr. Dole, who had
· 310
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
taken so much pains to capture him, did not hear the last of his bold adventure for many years.
When the country was new, the settlers who wished to keep their sheep secure from wild animals were obliged to have a fold made wolf-proof, where they yarded them during the summer. Daniel Cutting, Sen., had a yard, the fence of which was some six or seven feet high, so that he thought no bear or wolf could get over it. In this his sheep were secured every night. On going to the yard one morning, they found the fattest sheep in the flock missing; and, on examining the fence, they discovered where a bear had raked the logs with his claws, which told plainly that bruin had scaled the fence, secured the best sheep in the flock, and taken what is called " French leave." A couple of hunters with two or three dogs were immediately put upon the track, and, after following some two miles, overtook, and despatched him.
When the road from Keene to Boston led by Mr. Asa Porter's, where Fuller Clark now resides, a teamster came along one day, and informed Mr. Porter that a bear and two cubs had just crossed the road between his house and the " Brandy Brook," so called. Mr. Porter took his axe, and started off, saying, as he did so, "I will have one of the cubs." He went into the woods, as he was directed and, soon came upon one of the cubs, which he immediately. secured ; but the cub set up a bitter cry, which brought old bruin to the spot, so enraged that Mr. Porter dropped the cub, and, thinking he was on the point of being torn in pieces, backed up against a tree, and by swinging his axe kept the bear from springing upon him. He was too much frightened to scream, but made a noise as though he was in distress, which brought to the spot Mr. Ebenezer Jenne, who was at work near by; and the bear, seeing his enemy thus re-enforced, left the field to his opponent; and Mr. Porter was glad to return to his house without his game.
Thaddeus Parmenter, while going through the forest, be- tween the Stillman Woodward farm and where George A. Nutting now resides, walking, as was his custom, with his
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