USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > The history of Newport, New Hampshire, from 1766 to 1878 > Part 20
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A bear was caught on Coit mountain in IS67. It was first seen by Mr. Geo. Humphrey, of Croydon, crossing the road be- tween the flat and the village. A dog was set upon his track, and soon drove him into a tree. Several men, by climbing into neighboring trees, were enabled to throw ropes around his neck, which so strangled the animal that they were able to bind him and carry him down to the residence of Mr. Goldthwaite, where he was kept for some time on exhibition.
The people of this town have several times joined with citi- zens of other towns in grand bear hunts. In April, IS27, the people of this and all the towns around Sunapee mountain joined in a hunt. They formed a circle around the entire base of the mountain. The signal horn was sounded for starting, and continued around the whole circle, which signal was re- peated every half hour until their arrival at the top. A like
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
hunt on Croydon mountain shortly after was not more success- ful. In both cases nothing but small game was captured.
Dea. Phineas Chapin was a tithing-man of the town, and performed his official functions with such strictness as to forbid young men travelling to visit their sweethearts on Sunday. He was himself on one occasion overtaken by an embarrassing temptation, which exemplifies the rule that the good are often the most tempted. One Sunday he discovered a large black bear sitting upon its haunches in his cornfield, picking and eat- ing the ears of corn. The deacon, either forgetting, through the excitement of the occasion, his official character, or remem- bering those passages of scripture which teach the lawfulness of doing good on the Sabbath, and that " if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath de- nied the faith and is worse than an infidel " (we leave the read- er to judge which), seized his favorite gun, and with deliberate aim sent a bullet through the bear's heart. He thus not only saved his corn, but the meat and skin of the bear materially added to the family supplies.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
INDIANS, IRISH, FRENCH, AND NEGROES.
I NDIANS. Newport has but little of Indian history. No Indians occupied or claimed the territory at the time or since the first settlement ; and few are the traces which have been discovered indicating that this has ever been much their home or hunting-ground. It has been a conjecture, the truth or falsity of which can never be known, that Eastman, the dar- ing and adventurous trapper, the first white man that explored the beautiful meadows of Newport, was waylaid and killed by the Indians, who were jealous of any infringement upon their hunting- and fishing-grounds. After the French and Indian War, a few lingered in the valley of the Connecticut and around the shores of Sunapee lake, but none here.
Tradition says the early settlers here experienced one alarm, only, from this source. The Indians had been showing signs of a spirit of hostility. They had been attacking and commit- ting depredations upon other towns, carrying away much booty and many prisoners, the rumor of which had reached this town, and filled the hearts of the settlers with alarm. In the midst of this state of feeling, which may have magnified the danger, a band of Indians was seen lurking about the forests. The peo- ple were greatly frightened, expecting an immediate attack. The men flew to arms, and gave them chase. The Indians fled by way of the Aiken hill, and, eluding the vigilance of the pursuit, which continued all day, were never overtaken. Meanwhile the women, for safety, had fled in all directions, and had sought all manner of hiding-places, where they remained concealed all night. In the morning, upon the return of the men, the signal-gun, agreed upon the day before, was fired, and all returned to their homes unharmed.
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Ruth Labaree. a native of Charlestown, afterwards wife of Nathan Hurd, one of the early settlers here, and whose father was taken prisoner by the same company that captured and carried away Mrs. Johnson, escaped sharing a similar fate by hiding under a log. Several times, in search of her, the Ind- ians passed over the log under which she was concealed. She was often heard to say that her heart beat so loud she was afraid the Indians would hear it, and thus discover her hiding- place.
Rev. Peter Paul Osunkhirhine, an Indian clergyman, of St. Francis, Canada East, visited this town in April, 1861. He came to this place some forty years previous, entirely unedu- cated. Here he prepared for college, under the tuition of Rev. Mr. Wheelock, the then Congregational minister of this town, and graduated at Moore's Indian Charity School, connected with Dartmouth college. For the last twenty-six years previ- ous to his visit, he had been a missionary among the Indians, and had shared their fortunes. He had been in the employ of the British Fur Company, and was recollected while here as an expert at hunting and fishing. On one occasion, while at school in this town, seeing a squirrel at the door, he darted out of the school-room, gave chase to the animal, and was not again seen for several days. He was at length found upon Sunapee mountain.
IRISH. Emigrants from Ireland began to come to this town as early as 1835,-since which time they have become compar- atively numerous, and are now among our most industrious, thriving, and valuable citizens. Among them were the Her- ricks, the Lyons, the Whalens, the Reardons, the Burkes, the Flanagans, the Burnses, the Cotters, the Farrells, the Aherns, the Keefes, the Kingsleys, and the Learys.
FRENCH. The Canadian French began coming here during the civil war.
NEGROES. Very early in the history of the town quite a colony of negroes settled on Coit mountain and its vicinity, mainly on the eastern slope. Vance Coit, one of their number, made his home near its summit. The cellar wall, the rose-
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INDIANS, ETC.
bush, and the balm still remain, to attest the spot where he lived. His residence there gave the mountain its name. Tra- dition says, that in him the moral sentiment was not always predominant, for at one time he was whipped at the post, at the Wilcox store, at the corner of Main and Maple streets, for stealing a bag of meal at Claremont. His wife, who was a white woman, was present at the time, and when the blood began to run down his back, became very much agitated, and rushing forward, exclaimed, "Don't lick him to death ! give me a part of the blows !" It was thought that the theft might have been instigated by her.
The following incident is related of him : A neighbor, hav- ing some hay in a condition in which it would spoil unless taken care of on the Sabbath, applied to Vance for help, offer- ing him a pound of sugar if he would assist in getting it in. Vance, with much apparent indignation, replied, "Do you think I would have my soul fry in hell to all eternity for a pound of sugar? No!"-then added, "Give me two pounds, and I will risk it."
Tom Billings, another of the colony who lived with Coit, deserted his wife, and ran away with a white girl to Canada. Robert Nott and Salem Colby were also among the number.
Jesse Sherburn, of a later period, was a boot-black. He was a very clever man, given to fun and poetry. Meeting the Rev. Mr. Woods, one morning, he said, "Sir, you shines the souls of men ; I shines their uppers!"
Charles Hall was once a slave in Florida. The manner of his escape was in this wise : He was headed up in a sugar hogs- head and put on board a vessel, without the knowledge of the captain, by a brother of Dea. Jonathan Cutting, and smuggled to Boston, from which place he was forwarded here to the deacon. Charley was a jolly soul, and few ever plied him with a joke who did not get back a repartee that made them willing to quit even.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
SECESSION.
N EWPORT, in common with other towns along the valley of the Connecticut river, once seceded from New Hamp- shire and joined the state of Vermont. The following extracts, taken from the town records, show the action of the town in the matter. March 14, 1781, in the warrant calling a town-meet- ing, we find the following :
Art. 4. To see if the town will accept the doings of the Convention lastly held at Cornish in order to join the State of Vermont and com- ply with the requisitions of said convention in sending a Representative to the Assembly to be holden in Windsor in said state the first Wednes- day of April next.
March 29, 1781. Voted this town of Newport join in union with the State of Vermont. Voted Benj. Giles, Esq, to be a Delegate to Repre- sent the town of Newport in the General Assembly of Vermont to be holden at Windsor in the state of Vermont the first Wednesday in April next ensuing. Voted that Aaron Buell, Jesse Wilcox, and Josiah Stev- ens be a committee to give instructions to the Representative above named for his direction in the General Assembly of Vermont.
May 2, 17SI, the town was notified to meet, in order to be qualified as freemen of Vermont, and vote for judges of the courts, sheriff, judge of probate, and justices of the peace. On the 14th of the same month they met and chose town officers, in accordance with the laws of Vermont. The town, however, soon returned its allegiance to this state ; for we find that the next annual meeting, in March, 1782, was called in the name of the state of New Hampshire.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MISCELLANY.
T HE following incidents and anecdotes were mainly gath- ered at the time of the historical celebration in 1846.
The first blow struck in felling the forests in town was by Absalom Kelsey, on the D. F. Pike farm at the foot of Clare- mont hill. Which farm should have the honor of the first blow, had been previously decided by lot.
The first cabin in town, the one in which the six young men, who came to town in 1765 and commenced clearing away the forest, had shelter, stood on the gentle swell of land a few rods south of the house now occupied by Reuben Ainger at the foot of Claremont hill. It was covered, sides and roof, with hem- lock bark, stayed in its place between poles confined together by means of withes. They obtained their provisions at Charles- town, for which they paid in work during the haying season.
The first apple raised in town was by Benjamin Bragg, on the G. H. Fairbanks place. The tree bore but one apple : it disappeared, and what became of it was always a mystery. A young lady residing in the family at the time was always sup- posed to have been in some way accessory to the loss.
The first child born in town was a son of Jesse Wilcox, born Feb. 28. 1768, and died the March following. The first female born was Lydia Hurd, afterwards wife of Reuben Bascom, who was born in 1768, and died in April, 1847, aged 79 years.
Maj. Uriah Wilcox offered a crown to the first woman that should step foot into Newport. Mrs. Benjamin Bragg and Mrs. Zephaniah Clark were together near the line of the town, when it was said to them that such a tree was in Newport, when they both ran, and so near alike was their arrival that each received a crown.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
Capt. Ezra Parmelee, while returning from Charlestown, where he had been to mill, was overtaken by the dark, and, fearing he might wander astray if he should go further. stopped, hitched his horse, lighted a fire, and spent the night. In the morning, to his surprise, he found himself within a few rods of his own door.
Mrs. Ezra Parmelee visited her old home at Killingworth, Conn., on horseback. When about to return, her father cut from an apple-tree a twig, to be used by her as a riding-stick. On her arrival, it was grafted into a tree in their orchard on the Griffin farm, now occupied by George E. Dame. Now, one hundred years after, the graft is in good condition, and bears an abundant crop of apples.
One of the early settlers brought a willow-sprout from Con- necticut, which he used as a riding-stick. On his arrival, he stuck one end of it into the mud, near the former residence of Dea. Wilcox, on the Unity road, now occupied by Freeman Cutting, whereupon it grew and became a tall tree.
Mrs. Benjamin Bragg made out the first taxes in town.
Mrs. Robert Lane made the first cheese in town.
The apple-trees now standing above the brick-yard on the B. W. Jenks place were brought from Charlestown by Aaron Buell, Ist, more than one hundred years since.
Joseph Sawyer dug his well, sixteen feet deep, with a fire- shovel and a hemlock knot for a pick. He also raised four hundred bushels of potatoes, and carried them all into his cel- lar in a sap-trough.
Mrs. Ebenezer Merritt had a family of sixteen boarders. Her supplies consisted of the milk of one farrow cow,-from which she made half a pound of butter per week,-meal for porridge, and fish caught from the river. The boarders were all satis- fied.
Matthew Buell, 2d, lived, the first summer, in his log barn. His wife did her cooking beside a pine stump near by. Her mince pies were made of pumpkins and bear's meat.
The larder of Mrs. Ezra Parmelee,-the woman afterwards so noted for her open-hearted hospitality, and who was expected to entertain the clergy and other distinguished visitors,-once con- tained only a few potatoes, a bag of rye meal, and the meat of a
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MISCELLANY.
small pig, from which she contrived to manufacture a variety of dishes which were highly relished by her hungry boarders.
Mrs. Ebenezer Merritt stayed alone in her log cabin several weeks, while the other settlers were all away from town (prob- ably at Charlestown, where the men worked at having to pay for their provisions), a cow, a yoke of oxen, and a dog her only companions. It is said that the dog notified her of their return by his howling when they were a long way from the cabin.
Three of the men who came in 1768, having extra work to do, resolved to stay and finish it after their companions had left. At night they went to Bragg's camp, near the present residence of Mr. Fairbanks. Next morning a severe snow- storm arose, which compelled them either to follow their com- panions to No. 4, now Charlestown, or remain and starve. While travelling through Unity, one of the party, Mr. Merritt, became so chilled and tired that he thought he could go no fur- ther, and so laid himself down to die. Mr. Kelsey, who be- lieved in resorting to severe remedies when gentle ones were ineffectual, cut some sprouts, and not very tenderly, but merci- fully, applied them to Mr. Merritt's body. Mr. Merritt rose, and with an evil intention, it is supposed, pursued Mr. Kelsey. After running quite a distance the passion of Mr. Merritt sub- sided. Ile thanked his companion for the castigation, and all went on their way rejoicing, and reached their temporary home at Charlestown in safety.
April 19, 1870, after a long storm, the water in Sugar river and its branches rose higher than had ever before been known. Much damage was done to mills and bridges, and considerable alarm was felt lest Sunapee lake should sweep away the bar- riers at the outlet, and come down upon us.
S. Decatur Gilmore, son of John Gilmore, while on his way to San Francisco in 1853, was on board the ship Independence when it was burned off the Pacific coast. When he found it was on fire, he lashed together his trunk, valise, and other bag- gage, and placed them in a convenient situation to be thrown overboard. After rendering all the assistance in his power to those who were unable to swim, until the flames forbade a lon- ger delay, he threw his baggage into the water and sprang in af- ter it. With one hand upon it, he paddled with the other to the
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
shore some three hundred yards away. For three days he sub- sisted on a loaf of cake which his provident wife had kindly packed in his trunk. His was the only baggage saved.
Jeremiah Walcott, son of Col. James D. Walcott, in 1821, slid from the roof of the Baptist church, then in the process of erection, to the ground, but alighted upon an open bunch of shingles which lay upon the margin of one of those deep bog- holes which greatly prevailed in the vicinity of that house in those days. He providentially escaped all material injury, but, in the opinion of the spectators, had " rather a muddy look."
THE PROPRIETORS' HOUSE. At the meeting of the Proprie- tors, held at the house of Jesse Wilcox, Nov. 23, 1772, Daniel Dudley, moderator, it was voted to erect a building "thirty feet in length by twenty feet in width, with one fire-place," to be finished the July following. A tax of fifteen shillings was levied on each proprietor to meet the expense. It was to be for any public use,-for a school-house when needed, and for a place of religious worship. Its roof was four-square, resem- bling the top slope of a modern French roof. It was located just south of the present residence of Rufus P. Claggett, on what was then the main street in the prospective village of Newport. Rev. James Parmelee, still living, remembers that it was boarded up and down with rough boards, like a barn. The interior of the building was never finished. A few boards were nailed upon the beams overhead, and around the sides. This served to increase the capacity of the house, for when the lower part was full, the youngsters would climb up and sit up- on the beams and boards overhead. When they became noisy, as they sometimes would, the tithing-man, with his stern, sol- emn Sunday face, would rap upon the sides of the house with his wand of office, and point upward, when perfect silence would ensue.
CALIFORNIA GOLD. During the excitement occasioned by the discovery of gold in California, a company known as the "California Trading and Mining Company" was formed, with a capital stock amounting to some $30,000, which capital was divided into shares of $300 each. The company purchased a vessel known as the " Harriet Rockwell," and, loading it with
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MISCELLANY.
articles of merchandise, provisions for the voyage, and all the various implements thought necessary to successful mining, set out for the land of gold, dreaming of a glorious future crowned with wealth and luxury. Several prominent men of Croydon were shareholders and members of this company. Among those who joined the company from this town were Shubael Hawes, who was chosen captain of the vessel, Austin Stockwell, Bela W. Jenks, and Jeremiah Ladd. Other young men, not possess- ing the means to purchase shares, were sent out by capitalists, who agreed to divide the profits ; and still others, not connected with the company, went out. The enterprise did not prove so successful as was hoped.
COAL. The use of coal was introduced here in the autumn of 1872, on the opening of the railroad, since which time its use has been steadily increasing.
RECEPTION OF GEN. LAFAYETTE. This young Frenchman, thousands of miles away across the broad Atlantic at the com- mencement of our Revolutionary struggle, saw our perils and our needs. His sympathies were awakened, and he at once es- poused our cause ; and by his incessant labors at home, in pro- curing men and means, and by his perils in the field, side by side with Washington, had aided in achieving our independ- ence. Now, after the lapse of half a century, he returned to witness the glorious fruits of his labors. Never was the tri- umphal march of hero or conqueror more grand or glorious. Wherever he journeyed, millions of warm hearts, filled with grateful remembrance of his noble deeds and sacrifices, rose up to do him homage.
On Monday evening, June 27, 1825, our village was honored with the presence of this distinguished guest. He was on his way from Concord, where he had received the grand welcome of the state, to Montpelier, where he was to receive a like wel- come from Vermont. A committee of our citizens, accompa- nied by a long cavalcade, met the General at Sunapee and es- corted him into town, where a very large concourse of people had assembled to greet his arrival. He and his suite alighted at the residence of Col. William Cheney, amid the acclama- tions of the multitude, the waving of banners, the ringing of
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
bells, and the booming of cannon. Col. Cheney met him at the door, and bade him welcome in a brief but most cordial and appropriate address ; after which he was introduced to the soldiers of the Revolution, and ladies and gentlemen. After partaking of the hospitalities of the house, the general was es- corted by the artillery, committee of arrangements, and citizens to the residence of James Breck, Esq., by whom he was hand- somely entertained ; after which he took his departure for Claremont, where he was to spend the night. A beautiful tri- umphal arch was erected at the village bridge, over which the General was to pass, and also over the gateways at the resi- dences of Mr. Cheney and Mr. Breck. Bright eyes and wav- ing handkerchiefs greeted him from every window as he passed. As he left, all hearts followed him with benedictions.
DRESS. The clothing of the early settlers was almost entire- ly homespun. The men raised the wool and the flax, and their wives and daughters carded, spun, wove, dyed, and manufac- tured them into garments. In nearly every house was to be found all the machinery necessary to that purpose. The men wore frocks and breeches, the latter coming to the knee, where they were met by long stockings, to which they were fastened by a buckle. In winter the lower limbs were enveloped by leg- gings, which met the breeches likewise at the knee.
At a later period, for church and other "fix up " occasions, they had ruffled shirts, cocked hats, velvet or deerskin breeches, and wore powdered wigs, or did up their hair in a cue behind. After Reuben Bascom set up his clothing mill, the cloth de- signed for men's wear was usually dressed by him, and was manufactured into garments by tailoresses, who plied their oc- cupation from house to house.
The ladies wore woollen gowns, aprons, and stockings, and thick shoes in winter, and tow and linen garments, and thinner shoes in summer. Their plain, simple dresses were in striking contrast with the elaborate display of their daughters in modern times.
MAPS OF THE VILLAGE. The first view of the village was engraved by Henry E. Baldwin, as early as 1833, on wood. In 1857, L. H. Bradford & Co. made a lithograph of the vil-
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MISCELLANY.
lage, from a sketch by H. P. Moore. Another view of the vil- lage, lithograph, was published by Mr. Fowler in 1877. A view of the town and village was included in the map of Sulli- van county, engraved by H. F. Walling, of New York, in 1860, and published by Smith & Morley.
POPULATION. The population of the town, as given by the Colonial Record in 1767, was,-males unmarried, between 16 and 60, 16; boys, 3; married men, 5 ; married women, 5 ;- whole number, 29.
In February, 1769, as stated by Gov. Wentworth in extend- ing the charter of the town, there were 15 families here. In 1775 the population was 157; in 1790, 7So ; in 1830, 1,679 ; in IS50, 2,020 ; in 1860, 2,077 ; in 1870, 2,163 ; in 1878, 2,556.
The census takers belonging to this town were,-in IS40, John B. Stowell; in 1850, Matthew Harvey; 1860, Edward Wyman ; 1870, Lyman J. Brooks.
Our State tax, 1857, $422.10; 1877, $3,352.04. County tax, 1857, $ 641.10; 1877, $3,581,84.
ALTITUDES. The following table of altitudes was furnished by Richard S. Howe, Esq., civil engineer, of this town :
Sunapee lake, above mean tide water at Boston, 1,103 feet.
Sill front door new court-house, Newport, above mean tide water at Boston,
822 “
Top Coit mountain, Newport, above mean tide water at Boston, 1,588 66
Croydon mountain, above mean tide water at Boston, 2.789
Sunapee mountain,
2,683
Ascutney mountain,
66
3,186
Kearsarge mountain,
66
2,942
CHAPTER XXXIX.
VILLAGE, COMMON, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS.
V TILLAGE. It is difficult to conceive of a more charming spot than that occupied by the main village of Newport. Extending through the town from north to south, dividing it in- to two nearly equal parts, is a beautiful meadow, several miles in length, and one half mile in width. The Croydon Branch of Sugar river, fresh from its mountain home, falls into it at the north ; the Goshen Branch, foaming with its white spray, leaps over its granite falls into it at the south ; while on the east, about midway between the northern and southern extremities, are poured in the waters of Sunapee lake. These waters unit- ing, after winding gracefully about the meadows, often beneath the wide-spreading branches of the elms which are scattered in all directions about the meadow and along the banks, flow away to the Connecticut. This meadow is bordered on the west by gently-swelling verdant hills, and on the east by a slightly elevated plain, which extends back to the base of Coit and East mountains. On this plateau, beneath these moun- tains, overlooking such scenery, lying on either side of the river and extending up along its banks, is the village, one of the pleasantest in the state. The main street, running parallel with the east margin of the meadow, is nearly two miles in length, on either side of which are neat and attractive homes.
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