USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Weare > The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888 > Part 72
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634
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. [1804.
John Hogg's saw-mill at site twenty, Everett railroad station, 1804.
School-house in district twenty-six, 1814.
Timothy Hovey's carpenter-shop, East Weare, 1815.
John Chase's barn, lightning, Chevey hill, 1824.
Moses Peaslee's farm-buildings, lightning, East Weare, Aug. 9, 1825.
Mrs. Jonathan Emerson's house, Barnard hill, 1830.
David Cross' mill, East Weare, 1830.
John Peasley's tavern, East Weare, 1835.
Weare Woolen mills ; from an open light in the card-room, Nov. 16, 1836.
Thomas Stevens' house, East Weare, 1839.
Albert, Gilchrist's house and store at East Weare, 1843.
Amos Chase's shops at site seven, North Weare, Nov. 29, 1844.
Richard Kenniston's house, East Weare, 1846; again in 1856.
John Edmunds' house, Sugar hill, 1848 ; again in 1875.
Nathan Bailey's tavern stand, Weare Center, July 21, 1848.
Christopher Simons' twelve buildings at Oil Mill, Nov. 8, 1848; a boy playing with matches set them.
Christopher Simons' barn, Oil Mill, April 27, 1849; some fisher- men accidentally burned it; eight horses, four oxen and one cow perished.
Jesse Hadley's tannery, 1850.
John Johnson's house, East Weare, 1850.
Enos Merrill's and Benjamin Lord's store, East Weare, 1850.
Harrison Philbrick's house, 1850.
Jonathan B. Moulton's three tanneries, North Weare, 1850, 1865. Luke Town's house and stable, Weare Center, 1854.
Jonathan Johnson's barn, 1856.
David B. Leighton's wheelwright shop, near Weare Center; de- fective chimney ; March 23, 1859.
Edwin Gove's farm-buildings, 1859.
James Baker's barn, North Weare; incendiary; Nov. 14, 1860.
Timothy Tuttle's house, North Weare, 1860.
Nathan C. Paige's saw- and grist-mill, North Weare, Jan. 14, 1861.
Weare Woolen mills, sash and blind shop, North Weare, 1862; Austin & Co., occupants.
Rowland R. Kelley's house, Rockland, 1866.
Several small buildings by the saw-mill at site fourteen, East Weare, 1866.
635
FIRES AND FATAL CASUALTIES.
1867.]
Samuel Colby's house, South Weare, 1867.
Ira Felch's farm-buildings, June 12, 1867.
Joseph Jones' house ; unoccupied, incendiary ; 1869.
Cyrus Clough's buildings, partly in Weare and partly in Dunbar- ton, 1869.
Clinton Grove academy and boarding-house, 1873.
William Worthley's house and himself in it, west of Oil Mill, Feb. 2, 1874.
John Mudgett's building, 1875.
Paige & Gove's ice-house, North Weare; lightning; 1875.
Jonathan Buxton's store at South Weare, occupied by Rogers & Son from Waltham, Mass., Sept. 26, 1876; an incendiary fire.
George T. Jameson's store at East Weare, 1877.
Sebastian S. Clark's farm-buildings, Page hill, December, 1878.
Thomas L. Thorpe's waste mill, 1878.
William Osborn's house, south part of the town, 1880.
Stanford S. Aiken's store at East Weare, March, 1881.
Eben B. Bartlett's barns at the mountain; lightning; July 25, 1881.
Rockland mills, January, 1882.
Charles H. Johnson's unoccupied buildings at the mountain, 1882. John Colvin's toy shop, site nineteen, East Weare, 1884.
John Follansbee's house, South Weare, 1887.
The dates of the following fires were not furnished.
John George's house, Barnard hill; school-house, river road, dis- trict ten; William Whittle's house, Oil Mill; Charles Gove's house, South Weare; Ezra Eastman's house, South Weare; Daniel Phil- brick's cabinet shop, South Weare; Freeman Stowell's house, South Weare; Tabbey Colbey's barn, lightning, South Weare; school-house, near Clinton Grove; James E. Jones' tannery, site five, North Weare; Samuel Cilley's house, East Weare; Moody Haskell's house, Sugar hill; school-house, South Weare; John Phil- brick's house, South Weare; Squires Gove's carding mill, site forty- six, South Weare; Hervey Bingham's house and store, South Weare, near Dearborn's tavern; school-house in district twelve, South Weare; cooper shop, South Weare. Tradition has it that several houses were burned before the Revolution, but it is now im- possible to give the particulars.
FATAL CASUALTIES. Jonathan Kimball, of Weare, went to Newburyport on business in 1776. He attempted to cross the
636
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1784.
river on the ice. There was a new snow, which covered a hole or weak place ; he drove into it and was drowned. A friend with him was also drowned.
John Flanders, a Revolutionary soldier, was drowned in Peaslee's mill-pond in 1784. He was intoxicated.
Col. Nathaniel Fifield's child perished in his burning house, on Sugar hill, in 1788.
Two boys were drowned in the mill-pond at Oil Mill, April 24, 1789.
Silas Peaslee's son, in 1790, was crossing the Piscataquog on a small pole ; he fell off and was drowned.
Jonathan Peaslee, in 1795, fell down the cellar stairs and was killed.
Olive Belcher was killed by lightning in 1810.
Nathaniel Ring was thrown from his horse and killed.
Susan Evans, aged twelve years, daughter of Thomas Evans, was killed by a log fence falling on her in 1816.
David Green, son of David S. Green, died June 20, 1816, from the kick of a horse. He begged his father, while in the greatest agony, to let him swear just once. His father refused, but was always afterwards sorry that he did not gratify the boy.
Jonathan Atwood, an early settler, fell down the cellar stairs and was killed, Oct. 17, 1816.
Winthrop Colby froze to death Feb. 14, 1817, while driving home on his ox-team.
William Dustin, an early settler, fell down his cellar stairs and was killed, June 4, 1818.
Hasket Eaton, son of Samuel Eaton, was bitten by a mad dog about 1820, and died in two weeks.
Jesse Gove, father of Dana B. Gove, was drowned in Squires Gove's mill-pond while skating, Nov. 4, 1822.
John Robie, Esq., went squirrel hunting and was found dead un- der a tree, Sept. 11, 1824.
Joseph Lufkin was killed Aug. 23, 1828. He was a lame man. Some workmen were digging stone on the side of Raymond cliff, and one rolled down on him.
Oliver Edwards was killed, blasting rocks near Rockland, June 4, 1829.
Leonard Parker was drowned in Raymond's grist-mill pond about 1830.
637
FATAL CASUALTIES.
1830.]
Widow Jonathan Emerson was burned to death in her house on Barnard hill in 1830.
Johnson Muzzy was thrown from a wagon on Amos Johnson's hill and killed, May 25, 1835.
William Clark was burned to death Aug. 25, 1835, on Page hill.
Enos Baker's child, in 1835, fell head foremost into a tub of whey and was drowned.
Sumner Huse was felling trees on Mount William, June 27, 1838. One struck and killed him.
John Johnson, of East Weare, May 9, 1850, was drowned in the canal at Manchester.
Eliza B. Moulton, wife of Jonathan B. Moulton, was killed by falling down her cellar stairs in 1852.
William McNulty was run over by the cars and killed in the Moose bog about 1853. He was intoxicated.
John Milton Sargent fell from Ebenezer Peaslee's barn and was killed in December, 1853.
John Peasley was killed near East Weare June 3, 1856. He had loaded some boards on a wagon. They slipped forward over the horse. He tried to push them back. The horse started and threw him down, and he was killed by the wagon running over him.
Ephraim Eastman was found dead in his pasture about 1860.
Knight C. May was killed about 1860 by being accidentally cut with a scythe while mowing in a race with a neighbor's boy.
Moses Ash's son was killed by the bursting of the boiler in Moulton's tannery in 1865. The boiler went up through the top of the building, passed over the road and struck a barn six rods away.
Asa Breed fell from his barn scaffold and was killed, December, 1868.
Charles Henry Hurlburt was killed by falling between the cars while going to Newell Evans' Greenback party at East Weare, Feb. 1869.
Hannah Hutchinson was killed by being thrown from a carriage in New Boston in 1873.
William Worthley, Feb. 3, 1874, was burned to death in his house at South Weare.
Sidney Felch, while fishing on a pond in Henniker, fell from the boat and was drowned July 15, 1874.
Willie D., son of James I. Wyman, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun Oct. 2, 1875.
638
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1875.
Buzzell Barnard fell, April 18, 1875, from a high staging near the toy shop at East Weare, and was killed.
Granville W. Wilson, Dec. 14, 1875, son of Clark and Abbie Wilson, was drowned in the pond at Oil Mill. He was four years and three months old.
Willie Mason, son of Ervin and Addie Mason, was drowned at the same time and place. Age six years.
Mrs. James Hurd, insane, killed her little son, 1877, and then hanged herself.
Marie, a young child of Henry D. Tiffany, died from accidentally drinking poison, April 30, 1877.
Willis S. Felch, son of Hiram M. Felch, was killed by the cars while loading wood near Peaslee's crossing, Feb. 9, 1883.
Joel S., son of Emma Lull, was drowned June 15, 1885.
Pillsbury R. Eaton, 1886, a section-hand, fell on the railroad and died in consequence.
Reuben A. Muzzy, December, 1886, was thrown from his wagon in Manchester, and died from the injury.
Abel B. Berry was found dead May 20, 1887.
John Emerson, aged four years, was killed by a log rolling on him. His mother in her excitement lifted the log off the boy; but it was so heavy no man in town was able to lift it.
Samuel Huntington, thirteen years old, was accidentally killed while helping his father carry a pole. The father threw down his end without warning and broke the boy's neck.
Rodney Fifield, three years old, was run over and killed on Sugar hill, by an ox-cart.
Levi Saunders was killed under the water-wheel of Ezra Dow's tannery.
Rhoda, wife of Stephen Breed, while descending Leighton hill, was thrown from her wagon and killed.
George Hadley's child was accidentally thrown from his wagon and killed near the Friends' north meeting-house.
Squires Gove's little daughter was accidentally drowned in his mill-pond.
Abigail, wife of Abner Gove, was killed by lightning.
Mr. Batchelder was killed by lightning.
Peter Chase, of Weare, froze to death in the highway at Deer- ing; intoxicated.
Mrs. Porter Colby fell down the cellar stairs and broke her neck.
639
LONGEVITY.
1800.]
Obadiah Gove was found dead in a pasture in the west part of the town.
Augustus Newhall was killed by the premature discharge of a gun in his own hands.
Jonathan Gove, of Weare, was run over by a sled-load of wood and killed, at Deering.
Allen Gove, of Weare, was run over by the cars at Lynn, Mass., and killed.
Paige Muzzy was killed by the kick of a horse at North Weare.
Mrs. David Rowell was killed by lightning. A child in the same bed with her was not injured.
Russell Hinds was a cooper at East Weare. He went to Contoo- cook to work. Some one murdered him, cut him up and put him in a barrel, where he was found shortly after.
LONGEVITY. Eleven Weare people have died over one hun- dred years of age: --
yrs. mos. dys.
yrs. mos. dys.
1800 .. Thomas Worthley . .. 106
1810. . Mary (Collins) Hoit.
.. 103
1875. . Betsey (Hoit) Straw
.. 101
5
22
1843. . Betsey Sargent.
.100
1844. . Mary Saunders.
.100
Mary Mckellips.
.105
1860. . Hannah Peaslee
.102
Priscilla Johnson.
.100
1865. . Rebecca Kill .
.100
9
Sixty-six Weare people have died over ninety years of age :-
1802. . Hannah Batchelder 92
1806. . Sarah Buxton 94
1813 .. Jane Fifield 98
1817. . Dorothy Barnard.
95
1856. . Elijah Brown.
91
1858. . Lydia Marshall
95
. Sarah Brown. 91
1860. . Dea. Tristram Barnard.
94
Daniel Gould. 92
1861 .. Elisha Brown . 92
1862. . Abigail Woodbury 94
1864. . Dimond Muzzy
90
Tabitha Kendrick. 93
1865. . Judith (Paige) Dow
98
1866. . Susan Cilley
92
Levi Gove. 90
Samuel Colby 91
1870. . Jonathan Cilley.
94
1841. . Samuel Eastman.
94
1842 .. Lucy Dow 92 Caleb Emery. 90
1843. . Daniel Gove. 94
1844. . Abigail (Hodgdon) Peaslee. 96
1848. . Elizabeth Tobey.
99
1850. . Amos Stoning. 90
1851. . Amos Johnson 90
1852. . Sally Edwards 91
1823. . Lydia Brown. 93
Beulah Philbrick. 93
Lydia Bean. 92
1825. . Elizabeth Caldwell 97 Mary Kinson 90
1826. . John Bailey.
92
1829. . Martha Gove. 90
Widow D. Gould : 91
Thomas Worthley
90
1835. . Agnes Stewart
91
95
1835. . Susannah Emery
1837. . Lydia Emerson 97
1840. . Susan (Hussey) Hodgdon 90
1872. . Benjamin Perkins
98
1875. . Polly P. Emerson
93
Sarah Favor
91
1877. . Sarah Gove ..
95
Elizabeth Philbrick.
96
1847. . Nathan G. Chase.
95
1878. . Mary Wyman.
90
Bathsheba McCoy.
91
1869. . Fanny Morse. .100 9
1880. . Samuel P. Bailey
.100 .
4
15
640
IIISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. [1879.
1879. . Lydia Chase.
90
Lydia (Green) Gove 96
Samuel Gove. 90
David D. Hanson 92
Miriam Johnson 94
1881. . Susan P. Hanson.
99
1882. . Sally Edwards 91
1883. . Sarah Clark. 98
1884. . Elisha Green.
92
Sally Favor
96
Anna Babb.
97
The following died over eighty years of age :-
1807 .. Tristram Barnard 85
1810. . Timothy Corliss. 83
Joseplı Webster. 86
1841. . John Putney
82
Hannah Wingate 89
Eliphalet Paige. 81
1842 .. Polly Emery 81
1843. . Robert Johnson 82
1845. . Hannah Eaton 86
Sarah Bailey 85
Lucy P. Gray. 82
Enoch Brown . 80
1846. . Abigail Hadley 82
1847. . Rachel Paige. 88
Nathan Putney. 85
James Peaslee 84
Margaret Baker. 82
Susan Dearborn 85
Enoch Breed 81
1848. . Jolin Paige.
80
Sarah Marsh
88
Ebenezer Breed, Jr.
83
1849. . Jacob Bailey.
84
Ruth (Osborn) Peaslce 87
Curtis Felch
87
Hannah (Austin) Hodgdon. 86
1850. . Daniel Osborn
82
Mehitable Hadley. '82
Sally E. Barnard. 87
Robert Osborn
85
1851. . Nathan George.
82
Lydia Brown .. 86
Deborah Brown 84
1852. . Hannah Green. 89
Jonathan Feich 84
1853. . Aaron Hoit .. 81
Mary (Hoag) Sawyer 85
Dolly Green.
83
Mary C. Emerson 81
1854. . Alice Chase .
82
Dr. Philip Cilley 80
Abigail JJohnson 86
Jacob Carr
82
Mary Edmunds
83
1838. . Jonathan Edmunds. 87
Priscilla Muzzy 87
Nathaniel Stevens 83
Esther (Buxton) Osborn 87
1839. . Dea. John Wingate. 85
1840. . John Day ... 86
1811. . Edmund Johnson
81
1814 .. Abigail Baker 83
1816 .. Jonathan Atwood.
80
1818. . Hannah Johnson
81
Elijah Brown. 83
Saralı Whittaker 87 or 81
Mary Osgood. 89
1821. . Samuel Hoyt. 81
1822. . Judith Brown.
87
1823. . Stephen Emerson.
80
George Hadley 83
1824. . John Robie.
82
Dolly Atwood. 82
1825 .. Deborah Worthen 83
Hannah Eaton. 86 John Muzzy 82
1826. . Keziah Dow
87
John Gove. 80
Jedediah Dow. 85
Jacob Carr 82
1828. . Mary Murray.
83
Deborah Brown 88
Winthrop Clough 85
1829. . Anna Huzzy. 81
1830. . Wid. Hannah Kimball (Mrs. J.K.) 82 Saralı Clement. 84
1831. . Mary Robic. 87 Mary Clough 83
1832. . Sarah Tuxbury 86
1833. . Levi Green .. 80
Mehitable Hoyt. 82
1834. . Humphrey Eaton 88
1835 .. Jonathan Osborn 83
1836. . Jesse Bailcy S4
Moses Boynton. 84
Miriam (Cartland) Gove. 85
1855. . Daniel Paige
82
Rachel Eaton
81
1856. . Rebecca Morse.
83
Jonathan Green
80
Cornelia (Breed) Paige. 82
Aaron Foster
89
1887 .. Samuel Colby
92
Judith Kimball.
98
Dea. John Philbrick. 93
Dolly Brown
90
Rachel (Chase) Gove. 95
1885. . Nathan Sawyer. 98
Ezra Sawyer . 98
1856.] PERSONS WHO DIED AGED EIGHTY YEARS AND OVER. 641
1856. . David Cross. 82
1857 .. Sarah Marshall . 89
John Hazen 84
1873 .. Tamson Colby. 85
Hannah Hadley. 81
1874. . Hannah (Paige) Gove.
85
Huldah Barnard. 84
Ruth (Gove) Breed. 83
Jacob Barrett. 87
Johnson Gove. 89
1875. . Dolly (Green) Tuxbury 83
Hannah A. Gould. 84
Abigail Robie.
87
Sarah Pope.
87
Anna Emerson 86
Betsey Eastman.
84
Delilah Gove. 86
Elizabeth Philbrick 89
Amos W. Bailey. 89
Mary Hunt. 86
Clark Colby 83
1878. . Phebe Marshall. 81
Sarah Whittaker. 87
1879. . Hannah Cram.
S6
Samuel Collins. 87
Hannah B. Corliss. 84
Phebe Marshall. 81
Betty Green. 81
Sophia (Richardson) Colby. 82
Mary K. Hazen 82
Obadiah Ayer. 80
Daniel Clough. 87
1880. . James Worthley. 88
Samuel G. Stevens. 83
Mary Clough. 89
1881 .. Lydia Peaslee. 85
Abigail (Gove) Sawyer. 82
Mary E. George 82
Squires Gove. 89
1882 .. Ebenezer Gove 87
Hiram Atwood. 87
Mary J. Purington 83
Israel Hoag. 87
Anna Breed. 89
Abraham Thorp 82
Levi Brown . 88
Mary Jane Call. 81
Daniel Gove .. 86
1870 .. Ebenezer Bailey. 84
Eunice (Robins) Dow 88
Thomas Eastman.
86
1871. . John Lull
85
Lydia K. Hobson. 85
Nathan Philbrick.
80
Olive Cross 89
Anna (Gove) Paige. 85
Dustin White. 35
Olive Bailey 83
John Breed. 89
1884. . Abigail (Breed) Hoag 85
Morrill Barnard. 85
Mary Robie.
80
1872. . Betsey Colby. 82
Anna Breed 88
1858. . Levi Cilley. 86
Rebecca Morse.
83
1859. . Ruth Raymond.
84
Jonathan Breed. 83
Hannah Hadley. 81
1860. . Lydia (Cartland) Gove.
88
1861 .. Ruth Hazelton ..
Elizabeth Melvin 80
Betsey Kimball.
83
Mary (Mckellips) Peaslee 83 Lydia Cilley. 80
1862. . Abigail Felch. 84
Theodah Foster.
Betsey Hoit. 88 Margaret Brown. 88 .
1863 .. Sarah Atwood. 86
David Buxton 88
Jane Eaton. 88 Chevey Chase. 88
1864. . Mary Muzzy
84
John Robie, Jr. 81
1865. . Hannah Clement.
89
Marden Emerson 85
John Chase.
83
Betsey Kimball. 87
Jemima Robie.
85
1866. . Nathan Hanson.
80
Marden Emerson 83
1868. . Dolly Buxton. 84
Olive Huntington. 85
David Paige. 86 Jane Eaton. 88
1869. . Jonathan Osborn, Jr. 85
John Robie. 81
Sarah Hovey. 86
Miriam Bailey. 81
Hannah (Dow) Brown. 84 Cynthia Clement. 81
Judith Peaslee. 84
1883 .. Nancy Kimball
82
Betsey Stone.
83
Susan Raymond 83
1872. . Lydia Green.
86
Ruth (Osborn) Buxton. 80
Daniel Bailey .. 85
Rufus Wadleigh. 81
Eliza Purington
81
41
Thomas Raymond 84
Simon Nichols. 81 Hannah Eaton. 86
1876. . Nathaniel Boynton. 84
1877. . Ruth V. Gould. 84
87
642
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1884.
184 .. Sarah T. Kendrick $9
1855. . Robert Sumner Fifield.
Sally Barrett.
Sarah Dearborn.
SS
Jacob Colby. 85
Joseph Marshall. 89
Rufus Wadleigh 81
1886. . Elijah Purington SO
Clara Philbrick. 83
Ezra Green S3
Lois Chase. S1
Abraham Melvin 86
Zillah C. Johnson. S2
Aaron Parmeter. S1
Sarah Parmeter. 81
1887. . Richard Breed. 86
John Follansbee.
INVENTORY of the town of Weare, taken April 1, 1887 : -
No.
Value.
Polls
458
$ 458 00
Real estate
535,620 00
Horses
335
22,779 00
Oxen.
182
10,780 00
Cows.
771
22,399 00
Cattle
347
7,373 00
Sheep .
1,830
4,731 00
Hogs taxable
15
128 00
Carriages
18
1,184 00
Stock in public funds
3,600 00
Stock in banks
2,500 00
Money at interest.
47,170 00
Stock in trade.
30,854 00
Mills and machinery
15,600 00
$750,518 00
Money deposited in savings bank, $372,707.00.
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS. Married, Oct. 10, 1809, Jere- miah Page Raymond, of Weare, to Miss Susan Gale.
" A constant Gale forever prove To fan the flame of virtuous love."
Oct. 12, 1809, Moses Mudgett forbids all persons harboring or trusting his wife, Ruth, because she has left him and is running him in debt.
Nov. 10, 1809, the copartnership between Daniel Moore and Charles Chase was that day mutually dissolved.
Dec. 31, 1809, letters were advertised for Simon Houghton, Moore & Chase, John Maynard, Phinehas Stone and Rev. Sebastian Streeter.
3
Fanny (Whittle) Currier. 82
1885. . Andrew Philbrick.
Jonathan Stoning. 81
Susan Peaslee. 81
1 B
t
f
C
1
I
t
..
P
Daniel Osborn
Seth N. Marshall S5
Nathan Eaton. 86
1847.]
MISCELLANEOUS.
643
POSTAGE. In 1845 there was a great reduction in the rates of postage. A single letter was defined as one weighing half an ounce, and the rates were made as follows: under 300 miles, 5 cents; over 300 miles, 10 cents ; drop or local letters, 2 cents.
Postage stamps came into use in 1847, and stamped envelopes in 1852. In 1851 the three-cent rate was established. Postal cards were issued May 1, 1872, and the two-cent rate for letters went into effect Oct. 1, 1883.
SILK. Daniel Bailey began raising silk-worms and the manufac- ture of sewing silk at South Weare about 1830. He set out many mulberry trees, which have now attained a large size, was very skill- ful in rearing the worms and made the very best sewing silk. He carried on the business for many years. Amos W. Bailey planted a small grove of mulberry trees near the Hillside cemetery and did a limited business. Lucy P. Gray had a small grove back of the meeting-house and followed the business, and also Josiah Davis far- ther west, south of Mount Dearborn.
ANECDOTES. John Paige, a constitutionally-tired man, went about soliciting newspaper subscriptions. He was a long-winded, stupid[story-teller -people got tired hearing him talk and would subscribe to get rid of him.
SHORT WEIGHT. Benjamin Felch sold Harrison Hobson a load of hay. It was late in the fall, and Felch threw into it, just to make plump weight, a lot of crust and frozen earth. Hobson hauled him up for it, and he had to pay $15 to settle.
DOG CHARMER. Calvin Chase was a blacksmith at East Weare. He had a remarkable power over dogs. He would go into the city and make every dog he met follow him, until he would have fifteen or twenty in his train. Then the police would interfere, and the dogs scatter. A butcher came to his house one day with a large, savage dog. Chase asked what he kept that dog for. "To watch the cart when I am away," says the butcher. "But," says Chase, "he does n't look like a watch-dog." "Well," says the butcher, "you are welcome to any piece of meat you can take out of the cart." Mr. Chase, without saying a word, stepped up, took the dog under one arm and half a quarter of beef under the other and walked into the house, without the least resistance on the part of the dog and to the great astonishment of the butcher.
LARGE FAMILY. Joseph George once lived on the H. Romeyn Nichols place and kept tavern. He had twenty-two children by
644
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1887.
one wife. He also owned a playful monkey which he took out with him when he made calls.
TELEGRAPH. Charles Chase went to Boston; when he came home his friends asked him what he saw. He said he saw a spider with twenty-six legs; that when one was touched it rose, and at the same instant a similar leg rose on all similar spiders in the country. He said they called it the telegraph.
DAVID'S SLING. Chase also said he saw the sling with which David killed Goliath. They asked him if the strings were there, and he replied, "They had rotted to dust." If the leather was there? "No; that, too, had rotted." Then, what was left? "The hole," said he.
RELIGION. Edmund, Moses and Elijah Johnson were once talk- ing on religious matters when they were small boys. The minister had been visiting at their house. The boys were in bed. Edmund says, "I suppose the sun is the Son of God." "Yes," says Moses, " and so is the moon." Elijah, who thought he would not be out- done, piped out, "And so was Mary Magdalene"; and they were confident they knew as much about the subject as anybody.
FAITH. Elder Wilmarth and Robert Johnson had a colloquy about faith, but they could not settle it. Then the Elder asked Mr. Johnson, who was of Quaker stock, why he did not attend meeting. Johnson said he did not believe one-half that was preached, and added, "You don't yourself, Elder." "Well," said he, "to tell you the truth, Mr. Johnson, I find it a great deal easier to preach than to work."
DROWNING. When Robert Peaslee was six years old he fell into the Piscataquog where the water was eight feet deep. He lay flat on the bottom for half an hour before his brother could find some one to take him out, and then to all appearances he was dead. They rolled him on the bridge for a long time, when he revived, and is alive at this day, 1887.
HANGING A SCYTHE. Moses Peaslee, when learning to mow, got tired and said his scythe did not hang right. His father told him to go and hang it to suit himself, and he went and hung it on an apple-tree.
SURGERY. Rufus Tutherly, while drilling, got a thread of steel in his eye. It stuck out about the sixteenth of an inch. The eye was very painful. He went to Mary Peaslee, wife of Moses Peaslee; she put the eye of a needle about it, canted the needle and drew it out.
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ANECDOTES.
1820.]
HENRY ARCHELAUS, the Hessian, lived in Weare. After he was captured at Bennington he served in the American army, and in time got a pension. "Now," said he, " wees sha'n't slave our old carcasses as wees have done." So he bought a whole barrel of rum, and he and his wife lay to it till both the rum and their money were all gone, and then they had to go to work again till the time they drew the next installment.
SNAKES. Jacob Follansbee killed a black one seven feet long. He returned to the place in an hour or more and found the mate to it, which he also killed. It was six feet in length. Albert Vitty killed two rattlesnakes on Rattlesnake hill, about fifty years ago. William Woodbury also killed rattlesnakes near there, and buried them in his garden.
TORTOISE. Immense turtles live in Duck pond. One was found in a moat near the Piscataquog, that weighed twenty-three pounds. The Follansbees captured one near Gorham pond, that was so large and strong, it easily carried a man on its back.
RATS. Benjamin Shaw lived on the river-road above the Emer- son bridge. His house was overrun with rats. One day a stranger came along, and said he would catch them all for his keeping over night and a dollar. It was agreed, and the next morning he had them all in a bag. He asked for his dollar; Shaw tried to evade the payment; they had a few sharp words, when the stranger quietly emptied the vermin back into the cellar and departed. Mr. Shaw of course was delighted.
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