History of Madison County, state of New York, Part 61

Author: Hammond, L. M. (Luna M.)
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Truair, Smith
Number of Pages: 802


USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 61


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Hezekiah Morse, the third of the pioneer brothers, came to Eaton in 1806. His children are scattered and many of them dead. One of his sons, Alpha, was for many years a prominent manufacturer of Eaton. Another son, Elijah, who is now dead, was a wealthy farmer of Eaton. A grand-daughter is wife of Rev. John Raymond, President of Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Albert H. Morse, a prominent citizen of Eaton is also a grandson, being son of Elijah. H. B. Morse, youngest son of Hezekiah, is a scientific and successful farmer of Norwich, N. Y.


Where the facts in the history of a family present such a re- cord as the foregoing, it is evident that they have been men and


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women eminently calculated by birth and training, to assume the duties and responsibilities, and to bear the hardships of build- ing up the new country, and to perpetuate the institutions of civilized life. Hereditary physical strength and great mental activity characterizes this family.


Note h .- The Darrow family are of Scotch descent, their Scottish ancestor coming to this country sometime during the sixteenth century, and settling in New London, Conn. The first name of the genealogical record the author has been able to ob- tain is that of Nathaniel Darrow, grandfather of David Darrow, Esq., of West Eaton, who was born is 1696, and who married Rachel Willey, a woman of English descent. He moved to Norwalk where his son George Darrow was born in 1748. George Darrow when a young man went to reside in New Lebanon, N. Y., where he married Eunice Meacham, and where his family of six children were born. One of these dying when a child, the other four sons, Joseph, George, David and James, lived to be heads of families of their own. One daughter made the sixth child. Joseph and George took. up large farms in Stow, Ohio, whither their father and mother removed in 1806, and where their father died. James joined the Shakers, where his mother, after his father's death spent her declining years.


David, the third son of this family of George Darrow, became one of the pioneers of West Eaton. His family are and have been through the whole history of this village, prominent. The sons and daughters of David Darrow were ten in number. The daughters connected themselves with prominent and enterprising families. The sons, Joseph, George, Frederic, David M., Wil- liam H. and J. J. Darrow, have been useful citizens in every re- spect. Joseph was a long time successful merchant and a pro- moter of religion and good morals ; George, whose unfortunate and tragical death, which occurred in Buffalo, N. Y., was the first who died among the sons of this family. He fell by a mur- derous shot (while riding from his place of business in the city, to his residence,) fired by some unknown assassin, who, it is be- lieved, mistook him for some other person, as no cause for the act could be ascertained. His body was brought to West Eaton for interment, where the tragedy had cast a gloom over com- munity. A very large concourse of friends followed his remains to the grave. He was greatly respected for the many good qual- ities of his head and heart. He was a Christian in the true sense. At the time of his death he was one of the first business men in Buffalo, and was a main pillar in the M. E. Church there. David M. Darrow has been a long time Justice of the Peace at West Eaton ; Frederick is a wealthy and enterprising farmer ;


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Wm. H. Darrow is a wealthy farmer of Cazenovia ; J. J. Darrow has been Justice of the Peace and Superintendent of Schools. He is a successful farmer and public spirited citizen, prominent in all matters pertaining to the advancement of religion and good society.


Note i .- EMILY C. JUDSON, or "Fanny Forrester."-This gifted authoress was born August 22, 1817, in Alderbrook. She was a daughter of Charles Chubbuck, one of the pioneers of Eaton. Her parents were poor, hence her opportunities were limited. As a family, however, literature was their forte. The works of the best authors were brought [with them from their New Hampshire home, and in the absence of congenial society, they found sweet solace in the companionship of Milton, Pope, Shakspeare, Dryden, and other favorite authors.


Underhill Cottage was not the house of "Fanny Forrester's" birth, that being the "weather-painted house at the top of the hill," described in her " Alderbrook Tales," which long ago disappeared, its location being a few rods from the Cottage. Underhill was the home of her childhood and youth, her foster birth-place, for here her mind first unfolded itself to the outer world, and here her intellect and genius had its birth. The wild country about this home seems to have bred the very atmosphere of romance and poetry, which the susceptible organization of Emily Chubbuck inhaled at her earliest breath.


Although not physically strong, yet the narrow circumstances of their family compelled her to a life of labor while yet very young. At the age of eleven years her parents removed to Pratt's Hollow, where Emily spliced rolls in the factory. Her delicate organization but illy sustained the hardships of that weary summer, and aching feet, bleeding hands, and a sad heart were trials of daily occurrence. Later she twisted thread for a Scotch weaver and thread-maker in Morrisville ; and still later, when yet in her early womanhood, she occupied a situation in a milliner shop. In the meantime her heart was devotedly set upon education. At intervals she attended the Academy, and there studied French and Mathematics, evincing a remarkable strength and penetration in the latter studies, surprising in an organization so light and fragile, proving there was depth and power to her mind as well as beauty and brilliancy.


In the spring of 1832, when but 15 years of age, Emily Chub- buck, with a courageous heart, took into her hands the reins of her own destiny. Cautiously she proceeded, measuring every footstep, prudently assuring herself that she was right, and there- fore moving on solid ground. With the ostensible purpose of visiting friends, she left home one bright April morning and


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tripped over the green fields, with the real intention of securing, if possible, the privilege of teaching a district school. She first repaired to the house of one of the trustees of the school district of Nelson Corners, and, not a little fluttered, applied for the school. The burly, blustering trustee did not seem to favor the application of such a demure little body, whom he considered would be no ruler over the boisterous, headstrong scholars of their school, many of whom were larger and older than herself. Her ardour was dampened, still she did not give up the object of her pursuit, and while being entertained by her friends, she made known to them the object of her wishes. They kindly offered their assistance, and went with her to the other trustee, introduced her to that good natured, smiling gentleman-the antipode of his colleague-who was highly pleased with her ap- pearance, and satisfied with her ability. He promised to inform her in a few days if his associate should consent to hire her. She went home with her heart full of doubt and hope, and kept her trial a secret from her parents. Her mother was completely surprised a few days after, when a stranger came there and en- quired for Miss Emily Chubbuck, saying he had come to hire her to teach their district school. It was soon explained, and Emily engaged to teach at seventy-five cents per week.


That summer's trial at teaching proved a successful one, and subsequently for many years she spent her time alternately be- tween teaching and pursuing her studies in the higher branches.


About 1840, Miss Chubbuck entered the Utica Female Semi- nary, and there continued her studies and also taught composi- tion. Here she wrote her first book, a small volume for chil- dren, entitled "Charles Lynne, or How to Observe the Golden Rule." The work met with success-fifteen hundred copies were sold in eleven weeks. After this she contributed to the "Lady's Book," "Knickerbocker's Magazine," and "Mother's Journal." Although her writings were not always noticed, they were in the main finally appreciated. After her name had at- tained celebrity, editors drew forth from some oblivious corner, neglected manuscripts, and now produced them for the benefit of an appreciative public.


In 1844, a letter written, half in play, by herself, but signed "Fanny Forrester," to N. P. Willis, then editor of the "New Mir- ror," from which she did not expect any serious result, was the means of bringing her before the public in a new and attractive light ; and from this date commenced her successful literary ca- reer under the nom de plume of "Fanny Forrester." We shall not further detail, but those who remember that period know how with what wondering anxiety the question was asked throughout the reading and literary world, "Who is Fanny For- rester ?" The originality, purity, beauty and vivacity of her style


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had not its precedent on the American Continent ; and yet-tell it not in Gath !- there are many of her native townspeople who never knew that "Fanny Forrester" was the timid, sensitive, shrinking factory girl, or the quiet, unassuming district school teacher.


In 1846, she married the celebrated pioneer Missionary, Dr. Adoniram Judson, and with him went to Birmah. She aided her husband largely in his labors, and translated much in the Birman language to aid the natives in their studies. Letters from her hand, in Birmah, found thousands of anxious readers of the journals on this side of the waters.


But at length a change came, and America read with sorrow of the death of Adoniram Judson. The eastern miasma had done its work. With a stricken heart and a body enfeebled by disease, Mrs. Judson bade adieu to Maulmain, and, bearing her precious charge, her child, in October, 1851, again set foot on her native shore. Her constitution was broken and swayed with every breeze. She often expressed a wish to die when earth was putting on her loveliest robes, and so it was. Surrounded by the children of her husband, to whom she had been a true mother, with her own darling nestling beside her, she died on the day previous to the anniversary of her marriage, in Hamil- ton village, June 1, 1854.


The published works of this gifted writer were quite numerous, but among them all none was more widely read than her "Alder- brook Tales." In American literature she entered a new chan- nel, and opened a rich mine where subsequent writers have dipped their pens to find them burnished with poetic fire.


Note j .- Mrs. Dr. Chase was the first lady physician estab- lished in Madison County. She commenced practice in Eaton in 1848. She encountered some opposition on account of her sex, but, owing to her remarkable skill and success in dif- ficult cases, she won public confidence and secured a large and successful practice. She continued in practice from 1848 to 1868, when sickness prostrated her. Mrs. Chase was a faithful wife, and as a mother was tenderly beloved by a large family of children. By a large circle of friends she was highly esteemed as a gifted woman and worthy in every respect. She died March 12th, 1869, aged 67 years.


Note k .- "HON. DANIEL DARWIN PRATT, the eldest son of Dr. Daniel Pratt, of Perryville, was born in Palermo, Maine, in 1813, coming to this section with his parents in 1814. At the early age of twelve he commenced preparing for College under the tuition of Dr. Guernsey, of Fenner, which was continued at


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the Oneida Conference Seminary, at Cazenovia. He entered Hamilton College under the Presidency of Dr. Davis before he was fourteen and graduated with the highest honors of his class, taking the valedictory, before he was eighteen. Hon. John Coch- rane was his College mate, and Rev. A. C. Kendrick, of Roch- ester University, was a class mate. At the age of eighteen he delivered a Fourth of July oration in Perryville, which was pro- nounced at the time to be one of the finest productions ever de- livered in the County on such an occasion. He immediately commenced the study of law in Cazenovia. In 1832, in com- pany with Mr. Holmes, now (1871) of Bloomington, Ill., he started for the "great west" with less than $30 in his pocket. The two young men went on the Canal to Buffalo, thence to Cleve- land, where, finding a transportation wagon to Cincinnati, they obtained conveyance for their trunks, and went on themselves to that city on foot. There they endeavored to obtain situations as students of law ; but the price of admission was too high for their nearly exhausted purses, and they left on a boat for Law- renceburg, Indiana. Here young Pratt obtained a small school and remained one term, getting scarcely enough to pay his ex- penses, when, fortunately, he was elected principal of Rising Sun Academy, one of the most flourishing institutions of southeast Indiana. He conducted this Academy successfully, and saved money enough to go to Indianapolis and complete his law studies in the office of Fletcher & Butler, leading members of the bar in that city. In 1836 he located at Logansport, Ind., and commenced practice, to which he devoted his undivided attention and estab- lished a reputation of being one of the very best lawyers in the State. In 1851 and again in '53 he represented his district in the State Legislature, where his duties were arduous and his dis- charge of them highly commended and appreciated. In 1860 he was selected as a delegate for the State at large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago. Being a man of large and prepossessing appearance, with a voice in proportion to his men- tal as well as physical proportions, he was selected from all the men of high qualifications present, as reading clerk, and will be remembered by the many thousands who assembled at that great and important Convention. In 1868 he was nominated for Congress in the Eighth Congressional District of his adopted State, and abandoning all else devoted his whole energy and power to the canvass, and by his eloquence and convincing argu- ments added no little to the success of the Republican party; but before the time arrived to take the seat he had been elected to fill, the Legislature of his State chose him U. S. Senator. He is now (1871) an active member of the Senate, and no Senator does harder work or is more faithful to his trusts. He is a fin- ished scholar, of high and refined mental culture ; possesses a


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genial disposition, intermingled with a never-failing fund of hu- mor, wit and sentiment combined, and is the life of the circle of his professional friends and neighbors. Upright in his charac- ter ; gentlemanly in his deportment ; unostentatious in manner ; modest and retiring to a fault ; in short, possessing all the qual- ities which should ever characterize a great and good man. He has filled the position he occupies with honor to himself and credit to the State and party who have chosen him, without even solic- iting his consent.


Note .- THE FEMALE ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY of Hamilton was formed in Hamilton in December, 1843, in the house of John Foote. The object of this association was to lend its in- fluence against slavery, raise means to contribute to the ad- vancement of freedom by donations to Anti-Slavery agents, ministers, or missionaries, and to the fugitives from bondage, &c., &c. A constitution was formed and adopted by this body of refined and intelligent women, who conducted their meetings with president, secretary, treasurer and managers.


They raised funds by sewing societies and by subscriptions for the cause, procured the best and most noted of the Anti-Slavery lecturers to hold public meetings in Hamilton, and in some cases adopted colored children, or otherwise provided for them by finding them places to work, and having their schooling at- tended to.


The membership of the society increased as the years wore on ; their meetings were well attended, and conducted with grave decorum. The exercises were of a religious and literary character, always bearing on the question of slavery, and made deeply interesting by the talent brought forward.


The association continued its meetings and labors until the close of the civil war, when their labors were no longer re- quired.


Note m .- ANGEL DE FERRIERE was born at Niort, Depart- ment Des Deux Sevres, France, in the year 1769. His youth was passed under the reign of Louis XVI., a period character- ized by turbulence, revolution, and finally the downfall of the empire. The ancient families of the empire strove to maintain their beloved king, and when he fell, the whole nobility of the realm were involved in the general ruin. Death, imprisonment, or banishment awaited those who did not flee the vengeance of the furious revolutionists.


The De Ferriere family belonged to the ancient nobility, whose representative was Mons. Chevalier Edward Brieard, the last French Governor of Canada. Truly loyal to the fortunes


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of their king, they fell with him, and their estates in the city of Alnay were confiscated, and the family hurried into exile.


Angel De Ferrier, at an early age, had been sent to the Military School at Brien, where Napoleon Bonaparte was edu- cated, and when not twenty-one attained to the promotion of colonel in the King's Life Guards. In an attack made upon the palace in August, 1792, the king's body-guard were driven to use arms in a fruitless attempt at defense, for they found them- selves unequal to the fury of a Parisian mob. They were com- pelled to witness the most cruel treatment of their king and queen, and to be unable to rescue them from violence and im- prisonment, and were forced, in self preservation, to flee from the vengeance of a continually increasing and formidable fac- tion which swelled the mob, and was hurrying to prison or the guillotine every member of the nobility whom they could seize. Few of the king's body-guard escaped, but among the fortunate ones was Col. De Ferriere, and a companion in arms, a young no- ble, who fled to Holland, where, their families being known, they found friends. Even here they were not safe, for the spies of the revolutionists swarmed throughout the adjacent countries.


During their stay in Holland, at a dinner party they were in- troduced to some gentlemen who belonged to the Holland Land Company, who, in conversation on their affairs in America, pro- posed that these young men should try their fortunes in the new country, as many other noblemen had done before them. Col. De Ferriere and his companion were impressed with the idea and decided to go thither. They immediately made the neces- sary arrangements, deposited funds with bankers in Holland, and took letters of credit on the Holland Company's bankers in America, Messrs. Leroy Bayard & Co. Nor far from the time when their King, Louis the XVI., was beheaded, in the year 1793, they embarked at Amsterdam in a vessel bound for New York.


When about to embark, it was observed that cruisers, search- ing for the proscribed loyalists of France, lined the coast. They had been but a few hours at sea, and just at night, when one of these cruisers drew near, clearly with the intention of boarding the vessel. The captain desired to secrete the loyalists, but De Ferriere's companion declared he could pass for an Italian, and thus escape. De Ferriere was prevailed upon to be secreted, and the ship's crew soon made a recess in among the fire-wood of the cook-room in which he and his effects were safely placed.


The cruiser hove alongside, the officers boarded the ship, and having displayed their papers of authority, commenced search. They soon met the pretended Italian, but his speech betrayed his high birth and French origin, and he was hurried from the vessel into confinement. Diligent but fruitless search was made


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for De Ferriere, and great was his relief mingled with heartfelt sorrow, as the cruiser receded from view, for, although he was safe, his friend was being borne to a dreadful doom.


Soon after night had settled down upon the sea, another ves- sel, whose flag they could not discern in the darkness, drew near and hailed them. There was instant and anxious fear, lest the cruiser had returned, perhaps having learned by plying their frightened captive with questions that another fugitive was in the ship. Taking this view, Col. De Ferriere refused to be again secreted, and desired to be left to himself, assuring them that he would not be taken alive. Immediately, on the exchange of the usual marine salutations, the Captain sprang to De Ferriere's side, clasped his hand with joy, and exclaimed, "You are safe ; that vessel is a Yankee !" This was the end of his danger, and the incubus of suspense, anxiety and fear, which the "reign of terror " produced wherever the loyalists were on the Continent, gradually lifted from his mind, as he left the shores of his native country behind.


Arriving at New York he met Col. John Lincklaen with whoin he came to Cazenovia, Madison County. While at Cazenovia himself and Mr. Lincklaen occasionally went to Canaseraga to talk French with Mr. Dennie, the only man in this region of the country with whom they could converse in that language. It was at these visits that Angel De Ferriere, then a young man of twenty- two, formed the acquaintance of Polly Dennie, Lewis Dennie's only daughter, a respectable young woman, with pleasant man- ners and civilized habits, said by some to have been very beau- tiful, and resembling the race to which her mother belonged but very little. In due time they were married, and settled near Cazenovia. Subsequently he was prevailed upon by his wife's friends, to settle at Wampsville, Madison County, where her brother, Jonathan Dennie, presented his wife a fine farm. Mr. De Ferriere added to this until he was owner of about 3,000 acres of valuable land.


In 1817, he went to France to present his claims and receive his heritage from the once princely estates of his family. His inheritance enabled him to promptly complete all payments on his Lenox land, and indulge a cultivated taste in adorning his American home. Here he reared a family of five children, send- ing them from home to be educated. Here he died in 1832. At the family homestead, in Wampsville, Madison County, is the De Ferriere monument which bears the inscription : -


ANGEL DE FERRIERE was born January 8th, 1769, AT NIORT DEPARTMENT DES DEUX SEVRES IN FRANCE. Died September 17th, 1832, aged 63 years.


Also :-


IN MEMORY OF POLLY DE FERRIERE, CONSORT OF ANGEL DE


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FERRIERE ; Born March, 1774 ; Died March, 1853, aged 79 years.


Note n .- The Bruces are said to be of Scotch and Dutch line- age. The name in Scottish history is synonymous with great- ness. The following extract from a sketch published when B. F. Bruce (son of Joseph Bruce,) was Member of Legislature, suggests that the spirit of their Scottish ancestors may have de- scended through all the centuries from the illustrious Robert Bruce, to the present generation. "Mr. Bruce has perhaps more of an air distingue than any other member of the Lower House. His tall, finely developed figure, his proud, erect bearing and his well-shaped head, combine to attract the attention of the specta- tor, in glancing over the gentlemen who compose the Assembly. Mr. Bruce has a deep sonorous voice which has been highly cul- tivated, and as an orator he fully commands the attention of the listener. Some of his most brilliant speeches were extemporane- ously delivered ; in fact he seldom puts his ideas on paper, pre- ferring to trust himself to the impulse of the occasion."-[See Civil List, Chapter 2.]


Note 0 .- The raising of the first church building, at the Opening, was made an "occasion," it being something new to erect a church edifice, and the frame, also was of heavy timbers. Madison could furnish from within her own borders a more than sufficient number of stalwart men to rear the ponderous "bents"; but men of superior physical strength were held in high esteem in those days of stern realities ; the society was doing a big thing, and it was a time to be complimentary ; therefore a special invitation to attend the raising was sent to five men, living just over the line in Augusta, who were thus endowed by nature. These were Daniel and Benjamin Warren, Archibald and Par- don Manchester, and Noah Leonard. They of course accepted the honor and attended ; and it was a compliment that each was proud to remember and to refer to long years after. Dea. Ben- jamin Warren, one of the five, stood six feet in height, weighed upwards of 200 pounds, and was possessed of enormous phys- ical powers. Pardon Manchester was an inch taller, nearly of the same weight, and notwithstanding his giant proportions was possessed of an elasticity and quickness of motion almost su- perhuman. This man was for a time a resident of Madison. During that residence he happened one day to be at a tavern on Augusta east hill, and got involved in a quarrel-a too com- mon occurrence with him-in which he was assailed by six men, who all made for him at once. As they came on, Manchester gave the foremost man a terrible kick in the abdomen ; then, as fast as he could deliver as many blows, he knocked down three more. But the remaining two gave him a hard fight ; his flying


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fists failed every time to hit the mark, and he could only hurl them from him through his superior rapidity of action. At length, the floored ones beginning to rally, he decided to retreat, but on the attempt found both doors and windows fastened ! Quick as lightning he seized first one and then the other antag- onist and threw them across the room ; then, turning to a win- dow, he jumped several feet from the floor, planted both feet in the center of the lower sash, and in a shower of flying glass and splinters landed out door in an upright position and made good his escape !


Note p .- ERI RICHARDSON, one of the Richardson brothers, was a member of the Legislature in 1822, and represented his constituents worthily and satisfactorily. While at Albany, he gave his whole attention, first to the understanding, and then to the performance of his duties. But, unlike many other legisla- tors, he cared little for mere etiquette. An anecdote, illus- trating his singular indifference to the commonest observances of cultivated life, as well as the peculiar temperament of the man, is told of him : The Major, as he was called (he was so commissioned in 1812,) had an inveterate habit of spitting. Early in his term as Assemblyman he was sitting in his room at Albany, preparing, with pen in hand and busy brain, the speech he was to deliver before the august body of his peers, and as usual, when all 'absorbed in a subject, was spitting in every direction upon the carpet. A servant came in to perform some office, and observing this, shoved the spittoon in front of him ; the Major was oblivious, and out went another mouthful to the left ; the servant moved the polished receptacle of filth to the left ; the Major's eyes were still bent upon his paper, his thoughts were deep in the intricacies of his theme, and his mouth was working nervously ; it soon filled, and away went another copious ejectment, this time to the right ; the servant. pushed the convenience to the right; the Major's saliviary glands rapidly secreted again, and while his lips were apparently gathering for one grand discharge in front, the servant, hoping to anticipate it, gave the appurtenance a desperate shove with the broom in that direction. "Now, see here !" said the Major, just brought to consciousness, " do you take that d-d thing right out of the way, or I'll spit in it !" This story leaked out, got home, and made much amusement at the Major's expense. It has been repeatedly told in and out of print, with variations, but it rightfully belongs where we place it.


Note q .- The Warren family, noticed in the Stockbridge chapter, is one of the oldest, capable of being traced in this country. Its progenitor, or original ancestor upon New England soil, was Sir Richard Warren, an English Baronet ; a puritan (if


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old colonial history is correct,) of the most rigid and bigoted kind. He came to Plymouth, Mass., with the puritan colonists in the next vessel after the Mayflower (probably about 1632). With him came his only son, Sir James Warren, who was at the time married and had one or more sons then in their childhood. At his death also expired the family title inherited in England, titles being even at that early day obsolete and valueless in the already republican colony, except perhaps a few Crown officers in the new settlements. From these descended the Warrens of New England, and from them the Warrens of New York and other Northern States, till they have become (to use an inflated comparison) as "numerous as the sands of the sea." The grand- father of Gen. Joseph Warren of Bunker Hill memory, and the grandfather of John Warren, of Stockbridge, were brothers ; sons of a grandson in some degree (not ascertained) of James. Benjamin, the father of John Warren, was a native of Raynham, Plymouth County, Mass., but removed to Royalston, Worcester County, about 1769. He was a soldier in the old French war, so-called, and subsequently a soldier of the revolution. In the latter, he served from the first general call of the patriots to arms until October, 1777, when he fell in the battle of Stillwater Plains, the day before the taking of Gen. Burgoyne, and died instantly, a musket ball entering his forehead and passing through the center of the brain. A brother and a nephew were in a rear rank ; they saw him fall, paused over his dead body as they advanced, and saw that he was dead ; there was no time for even a pulsation of grief over kindred remains; the battle was raging ; the same moment they were pressed on with the hurrying troops of the command who were advancing to a charge. The remains of the father of John Warren were not again iden- tified ; the fallen of that day's contest were at night hastily gath- ered and received a common sepulture, unknelled and uncoffined, but not unmourned.


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CONCLUSION.


Our task is done, yet we have a few concluding words to offer for the consideration of those readers who may discover that certain persons, events, &c., well known to themselves, have been omitted, while other matter corresponding, of only equal and perhaps often of less importance, appears upon the record. We desire to remind them that this was unavoidable. At an early stage in our labors of collecting the material for the foregoing work, we learned by brief ex- perience that a local history, necessarily made up chiefly from oral data, could not be written in full ; there is literally no end to such data, and there must be a limit to the matter composing a book. From the long array of names of early settlers and prominent men, and the vast quantity of inci- dents, events, &c., gleaned in our travels for that purpose over the County, we have selected that which in our judg- ment was the most valuable for preservation and the most illustrative of the pioneer days ; which should avoid tedious repetition of similar experiences as much as possible, while covering the whole ground and retaining as much matter of local interest as a convenient and not too expensive volume could embody. After selecting from the mass which our nine years' toil had gathered, we were unable to compress that selection within the limits of the six hundred pages announced in connection with the price in the prospectus of the work ; but rather than abridge in that which seemed to belong to our readers-since it was already obtained -- we


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have swelled the volume by an addition of one hundred and seventy-four pages, in order to give such selection complete. Also, we are aware that notwithstanding our earnest efforts, we may have failed to obtain the names of many persons equally as worthy of honorable mention as those who are thus noticed in the foregoing pages. And further : that without doubt many incidents quite as interesting as any- thing given, are lost to the work, from having been either passed by unknowingly when in search of them, or not oc- curring at the time to the memory of our informants. We can only deeply regret any serious omission from whatever cause. L. M. H.


ERRATA.


Page 322, on 10th line from top, instead of "successful," read " unsuccessful." Page 300, 5th line from bottom, for "town," read "house." Page 510, 14th line from top, to place of " The latter," read "Daniel Crouse." Page 569, 9th line from bottom, for " Bullard," read " Ballard." Page 570, 12th line from top, for " and," read "once." Page 667, 26th line, omit ""," also corresponding note at bottom of the page. Page 729, 4th line, for " east " read " west." Also on same page, 13th line, for " west " read " east." In appendix, page 761, in note (g,) read " William," instead of " Elijah."


APPENDIX .- Note "a" refers to page 158; "b," 173 ; "c," 228 ; "d," 241 ; "e," 286 ; "f," 299 ; "g," 303 ; "h," 331 ; "i," 334 ; "j," 338 ; "k," 373; "1," 454; "m," 489; " n," 520 ; "o," 615 ; "p," 646; "q," 744.


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