USA > Vermont > Orange County > Braintree > The history of Braintree, Vermont, including a memorial of families that have resided in town > Part 6
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LOST IN THE WOODS .- John Grant, a clever, inoffensive man, used to take a visiting tour occasionally. He was no unwelcome guest, for his regular rounds were looked for with pleasure. Once he started to cross the moun- tain to Granville. The road was then very blind, and people were fearful that he would lose his way. Fonr or five days after, some one from Granville crossed over and said that John had not been seen there. It was concluded that he was lost. Parties scoured the hill in all directions, but withont suc- cess. Finally an alarm was spread far and near and most of the men and boys in town rallied to the search. At length Major Ford's dog began to howl, and on going to the spot the object of the search was found, still alive, after an absence of nine days. It is singular that he had not fallen a prey to wild animals. He was almost starved, being unable to stand. Water was the first thing he called for, and one of the men brought some in a hat. Having drank heartily he begged a quid of tobacco. He said that he prayed God to send Major Ford to his relief, and he had all the time "kinder expected " He would do it.
Another instance was that of Samuel Bass, Jr., when a mere lad, there being at that time only a few settlements in Braintree. His father, Dea. Bass, went from place to place making and repairing boots and shoes wherever his services were demanded. He had a job of work to do for a man living on the Dow Herrick farm in Randolph, and he took his son, Samnel, with him. Sam. nel started to return home alone, his only guide being marked trees. Instead of leaving Ayer's Brook and following up Mill Brook to Peth, he continued along the former and up the little brook flowing through Silas Flint's prem- ises, where Azro L. Adams lives. Aware that he was wrong, he yet pursued his way, hoping to find a settlement, at least a "clearing." Finally he heard the tingle of a bell, and advancing toward it, he soon found a cow with a bell
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A BEAR HUNT.
attached browsing in the forest. Driving her in whatever direction she might go, he followed, and was soon brought to Silas Flint's door.
In 1798 Hannah, wife of Capt. Isaac Nichols, Jr., living near the present residence of Allen H. Flint, started on an errand to William Vesey's, now William C. Holman's. Only marked trees were her guide. When she reached Daniel Flint's, at "Connecticut" corners, he offered to let some of his children go for her; so she turned towards home. The children did the errand, went to Capt. Nichols's, and found she had not returned. Alarm was immediately given that she was lost, and search was begun. Late in the day she went past Hope Bradley's, near where Albert Fitts lives, and Mrs. Bradley hailed her with: "Where on airth have you been ? All the men in town air arter ye." Mrs. Nichols took the wrong trail and went on northward instead of south as she should, till the sun came out, for the day was cloudy, when she saw she was lost. Then, turning her course, she followed a brook which led her to the branch road, but which brook she never could tell. Here she knew where she was, and followed that road round home. Some of the men, not hearing of her return, stayed out all night. She said she expected to, till she found herself, and was looking for a hollow log to stay in.
William Parker cleverly started from home and lost his way, in December, 1847. After being missed a week or more his dead body was found on a branch of the Dog River in Roxbury, lying against a leaning tree. He was 26 years of age.
A BEAR HUNT .- The early inhabitants of Braintree often found it neces- sary to make united effort to get rid of bears and wolves, and for this purpose they engaged in extensive hunts. On one occasion the "ring" closed in a. cornfield and two bears and a large number of foxes were found to be within it. The men became excited, and shots were made from all points, and as the ring grew smaller the range of the shots became uncomfortably close. Some more cautious, refused to proceed, and took refuge behind a log fence. Jokes were freely cracked at their expense, their course being regarded as cowardice rather than prudence, and the most of them in consequence disguised their fears and kept with the company. One, however, was not so easily influenced. He took a position behind a large stump and told the crowd to pass on. But the "crowd" suddenly became conscious that the skulker was essential to the success of the enterprise. After trying various measures and threatening the poor fellow he was finally induced to proceed; but his fears soon over- came him again. He dodged behind a stook of corn, and was proof against all persuasion to leave his covert. It was evident that fear was working power- fully on his nerves. Seeing this, John Burrage seized a club and going around to the opposite side of the stook the moment a gun was fired, struck it, knock- ing the stook and the man over together. Frightened now almost out of his wits, the fellow yelled: "Mercy! Lord! I am shot!" Burrage rolled the corn off him, and putting on an anxious expression, asked with apparent con- cern: "Sam, are you hurt?" "Yes, John, I am done for. I am shot in the back." "Perhaps you are not seriously hurt after all; see if you can get up." "I can't, I know I can't; you'll have to carry me home." "Try, Sam, and
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HISTORY.
see if you can't stand, I'll help you." So, being lifted to his feet, Sam. after due examination became convinced, to his great joy and as great mortifica- tion, that he was "sound as a nut," and the matter was settled to the infinite merriment of all concerned. In the meantime the rest of the party had dis- patched the bears and all the foxes except a dozen or more. One of the lat- ter wore a bell and was supposed to have been a pet in some family-no uncommon thing-from which it had escaped. The bears were sold at auction and the proceeds given to a Widow Ellsworth, who had recently lost her husband, he being killed by the fall of a tree.
DIGGING FOR MONEY .- Ashbel Tucker built a saw mill at Snowsville, and being involved in some financial difficulty, was obliged to sell it. One night he dreamed three times (waking up each time and telling his wife about it) that he went down Ayer's brook as far as John Hutchinson's land, and saw a man walking about. Crossing to the west side, as he thought, he spoke to the man, who told him that a person had put money into his (the man's) hands; that it was not called for; and that he had kept it as long as he wished, and had buried it near by. After dreaming this the third time, he sprang from bed and went down stream, and (the story runs) saw the very man walking about whom he had seen in his dream. Startled that so much of his dream should prove true, Tucker dared not cross the stream and speak, but turned homeward. Passing by Havelin Truesdale's, who lived where Jonah Loomis does, it being then before light, he was asked where he had been so early. Whereupon he told Truesdale his dream. Trues- dale mentioned two men in Northfield who had a mineral rod, and expressed the belief that they could find the money. Tucker got him to go after them, and they came and began the search. They thought they found the spot where the "pot" of money was and dug for it. When near it, as they supposed, the pot moved, the ground being seen to rise and fall in the direction in which the treasure took its departure. Tucker and Truesdale vouched for this fact. The Northfield men refused to work longer. Truesdale afterwards obtained a rod, and finding it would " work" in the hands of Richard Lethbridge, the search was continued from time to time. Once several men were engaged in it, and had the money cornered up within a small space and surrounded by old scythes stuck upright in the ground to prevent its escape. The digging was proceeding with earnestness. Among those standing by was Silas Flint, Jr., who is said always to have entertained the belief that he should die rich. Silas did not wish the diggers to secure the prize. So when they were pretty near it, he pulled up one . of 'the seythes, and immediately the money escaped through the "open- ing." Lethbridge distinctly saw the ground to rise and sink in the path of the moving pot. People went there in the night to dig, and consid- erable excitement was occasioned first and last, till finally John Hutchinson forbade further digging on his farm.
GARRISON'S VISIT. - About the middle of October, 1862, William Lloyd Garrison and his friend, Oliver Johnson, who was then editor of the Anti- Slavery Standard, visited Braintree, remaining several days the guests of Mr.
MINISTERIAL JOKE, DIFFERENCE, 'MIAH HEATH'S BANK. 47
and Mrs. James Hutchinson, Jr. Mr. Garrison was requested by some of the people to speak the next Sunday and he readily complied. Efforts were first made to secure for him the use of one, of the church edifices at West Ran- dolph, but neither of the religious societies there would consent to such request. Application was then made to Rev. Ammi Nichols for the Braintree Hill meeting house. He consented, and the society acquiescing, Mr. Garrison was invited to speak there the following Sunday. It proved to be one of those charming autumn days, when nature, at her prettiest, wore her most bewitch- ing smile, and could not fail to address the heart as well as the eye. Mr. Gar- rison reached the school-house at the top of the hill, and, catching a view of the surrounding hills, he turned to his companions and said: "Now, let us stop and worship." Upon Quaker Hill, that day, gathered people of this town and many from surrounding towns. Some came twenty miles to hear the great abolitionist, who was doing more than any other man in the nation to arouse it to a sense of the danger, the disgrace, the iniquity of slavery. Scarcely ever before had a larger audience gathered at that meeting house; never since has so large an assembly met on the old hill until the centennial celebration. Mr. Garrison's appeal for the slave was earnest and effective. He expressed his deep admiration of the beautiful panorama of hills and mountains around him, saying that such a country could be peopled only by those who love liberty, and since they insist on freedom for themselves they should insist on freedom for all others also.
A MINISTERIAL JOKE .- Elder Huntington was short in statue and car- ried his head quite low, but Rev. Mr. Cleveland was tall and straight. Once they were traveling together on horseback and Mr. Cleveland said to the elder: "What makes you always go with your head down? If you would hold it up people would think more of you." After a few moments of silence they came to a wheat field. "You see that field of wheat ?" said the elder. "Well, you see that some heads stand up straight and others hang down. Those that hang down are filled with wheat, but those that stand up have nothing but chaff."
THE DIFFERENCE .- During court session at Chelsea, about the year 1840, the lawyers and officers were getting off their jokes one evening as was their frequent custom. Ira Kidder and others from Braintree were there, and Braintree was getting rather the worst of it at the hands of the Randolph boys, Judge Perrin remarking that Braintree was accustomed to send its inhabitants to Windsor, and another, that it had many more that ought to go there, etc. "Well," said Kidder, " Braintree did send Ephraim H. to Windsor for stealing honey which he never stole, but'Squire Enoch H., of Randolph, did help steal Uncle Jed French's bee-tree, and then took false oath in court, was arraigned for perjury and put under bonds for his appearance at the county court. But Randolph, instead of sending him to Windsor, did its best the next September to send him to the Vermont legislature. That's the difference between Randolph and Braintree.".
'MIAH HEATH'S BANK .- Nehemiah Heath, called 'Miah for short, lived near Bradley Corner. He was shrewd, ignorant and more or less destitute of
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HISTORY.
honor. He was bound to get his living at the expense of others. In 1833 'Miah hit upon a plan which, if successful, would make him quite snug, finan- cially. So he called his friends together and they organized themselves into a company or bank, with 'Miah as president. The "directors'" meetings were called by the sound of a long tin horn. The "bank" was located in some secret little nook in Bradley Hollow, and was soon in working order. An old iron chest, filled with cast-iron, weighing probably about two hundred pounds, was the "bank." A common report, generally believed among backwoods- men, was that there was a place in Canada where silver half-dollars could be had for fifty cents on a dollar. 'Miah filled his pocket with silver fresh from Montpelier bank and sold it to his neighbors, a dollar's worth for fifty cents, saying that he got it in Canada. Of course the "directors" soon thought best to send 'Miah to Canada for more silver, and they raised about $200 for this purpose. He managed to be long enough in going to Montpelier and back to go to Canada and return. Then the horn was again sounded and the "directors" were instantly at the post of duty. To have no possible misun- derstanding some of the silver was tested and, of course, was found genuine. Boys were invited to lift on the old chest to convince them that it contained worlds of riches. The scheme was thus advertised, and not a few were induced to invest from one to three hundred dollars in " Canada " silver. As. such a scheme is necessarily short lived, the "directors" suddenly found it necessary to do business on a much larger scale. 'Miah and Gen. B., one of the "directors," obtained about $1,500 from their victims in advance. Then 'Miah took the chest and started for Canada by way of Ohio, and was at a safe distance before the stockholders knew that they had been lurched. And mourners daily went about the streets.
The fact is, very little of that money went into Heath's pocket, and he- was made the headpiece of the concern that the " directors " mighit the better shield themselves. Efforts were now made to find some clew that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those implicated in the crime. Gen. B. and Capt. F. were arrested and tried before Justice Calvin Blodgett, two or three of the victims being called as witnesses. It soon appeared from the testimony that Capt. F. was innocent, and he was acquitted, but the case was strong against Gen. B. William Vesey was evidently one of the "directors," for lie had been frequently seen going toward the "bank" with Gen. B., and soon after it closed he left the state in disguise, and lurched Daniel Waite, Jr., his bondsman as constable, to the tune of $1000 or more, and joined Heath in Olio. Gen. B. was put under bonds for his appearance at court. As the time of trial drew near he began to devise some plau to save himself. At the jus- tice trial a Mr. L. testified that Gen. B. advised him to let 'Miah have all the money he could spare because it was a money-making thing. Gen. B. went to L. and said: "If you testify at the County Court as you did at the justice trial you'll send me to state's prison. Now if you'll go into court and say you was mistaken, that some other person influenced you to buy stock, I'll pay you whatever sum you ask." To this L. consented. On the morning of the trial Gen. B., with two witnesses, called L., and asked: "How much money do you want of me? Will forty dollars do?" L. said: "I should like fifty," and re-
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REV. AMMI NICHOLS.
ceived that amount and testified in court as he had agreed. Gen. B. went clear. A few weeks after he called on L. and said: "I would like that money I lent you at Chelsea." "I never borrowed any money of you. That money was paid me for testifying." "You did borrow fifty dollars," said Gen. B., "and I can prove it, and you can have one week to raise the money." And L. had to borrow the money and cash over.
V. PERSONAL SKETCHES.
[While preference has been given to sketches of early settlers, yet no one has been denied a place, of whom the requisite facts for personal mention have been given us. It is desirable that this department be made as full as possible ; but we have been wholly depen- dent on others for the necessary data, and because these have not been given, is the reason why many deserving names do not appear.]
REV. AMMI NICHOLS
Was the youngest of ten children, of whom seven arrived at maturity. He was only seven years old when his father removed to Braintree, the whole region then being an almost unbroken wilderness. The educational and religious privileges of his youth were very few. There were scarcely any schools for a number of years, and then for a long time only two months annually in the winter. To attend these, the pupils were obliged to travel from one to three miles, and break their own roads through storms and snows. Added to this were the privations, hardships and dangers neces- sarily incident to a new settlement in the more or less unsettled condition of things after the close of a long war. Very soon after the accession of his father's family to the settlement, reading or "deacons'" meetings were established on the Sabbath, and were well sustained, especially in the summer. There was no organized church for seven years, and no ordained minister nearer than Royalton. In December, 1794, a church was formed, but, except one year, regular preaching was not enjoyed for thirteen years, when Mr. Nichols himself became pastor of the church. Rev. Elijah Lyman of Brookfield, and Elder Huntington on "the Branch," preached at rare intervals. When eleven years old he was prostrated by a second severe attack of bilious fever (the first having occurred at the age of seven) which resulted in a partial paralysis of his right limbs, and seriously disabled him for his whole life. His prospects were now very gloomy. His father, though desirous of aiding him to obtain a further education, was unable to do so, and his own taste and energy were his chief resources. A spelling-book, a dic- tionary and an arithmetic, with the limited attendance enjoyed at district school, were his only advantages till he was eighteen. Then having quite thoroughly mastered the elementary branches, he ventured to teach, and met with a success that placed his services in constant demand for several years. At twenty-one he united with the Congregational church, and was then strongly advised to prepare for the ministry. This was consonant with his own desires, but he saw no way to accomplish it. He continued to teach winters, and to study as he was able in the summer. He began Latin, but
4
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
finally decided that in his circumstances it was not wise to go on with clas- sics. He next studied with Mr. Tilton Eastman of Randolph, and Rev. Stephen Fuller of Vershire, and then began the study of theology with Rev. Asa Burton, D. D., of Thetford. This was his preparatory training for the ministry. He received the customary license to preach from the Orange Association, Jan. 9, 1805, in his twenty-fourth year. He went soon after to Weymouth, Mass., and studied a short time, preaching in the meantime at Old Braintree. A few months after he took a public school of eighty pupils in Braintree, still continuing to preach. Eight months were thus spent, and he then returned home. Having obtained a commission for six months from the Massachusetts Missionary Society to labor in destitute places in Vermont and northern New York, he spent a few weeks in Vermont, then went to Elizabethtown, N. Y., thence to Plattsburgh, Ogdensburgh, Black River, etc., and returned by the same route. His labors resulted in a revival of religion at several places. On reaching home he was invited to preach on probation for settlement. At length a call was given which he accepted, and he was ordained and installed pastor Sept. 23, 1807. From the first this was a hard field to cultivate. Peculiar obstacles were encountered. The people were few and poor, and greatly scattered, and besides, the earliest settlers were of different religious denominations, and many of their prejudices and jealousies were long retained. But Mr. Nichols entered upon his pastorate with energy and tact; he was ardent and abundant in his labors; and the Lord gave some prosperity.
At his settlement he was encouraged to expect a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars besides a lot of ministerial land. The town finally refused the latter, and the former was never fully paid. Arrearages increased every year. He succeeded, however, in purchasing a small farm, which aided in the support of his family at the same time that it increased his care. In 1809 he was chosen town clerk and held the office continuously till 1847. This was intended as a mark of courtesy, and as a favor to him pecuniarily; but the sum realized was very small in comparison with the labor and time required. At length want became so oppressive that he was obliged to think seriously of seeking another field. When this purpose was announced to his people, they could not consent, but proposed that he should retain his relation, with the privilege of laboring elsewhere to such extent as would be necessary for his comfortable support. He labored successfully a portion of the time for a series of years with five different churches in the vicinity, viz: Warren, Rox- bury, Bethel, Barnard and West Randolph, and also with the Baptist church. He became widely and familiarly known as "Father Nichols." There was something in his manner and spirit which always elicited the best sympa- thies of those with whom he came in contact.
In 1846 Mr. Nichols went to Dover, Ill., where he was soon invited to supply the pulpit of the Congregational church. He sent back to Braintree a request for dismission, which was granted March 23, 1847. He remained at Dover seven years. In 1853 he returned to find the little church without a pastor, and weakened by deaths and removals. At their request he began
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REV. AMMI NICHOLS, REV. ELIJAH HUNTINGTON.
again to supply the pulpit, and continued to do so, with the exception of two or three intervals occasioned by sickness, until September, 1865, when the infirmities of age demanded cessation from active service.' At the time of his death he was the oldest Congregational minister in Vermont.
During his pastorate were several revivals. The first was in 1812, of which few records now remain; the second, in 1816, was very extensive, reaching the whole region around; the third, in 1820, somewhat less exten- sive; and the fourth in 1831-3, the effects of which are felt to this day. He received into the church, mostly by profession, an aggregate of about one hundred and sixty members.
For many years, although suffering at last from that loathsome and painful disease, cancer, he calmly anticipated the summons of the Master. His faith was severely tried; it could not be shaken. The summons found him ready. All was calm and peaceful, and the scene closed in triumph. His death occurred near the hour of the setting sun, on Sabbath eve, Aug. 24, 1873, a day and an hour most suggestive and fitting for the entrance of the soul upon the Sabbath rest of heaven.
One or two marked characteristics of Mr. Nichols should not be left unmentioned. He was a man of unaffected humility and self distrust. No one long intimate with him could fail to notice this trait. Indeed, it was sometimes so extreme as to become almost a blemish in his otherwise well- rounded character. Yet he would never compromise the truth or shrink from any hardship or personal duty if once convinced that sacrifice was demanded. In a private conversation not long before his death, alluding to the embarrassment he had always experienced from his lack of a thorough preparatory education for his work, he said: "How often have I been dis- couraged, and at times tempted to abandon it ! And I should have done so but for the encouragement of the apostle, that God had chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." He was remarkable, too, as a man of prayer. He felt and daily illustrated its power. With what sim- plicity and fervor he was wont to plead for covenanted mercies upon his dear people and the individual members of his numerous household, none can know but those who have themselves heard him. And here is one of the most precious memories that remain of his later life.
REV. ELIJAH HUNTINGTON. [Copied, in part, from his Journal. ]
" I was born in Mansfield, Conn., Aug. 21, 1763, of Christopher and Mary Huntington. At the age of sixteen I enlisted into the army, and at the close of the war (Revolutionary) I returned home, having served about three years After this I was employed in school teaching; first, in Norwich, Vt., then several years in Tunbridge. In August, 1790, I was hopefully converted, and some months after was babtized by Elder J. Hebard of Royalton. No person had ever before that been baptized (immersed) in Braintree, and I had never seen but one person baptised in my life. Soon after I joined the Bap- tist church in Royalton, under the pastoral care of Elder Hebard. In
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