USA > Vermont > Windham County > Marlboro > The history of the town of Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont > Part 2
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This morning in our rambles I have found the damask rose- with large single petals-a low bush and blossoms sweet. It is the old rose of my earliest recollection which I have not before seen since I left this country.
August 13, 1860. "Lonely and contemplative, I pressed my way slowly and upward to my present boarding house [his old parsonage], once, to me, the dearest spot on earth. . . I preached twice on the Sabbath . . I had a fuller attendance -- it is said a full house. Several carriages came up from Brattle- boro. If you knew the road and the hill, I am sure you would wonder. I feel an intense anxiety for the spiritual good of this people. All that I converse with, with their own accord, state that they have run down-decreased in numbers-decreased in the church and in religious interests. Their morals have de- preciated-intemperance has become an alarming evil. Leading citizens are advocates of the rum policy, of Universalism and Democracy. . . As I look at the fields of my labor my faith staggers and my heart faints. . I have seen Hannah Tucker, now Mrs. Winchester. . , She was well dressed and looked healthy. . . Mr. John S. Strong is yet alive. His hair is white as a sheet-very deaf and almost blind. His children who survive are well-have done well-and respectable. She that was Esther Lyman is yet living-has waded through many trials . . . but she is esteemed one of the excellent of the earth."
Aug. 20, 1860. "Have attended two family gatherings of the Mather families, who rank with the first families in town. On each occasion a full house-a glow of chat and an abundance of good living. . . The church is reduced to 37 members of whom 26 are females. During the last year of my labors in the congregation, 30 were added to the church by profession and 2 by letter. Since that time 25 have been added by profession and 27 by letter in 27 years. Those rocks of which you made mention resembling solid masonry are the quartz formation of great thickness extending for a long distance on the western base of the Green Mts. . From its fragments, by water action, has been ground down immense numbers of 'hard
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heads' by which have been made immense beds of quartz sand for mortar and the sawing of marble, deposited in the very spot where needed. How wonderful is the goodness of God as seen in His works! . I shall think of the rose. I wish Mr. Stevenson to dig and try the blue potatoes. We are using an early Blue Potato which I think excellent. Now is the time to test varieties and ascertain their quality. I have had no peas like your Imperial so rich and buttery in flavor. . . . . The blight of the potato has made its appearance in this town. The field I examined was green and apparently healthy on Friday last. I was through it yesterday-leaves all black and withered, and further growth suspended."
August 30, 1860. "On Monday, Col. Ezra Thayer came and carried me to his house where I spent the night, which is only a few rods from the spot where I spent my first night in Marlboro', Nov. 25, 1805, in the school district where I commenced my public labors as a school master. On Tuesday, Col. Thayer took his wagon and carried me to Mr. Goodspeed's, where I found a sister of Mrs. Nathan Parks, of Jackson, in the house where I used to board in the family of Capt. Gilbert, one of the lovely families of the earth, of which only one survives, and she is in Iowa. From there I went to Henry Adams, a son of Simeon Adams, Jr., who married a daughter of Clark Winchester. . · This is the old Deacon Bishop farm. . . I passed to Mr. James Corse's, and found him and his wife old and decrepit, in comfortable circumstances, but no child. The next was Mr. Chase on the former farm of Mr. Winslow. The farm and buildings much improved. They had the appearance of
neatness and intelligence. . I went to Clark Winchester's, and put up for the night. They have a nice two-story house, with green blinds-house well furnished and kept in fine order.
The next morning I went to Simeon Adams, on a great farm, in a great house full of good things, with large barns well filled. Then to Ira Adams in like circumstances. In my old school district there are only two persons left who were there in 1805, when I taught their school. I find farms in some in- stances with houses and out buildings greatly improved, in others sadly to the contrary; but spiritual condition I consider more sad than ever since the gospel standard was raised in their midst, and what can be done for them is beyond the power of man. . . . Blackberries by the quart, bushel, or wagon load to suit purchasers-by the roadside or in the lots.
Sept. 14, 1860. "This is a hard field. My heart faints before it. The love of money approaching to idolatry, Uni- versalism, the bane of evangelical truth, and the love of strong drink, destructive to everything good, with covetousness, profane swearing and thieving, furnish a strong bulwark against
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the weapons of our warfare. The fell destroyer Rum has no respect to wealth or family distinction. It is said its ad- vocates and its use are in every house, almost without exception. I say good society is worth having, is worth nursing and worth supporting. It costs too much to live without it, and we can't afford to do without it.
Sept. 21, 1860. Of Wide Awakes I have nothing to say. If I stay here, I am afraid I shall be on tother side, or it will not be 'like people, like priest,' although the town carried a republican candidate for their representative last year by one majority, and the same this year for the same man. . . . I do not believe this town is worth as much by $50,000 or more as it was in 1830 or 1833. Democracy, Universalism, and rum, I am inclined to think, are not the most wholesome instrument for good society and a thrifty community. But a word on Cheese. The widow David Strong, aged 77, has made herself 97 cheeses this season, in all weighing over 40 hundred. When I visited her, I found her barefoot, busily at work knitting, of which she does much. Cotton Mather, Gen. Phineas Mather, and Mather Adams have not less than 50 hundred each, valued at 10 cts. per lb. Some smaller dairies are also to be met.
Oct. 1, 1860. "On Thursday I attended 'the Annual Fair of the Wilmington Agricultural Society'. The show was upon ground owned by the society and tastefully fitted up for the purpose. A good Band of music of their own citizens, in military costume did their full share. . A team from the south section of the town was escorted in military style, consisting of upwards of 30 yoke of oxen (and they were oxen) drawing a heavy omnibus wagon tastefully decorated and freighted with a full R. R. car load of choice matrons and their daughters. Another from the north section of the town received similar honors. . The teams were separated and chained to stakes.
Nearly 100 yoke of oxen were at their stakes. They were of fine size, and in fine flesh, well matched as to size and color, mostly of a mixed color-some bright red, one pair white, and one black as a bear. . . . Cows, calves, yearlings, sheep, swine, horses, etc., increased the number of live animals to about 300, worthy of the name of Blooded Stock. . . . The butter and cheese was good enough for the Prince to carry to his mother. Their maple sugar almost as white as the sheet on which I write, was alluring. . . . In the Mechanical department, I saw a dash churn to be moved by a balance wheel and a crank with which I was much pleased. On the whole I was much gratified with the whole affair, which in its annual effects is adding thousands of dollars to the capital of the town in the increase of industry, enterprise, intelligence and refinement of its citizens. Once I was not a stranger in Wilmington. Now scarce a face
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could I recognize. Some of the old military officers would come and say: 'is not this Mr. Newton, our old chaplain,' which served to renew a former acquaintance. . Cold freezing time- pond frozen this morning-good skating for boys soon. Snow hail, rain during the day.
Oct. 5, 1860. "We have, to me, a new thing under the sun- a party of ladies at the parsonage this afternoon-not a levee- not a sewing circle to aid some poor heathen children to clothing -not a quilting-but a braiding bee to assist Mrs. Winchester in braiding palm leaf hats, a common business among our ladies in their struggles to live. That you may understand the business and its profits, I give you its history. The leaf is brought from the tropics-split up by the Yankees into splits suitable for braiding-taken by peddlers and hawked about from house to house and sold for cash at 1212 cents per lb. After a certain time the peddler returns with more stock for braiding, takes the hats, and gives eight cents a-piece for good sized men's hats well braided. One lb. of splits makes five hats. A smart braider can braid 3 or 4 a day. . . We have an accordion in the house for music, and what may happen in the evening I must wait & learn. Our Fast-Asleeps make no dark lantern demonstrations. We are martialling no troops to battle the south."
On October 6, 1860, Dr. Newton preached a sermon, in which he recited briefly the history of Marlborough. He spoke of the early settlers, and their descendants, noted the decrease of population, and exhorted those remaining to continue in the fine spirit of their forefathers. This sermon gave rise to the writing of the present volume.
To his son, John M. Newton, Dr. Newton wrote on March 2, 1861, describing his activities in the previous year. Before coming to Marlborough he had completed, at Andover, the first volume of 400 pages of the catalogue of his mineralogical cabinet. In Marlborough, he continues, "he left in the church about 170, now reduced to 34. He left a population of about 1300, now reduced to less than 900, and the wealth of the town probably reduced about in the same ratio. Farms growing up to weeds, briars and brushes. On lands once cleared, on which good crops were grown, are now seen some of their best sugar orchards and the most productive portion of their premises. He preached to the people on eleven Sabbaths and at three funerals. For compensation he expects to receive at some future day five dollars a week or $55, for the whole of which he has paid out for his board and travelling expenses upwards of $30. A great financial speculation! At the close of his 11 Sabbaths he gave a historical sermon which has led the citizens to attempt to produce the history of the town.
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"Your father's services were solicited to which he consented on the condition that he do the writing and they furnish him with board, & pay all his money expenses in travelling, sta- tionery, postage, etc. He returned to this place on the first of December-has boarded on invitation from house to house, and has found ample and satisfactory accommodations. He has written about one fourth of a ream of fool's cap on one side of each half sheet, rather coarse. The History is nearly finished. But he has undertaken to make out a complete Family Register of every family which lives, or has lived in town, embracing names in full, the date of births, date of marriages and to whom married, and the date of deaths & where they have occurred. This is a slow process, as he goes from house to house and ex- amines the records found in old bibles, and the testimony of living witnesses. He is very much afraid the production will prove a black spot on the page of Newton History. The people are exceedingly kind to him and spare no pains to aid him in his work."
April 27, 1861, Dr. Newton wrote to his daughter, Mrs. Stevenson: "Your glorious letter of Apr. 24 is just received, also the 'Valley News' with intelligence heart cheering. It is good to know that the descendants of noble sires will stand by the flag of the Union. Let party spirit go into oblivion, and let there be but one voice and that for Union and on terms honorable to the old patriots of the American Revolution. . 1 am too old to go into the field, but am willing that my children should buckle on the armour to secure a triumphant victory over secession and rebellion. What else can we do but stand by the flagstaff and let the stars and stripes float over the Capitol? I am still at my post as historian of my former charge. I wander from house to house in search of facts and family records; and continue to be well-received. I have also been called from my historical labors to council and make writings in settling another estate this week It is to me astonishing to hear of any advocating southern principles. Yet it is true. That spirit is here. The North is condemned and the South justified. Some of our Democrats talk differently and favor the principles of the Federal Govern- ment.
May 11, 1861. "In my wanderings since the first of December last, over hills and valleys, and from house to house, only in two instances have I been in a family where there was a hired girl. One of those was the sister and the other a niece to their employers. Women not only do their domestic work, but with their own hands largely manufacture the 'every-day' clothing for themselves and their families. Ladies are seen in their woolen gowns, neat, warm and tidy, and apparently as happy
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and as prim as home ladies rattling in their silks. Almost every lady for ornament has a string of gold beads around her neck, and not a few of young misses in their teens are seen in like array, with ear drops with clam-shell-gold-settings dangling down. You may think I have an observing eye. This is admitted, as I am collecting facts for a history. But in so doing we omit the dark spots in the page and enlarge upon points more favorable. As to war movements, we are as cool as the spruces and firs that adorn our hills. I think we shall not start until a few bombs explode over our heads and then 'the South' will shake either with fear or laughter. . . . Strange to say that some of the descendants of revolutionary memory are glorying in triumphs of the South and vindicate their outrage."
June 10, 1861. "In prospecting among the mountains for a precious gem for my purpose, as the California gold digger searches for a claim to make his pile, I met with the following truthful narration of an incident which here occurred, in which I was somewhat interested; and may not be wholly devoid of interest to yourself. For the sake of a name I shall call it The Unlucky Friday. It was in one of those deep little valleys where the sun does not show his face until late in the morning, and hides himself from the gaze of the dwellers of the vale long ere it is night, and in one of those neat little cottages which you passed in your last summer's pleasure trip, where are those who believe in the unlucky Friday, and that certain work must be done in certain ages of the moon (if the sign is right), that a young gentleman led his lady love to the altar and they were married, as they claimed the right so to do. The earth steady and true in her annual course, arrived at the point of a certain Friday evening, at about 11 o'clock, on the 13th of the month, when the youthful bride gave birth to a plump little daughter. All was joy. Soon however, the inquiry arose as to the precise time when the child was born, which was ascertained to be on Friday before midnight. This was a damper. But to evade all the foreboding ills of an unlucky Friday, the mother and grand- mother, in the acuteness of their wisdom, bethought themselves to have the birth of the child recorded on Saturday, the 14th of the month, instead of the true time, on Friday, the 13th; and all was satisfactory. But as madam fortune is not to be so chuckled out of her unlucky days-ere long the happy pair fell into a terrible snarl, which terminated in their final separation, Friday or no Friday. This is too good to be left out of my history, and yet too personal to be admitted." [The editor trusts that the publication of this story in 1930, will not offend.]
"In my old study, I am strikingly enforced of an old habit revived. . . . In my youthful days in the N. E. corner stood a high eight-day brass clock, at which I used to cast my eye, to
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know the time. Altho most 30 years have passed, and the habit forgotten, yet often, without thinking, have I cast my eye up to the old spot to see the time. I speak of it because I am as- tonished at myself at the revival of this old habit so long for- gotten, in looking where no clock is now to be seen."
July 18, 1861. "Yesterday, I took the first morning stage at 6 o'clock . . . a rapid ride down the mountain to this place. [Brattleboro]
I was landed in front of the summer residence of the Hon. George Folsom, LL.D., who under Prest. Jefferson, was Minister to Germany, spent six years in Europe with his family, and travelled extensively on the Continent, in Western Asia and Northern Africa. . . All I need to say of
their home is that it is in keeping with wealth, taste, refinement and comfort. . . Yesterday, at 10 o'clock, the Vermont Historical Society convened in the Town Hall-not a large, but respectable attendance. In the absence of Gov. Hall, the Prest., the Hon. Daniel Kellogg, LL.D., took the chair. We were classmates in Virgil in our boyhood. Col. Needham read a paper on the character of the late Hon. Geo. E. Wales, who was also an Academician with me when fitting for college. This brought the enthusiasm of early school days to life in full vigor. In the P. M., your father was called upon to read a portion of history in the progress of preparation. He selected the Phelps family, the Granger Lot, and the first courtship and the first marriage, which brought out a shout, but was followed with the usual share of mortification to the author.
"Of the dinner, I have only to say that it was a combination of European and American refinement of excellent cookery, and served out to American and European guests. O think of the contrast between this and the humble fare in my old study! I wish to say I have been introduced to the late Pres- ident Sparks, of Harvard. I have had the revival of an old acquaintance with Mr. Holbrook, the present nominee for a Vermont Gov. Last eve. on invitation, I attended a levee at Judge Kellogg's, consisting of literary gentlemen and their ladies. A treat highly appreciated and richly enjoyed.
July 26, 1861-to his son-in-law, J. M. Stevenson. "I am heart-sick at the accounts of the late disaster of the Federal army. Gen. Scott needs the sympathy of all good men and true, and more than this, he needs a doubly refined iron courage to resist the host of infernal dictators with idle pretensions of know- ing more than himself. I hate to say Americans are fools. But so it is; if a public functionary is doing well in his own quiet energetic way, a stampede of blood hounds will chase him from his course or rob him of his heart's blood. Are not such men as Greeley to answer for the blood of thousands?
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"Gen. McClellan, the hero of Western Virginia, is a hero indeed. His wife is young, but a host; and you know my doctrine, that it is the woman that makes the man. She is a granddaughter of the late Gen. Jonas Mann, formerly of Brattleboro, by his second marriage to Mary Negus, of Newfane, who was an early associate of my boyhood. This is the seal to his glory!"
August 21, 1861. "On Monday morning last, at 9 A. M. 'The Marlborough High School' was opened in the center district school house. Roswell Harris, Jr., of the Middle Class, Andover Theological Seminary, Principal. Pupils-20 young ladies & 15 young gentlemen. 7 On Saturday last the congregation had a meeting and resolved to finish the lower story of their meeting house for a school room. For this purpose money was liberally raised by subscription, and on Monday the work commenced.
. You will be surprised to be told that the people depend much on your poor father to propose, direct, manage & go ahead in all these movements; & to my astonishment they sus- tain me with their money & influence in thus carrying out my plans and furthering my wishes. The number of pupils has in- creased to forty-one or two and the school house is well filled. In several instances, young ladies club together, hire a room, and board themselves. In some instances teams are sent several miles, while others come two miles or more on foot. Is it true that this people is awakening from the slumber of ages and enjoying a resurrection to life? . . I have had in no period of life a greater pressure of business upon my hands. If the Rebels take Washington-I pick up stakes and go to Canada, and I say, go, too." [Later he decided that fight rather than flight was the proper course.]
Sept. 26, 1861. "I fear this people are too far gone to be reclaimed in this generation. Out of some 130 families which should attend the Congregational Church, but few are found steadily at meeting on the Sabbath, and a large proportion only occasionally or never. Sabbath breaking, profane swearing & intemperance follow as a legitimate result."
In 1862, Dr. Newton was elected as Marlborough's rep- resentative in the State Legislature. From the autumn of 1863 to the spring of 1864, he was acting pastor in Wilmington.
Writing from Wilmington, Oct. 20, 1863, Dr. Newton reviewed his life in Marlborough. "50 years ago today, I went to Marlboro' as a candidate to preach the gospel, and for settlement. Then the snow was four inches deep and all looked dreary and sad. Only two married couples who were then married remain in town, and only three men older than myself survive; almost two generations have departed, and only a few are left to look at the sad picture. Yet under the blessing of God, I am still
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able to dispense the word of life to precious souls. How rich have been divine mercies, and how miserably improved! I was then young (26), fresh from the Halls of Science, trembling with fear of success, on horseback with saddlebags stuffed with the best of my duds, somewhat loaded with debt from necessity, and being unwilling to ask my honored father for further assis- tance. There I struggled in poverty to within a few months of 20 years, and left as poor as I went, excepting what I had received from father. I found and left as large a congregation as in the county, since dwindled to a handful, thin, poor, and divided, without a preached gospel, as I think, the lawful result of penuriousness and the frowns of God upon their course. 'With all their faults I love them still,' and am willing to do everything in my power for their good."
Other letters show that Dr. Newton's keen interest in Marl- borough continued, and that he preached there in June, 1864. In August and September, he visited two of his sons in Cin- cinnati, and secured along the Ohio River fossils and shells which he added to his collection at Andover. Soon after his return to the home of his daughter, in Cambridge, N. Y., he was taken sick, and died, October 26, 1864. His writings con- tained in this book attest his character more adequately than eulogies.
John M. Newton, son of Dr. Newton, in July, 1871, transmitted to the Vermont Historical Society the manuscript from which this book is printed. He stated "I have copied the mss entire and compared it very carefully with the original which would have been sent you, but for the fact that it was partially without arrangement and would not be coherent as a history without much study, as there were many loose leaves and memorands." A small portion of this was printed in Hemenway.
In preparing this manuscript for publication, there have been no changes of importance. A few obvious slips of the pen have been corrected: the spelling of certain names has been checked. and the punctuation revised. In one or two instances, statements have been corrected in the light of present knowledge. The result is as nearly as possible what I think the author would have made it, had he lived to superintend the publication of his material.
The portrait of the author is reproduced from an engraving which was published in the History of Newiane. The other illustrations are from plates kindly lent by Mr. Frederic C. Adams of Brattleboro. from the collection of Marlborough material made by his father, the late Leroy Franklin Adams, who was born in Marlborough, April 23, 1846, the son of Lucius F. Adams.
Mr. Gerald L. Adams, State Senator and Town Clerk of Marlborough, son of Edwin P. Adams, and grandson of
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Leander Clark Adams, and Mr. John E. Gale, of Guilford, have read the proofs and given other assistance. Mr. Charles E. Tuttle, of Rutland, and Mr. John Spargo, of Bennington, the President of the Vermont Historical Society, have helped to make the editor's task a pleasure.
Rutland, Vermont November 27, 1929
JOHN CLEMENT
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH
CHAPTER I
Location-Charters-Proprietors-Officials-Survey Town Plot-Scenery-Forest-Indians
Marlborough is a post town, six miles square, lying in the south- easterly section of the County of Windham in the State of Vermont, in latitude 42° 53', longitude 4° 16'. It is pleasantly situated upon the hills in the second range of townships west of the Connecticut River, and in the second range east of the Green Mountains. It is bounded north by Dover and Newfane, east by Dummerston and Brattleboro, south by Halifax and west by Wilmington, and contains 23,040 acres. The town is one of the New Hampshire Grants, formerly so called. No reason is now known why, or from what source this town received its name. It was chartered from the Crown of England under the reign of George II on the 29th day of April, 1751, by Benning Wentworth, Esq., then governor of the Province of New Hamp- shire, and was the third township of the New Hampshire Grants granted by him. Soon after, probably in 1752, the outside lines were run, and the corners set, which still remain indisputably fixed. This charter was forfeited by not complying with the conditions of settlement as required, and the town was re- chartered by the same authority in the first year of the reign of George III, Sept. 21, 1761, as may be seen by the follow- ing copies :
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