USA > Vermont > Windham County > Londonderry > The history with genealogical sketches of Londonderry > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
At the taking of the census in 1840 there were eight men resident in Londonderry who were pensioned for Revolutionary service, viz: Edmond Ingalls, Thomas Read (Reed), Samuel Davis, Benjamin Pierce, Nathan Whiting, Berreck (Baruch) Bolster, Jeremiah Wheeler and Abraham Abbott and in Windham there were four, viz: John Gould, Archibald Mack, Abial Whitman and James Smith; but it seems more than probable, in some cases certain, that they rendered the service before becoming residents of those towns, or the ancient town before its division.
Within the present town of Londonderry are fourteen graves which have, for years past, been deemed by the local Grand Army Post and Sons of Vet- erans entitled to decoration as those of Revolutionary soldiers. As to some of those accorded this honor there is strong reason for doubting their having seen any service in the Revolution. As to some of the list there can be no question since there exist records attesting their service, though from locali- ties other than Kent or ancient Londonderry; but here they ended their course and here their bodies lie. The great majority of the graves in the first or oldest cemetery in town are without stones, markers or any records to indicate whose body was there interred, and it is not doubted that, from this fact, due honors may not have been paid to all entitled to such recog- nition in the annual observance of Memorial Day. The like condition as to
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The History of Londonderry
doubts and question exists relative to graves in that part of the ancient town now Windham.
It may well be, and indeed is well nigh apparent, that in making these lists all doubts and question were resolved in favor of the reputed soldier; that it was better to accord honor where not merited rather than to deny it to any one to whom rightly due. This is true, too, as to the list of graves of reputed soldiers in the later war of 1812. Some of these men who have been accorded the honor of the flag and wreath in the annual decoration of sol- diers' graves, while entitled to the military titles borne by them in life and, in many cases, inscribed upon their tombstones only won the same on the bloodless fields of militia training grounds and never participated in other military action. Even if and when all the data and records in the archives of the State are arranged and made really accessible for use, there is rea- son to doubt the ability of the present or a future generation to surely make all due credits for service in those wars to this and many other towns; to the soldiers themselves, or their memory. It certainly is impossible now to do so.
In the palmy days of the old-time militia; of June trainings and annual musters Londonderry was well represented in all branches of the service. At one time there was an organized cavalry troop, a rifle company, an artillery company, and an un-uniformed militia company, the last termed by the more pretentious organizations "the Stub-toe Company"; and locally notable were the occasions when they paraded and "trained" before the admiring eyes of the attending crowds.
In each of these bands or organizations Londonderry had representation, as did various near-by towns and all, at times, gathered here for "training." The artillery company seemed to take first rank with the populace on these occasions, doubtless owing in part to the more formidable appearance of their weapon and their ability to make therewith a more prodigious noise than their comrades of other arms.
A further reason for this partiality may have been the fact that this was more distinctively a Londonderry organization.
It was known as the Londonderry Artillery Company, though having some members from adjoining towns, and was formed as early as 1835, prob- ably in that year, for, on Nov. 5, 1835, at the session of the Legislature, an Act was passed directing the Quarter Master General of the State "to pro- vide, at the expense of this State, a suitable piece, with carriage and appa- ratus, for the use of an artillery company in Londonderry," but containing provision that the company, at their own expense, should "provide a suitable gun-house for the safe keeping of said field-piece, carriage and apparatus, to the satisfaction of the Quarter Master General before they take any benefit of this act." The gun-house was constructed at the "Middle-of-the-town," on the highway leading past the old church and nearly opposite that struc-
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Military Record
ture; and was, presumably, satisfactory since the "piece" was furnished by the State. This Company was incorporated by the legislature in 1835.
Ezra Davis went from Londonderry to the arsenal at Vergennes and brought it here, unmounted notwithstanding the direction of the legislature as to furnishing a carriage. Lyman Whitman procured, in Chesterfield, N. H., the oak timber from which he fashioned the wheels and other wood work of the carriage; and Allen Howard, local blacksmith, affixed the tires and other necessary iron parts. All this work was so well and thoroughly done that the carriage, in spite of many experiences seemingly as trying as actual war service, even now appears as strong and serviceable as in the day when the old gun awoke the valley's echoes by its first salute. After many years in which the company proudly maintained its organization, with occasional activities in military evolutions and mimic warfare, it ceased to function as a part of the State's military force. When this took place the old cannon was not returned to the arsenal but remained, as it still remains, here in town. The gun-house built for its safe keeping long since ceased to shelter it and has been but a memory only for these many years. No one asserted title to the "piece" and for a long period, reaching down to the recent past, it passed through experiences and was subjected to treatment beside which an active military campaign would seem no hardship.
A detailed history of all that befell the ancient piece during those years, if written by a competent pen, would rival in attractive and entertaining interest the detective stories and "first sellers" of the present day. Differ- ent bands, cliques or factions came into being in town, whose aim was to gain possession of the gun and carriage, one or both, from such of the rival bands as at the time had the same in possession or had knowledge as to the place or places of their concealment.
At times one band would know the location of the gun while the carriage, or parts of the carriage, were in control of another faction and well hidden from the holders of the gun itself. Often the dismounted gun reposed in one part of the town while its dismembered carriage was scattered in various other locations, frequently miles apart.
Buried in the cellars of dwellings and of barns, in cultivated fields under growing crops; hidden beneath the planking on bridge ends, and in the bottom of hay mows; sunk in the depths of the mill-pond, and covered in the saw dust, shavings and bark shreds at the mill yard, the unmounted piece has lain concealed, at times for years in one place before being dis- covered and removed by a rival band.
At length, upon an occasion when all desired the cannon for use at a local celebration, the several parts were brought together and, from that time forward, "stealing the cannon" seemed to have lost its fascination. Soon thereafter Hon. James L. Martin purchased the "piece" from the State and
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The History of Londonderry
turned it over into the keeping of the local Camp of Sons of Veterans, in whose care it still remains.
Under changes in the Militia Laws the old-time "trainings" and "mus- ters" were discontinued and passed into memories, growing more and more indistinct with passing time, and for years the military spirit was inactive and training days unobserved and almost unknown.
So it was until the Civil War of 1861-5, long before conceived amid the mutterings and contentions concerning slavery, had its birth and the attack upon Fort Sumpter gave notice that of military force the Nation had sore need.
That this spirit only slumbered, like fire raked up in ashes, and that it still had all the vigor, readiness and earnestness of former days, when the fathers went forth to battle, was at once and abundantly proven.
Promptly upon the call for troops this town took up its share of the bur- dens which war had imposed and all its duties, to the very end of that war, it performed loyally and well; for which it claims no more and accepts no less credit than belongs to other towns of the state which met like duties and bore like burdens for those succeeding years of conflict.
The first formal action or vote of the town in connection with the pro- vision of measures to meet President Lincoln's call for volunteers was taken July 28, 1862, at a town meeting warned, or called, twelve days previous; Article 2 of the warning being: "To see if the town will vote to raise money to pay those who have or shall hereafter volunteer and go into the service of the United States as a soldier on a requisition upon the Governor of this State, if so how much and how they will raise the same, when & how they will direct the selectmen to carry the same into effect."
This meeting directed payment of fifty dollars to those who should there- after volunteer and serve "as soldiers," to the number required to fill the quota of the town; and the selectmen were directed to draw orders for a like sum, "payable on demand and on interest," to each of the volunteers who had previously been mustered into U. S. service to the credit of the town.
The dates here given do not mark the beginning of the town's work in this connection, for earlier calls and quotas had been met and filled without bounties or other financial inducements.
Previous to the warning of this meeting, there had been twenty-eight enlistments, in seven regiments, to the credit of the town and each of that number became entitled to the bounty of fifty dollars as a merited gift rather than an inducement to enter the service.
At a special town meeting, Oct. 4, 1862, the town voted "to pay each volunteer who has enlisted to fill up the quota of nine months men from this town fifty dollars, when they shall be accepted and mustered into the United States service."
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Military Record
Sixteen men, on the mustering into service of the 16th Vermont Regiment, became entitled to this bounty, and it is to be noted that all of them had enlisted in August, more than a month prior to the voting of the bounty.
On November 17, 1863, it was voted "to pay volunteers from this town to the number of 19, sufficient to fill our present quota, each the sum of twenty dollars per month for their services as they may render the same in the army of the United States." On the 4th of May following, the record shows a vote "to raise one man for the 17th Regt.", and to pay him twenty dollars per month.
The latter part of 1864 and early months of 1865 were filled with activ- ity on the part of the selectmen who had been given wide powers in matter of filling the call for soldiers.
At town meetings, special and regular annual, ways and means for secur- ing enlistments and for equalizing bounties and wages to those in service and such as might or would enlist to the town's credit were discussed, formulated, and passed by formal votes and taxes laid to raise the necessary funds there- for. The certificate of amounts expended by the town in support of the war, as made to the state authorities at a later date, shows that $28,359.98 had been so paid; and this includes no account of contributions from citi- zens in support of the Sanitary and other Commissions in their work for and among the soldiers in camps, hospitals and field service, nor the funds privately furnished to individual soldiers in hospitals or in active operations.
The town's record during those trying months and years as to activity in home duties in support of the war reflects high credit, and her Honor Roll; those who "wore the blue," has these names:
Аввотт, Abial S. Dec. 26, 1863
Company E, 2nd U.S.S.S.
ABBOTT, Charles
Dec. 17, 1863
E, 2nd U.S.S.S. *ABBOTT, George T.
Sept. 3, 1861 I, 4th Vermont
Aug. 29, 1862 D, 16th Vermont ADAMS, George W.
AIKEN, Alonzo
Sept. 24, 1861
C, 6th Vermont
AIKEN, Walter A.
Sept. 24, 1861
C, 6th Vermont
ALBEE, Justin V.
Nov. 30, 1863
E, 5th Vermont
ALBEE, Silas
Aug. 12, 1862
G, 11th Vermont
ALLEN, Joseph
Aug. 29, 1862,
D, 16th, Vermont Vermont
ARNOLD, Samuel D.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
BAILEY, George F.
Aug. 19, 1864
G, 11th Vermont
BALDWIN, Andrew
Aug. 13, 1864
G, 11th Vermont
BALL, William D.
Mar. 7, 1865
BARNARD, Lucius M.
Aug. 9, 1864
BEMIS, Willard M.
July 30, 1862
Unassigned Recruit 3d Battery, Lt. Art. G, IIth Vermont
and Mar. 8, 1865,
I, 2nd
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The History of Londonderry
BENNETT, Jacob W. Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
BIXBY, Armentus B.
Oct. 6, 1862
Asst. Surgeon, 4th Vermont
BUXTON, Albert
Oct. 29, 1861
H, 2nd U.S.S.S.
BUXTON, Horace
Aug. 11, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
BUXTON, Willard D.
Mar. 7, 1865
I, 2nd
Vermont
CAMPBELL, Abner T. Nov. 30, 1863
G, 11th
Vermont
CAMPBELL, E. Romanzo Aug. 4, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
CAMPBELL, George R.
Aug. 2, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
*CAMPBELL, Henry L.
Oct. 21, 1861
H, 2nd
U.S.S.S.
*CHURCHILL, William H. Oct. 18, 1861
H, 2nd U.S.S.S.
CLAYTON, Austin W.
July 30, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
COOMBS, Edmund G.
Mar. 7, 1865
Hancock's Ist Army Corps
COVEY, Joseph N.
Dec. 1, 1863
H, 9th Vermont
DAVIS, Daniel W.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
DOWLING, William
Mar. 24, 1865
K, 7th
Vermont
EDWARDS, Alonzo T.
Sept. 7, 1861
K, 4th
Vermont
FARNUM, Cortes L.
Aug. 9, 1864
G, 11th
Vermont
FAULKNER, Eli J.
Nov. 28, 1861
H, 8th Vermont
FISK, Otis R.
May 25, 1864
E, 5th
Vermont
GIBSON, William H.
Aug. 5, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
GLEASON, David W.
July 31, 1863
I, 2nd Vermont
GODDARD, David B.
Aug. 9, 1864
G, 11th Vermont
GREELEY, Cyrus A.
Nov. 16, 1863
H, 2nd U.S.S.S.
GRISWOLD, Collins R.
Nov. 16, 1863
H, 2nd
U.S.S.S.
*GRISWOLD, Lucius D. HALL, Albert U.
July 29, 1862
G, 1Ith Vermont
HATHORN, Ranson E.
Aug. 11, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
HOLDEN, Harrison
Nov. 16, 1863
G, 11th Vermont
HOOKER, George W.
Sept. 6, 1861
F, 4th Vermont
HOUGHTON, Levi
May 7, 1861
I, 2nd
Vermont
HOUGHTON, Stephen
Aug. 9, 1862
I, 2nd
Vermont
HOWARD, George A.,
Aug. 29, 1862,
D, 16th Vermont
and Aug. 9, 1864
3d Battery, Lt. Art.
HOWARD, Mason F.
Aug. 6, 1862
G, 11th Vermont
HOWE, Elwin A.
July 30, 1862
G, 11th Vermont
HOWE, Frank
Mar. 23, 1865
G, 6th Vermont
HOWE, Omar M.
July 28, 1862
G, 11th Vermont
HOWE, William J.
Aug. 29, 1861
K, 4th Vermont
HOWE, Zeno D.
Aug. 15, 1864
G, 11th Vermont
JAQUITH, Thomas J.
May 20, 1861
I, 2nd Vermont
KELLEY, Anson A.
Jan. 1, 1864
F, Ist Vt. Cav.
KELLOGG, Aaron
Mar. 20, 1863
G, IIth Vermont
Oct. 7, 1861
E, Ist Vt. Cav.
*DAVIS, Hymenius Re-en. Jan. 5, 1864
H, 8th
Vermont
Military Record
87
KELLOGG, Henry KING, Wallace D.
July 31, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
May 5, 1861,
I, 2nd
Vermont
and Mar. 8, 1865
I, 8th Vermont
KINGSBURY, Loren
Aug. 31, 1864
H, 9th Vermont
LANDMAN, John T.
July 13, 1863
D, 6th
Vermont
MILLER, Edmund G.
Aug. 27, 1861
I, 4th
Vermont
PARKER, James P.
Feb. 13, 1862
G, 7th
Vermont
PATTERSON, Samuel
Mar. 17, 1865
I, 2nd
Vermont
PERRY, Daniel W.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
PIERCE, Sem, Jr.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
*PIERCE, William W.
Sept. 3, 1861
I, 4th Vermont
QUIMBY, Henry R.
Mar. 21, 1865
G, 17th
Vermont
RICE, Edwin L.
July 28, 1862
G, IIth
Vermont
RICHARDSON, John C.
May 16, 1861
I, 2nd
Vermont
RICHARDSON, Lowell M. Dec. 7, 1861
H, 8th
Vermont
ROBINSON, Charles H.
Oct. 24, 1831
H, 2nd
U.S.S.S.
RUGG, Elijah F.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th Vermont
SHATTUCK, Samuel A.
May 27, 1861
I, 2nd Vermont
SHUMWAY, Albert A.
Aug. 29, 1861
D, 16th
Vermont
*SHUMWAY, Edwin R. STEBBINS, Edwin A.
May 13, 1865
G, 11th Vermont
*STEVENS, Joel P.
Nov. 4, 1861
H, 2nd
U.S.S.S.
STEVENS, Warren
Oct. 23, 1861
H, 2nd
U.S.S.S.
STEWART, Charles W.
Aug. 29, 1861
D, 16th
Vermont
TENNEY, Whitney
July 31, 1863
I, 2nd
Vermont
THOMPSON, Loring F.
Aug. 5, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
VIALL, Josephus
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
WADE, Stephen
Dec. 6, 1861
G, 7th Vermont
WAIT, Dexter
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
WALKER, Horace
Dec. 7, 1861
G, 7th
Vermont
WALKER, Horace P.
Jan. 4, 1864
G, 11th
Vermont
WHEELER, Calvin R.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
WHITCOMB, Orrin L.
May 21, 1861
I, 2nd
Vermont
WHITE, John D.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
WHITMAN, Edwin H.
May 21, 1861
I, 2nd
Vermont
WHITMAN, Martin D.
Aug. 29, 1862
D, 16th
Vermont
WHITMAN, Ora O.
Nov. 30, 1863
E, 5th
Vermont
WINSHIP, Charles J.
Aug. 1, 1862
G, 11th
Vermont
WOODCOCK, Hiram
May II, 1861
I, 2nd
Vermont
WRIGHT, Orrin W.
Nov. 17, 1863
G, 11th
Vermont
Sept. 5, 1861
I, 4th Vermont
In addition to those named, the records in the office of the Adjt. General of the State shows Five men not credited by name. Those marked * re-enlisted,
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The History of Londonderry
in the field, to the town's credit, one of whom, Hymenius Davis, first en- listed to the credit of Landgrove but, on re-enlistment ,was credited to Lon- donderry. Thirteen enrolled men furnished substitutes, but of these sub- stitutes we have little cause to boast or claim credit. One of them, Otis Fish, and he in fact a Londonderry boy, entered the service; earned and received an honorable discharge. None other of them all joined the organizations into which enlisted and, one and all, were in fact neither more nor less than deserters. Fourteen others paid commutation money ($300.00) as was allow- ' ed under provisions of then existing laws. Of those who entered the service, Albert Buxton, George R. Campbell, William H. Churchill, Loring M. Richardson and Warren Stevens were killed in action; and eleven died in hospitals, of disease in service.
In the "World War," so-termed, when our country belatedly took its place to aid in defending civilization against the German onslaught, this town's record was no less creditable than in the period from 1861 to 1865. That all her representatives were not volunteers in this later strife must be accounted for by the different method pursued by the General Government in filling the ranks of her fighting men, and not charged to any decadence of that patriotic spirit which was so fully shown by the earlier generation dur- ing the Civil War.
Some of them did enlist before the new method, by "selective draft," was put in force. Such enlistments to the credit of the county, the minimum Dis- trict recognized under the method and regulations adopted, had part in re- lieving this county from application of the first "selective draft," an honor shared by but few districts throughout the nation. While all these are credit- ed by the General Government to the larger district, or the county, they are noted in the records of the Vermont Adjutant General's Office as of London- derry.
Such records credit the following named soldiers to this town:
BEMIS, Clyde Fred MARDEN, Frank Alfred
BRADSHAW, James Lyman
PATTERSON, William G.
CHURCHILL, Francis Raymond
PERKINS, Clyde James
CHURCHILL, Lyle Cudworth
CORY, Walter Dewey
*REED, Bert William ROWLEY, Rollin Cassius SHEPARDSON, K. Warner
DORSET, Gerald John
GATES, George Osborn
*SHEPARDSON, Robert T. STONE, Clarence STONE, Robert William
*HOLDEN, Norris S. HUNT, Norman Lyon KELLEY, John G.
*LANDMAN, Caspar William LEONARD, Lawrence
*MAGOON, Harry E. MAGOON, Herbert Clifton
*WADE, Arthur Nelson WAITE, Clayton Byron WILDER, Hugh E.
WYMAN, Guy Morton
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Military Record
All these were in the land forces; those marked with star (*) having gone overseas and the others served in the training and mobilization camps in this country in readiness for such foreign service. One, Robert L. Shepard- son, who enlisted in Co. I, Ist Vt. Inf. (National Guard), and was trans- ferred to Co. E, 103d Inf., was killed in action.
Two names stand on these records as credited to Londonderry for service in the navy:
JOHNSON, Melvin Ernest, MATTSON, Emil Matthew.
The latter is on the "official," or Government, record carried as of Massa- chusetts, but our State record seems to be better warranted in its credit of the name to Londonderry, since he had been for some years resident here and here had his wife and home at enlistment.
Ancient Town Records
FROM the date of the first settlement to April, 1775, the record of the town as a body politic is a blank. Records of any organization or of meet- ings for the direction of town affairs or exercise of municipal authority by votes or otherwise during this period are wholly lacking.
Since Colonel Rogers alone held the title there was not the necessity, as in nearly or quite all the towns in this section, for meetings and record of proceedings in the division and distribution of the lands to the individual grantees or "original proprietors," for Rogers might, and did, distribute and convey according to his pleasure so long as he remained in town. The period from April, 1783 to March, 1793 is also wholly blank as to any record now known to exist.
This lack of full and regular records in those early years renders it im- possible to settle some questions and fix some facts of the highest interest relative to organization or early transactions in town, and difficult to satis- factorily determine many others.
Local traditions and reference to legislative proceedings, and similar State records, enable one to follow the course of the town's development in a general way, but some traditions are found to be at best very unreliable, at times untrue, and always open to some suspicion. A wealth of interesting de- tail on the subject has been wholly lost beyond any hope of recovery.
There are a few leaves or sheets (more or less mutilated), which were, ap- parently, once parts of the crude, home-made, stitched books in which the first town clerks made their records, but these are so disconnected and in- complete that they afford practically no definite or material information.
In 1792, the town voted to purchase a book for recording deeds, but some such records had been kept for years prior to that time. A few appear on the loose sheets referred to and, at later date, in a book still preserved entire. This book had already been in use for ten years previous to that vote, the first deed therein having been recorded April 23, 1782. The book contains 368 pages, a few of which remain blank, and about one third are covered by records of deeds of Windham lands subsequent to the division of the ancient township, together with warnings for town-meetings in Windham, the pro- ceedings of such meetings and a few entries of births in families of that town. The book is not bound, but is protected by a loose cover of a folded piece of
91
Ancient Town Records
rough leather and bears on its first page a certificate, made several years after many deeds had been therein recorded.
For years this remained in Windham and when or how it came to be re- turned to Londonderry does not appear, but it would seem to have been about 1802. The certificate on its first page states:
Londonderry March 2d 1789. This Certifys that this book has been and it is hereby Approved as a town book of Records for sd town.
JOHN WOODBURN: DAVID COCHRAN: Selectmen
NEHEMIAH PIERCE :
Even under this formal dedication of the volume to the purpose or use indicated there does not appear therein any record relating to Town meet- ings until the warning for the March meeting in 1793.
Only a small portion of the records of the township of Kent are known to exist; and the date when the town was formally organized is not definitely known. It was, however, prior to April, 1775. The records from the time the name was changed to Londonderry to the division, or setting off of Wind- ham, are in the same fragmentary state. For more than a century and a quarter the town clerk's office held no records of town meetings prior to the division of the ancient town in 1795.
About 1890, in connection with a series of articles published in the Argus and Patriot, Montpelier, Vt., there appeared what purported to be copies of some records of town meetings of Kent and of the town of Londonderry prior to its division. The manuscript from which these were copied was then in the hands of the late Barnet Waite, long known as "The Old Squire," whose span of life reached nearly a full century and was all spent in this town.
This manuscript was given to him by Deacon Edward Aiken, who was the town clerk at the time the town was divided and whose homestead then became part of the new town of Windham. Not long after this publication Mr. Waite died, and for many years an unavailing search was made for the original papers, or records.
In the summer of 1924, they were discovered by Hon. Albert B. Waite in an antique desk which had descended to him from his grandfather. Judge Waite has caused them to be placed in the town clerk's office, their proper resting place, for there appears to be no question as to their authenticity as original town records. These records are upon sheets coarsely stitched to- gether like an old-time copy book home made for pupil's practice in pen- manship and with this manuscript were found three coarse sheets containing five pages of similar records not included in the publication mentioned.
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